Tyler Brooks
Ten Candles is a tragic horror tabletop role-playing game designed by Stephen Dewey and published by Cavalry Games in 2015. The game is played with 10 candles, which are lit at the beginning of the game and extinguished one by one as the game progresses. The players create characters with different virtues, vices, and secrets, and work together to survive in a world where endless night has fallen and monsters are coming. The game ends when all the candles go out, and the characters all meet their demise. The unique use of candles in the game mechanic adds to the atmosphere and provides a sense of urgency as the players race against time to beat the darkness.
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What You'll Learn
Rules of the game
"How Many Candies Are in the Jar?" is a fun guessing game that can be played at parties or with kids. Here are the rules:
Setup
You will need a clear container with a lid, candy, small toys, nickels, pencils, paper, and a small basket or box.
First, fill the clear container with a known amount of candy. You can also add nickels and tiny toys to make it more interesting. Put the lid on the container when you're done.
Guessing
Have each player guess how many candies are in the container. They can turn the container to examine it from different angles but cannot shake it or remove the lid.
Submitting Guesses
Distribute pencils and paper to everyone. Ask them to write down their names and their guesses, then collect the papers in the box or basket.
Determining the Winner
Open the lid to reveal the actual number of candies and count how many guesses are correct. Alternatively, you can award the player with the closest guess. You can also have multiple winners by having people guess the number of coins or toys in the jar.
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Character creation
"Ten Candles" is a tragic horror tabletop role-playing game (RPG) where players work together to tell a shared story of a dark world and its doomed characters. The game is unique in that it uses candles as a central, uncontrollable game mechanic that represents the passing of time. Each candle burned represents one scene in the game, and once all ten candles are extinguished, the game ends.
The Virtue and Vice are positive and negative traits, respectively, and are used to describe the character. For example, a character might have the Virtue of "bravery" and the Vice of "recklessness". These traits have a game mechanic function as well as informing the role-playing aspect of the game.
The Moment is an event or situation that gives the character hope. For instance, a character's Moment might be finding a flashlight in a small box inside the subway.
The Brink is a hidden trait and represents the extremes to which the character might go. Each player writes a Brink for the player to their left in the form of a witness statement that starts with "I've seen you...". For example, a Brink could be "I've seen you steal from your friends to get what you want".
Players start the game with whatever items they physically have on them, and other equipment can be "found" as the narrative progresses.
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Dice mechanics
Ten Candles is a tabletop role-playing game with a unique dice mechanic. The game is designed for one-shot sessions with a GM and 3-5 players. At the beginning of the game, 10 candles are lit, and as the game progresses, each candle is extinguished one by one. The candles act as a countdown timer and also contribute to the atmosphere of the game.
The players start the game with a pool of 10 dice, and they roll these dice to accomplish tasks or resolve conflicts. If any of the dice result in a six, the task is successful. If none of the dice show a six, the task fails, the scene ends, and a candle is extinguished. The players then undergo a ritual where they "establish truths" about the world that must be accepted by all players, including the GM.
As the game progresses, the players' supply of dice dwindles while the GM's supply of dice increases. The GM's dice do not determine success or failure but instead determine narrative control. So, while the players initially have control over the narrative, as the game proceeds, the GM gradually takes over, and the situation slowly spirals out of the players' control.
Players can adjust the outcome or regain narrative control from the GM by using their character's traits or burning cards that contain their character's virtue, vice, moment, or brink. Burning these cards allows players to reroll the dice and try to succeed. Additionally, if a player's dice roll results in a one, that die is removed from play for that scene, further limiting the players' options.
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The role of the game master
Setting the Stage:
- The GM is responsible for setting up the game environment and ensuring the necessary materials are available, including tea light candles, dice, and index cards.
- Creating an atmospheric setting is crucial. The GM should ensure low lighting, preferably using candlelight as the primary source of illumination.
- The GM should also establish the rules and objectives of the game, explaining to the players that their goal is to guess the number of candles correctly, and there may be consequences for incorrect guesses.
Storytelling and Immersion:
- The GM acts as the primary storyteller, weaving a narrative that engages the players and sets the tone for the game.
- They should introduce the game's theme, which could be a mysterious, horror-filled, or fantastical story, depending on the group's preferences.
- As the game progresses, the GM should encourage player interaction and engagement by asking open-ended questions, incorporating their suggestions into the narrative, and allowing their choices to impact the direction of the story.
Managing the Gameplay:
- The GM controls the pace and flow of the game. They should carefully observe the players' actions and reactions, adjusting the story's pace accordingly to build suspense and excitement.
- The GM should keep track of the number of candles and manage the consequences of incorrect guesses. For instance, they might introduce challenges or obstacles for the players to overcome, with the risk of extinguishing a candle if they fail.
- They should also be prepared to adapt the story based on player choices and actions, allowing for a dynamic and evolving narrative.
Maintaining Balance:
- The GM should strive for a balance between challenge and fairness. They should provide hints or clues to guide players toward the correct answer, especially if the game becomes too difficult.
- Additionally, the GM should ensure that all players have an opportunity to contribute and that no single player dominates the game.
In summary, the role of the game master in the "how many candles" guessing game is to create an immersive, narrative-driven experience, blending storytelling, suspense, and player interaction. The GM acts as a facilitator, ensuring that the rules are followed, the story progresses, and the players remain engaged and challenged throughout the game.
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Similar games
Ten Candles is a unique game that combines horror and role-playing elements. While there may not be another game exactly like it, there are similar games that capture some of the same elements that make Ten Candles so enjoyable. Here are some suggestions for games that share similarities with Ten Candles:
Dread
Dread is a horror game that uses a Jenga tower instead of candles to create tension and a sense of impending doom. Pulling blocks from the tower adds a physical element of chance, similar to the dice rolls in Ten Candles. Like Ten Candles, Dread is a game that builds tension and keeps players on the edge of their seats. It is also mentioned by Charlie Hall on the Polygon website as a recommendation for Halloween parties.
Other Narrative-Focused Games
While not directly similar in theme or mechanics, there are other games that share Ten Candles' focus on collaborative storytelling and character development. Games like Fiasco, for example, are designed to encourage players to create unique narratives and develop their characters through play. Fiasco and other similar games may be worth exploring if you're looking for a different setting or mechanics while retaining the storytelling aspect that makes Ten Candles special.
Other Horror-Themed Games
If it's the horror aspect of Ten Candles that appeals to you, there are numerous other games that explore horror themes and can create a tense atmosphere. Games such as Call of Cthulhu or Vampire: The Masquerade can provide a similar sense of dread and foreboding, albeit with different mechanics and settings. These games often focus on investigation and horror, creating an immersive experience for players willing to delve into their dark and eerie worlds.
In conclusion, while Ten Candles is a unique entry in the world of tabletop gaming, there are other games that share some of its core elements. Whether it's the tension-building mechanics of Dread, the collaborative storytelling of Fiasco, or the horror themes of games like Call of Cthulhu, there are options available that can provide a similar gaming experience.
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