Candela Obscura: Needle & Thread | Episode 2 | Flesh and Blood
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2024
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The Circle of Needle and Thread are forced to question their morality as an infiltrating purge rages on.
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Candela Obscura is an ongoing monthly horror drama that follows an esoteric order of investigators as they use centuries of knowledge to fight back against a mysterious source of corruption and bleed. Leveraging gaming as a story mechanic, the series features the Candela Obscura tabletop roleplaying game from Darrington Press, which is built on the Illuminated Worlds system.
The second chapter of Candela Obscura will be three episodes long starring Travis Willingham, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Zehra Fazal, Luis Carazo, and Marisha Ray with a story led by gamemaster Spenser Starke.
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The RUclips VOD will be available the following Monday after the episode’s initial broadcast and the podcast version will be available one week following the initial broadcast on your favorite podcast streaming service. Learn more here: critrole.com/h...
Originally Created by Taliesin Jaffe and Chris Lockey
Game Design and Writing by Spenser Starke and Rowan Hall
Directed by Steve Failows
Produced by Maxwell James and Steve Failows
Lightkeeper portrayed by Taliesin Jaffe
Music by Colm McGuinness
Character Art by Lisa Fricke
Due to the improv nature of Candela Obscura and other RPG content on our channels, some themes and situations that occur in-game may be difficult for some to handle. If certain episodes or scenes become uncomfortable, we strongly suggest taking a break or skipping that particular episode.
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HEY, there might be some SPOILERS under the thing
2:25 EPISODE STARTS
6:20 Bad hug
7:55 Nathaniel’s new vision
13:45 Marion’s dream
16:25 Jean’s father
22:25 Auntie Bee’s day job
27:25 Peggy O'Finnerty
30:05 Miss Cynthia is really disturbing
33:00 Sean and Bee
34:35 Sean is relatable
38:20 Backstory on Nathaniel
40:35 The letter (flashback lights)
42:15 The true letter
45:50 Dr. Jean flashback
53:15 Sean in the chapter house (Nathan is a lightweight)
58:00 Eldritch Hahrrehs
1:03:25 Kingsley and Sean talk about grief
1:05:55 The team comes together
1:07:40 Everyone’s look
1:10:45 Marion is doing great (hard to see though, without a microscope)
1:12:15 Sean is a squid dog now (team brief)
1:14:35 The Skrulls have infiltrated Candela Obscura
1:16:15 Marion got the best ability
1:18:25 Sean wanted to kill Kingsley when he started talking about grief
1:19:25 EXU callback: Shoulder or elbow
1:23:45 Everyone wants to talk after the killing
1:25:20 He who fights monsters
1:27:05 Things get worse
1:30:20 Two new scars
1:35:15 Travis was fishing for that cauterization
1:37:15 Keeping Kingsley talking
1:39:25 BREAK STARTS
1:49:30 BREAK ENDS
1:50:45 Personnel folders
1:52:55 Sean’s personality
1:56:05 Sean and Lucas
1:58:10 PTSD flashback
2:01:05 Sean is really messed up (are you saving the world?)
2:03:50 Dealing with Kingsley
2:11:35 Sean snoking with Bee
2:22:50 Containment
2:32:05 “I will switch to my other character sheet” “Wait, what?” (Petunia)
2:34:25 Nathan’s passive aggressive note
2:40:05 Clearing the room
2:45:25 Jean hijacks her uber (Christopher Francis Trapp)
2:50:35 TNT: don’t leave home without it
2:55:00 The strength of the gardener
2:59:25 Marion’s tug of war
3:04:20 The last scar
3:05:40 Marion and Jean
3:08:20 Marion and Sean
3:13:40 Circle of Silver Flame
3:14:45 Bee explains why Nathan sucks
3:21:05 Ignore the burned horse
3:23:05 Don’t look a burned horse in the mouth
3:25:15 Marion and Jean
3:29:10 The memory
3:34:20 We were watching a cool movie
3:39:00 Mr. Walter’s place
3:41:15 Ms. Morales (suspicious socks)
3:44:30 What is your circle’s name?
