Crafting a Mystery with Spenser Starke | Candela Obscura

[@kaniamia]

I adored how Spenser opened this chapter, not only in the middle of the action, but making the players decide on the fly who was in which perilous scenario. (ex. We cut to on top of the speeding train. Who’s on it?) If I ever GM a game, I’m absolutely going to take inspiration from that.

[@littleoldmanboy]

I convinced my players to give Blades in the Dark a try and I’m going to begin the first session this way. It seems like a great way to get the players as involved as possible, you indiscriminately throw them directly into a very specific circumstance which allows them to react creatively in response.

[@zlatan_2197]

Apart from designing the game, Spencer was great GM. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but I loved cinematic style of narration. It really goes well with overall style of Candela.

[@BigKlingy]

I love the way Spencer described Luis bringing heart to all his characters, since I REALLY felt that with Zerxus too.

[@kazeboiii]

Luis brings such a deep and profound emotional depth to any role he plays, it’s unreal-yes! Zerxus lives rent free in my brain.

[@TheBirdOfParadox]

No TTRPG stream since Calamity has grabbed and had me emotionally invested (read: deeply stressed) in the best of ways as CO Chapter 2 has. The way Spenser crafted his narrative around the players was masterfully done and I feel like it showed me some new ways of approaching that in my own GMing. I really hope we get to see him more.

[@kazeboiii]

Yes! One of my favorite (aka most stressful & anxiety-inducing) things Spenser did here in CO Ch. 2 was utilize a well-timed, intense pregnant pause. I could practically feel the way he was watching and gauging the reaction of the table in those moments as he dialed in on the exact trajectory of each moment. Something like that can easily be overdone and overplayed, but I never once felt like Spenser crossed that line. Brilliant

[@GaaMacgfx]

Spenser: "I know Brennan ability exceeds any human on the planet to be able to monologue" This is SO FREAKING true lmfao

[@Blue_Lunacy]

Hank Green​ might be close second, in specific scenarios.

[@rebeccabarnet6746]

I was just coming down here to comment this! XD

[@Centeris2]

I loved how much of the game was created by the players, and how often Spenser tossed the ball to the players to come up with details and where they were in scenes. It certainly helps that all the players are fast thinkers used to improv and yes-anding!

[@HailHydra27]

"You sly dog, you got me monologuing" -Brennan, the second no one else is talking

[@eccodreams]

Chapter 2 felt as special to me as Exandria Unlimited: Calamity. Chapter 1 is absolutely incredible and Matt does an immaculate job of setting the tone and world of Candela into stone, so don't get me wrong here, but Chapter 2. Wow. The cinematic approach to how Spenser describes the world and what it looks like captivated me immediately and held my attention even as I was doing other things irl. The perfect choice to have Brennan be the one whose character was mimicked by one of these weird monsters from beyond the Flare, the rapid growth and change of Luis' character, Travis and Marisha using their storied bond to portray perfectly imperfect characters, and Zehra. ZEHRA!!!! Spenser said it perfectly: pure precision!

[@RuailleBuaille]

Travis was the architect of his own nightmares....and what fantastic nightmares they were! :D

[@emmakane6848]

Love the description of how much each of the players brought to the table, and how Spenser relied upon them to carry some of the scenes. You could really see that in the episodes and I’m so glad he was just as excited as the rest of us to see what they would do next.

[@ktpleb]

If the story of the circle of Needle & Thread existed on paper instead of the internet, it would be considered a literary classic.

[@narwhalethefancy]

This chapter was so powerful, and Spencer did an amazing job GMing it. Can't wait until I can buy the book, haha.

[@maxwellmccoy1815]

i loved this season. this was my first time seeing spencer in anything and i loved his style so much. not to mention the cast was incredible with each other. im excited to see more candela

[@Blue_Lunacy]

If you like horror, Spencer GM a Ten Candles game on Twitch, Devil in The Details. You might have to dig a bit to find it.

[@sarcasm6669]

Truly hope we do get to see Spencer involved in future tales!

[@sarcasm6669]

He did an absolutely Stellar job helping orchestrate this amazing tale!

[@pippastrelle]

The soundtrack for everything Candela is so perfectly aesthetic and atmospheric

[@SpidersFace]

Love Mr. Starke's brain! Amazing gm'ing style, lovely narrative tone, great voice, and amazing presence!

[@tylerhazlett]

I remember Spencer when he was an editor at Sourcefed, and seeing how far he’s come and what he’s built is so amazing

[@ritaamber4034]

This was an incredible circle. I loved the way he directed the visuals that was so so helpful for me to become invested. I just got the core book and cannot wait to run it.

[@TheMadMedek]

It was great seeing half of EXU calamity back at the table. They have great chemistry.

[@TheWorldBelowDnD]

I would kill to DM someone like Brennan, not gonna lie... He's utterly amazing...

[@TreeHairedGingerAle]

Y'all just hit it out of the park. This is what real collaboration can do. No one's the strongest or the smartest or ranked, everyone has different strengths and different weaknesses and different skills and attributes and everyone works WITH each other... confident enough to step forward when you can contribute and know that others will have your back; but ALSO, even moreso, confident enough to set up a moment where you _know_ that someone else can step in, and do what you know THEY do best: encouraging them and supporting them in it so they can shine and make the whole thing really special. It's amazing, and the world that you create together Lives all the more for it.

[@TehPompkinHead]

Critical Role is so good at what they do.

[@SaintSolo]

Spencer is a badass i love his storytelling SO much its so vivid

[@HemphillAnimation]

Candela Chapter 2 was so amazing and such a good story with great twist and characters.

[@carlotacosta9193]

I fell in love with Sspencer's dming style, it made for such a dynamic watching experience!

