Candela Obscura

After players create their characters and the Circle, the GM will present them with the mystery those characters find themselves embroiled in, usually with an assignment from the Lightkeeper. Players describe or act out what their characters do, and the GM tells them how the world responds. Frequently, they’ll take risky or uncertain actions that require them to roll dice to find out whether they succeed, fail, or something in between.

When they do, they'll roll a number of six-sided dice equal to their rating in the relevant action. This number might be increased by spending resources, using abilities, or getting help from an ally. Only the highest result is counted, and if it's a 1-3, the action is a failure and the character faces consequences. If it's a 4-5, the action succeeds, but the character still faces a consequence as a cost or complication. And if it's a 6, the action is a complete success. Two 6s mean a critical success, with an additional benefit. If a player doesn't like their roll, they can spend points from their drives to "resist," and re-roll the dice. Additionally, some actions might be "gilded," and include a gilded die. If a player elects to use the gilded die's result (even if it's lower than their best result), the character replenishes one of their drives, which can help them later.

When characters get hurt, they'll take marks, including physical injuries to their Body, mental strain to their Brain, or supernatural damage to their Bleed. Filling three marks in one area results in a Scar, which stays with your character and alters their action ratings.

Piece by piece, player characters will uncover the secret of the mystery they face, until ultimately they must confront the culprit, whether it’s a criminal conspiracy, a diabolical corporation, or a supernatural creature that managed to bleed into this world.