3:46:55 The same
3:49:25 Love is more powerful than Cthulu
3:52:30 Sean goes out swinging
3:54:25 The Care Bear Stare
3:59:30 Episode Ends
This is really good, they should keep doing this on their off-weeks.
Any moments I missed? Feel free to post them here. Is it Thursday yet?
Thank you, Flando😀
Waited for this before watching the video, thank you
I am 2/3rds of the way through Campaign 1 and I am sure I am not the only one who misses what you are doing now on those early episodes. Thank you for the work you put into these recaps.
AW What? Fuck! No! You can't end-SPENCER!
I'm on C1E010. 😮 Somebody was commenting the beginning and end of the break, which is nice, but nothing like this.
1:19:31 brennan saying "-weakest at the shoulder or the elbow?" and all the calamity players going "OOOOHHHHHHHH" made me snort so hard LOL
Easter Egg
I was paying attention to Marisha in that moment, given the reference.
Yup, I lost it , when I heard that, for sure😂
Brennan knows what he’s doing. Man’s got his own mythos and he keep building.
Even though we're in an eldritch horror fantasy setting, the way this gifted group of storytellers is handling the themes of PTSD and grief is so authentic and impactful. The use of the two versions of the letter from Sean's mother to illustrate Sean's guilt and pain was masterfully done.
That hit me... Ya hit me real hard Brennan
Agreed. Awesome way to tell the story
I feel like that's something that eldritch horror really lend itself to, though. Minds breaking from the horrors they have seen or from losing something are textbook eldritch horror.
Wait what? I think I didn't get it then. I thought it was two different letters. But it was two versions of the same letter?
@@laurens.6940the first letter was imaginary; it was Sean's guilt manifest as a scathing maternal scolding. The second letter was the real one.
Or was it?
Man Brennan really brings his A-game every time he's a player, the PTSD flashback in the Critical Role studio lighting was amazing!
absolutely stellar performance!
That two letter twist tho... Took me off guard
"Are you weaker at the shoulder or the elbow" I died, truly
Yeah, I was yelling at my screen for that one, it hurt my damn feelings 😓
technology is not the word I would have used to describe what we saw... wow
The first letter broke me! This was a knife plunged right into the heart.
The second letter had me even more in tears. Brennan was great!
Now I have to wait till November! What a cliffhanger!
My beard was actually wet with tears.💀😆😭
@@standingdoor7077 Ha! Same here...
Just imagine you are Spenser Starke right now - you came up with this game and now you are watching 5 hugely gifted actors improvising their socks off in the space that you created - how proud would you feel?
Socks are sus you're the creature!
I'd probably feel super nervous, as does he
@@tite93 he isn;t running the game as if he is super nervous, he is decisive and cinematic in his descriptions and the players seem to be loving his style. That would make me feel good
He seems nervous to me.
I've just started watching this episode, but if Spencer's face is anything like it was in Episode 1... I'd be having a blast like I think he was.
You know, I wasn't expecting Brennan to immediately hurt me with his phenomenal acting at the beginning of the episode, but here we are. He did an amazing job, and I was almost crying at my desk at work today.
Luis playing background for most of the episode to then unleash one of the most emotional scenes I've ever experienced, with Zehra responding immaculately, is the reason I will follow CR forever. Like Brennan said, "I was watching a movie."
Loved the moment where everyone was so engrossed in Luis and Zehra's scene they just forgot they were supposed be playing a TTRPG
Loved seeing Marisha in the background just going "now kiss"
Has she been at the table before? Maybe I missed character introductions but it was driving me crazy not knowing who she was. Everyone killed it ❤
@@cbear3476 Zehra's never been at the table before!
RIGHT? I've never heard of Zehra before but damn she is a masterful improvisational storyteller.
@@cbear3476 There's... an entire episode before this one that she's in?
A special shout-out to the "the lamp is a little bit cocked" line. After Auntie failed her survey roll, her asking for information only results in a tiny detail that's delivered in the perfect way to tell her absolutely nothing, but set her on the edge and disturb her.
