CANDELA OBSCURA

An investigative horror tabletop roleplaying game using the Illuminated Worlds System

WATCH: GM Roundtable

Aabria Iyengar, Liam O’Brien, Spenser Starke, and Matthew Mercer gather together to discuss the otherworldly experience of being Game Masters in the world of Candela Obscura! Learn about the unique techniques these Game Masters used to create their settings, develop meaningful arcs for their players, and craft a thrilling mystery using the Illuminated Worlds System. We hope this helps you with your own investigations!

The Candela Obscura Core Rulebook is Available Now!

Dive into the Fairelands and purchase the Candela Obscura Core Rulebook today at Darrington Press Guild stores, other friendly local game stores, and Critical Role online shops:

Enjoy it in standard edition & limited edition in print, and note that the PDF comes bundled with print purchases at the Critical Role shops.

Digital Versions:

Download Character Sheets & Resources

Download the full packet of character sheets and references at the button below, or by individual file:

Interactive, digital character sheets for use with both online play and in-person play can be found at:

What's Inside

Inside the Candela Obscura Core Rulebook, you’ll enjoy 204 pages filled with art, rules, guidance, and setting information, along with a satin bookmark to keep your page. The book contains over 90 pages detailing the turn of the century-inspired setting of the Fairelands, plus 4 full example assignments and 30 example assignments for gamemasters to dive in with their players. As a player, learn to create your characters in an array of different specialties. 

How to Play

Candela Obscura Overview

You’re needed, investigators: join the secret society Candela Obscura to confront occult horrors from beyond, keeping hidden the true nature of magickal incursions besetting our world. 

Candela Obscura (bestowed the hashtag #CandelaObscura) is a new tabletop roleplaying game that places you in the roles of investigators working for an esoteric order. In this game of investigative horror, individuals of varied talents are brought together under the organization Candela Obscura. You’ll pursue strange occurrences and encounter dangerous magicks, fighting back against a mysterious source of corruption and bleed. Candela Obscura is the first to use the Illuminated Worlds System, a newly designed system that uses 6-sided dice and lends itself to narrative, arc-driven play.

Watch It Played on Critical Role

Candela Obscura is being showcased in a deeply atmospheric monthly actual play series from Critical Role! Watch live on Critical Role’s Twitch and YouTube channels, or catch the previously aired chapters on Twitch VODs, YouTube, or the podcast feed. 

Stream the official Candela Obscura Original Soundtrack!

CREATIVE TEAM

  • Lead Game Design: Spenser Starke and Rowan Hall
  • Written By: Rowan Hall and Spenser Starke
  • Editor: Karen Twelves
  • Managing Editor: Matthew Key
  • Production: Ivan Van Norman and Alex Uboldi
  • Proofreading: Jacky Leung
  • Additional Game Design: Christopher Grey, Tracey Harrison, and Taliesin Jaffe
  • Layout: De La Rosa Design
  • Cultural Consultants: Basheer Ghouse, Pam Punzalan, Erin Roberts, Christine Sandquist, Liam Stevens
  • Military & Political Consultant: Anthony Joyce-Rivera
  • Game Development Consultant: Mike Underwood
  • Additional Editing: Jared Deiro, Darcy Ross
  • Additional Writing: Carlos Cisco, Tracey Harrison, Anthony Joyce-Rivera, Sam Maggs, Mike Underwood
  • Graphic Design: Aaron Monroy, Bryan Weiss
  • Artists: Shaun Ellis, Jamie Harrison, Allie Irwin, Amelia Leonards, Lily McDonnell, Justin O’Neal, Sunga Park, Gustavo Rodrigues Pelissari, Doug Telford
  • Map Design: Marc Moureau
  • Cover Artist: John Harper (Limited Edition), De La Rosa Design (Standard)
  • Artist / Ancient Languages / Spell Design: Stevie Morley
  • Original Concept Created By: Taliesin Jaffe and Chris Lockey
  • Playtesters: Trevor Adams, Kat Alysha, Leon Barillaro, Emerson Boatwright, Kailey Bray, Luis Carazo, Sarah Chaffee, Kenton Chen, Carlos Cisco, Noshir Dalal, Gina DeVivo, Zehra Fazal, Dani Gage, Omaira Galarza, Janina Gavankar, Christopher Grey, Madigan Hunt, Dayeanne Hutton, Erika Ishii, Aabria Iyengar, Taliesin Jaffe, JP Karliak, Erica Lindbeck, Chris Lockey, Surena Marie, Xu Mason, Whitney Moore, Anais Morgan, Omar Najam, Christian Navarro, Zackary Ogle, Carolina Ravassa, Eden Riegel, Saige Ryan, Rachel Seeley, Kyle Shire, Sarah Sommers, Erin Steeby, Alex Ward
  • Illuminated Worlds System Design: Stras Acimovic and Layla Adelman
  • Illuminated Worlds Preliminary Design: Daniel Kwan, Eloy Lasanta, Matthew Mercer

KEY DETAILS

Released November 14th, 2023

  • Standard Edition: $39.99 USD
  • Limited Edition: $59.99 USD

Available in:

RESOURCES