Ten Candles

10 Candles · Ten Candles TTRPG

Ten Candles

Ten Candles is a tabletop story of inevitable loss, told in the glow of real candles. You play ordinary people in a world consumed by darkness. Together, you shape their final hours, testing small hopes against what lurks in the night. The outcome is certain. Everyone will fall. What matters is how they confront it and what they leave behind. A session feels quiet and cinematic, with soft table talk, rising dread, and unexpected tenderness amid the scares.

It’s perfect for horror enthusiasts and drama fans, ideal for Halloween gatherings, retreats, or an intense team evening. Beginners are welcome, and veterans will find rich character development. Adults only, due to mature themes. A professional Game Master manages tone, safety, and pacing so you can focus on choices and character. Meet our Game Masters and organise a night you won’t forget.

How to play Ten Candles

Play uses a pool of six-sided dice and candlelight. The Game Master frames a scene and asks what you do. When the outcome is uncertain, you roll a handful of dice equal to the number of candles still burning. At least one 6 means you succeed and describe how. If not, the Game Master describes what goes wrong, and the story shifts toward the next scene as the darkness closes in.

Between scenes, a candle is extinguished and new truths about the world are spoken aloud. The dice pool shrinks as hope does. You bring a grounded character idea, a quiet space, and comfort with tense horror. The Game Master brings the candles, dice, scenario prompts, and safety tools, and keeps everyone steady while you make difficult choices.

Ten Candles is designed for a single 2 to 3 hour session. There is no long campaign, though your Game Master can run an anthology of linked one-shots with new characters. Online play works too, using virtual candles and shared audio. See our online play platforms for options.

A game master enthusiastically pointing during a fantasy session, with a dragon miniature and fantasy backdrop on the table.
A game master enthusiastically pointing during a fantasy session, with a dragon miniature and fantasy backdrop on the table.
Top-down view of a purple twenty-sided die with the gold number 16 visible. Twenty-sided dice are best known from dnd.
Top-down view of a purple twenty-sided die with the gold number 16 visible. Twenty-sided dice are best known from dnd.

Common questions

Do we need to know the rules in advance?

No preparation required. A professional Game Master teaches the rules in minutes and helps you create a grounded character at the table. When outcomes are uncertain, you roll six-sided dice, with more dice as more candles are lit, making the process straightforward. The emphasis is on choices, atmosphere, and describing what unfolds. If you have never played a roleplaying game, that's perfectly fine. The Game Master explains safety tools, supports shy players, and keeps the group engaged so you can immerse yourself in the story.

How many players can join and what is the duration of a session?

Ten Candles works best with 3 to 6 players and runs for about 2 to 3 hours, including a short break. Four or five is the ideal number for table time. Your Game Master will pace the scenes so the last candle falls close to your target end time. If you have a larger group, consider setting up two parallel tables or running back-to-back sessions. A quiet space with low lighting is beneficial. The Game Master will bring the materials and set up quickly, then clean up with care.

How frightening does it become, and is it suitable for children?

It is adult horror with themes of fear, loss, and tough choices. There are no graphic details unless your group requests them, and no jump scares are necessary. Content boundaries are established together before play, and the Game Master checks in during the session. They can create a moody and somber atmosphere or a sharper and more intense experience, depending on your preferences. To find a style that suits you, you can browse different GM playstyles and choose someone whose tone aligns with your group.

What if my venue prohibits real candles?

Open flames are part of the atmosphere, but your event takes priority. If the venue prohibits candles, your Game Master can use LED candles or a shared on-screen candle tracker, along with soft lighting and sound cues for scene transitions. If real candles are permitted, they will be placed in small, stable holders on non-flammable surfaces and managed safely. Regardless, the encroaching darkness and diminishing dice pool still create the tension the game is famous for.

How is Ten Candles different from D&D?

Ten Candles is not about winning or levelling up. It is a single-session story about ordinary people facing the end. There is no tactical grid, character builds, or loot. The rules are light, using a simple dice pool that shrinks as the lights go out. Conflict is resolved in the fiction, not through lengthy combats. If you enjoy the roleplay aspects of D&D, this emphasises that side and gives everyone a chance to steer the narrative.