God, Brennan really is a phenominal actor. The choices he makes are so smart and interesting. It's like he's not worried about right or wrong, but just really capturing this character he created.
I’m imaging that there’s a button behind that GM screen that just says, “PTSD.” That or, “Press here for war trauma.”
Wow. Everyone in this episode is top notch - but the "trick" with Sean's letter will stick with me for years.
I'm adding it to my DMing repertoire for whenever it might become useable at my table 😁
As an Army vet with severe PTSD from Afghanistan, i feel seen by Brennan. He understands, and it doesnt seem like hes using it as a bit, its an actual part of his character and hes respecting it by doing it justice.
His performances were chilling and so real
"I think you are saving the world, but you think you are hurting it" is such an awesome line, a great way to sum up the memory and such an awesome callback to what happened earlier in the episode, holy cow.
LOVE Spenser’s style. It fits the system and the setting. You’re surrounded by horrors you’re unaware of, and survival is hard. Being willing to *face* those things? Will break you.
I love that he's letting the characters do their own story and he's not really interrupting or trying to force anything that's not naturally happening with the character relationships..or anything like that.
All I want to see is a Sean and Auggie team-up. SEAN. AUGGIE. NOW.
worrrrrrd
Twist with a letter from Sean's mother was SO GOOD.
There have been a few moments in the whole of critical role cannon that has left me in absolute awe… Mulligan reading those letters ranks in those moments, that was an incredible mechanic and extraordinary performance.
Zehra Fazal is so good in this - fantastic improv character work!
Her voice is so lovely and calming, I want to listen to her narrate books.
40:30 I love the trick with the letter. Was so effective, Brennan was amazing!
I was thinking the same, Spenser is just amazing in the way he engages players!
Had to take a big mental break from the episode after that part wow it was hard to watch. Beautiful acting
Turns out it was Marisha’s idea for her to write something from Peggy to Sean, but Spenser wrote the other version letter and didn't tell her. Think only Brennan knew.
Source? Would like to read/watch the discussion@@badwolfCR
I feel like Spencer really hit his stride in terms of GMing this episode, the first episode was good but this one felt more polished and immersive and was genuinely incredible
I came back to Needle & Thread after watching all the other Candela content. I found it harder to get into at first, I don't know, I felt maybe Spenser was a bit nervous at the start, and I didn't quite like the train scene dragging on for as long as it did, but I'm so so glad I came back.
Brennan is absolutely KILLING me this game. The acting all around is just astounding. Its so hard to comprehend that they're just making this up on the fly (like the baseball game story!)
Wowza
That trick with sean’s letter was brutal and awesome.
This episode goes HARD! The convo between brennan and marisha!! Luis performing his lungs out. The ENDING!! This one was so good can't wait to find out what happens next!!
I desperately need more ttrpg content with Luis, he's absolutely joined my shortlist of all-stars
Horror is always going to be an aquired taste, and Candela Obscura goes *hard* on the horror, so it's completely understandable that it's not going to be for everybody and fans should respect that.
That having been said, speaking as someone who normally doesn't like most stories in the horror genre, I'm really enjoying it, and it's depressing to see people complaining that it's even here for the people who do want it. Of course everyone here loves Critical Role, but diversification with stuff like Illuminated Worlds and Midst show that they have directions they can go if the world of Exandria doesn't last forever and that's not a bad thing. The main series has been going near enough non-stop for almost 10 years now and some people can't handle a little bit of something different? Really?
Also - for the record - I'm finding Spencer to be a great DM. Sure he maybe doesn't have Matt's range for different character voices but who has? That's like comparing a good guitarist to Hendrix. Anyone would fall short being judged by those standards, but he's still doing a lot better than many of us could manage. Plus, if you stop comparing him to Matt you might find that he has qualities of his own. For instance, I find his descriptive language when setting the scene for the cast absolutely incredible.
I think CR kinda shot themselves in the foot by not doing mini-campaigns more earlier. The average fan is too attached to Matt and the main cast, and they don't want to watch anything else other than the main campaign.
