Candela Obscura PDF⁚ A Comprehensive Guide
Welcome, investigators! This guide serves as your gateway to the world of Candela Obscura, a tabletop roleplaying game where you confront occult horrors. We’ll explore the core rulebook, quickstart guides, character creation, the Fairelands setting, supernatural phenomena, factions like EONS and OUP, resources for Game Masters, and where to find the PDF.
Candela Obscura is a tabletop roleplaying game immersing players in a turn-of-the-century-inspired world brimming with magickal incursions and occult horrors. As investigators within the secret society of Candela Obscura, players collaborate to explore, combat, and safeguard Newfaire’s inhabitants from paranormal threats. The game emphasizes collaborative storytelling, empowering participants to shape the narrative through varied roles.
This investigative horror game uses the Illuminated Worlds System, plunging characters into a reality much like our own, yet tainted by dangerous supernatural forces. Characters work together to research the world of magick and defend it from deadly phenomena. The game offers a detailed primer on the setting, characters, and principles that drive Candela Obscura.
Players will be part of a circle, a team of individuals tasked with protecting the world from unfathomable horrors. The action takes place in the Fairelands, specifically Newfaire, a metropolis constructed on the ruins of an ancient civilization, a place still pulsating with remnants of potent magick. The Core Rulebook guides players and gamemasters through this collaborative experience.
The Core Rulebook⁚ Content and Features
The Candela Obscura Core Rulebook serves as a comprehensive guide for both players and gamemasters delving into this collaborative investigative horror tabletop roleplaying game. Spanning 204 pages, it is filled with immersive art, detailed rules, insightful guidance, and extensive setting information. A satin bookmark is included to keep your place as you navigate the depths of this paranormal world.
Within its pages, the Core Rulebook dedicates over 90 pages to detailing the Fairelands, the turn-of-the-century-inspired setting that serves as the game’s backdrop. It also presents four complete example assignments and 30 additional assignment ideas for gamemasters to utilize, providing a wealth of content to kickstart their campaigns and engage players. The book offers a deep dive into the world and tools needed for gameplay.
As a bonus, purchases of the Core Rulebook from Critical Role online shops include a full PDF version. For those seeking a fully digital experience, Demiplanes Candela Obscura Nexus offers tools like a character builder and interactive character sheets, enhancing accessibility and streamlining gameplay.
Candela Obscura Quickstart Guide
Eager to begin your journey into the shadowy world of Candela Obscura? The Quickstart Guide offers an immediate entry point, allowing you to start playing even before the full Core Rulebook is released. This condensed guide contains essential information to introduce you to the game’s core concepts, characters, and setting. It serves as a primer to the world, people, and core principles of the game.
The 26-page Candela Obscura Quickstart Guide PDF was made available for download from the Darrington Press website, coinciding with the premiere of the first streamed episode. It includes a circle sheet, a Field Guide to aid investigators, and five pre-generated blank sample character sheets to simplify character creation; This allows players to quickly immerse themselves in the game.
By utilizing the Quickstart Guide, new players can quickly learn the rules and begin playing. It also offers abilities and advancement for a group called The Circle of Illumination, including Illumination Questions and Keys to track the groups progress. Grab nine 6-sided dice, and you’re ready to confront occult horrors.
Character Creation and Gameplay Mechanics
Delve into the heart of Candela Obscura with a detailed look at character creation and the core gameplay mechanics. Building the narrative of Candela Obscura is a collaboration among equals empowered to take charge of different roles, facilitated by character sheets available for download at darringtonpress.com/candela. Each player should have nine 6-sided dice to begin playing.
Character creation involves choosing a role and specialty, determining action ratings, drives (like Nerve, Cunning, and Intuition), and resistances. Players can gild actions to improve their chances of success. Abilities further define a character’s strengths, while character details and relationships add depth to their backstory.
Gameplay revolves around assignments, with a structured play format. Drives and resistances influence character actions, and gear provides additional advantages. Character and circle advancement allows for growth and customization. The core system uses gilded dice, setting stakes and expectations, and making action rolls with potential consequences. Resistances can mitigate harm, while marks and scars represent lasting impacts.
The Setting⁚ The Fairelands and Newfaire
Immerse yourself in the turn-of-the-century-inspired setting of the Fairelands, detailed across 90+ pages within the Candela Obscura Core Rulebook. The Fairelands, with its capital city Newfaire, provides a rich backdrop for your investigations. Newfaire, a sprawling metropolis, is built atop the ruins of an ancient civilization, still teeming with magickal remnants.
Explore the timeline of the Fairelands, the unique language spoken, and the available technology. The economy and transportation systems shape daily life, while the Triumvirate governs the region. Discover what life is like for the average citizen and delve into the distinct districts of Newfaire, each with its own character and secrets. Uncover the mysteries hidden within Oldfaire’s ancient sites and explore the iconic landmarks that define the Fairelands.
The Fairelands setting provides a compelling and immersive environment for Candela Obscura campaigns, blending gothic horror with investigative elements. The detailed world-building allows Game Masters to craft engaging stories and challenges for their players.