Can we play online and still maintain the atmosphere?

Yes. Your Game Master uses virtual candles, shared audio, and video to maintain the hush and rhythm. They will suggest camera and lighting setups that keep faces visible while the room grows darker, and will manage timers and scene framing so you still feel the closing-in tension. You can read more about our supported tools on online play platforms. Online play is a great option for remote groups or offices with policies against open flames.

If everyone perishes, what makes it enjoyable to play?

Knowing the end allows you to focus on the journey in between. The tension arises from how your characters decide to utilise their limited time, what they strive to protect, and the truths they uncover. Small victories are significant. Moments of bravery or connection resonate deeply. Players often find it unexpectedly heartfelt, even amidst the dread. The reward is a complete story crafted together, shared in one evening, that you'll discuss afterwards.

Booking Form


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Illustration of a dragon perched on a rock, with wings spread and detailed line art, similar to a dragon from lotr.

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Genres you can play in Ten Candles

What players are saying

  • First of all, I want to say that Sebastian was really great as a DM. For his first run as a booked DM, he did a fantastic job. The 3 stars refer to the following: 1. We were disappointed that the adventure was labelled a One Shot yet wasn't a complete story. Discovering that there are two more parts wasn't very positive for us, as it meant there was no satisfying conclusion to the story. 2. As new players, it was difficult for us to understand the English character sheets in such a short time. In German, it would have been much easier. Even receiving the character sheets a few days in advance would have been helpful for preparation. 3. More guidance would be beneficial. Especially for beginners, a more linear one shot would have been preferable. We wasted a large portion of the adventure time doing unnecessary things because we didn't really know how the game worked. Overall, I think the StoryForgers concept is really good and I see a lot of potential in it, especially for introducing new players to D&D. I hope you don't take my feedback the wrong way but as honest criticism. Cheers, Mario

    Mario

  • Bryan was exceptional. We had a group with varied experience levels, and he managed to keep everyone engaged and involved. His positive attitude made the game enjoyable for all. I really appreciated how he could clearly explain what was needed for our less experienced players while keeping our more seasoned players on their toes with his extensive knowledge of the game. Everyone in our party had a fantastic time thanks to Bryan.

    Jeremy

  • Dayron was fantastic. Well-prepared, punctual, and had a brilliant sense of humour.

    Corey

  • Dayron was fantastic; he provided an excellent experience. Thanks!

    Casey

    The Merry Meeple

  • The game was incredibly engaging. I organised a session as a gift for my boyfriend, who is really passionate about it, and he was very pleased and appreciated Leonardo's professionalism. I don't have much experience with DnD, but I found the game to be quite straightforward and enjoyable.

    Marina

  • Baptiste was a fantastic GM who adapted seamlessly to our group and helped us make great progress in this one-shot. However, there was one issue with the character sheets provided; they were not complete or clear. Some of the French translations were quite rough. For instance, our cleric was missing spells, including a healing spell, even though they were meant to have some.

    Pierre

  • Rachel was fantastic; my daughter and her friends left their game saying it was the most fun they’d ever had, and my daughter wanted to sign up for another game with her straight away. She was friendly, and her approach let the players immerse themselves in the game by giving them control over how they wanted their actions to unfold. I would definitely work with her again.

    John

  • A great first experience with D&D. Amber was excellent at explaining and guiding the game, allowing us as players to quickly get into the flow and focus on the story. Collaborating on attack strategies with my colleagues was a fun activity that provided valuable insights into each other's characters, thought processes, and differences. Overall, I found it to be a very enjoyable session.

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

  • Pim is truly a legend as a DM! He's cheerful, adaptable, and incredibly experienced. With a group of novice players, he managed to create an amazing experience in just a few hours. He maintained control in a fun manner and engaged every player in the story, whether they were vocal or reserved. If you go adventuring with him, it will certainly be unforgettable!

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

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