I am not into horror, normally I go along with some of it because my wife is. But so far, and series 2 has upped that even more, Candela Obscura is just done so well, engaging and intense, that I just love it. The short arc fits in with that too, I believe. Great addition to what CR offers.
@@evetobe They used to do a lot more one-shots but I agree that the main campaigns are what most are into. Hopefully, more side content like this will attract people who don't follow the longer campaigns,.
tbf I think candela would have maybe more popularity if this was the first season, i think its much more successful in what its trying to do, so far
Some people just hate change
Vessel & Veil was good, but man Needle & Thread feels like one I will rewatch in the not so distant future. Absolutely amazing. Also that ending felt kind of like vindication for the ending of Calamity 3 xD I know Spencer didn't do it on purpose but damn... I'm scared for the next and last episode
Vessel and Veil was classic pulp adventure, going a bit more heavily with Robbie.
Needle and Thread goes straight in the hardcore eldritch and psychological horror, luv it.
Kinda liked Vassal and Veil better.
Vassal and Veil feels like pure fluff compared to this! 😂 I love both, but dang they really said "Okay, now that we know it works, let's REALLY go for the horror!!"
Man i love talisens voice in the Intro, he has such an epic voice, always gives me the goosebumps.
Almost as epic as, say, the voice of an old god?
Hmmm…
Man would fit excellently as a twilight zone/ outer limits style anthology host certainly got the voice and dress sense
I could hear him host PBS Mystery! And then I could die happy.
All they did was record him as he was waking up, he says that exact thing in his sleep right before he wakes up
And another demonspawn enters the world because you spelled Taliesin's name wrong. It's so easy to remember too. Ta (To) Lie (and) Sin.
1:25:46 “No shit. I’m a monster too.”
The growl in his voice when he says that. I think I’m in love. Or at least lust lol
Sir, miss, person on the internet, I’m gonna need you to calm down.
@@itwasidio1736NAH IMA NEED YOU TO STEP IT UP
you should watch battle for beyond 👀
@@leeblock9573 ❤ Nikhil is my favorite Brennan himbo.
I'm absolutely falling in love with Spenser's cinematic dming. What a good episode!
I knew I'd love it from the very first scene in first episode, when it was clear that he likes setting a scene like in a movie.
it really is something yeah
Sean and Aunty Bea at 2:14:00 >>>>>>
Absolute heart wrenching moment that had me SHOOK!
Brennans ability to portray war PTSD is intense.
Spenser i fucking love you. I swear i never saw a GM and a narration style like this. The first hour is pure gold omg
I especially like the way more intense story and play with scars and trauma!
My fav gm tbh
Fascinating to hear different perspectives. I actually really dislike his style. It feels just too much. Like sit down and chill just a little
@megan7792 To be fair to the person who pioneered it, Aabriya Iyengar is much more subtle in her delivery
I prefer different GM styles for different systems. This one for a horror system is immaculate, I love how it feels likea movie im watching.
As a D20 fan (and by extension a fan of EXU calamity) Brennan and Luis being in this made it must see. But I have to put over Spencer - I love their GM style and how different it is from BLeeM, Mercer and Abriah - would love to see them do something horror themed over on D20
They did Neverfter on D20 earlier this year I think! That’s for sure horror based!!
@missmacapaca I'd describe Neverafter as grotesque over horrifying, because of the nature of DnD danger is... negligible and without spoiling too much, Neverafter isn't exactly a Halloween movie with the number of deaths or even bad things that happen, it's more the imagery than anything else. For actual horror, Candela is significantly better.
@@DaniMol tbh, sophomore year of fantasy high or acoc capture the dnd Fear better, and have death feel more present and the characters feel more threatened. neverafter is very fun but it's aesthetic without stakes
@@DaniMol Agreed, I feel like Neverafter was a darker action/thriller D20 show, but they can't really do TRUE horror when the table is full of hilarious improv comedians. Candela Obscura nailed the eldritch horror themes right out of the gate.