Assignments and Play Structure
As investigators of Candela Obscura, your primary duty involves undertaking assignments to combat supernatural incursions. The Core Rulebook contains four complete example assignments, offering a starting point for your campaigns. Additionally, 30 example assignments are provided for Game Masters, giving ample material to create unique and thrilling investigations.
The game’s play structure emphasizes collaboration and shared narrative control. Each player takes on a specific role, contributing their character’s skills and perspectives to the investigation. Building the narrative is a collaborative effort, empowering players to take charge of different aspects of the story. The table works together to uncover clues, confront dangers, and protect the people of Newfaire from paranormal threats.
The assignments typically involve exploring crime scenes, interviewing witnesses, researching occult lore, and engaging in combat with supernatural entities. The Game Master guides the players through the assignment, presenting challenges and opportunities for them to make meaningful choices that impact the story’s outcome. The structure helps to move the game forward.
The Supernatural World⁚ Phenomena and Alchemy
Candela Obscura plunges players into a world where the veil between reality and the supernatural is thin. Phenomena, manifestations of magickal forces from beyond, are a core element of this world. These phenomena can range from subtle disturbances to terrifying displays of power, posing a constant threat to the Fairelands.
The investigators of Candela Obscura must learn to identify and understand these phenomena to combat them effectively. The Core Rulebook provides detailed information on various types of phenomena, including their origins, effects, and weaknesses. Players will need to use their knowledge and skills to unravel the mysteries behind these supernatural occurrences.
Alchemy plays a crucial role in the fight against the supernatural. Alchemists within Candela Obscura study the properties of rare ingredients and concoct powerful elixirs and remedies. These alchemical creations can provide investigators with temporary advantages, such as enhanced abilities, protection from harm, or the means to dispel magical effects, giving the player an edge.
Candela Obscura’s Factions⁚ EONS, OUP, Pyre, and More
The world of Candela Obscura is populated by various factions, each with its own agenda and influence. Understanding these factions is crucial for investigators as they navigate the complex social and political landscape of the Fairelands. Among the most prominent factions are the Exoteric Order of New Sciences (EONS), the Office of Unexplained Phenomena (OUP), and the Pyre.
EONS focuses on scientific research and the pursuit of knowledge, sometimes delving into dangerous areas in their quest for understanding; The OUP is a government agency tasked with investigating and containing supernatural threats, often clashing with Candela Obscura due to conflicting methods.
The Pyre is a fanatical group that seeks to eradicate all traces of magick, viewing it as a corrupting influence. Investigators may also encounter other factions, such as the Red Hand and the Unabridged, each with its own unique motivations and goals. These factions can serve as allies, enemies, or sources of valuable information, shaping the course of investigations and adding layers of complexity to the game.
Resources for Game Masters
Game Masters (GMs) in Candela Obscura have a wealth of resources available to them to craft compelling and immersive experiences for their players. The Core Rulebook offers extensive guidance on running the game, including GM principles, advice on making moves, and structuring assignments. Session Zero is crucial for establishing expectations and ensuring player safety through touchstones.
GMs can find inspiration in the example assignments provided in the rulebook, as well as utilize additional assignment prompts to create unique scenarios. Lightkeepers, non-player characters (NPCs) who guide investigators, are detailed within the core rules. The rulebook provides resources for adjudicating stakes and expectations, along with rules references for quick access during gameplay.
Furthermore, online communities and forums offer a platform for GMs to share ideas, seek advice, and access custom content created by other players. The Candela Obscura Nexus provides digital tools, such as character builders and interactive character sheets, to streamline gameplay and enhance the GM’s ability to manage the game.
Where to Find the Candela Obscura PDF
Locating the Candela Obscura PDF is a crucial first step for investigators eager to delve into the mysteries of the Fairelands. The 26-page Quickstart Guide PDF was initially available for download on the Darrington Press website, offering a primer to the game’s world and mechanics, along with character sheets and a Field Guide.
For a comprehensive experience, the Candela Obscura Core Rulebook is also available in PDF format. Purchases of the physical Core Rulebook from Critical Role online shops (US, UK, AU, CA, EU) include a bundled PDF version. A fully digital version is available through Demiplanes Candela Obscura Nexus, which includes interactive tools.
Keep an eye on Darrington Press’s official website and social media channels for announcements regarding digital availability and special promotions. Fan-made resources and community content may also offer supplementary materials in PDF format, but always ensure the sources are reputable and legal.
Candela Obscura Nexus and Digital Tools
For investigators seeking a fully immersive digital experience, the Candela Obscura Nexus offers a suite of interactive tools designed to enhance gameplay. This platform provides access to a digital version of the Core Rulebook, character builders, and interactive character sheets, streamlining the character creation and management process.
The Nexus allows players to track their character’s Drives, Actions, Resistances, and Abilities, making it easier to manage resources and make informed decisions during investigations. Game Masters can utilize the Nexus to organize assignments, manage NPCs, and track the progress of their circle, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience for all participants.
Beyond the Nexus, digital tools such as virtual tabletops (VTTs) like Roll20 and Foundry VTT can be adapted for Candela Obscura. Simple tables with player sheets and quick start guides can be created within these platforms, allowing for remote play and collaboration.