I love how Spencer has gotten more comfortable narrating this second episode. Im starting to appreciate his style a lot! It feels cinematic. I am excited what next episode will bring.
Spenser's choking sound was so good. He made them sounds so raw and visceral.
This episode was a rollercoaster of emotions, tension, and suspense. The emotions displayed by each cast member was so good, especially that scene with the letter, how the PTSD and the guilt affects Sean. Spencer’s storytelling is also really amazing, how he can keep the players at edge of their seats. Can’t wait to see the conclusion of this amazing chapter. :)
Marisha time and time again brings in the most interesting characters. Shes becoming the master of mystique and its scary how fast she has grown into layering a character. Shes always been able to live in the character. But now she has the acting and the fundamental atmosphere and layers of a good character to begin with and it crosses eachother into instant classics territories.
I noticed right away that he was wearing makeup (i hope its makeup) and my initial reaction was 'Oh neat! He looks like someone living in the setting" , but it wasn't until his panic attack with the letters that it really hit for me. He looks like a man who's endured many sleepless nights
I love Spencers cinematic storytelling and how f*ing tough he makes it for his players. It makes it so much more real and gives this actual stakes. Though don’t get me wrong: Seeing Matt DMing is forever a treat.
Also it is so smart of critical role to introduce us to this system with different DMs : Showing us how to direct these haunting stories in different ways. Love watching it, and love that they always keep adapting, keep changing.
Man. Season 1 was light hearted, fun, yet still horrifying and dangerous. Made me cry. And laugh. And gasp. It was amazing.
Season 2 has me almost constantly gasping and crying. So much horror. Perfect for October. And the RP and lighting effects is freaking outstanding.
And the dming here... yes i do think Spencer is a bit rough on them and handing out those bleeds, brains and bodies a lot. But, i also feel it works so well for the story. And i feel hes maybe trying to get the group to realize they font have to be as scary as they seem. The scars thing is kind of cool tbh. Im really digging Spencer and his style. And this whole table, tbh.
Extremely impressed with Spenser's DM work, he's facing some of the biggest names in the industry and absolutely holding his own. It's eldritch horror to a tee, well tailored to the characters, and just so magnetic. Glad to add his name to my list of iconic DMs!
Amazing work. Brennan's performance brought me to tears, Auntie Bee feels so relatable to me... Everyone is on their A game ! Spencer's narration style fits the horror genre perfectly, and the high stakes (and harsh consequences) remind me of Calamity. Brilliant system, brillant worldbuilding, brilliant serie, cannot wait to see more !
Can't be oversaid- they nailed the intro for this show
Travis going into soldier mode was amazing! Fucking love that guy
45 mins in and Brennan is fucking me up. And then again @ 1:19:35 when he references what he asked Patia in the Calamity finale
this episode took me a whole day to watch because i kept rewatching so many scenes and just running around the run screaming!! this is without a doubt one of the best roleplays ive ever watched! congrats to everyone, congrats to spenser, dude youre doing a fantastic job! i really cannot wait for the finale!
SO relatable I did the same exact thing too 😅
Broooo- these guys are too good! It’s like Calamity all over again. I’m having to pause and take deep breaths every other scene just to survive the onslaught!
(spoilers? not confirmed yet but it's looking pretty likely)
brennan is literally addicted to dying as a player character in a shortform campaign/guest appearance
He played his character so reckless the entire time, I'm honestly surprised it took him so long (maybe?) make it happen.
Adrian Clairmont was just the beginning. He will sail to a billion tabletop roleplaying game shows. He will sail until all Apple Podcasts have him listed as a guest star. The GM is strong, but him acting out dying is beyond strength.
He is the end, and he has rolled for you.
Is Brennan wearing dark makeup around his eyes to make himself look tired and as though he has bags under his eyes? If so that's so cool. if not, jeez man get some sleep we worry about ya
His pasty Irish complexion doesn't help either.
Yeah he is I'm pretty sure, it gets more obvious in the 3rd episode
How hard is it for people to understand that the best part of this system, what makes it unique and fun ARE the marks and the scars and how they change the characters? It's a very short campaign so the GM has to be even more liberal with damage. Only the fourth scar kills. The players signed up for just this.
why does brennan lee mulligan do brennan lee mulligan things, such as ripping my heart out and stomping on it and it leaves me saying thank you so much sir
Truer words have never been spoken 🙌🏻
This is the greatest GMing I've ever seen, and I watch TTRPGs every day. It must be so fulfilling to finally put forth the stories you've been building in your head while creating an entire system. Hell yeah, Spencer Starke, I see you and it is magnificent.
As much as I absolutely LOVE Matt as a dm, watching Brennan for Calamity, and now Spencer for this has been a true treat.
Keep blowing it out of the water!!
Right like I LOVE seeing all of their different styles of storytelling and DMing! It makes all of their content feel fresh and unique! 😊
Episode one was amazing in its storytelling and acting from all the players, but episode two is an absolute masterclass. From Spencers cinematic direction and cuts, to the phenomenal acting from all of the characters. Sean's letter scene was incredible as was the piece with Marion and Jean. All in all, absolutely incredible work from you all.
I cannot wait to see the character building episode because there are so many connections and backstory set ups and I'd love to see how that came about.
This has me crying at almost 4am. These people are embodying these characters and really playing them true to their nature. I’m just engrossed in it.💖
1:25:46 “No shit. I’m a monster too.”
The growl in his voice when he says that. *shiver* *chefs kiss* I think I’m in love. Or at least lust lol
This whole episode was gut-wrenching - and there's still one left! I'm afraid for Candela and whoever comes out of this alive.
At about 51:40 when she say pale glowing blue, you can see Travis cocking his head in very much a ”what did you say??😳” way and it is the funniest thing. The man notouriously scared of ghosts in a horror series = gold quality content
Quick release appreciated, thank you Marisha and crew. Mission objective complete.
*Jean and Marion having a moment*
Marisha (Auntie B) 3:27:10: “Kith.” 👉👈
I went back specifically to look at Marisha's faces and was NOT disappointed
I cannot believe how many people are sleeping on this. Marisha and Travis remain the CR players most likely to Ship It.
literally all Luis has to do is go "mh" and I take 10d10 emotional damage needing 7 days of staring out my window in reverent silence to recover
The cast was on fire tonight. Incredible, tension driven storytelling. Bravo to everyone.
Insufficient vocabulary to praise this enough. Every episode these folks are all just leaving EVERYTHING on the table, real art. I thought last episode was incredible, but this was somehow even better?!
Also, how dare you, my feels can't survive another episode like this.
That letter was an assault directly to my soul. Unkind but effective storytelling
watching this is like the best things about books, movies, and commentaries all wrapped up into one. A holistic/artistic experience.
I am the worst audience member ever cause I keep pausing the video to take breaks and calm down because this is really interesting, which is great for my neighbours cause they don't hear me screeching "WOAH MY GOD", but it also means a four hour video takes seven hours lol. This isn't like the average Dungeons and Dragons stuff where you can put it on in the background, I have to put aside time to genuinely watch this with my whole brain cause it's so much fun (it's fun scary!).
EDIT: I've always thought Spencer kind of spooky but his smile at 1:19:33 is absolutely the most adorable thing ever
Damn. That letter was one hell of a way to rip your heart to shreds not once but twice. Well done.
this episode was so, SO fucking insane. so many incredible moments!
from that wonderful intro taking us through everyone's off-time, the way the scenes shift is so pleasing in a way that i've never seen a live play game be before. spenser does a great job of taking us through the scenes at a pace that always feels right for the moment - the switch between sean and auntie bea and holding us in suspense, and then the delivery of that line before the big reveal about who is the creature, i mean it was so fucking amazing.
the reveal that nathaniel has a second character sheet, the way dr. jean is (not) coping with her father's death and displacing her guilt about him and alice onto others, auntie bea's dedication to her sons and protecting them in the ways she knows how, marion and jean's literal movie moment that moved me to tears, and marion's sacrifice for the sake of the only family he knows! it's all so incredible, and the more reveals about their relationships and history, the harder everything hits.
this is 100% my favorite campaign of all the campaigns i've ever watched. masterful work from the crew on this gorgeous set, it makes things so atmospheric and i find myself getting caught up in the broken glass panels and swirling astrolabe. the costuming, the makeup, this is a freaking masterpiece and an immediate obsession. i'm gonna be making fanart about this until my fingers fall off, i'm sure
That second letter... GOOSEBUMPS
Loving this cycle, these players, and Spencer. This is really showcasing the system and highlighting how different it is to D&D. My favorite short story content outside of Calamity! Keep up the great work!
first circle was also good but to be honest it had less horror and was more of an adventure quest . Except for Robbie Daymond character which went full horror in episodes 2 and 3 ( my favorite part of the story ) and also episode 3 was better than the other 2 because the stakes were high
I like how Ep 2 was like " Yeah before the we can continue with the peak cosmic horror noir we need to collect our human tear tax for Our Dark Lord Talesinn". 30 min in and my chest physically hurt from heartache.
Secret society: keeps detailed folders full of info on every member in easily accessible locations and almost every member wears a very distinct pin on their clothing... very secret indeed.
Candela Obscura’s Circle of Needle and Thread, also known as the Circle of Trauma and Death
Needle and the Thread, gotta get you outta my head. Neddle and the Thread, gonna wind up dead.
As a 4ever DM, one half of me has been irrevocably in love with Matt and the other half with Brennan. I adore Taliesin's freaky immortal mind. So when I say this, I mean it : Spencer is my favourite horror TTRPG GM so far. Also, candela obscura is such a delicious system, I wish I had ppl to GM a session.
Let's make a game
honestly same, as a fellow forever DM the only difference is that I already have a Candela Obscura one shot planned for Halloween and I honestly cannot wait!
Him and Jason Carl from Vampire are great at horror.
You might enjoy checking out Ivan Van Norman's horror games some time if you haven't. Ten Candles, Sagas of Sundry, Outbreak: Undead are all on RUclips
every GM and player watching this good stuff here thinkin "man i wanna play so hard" lol feel ya, friend
40:35 starts the most painful thing I've heard in along time. I had to pause for a moment because I had a relative with a very similar frame of mind when they were alive. Then to have that flipped back around into a different letter. Damn it guys, you are messing me up and I love it.
A+ story telling.
I want Brennan to DM the next circle. I'd love to see Sam, Taliesen, Liam, Erika, Emily, & Lou as the circle.
I was apprehensive at first getting into this new style game as I am a OG critical role fan back in the Geek and Sundry days. I am so glad I took a chance on this series. Spencer is killing it and the cast is unreal. Well done all
While watching the episode: I'm so glad I decided to watch this now instead of waiting longer!
At the end: .....I should have waited until I could binge the whole arc
This is some of the most intense role playing I've ever seen. I don't even know how I could convince other people to play this system with the same type of devotion. It seems to be made for you all. And still, I want to try. Masterful episode.
I appreciate Matt as a GM, he's the GM that I aspire to be. But, having another GM on the show feels like a breath of fresh air to me.
Every time I think I've seen many of the best DMs I learn about some new with a completely different style who's absolutely amazing. First it was Matt, then Chris Perkins, then Brennan, now it's Spenser. Iove the way he runs the game, absolutely blows me away :O
So much to learn from for my own TTRPG group.
The cast is also amazing as always, especially Zehra.
Jason Carl hit me really hard in this way when I started watching LA By Night. Radically different style, extremely skilled.
that calamity reference brennan i yelled, got up, and walked away from my laptop
That letter scene was so good
Anyone else rewatch Brennans monologues and descriptions ie 2:41:57 to see the tables reactions
you ever feel emotions so strongly it makes you physically ill? not even an hour in everyone’s performances are killing it but MAN. BRENNAN. i’m gonna need at least a week to just. sit with that.
Brennan. Look, I just wanna talk. You can't be doing that to my heart, bud.
"Are you weakest at the shoulder or at the elbow?"
I feel like some people need a reminder:
Every GM is different. Matt and Spencer are different.
Every set of players of different. The build for say, a sponsored giggly one shot and a game designed to be gut wrenching are going to be different. 4/7 of Calamity being in this chapter is a big flag.
Matt went easier on the other circle because that’s the game they all wanted to play. We know they discuss these kinds of boundaries and lines extensively; they’ve said it a bunch of times.
Spencer is going ham on this circle because that’s the game they want to play. You don’t see any of them complaining about it, because this is the difficulty they asked for.
A reminder of the rules: Only on a roll of a 6 is it a full success, and 2 6s mean a critical success. Everything else is varying degrees of mixed successes and failures, all of which have some cost.
Spencer is being liberal with the cost, because that’s what raises the stakes, which is, once again, what the players signed up for.
Marion’s ability didn’t fix the scar LT took, but it stopped him from getting fully suffused with bleed and probably outright killing him, which is what was about to happen if it had grabbed his lungs.
Jean took some bleed for getting hands on with a quickly deteriorating person because that’s setting the tone for how fucked LT would have been if it weren’t for Marion’s ability, giving weight to the danger posed by this monster.
Marion’s critical success still resulted in him taking the scar because he was told he was taking that scar regardless of the roll for the attempt of the move. He was literally absorbing enough bleed to corrupt an astrolabe, if he had done anything short of a full success, it would have likely killed him. He did succeed and save everyone else though. The rift closed with no other issues, all the monsters got finished off with no extra rolls, the scene ended then and there and they were safe.
4 body on Sean at the end feels like a lot until you think about the actual damage a full shotgun blasts to the chest at close range can really do. It’s wild that spencer even gave him 4 body instead of outright death for that. Sean, realistically, would not survive that.
Spencer already set the stakes for this game in episode 1 when he made them finish a mission and then immediately jump into another with no patch up time. I get that this level of intensity isn’t for everyone. But your own inability to handle the stakes doesn’t constitute a mistake on Spencer’s part.
You have to treat this like a video game difficulty setting with 3 modes: Easy, Balanced, Survivor. The previous chapter was played on Balanced mode. This circle is playing on Survivor mode.
Yeah you're right. I knew from the get-go that Spencer purposefully made things difficult because they only had 3 episodes and all the players were ok with it, but it was still painful for me to watch in the first episode (I had lots of fun though). The instant 2 bleed, the double mark for looking at the broken mirror and the unnaturally high competence of even non eldritch horror adversaries compared to the main cast (like the scientist on top of the train) come to mind from the last episode. I have to make it clear that these are all extremely minor grievances for me and I loved the whole thing through and through, but it still troubled me slightly. I wondered how a system where most successes felt like slight to major failures would feel enjoyable to the average person, and worried that much of the cast would soon be incapacitated as time went on.
However, when I thought of the dice more as a narrative device with less power than in dnd, I started to have a bit more fun with it. I still do wish that the campaign was less brutal though, because that's the kind of thing I personally enjoy more. Then again, I'd also enjoy more breather and downtime moments, but they don't really have the time to do any of that either with only 12 hours to wrap up the chapter.
Candela Obscura has officially become my new favorite show on youtube. Love this game!❤
Spent this entire episode praising Brennan under my breath.
...SO LIKE-
You guys and gals are killing it. Really digging the pragmatic twist to this circle of hard boiled characters that have been through a rough world and dealing with an even weirder world. Really hope the remaining CR crew get a stab at this series for a third installment. Keep it up CRew
I love how the opening music theme is literally something straight out of Westworld. Dope af lol
I was thinking re: the first circle, that while it was spooky, it didn’t feel like horror to me-in part because the possibility of the characters dying seemed lower. This circle? This game? Straight up horror. Cheers to Spenser and the cast!
BLM's portrayal of PTSD is extraordinary. It's incredibly moving and I am certain many other vets feel the same.
Man... Brennan's Backstory got me ... and the switch in letters was amazingly executed
Candela obscura is the first horror series I've enjoyed. Really enjoying it!