[@Aranedlorwen]

I absolutely LOVED Spenser's DM style. Can we have more...pretty please? :)

[@Lunastrad]

Can Spencer GM again pretty please 🥺

[@quesocharred]

i second this!

[@thathiefsandiego]

Man, I understand some people didn't like the GM style, but they're losing so much fun not watching this table. I think it was absolutely fantastic, and since it ended I felt the need to rewatch it because I need more of these stories. I'm so hyped for the next one, but I think this one will always be a mark for me.

[@NOSTahlgia]

We're not losing "fun" if to us it's boring. Logic that better

[@thathiefsandiego]

@@NOSTahlgia sorry if i offended you

[@qazwsx014jsbd8]

​@@thathiefsandiegoyou did nothing wrong, don't worry lol

[@nickolassceltmorea]

Keep doing what your doing that's so awesome to watch

[@marklamourine3130]

"In the game I black out". Yep. When I'm in it it's great

[@geekwoafandom372]

I love Spencer's tie knot! Atlantic? Trinity?

[@alexisbroadwaylove8625]

Trinity I think. My brother did one for his graduation so I recognise it!

[@zachariahjudge3297]

I want to see the other tributary seasons animated just like the main campaigns.

[@emaus9398]

I don't like the cinematic dm style, never have, it gets frustrating for me so I've never sat through anything with it in and wouldn't have chosen to play a game with that dm style. "wouldn't have" because I really wanted to give Candela a chance so I sat through the first 30 minutes to see if I could stand it. Not only could I, I've watched almost all of this chapter, only not finished because of work taking up my time *shakes fist* Spenser is a fantastic dm and I often forgot how frustrated I normally get with the cinematic style because of his focus and narration. It was. A fantastic story and I'm hoping hearing the perspective of someone who also hates cinematic narration will encourage others try this chapter out, it's worth it and I think it might surprise you how used to the style you can get when the story and whole group are as good as they are

[@docsavage6156]

You've hit on the key, tho. It can be shit to play at the table, but this is theatre, so cinematic can work for that. Going on and one and only giving my players a few minutes out of an hour to actually play a game would suck.

[@walderlopes3372]

Interesting thing you said there. I would probably not like *playing* on that table, but *watching* these people play and Spenser be the GM was absolutely incredible.

[@barb61]

Chapter 2 was incredible- spencer was amazing as was the table- good stuff!

[@ronanh.9261]

Thank you so much!

[@Landis963]

0:42 This reminds me of my first completed attempt at a homebrew dungeon crawl - it was based on Destiny 2's "Last Wish" raid, which centers around an entity which can grant wishes, without needing to hear the words "I wish" first. So there was a thing where I would "grant" the "wishes" of the party, and in return the big boss monster (a souped-up Djinn) would get extra temp HP and, if any wishes were granted during the combat itself, it would heal per the amount of wishes made to date. Sadly I was a bit unsubtle during playtest and the players noticed I was slipping phrases like "do you wish to enter stealthily" into my phrasing, so the boss was a bit easier than intended.

[@TheTruePacmanMG]

Was such a fantastic chapter.

[@darksendkilla]

When is this man getting his own day of the week to run his own campaign either in the candela or exndria universes! the only reason you are not up there with Matt and Bennann and Abria is a lack of exposure! I think I said this on each of the 3 videos but all 3 of your chapter 2 episodes were the greatest TTRPG session in the history of TTRPGs each one outdoing the last! The way you create a cinematic experience and going back to the session 0 video even explained that to all the players ahead of time! You are truly becoming a master of the craft with your own unique style!

[@mattlewis9261]

You did a Great job! Hope to see you doing more live GMing.

[@jrdeborja0000]

Honestly. I love his world building expansion.

[@jonivirolainen4751]

Interesting video for sure and it was fantastic to see how much all the players took to the table but still I expected a few words how Spenser crafted the mystery. Or did I miss the whole point?

[@katybechnikova2821]

I love how we get different styles of GMing in this series. I can't wait when inevitably they recruit Brennan as a GM. I would shit myself in the first few minutes.

[@madeline569]

He is extremely busy with his own show on D20 and his podcast and doing kids camps on the side

[@katybechnikova2821]

@@madeline569 He did Calamity. If he's not available, good for him.

[@matthewgordon3281]

I have a gamer crush on Spencer; wanna play in a game he runs.

[@Greg-oc7dj]

I love the game and love this video, but Spenser's vest is so good that it's distracting. I want it.

[@elmurdoc]

We need a side dive of candela oscura

[@ilapix333]

Obsessed with this game already, hope one day It will be translate in italian so I could play with my friends ❤

[@Awkward_Ramble]

This might be an over exaggeration based off just these three episodes, but if Zehra became main cast? 🎉 She gave me the same energy and vibe as when Robbie and Aimee came for their first episodes in EXU, and it is kind of addictive seeing that experience of building exploration. Makes me wonder what she would bring to the table for a longer series or how different her characters would be with repeat Candela appearances.

[@hem9483]

no. lol. she's new to ttrpgs. that's not a good fit for main cast.

[@Awkward_Ramble]

@@hem9483 Okay? I wasn’t saying she should be main cast right now, don’t pass go. I was saying she was awesome, I’m excited to see if she’ll return, what she’ll bring when she does, and if she ever became main cast I would be excited. Also, Robbie Daymond was brand spanking new and stuck around for two side stories, multiple one shots, and 15 episodes of the main campaign, with a fan following of people wanting him to be main cast. I’mma say “new”-ness isn’t a barometer you should be measuring by.

[@evetobe]

@@hem9483 only if you are a boring gatekeeper, bb

[@jacygoldring4939]

I love her, though we've already got 7 whole main cast players there has to be a limit to how many people you can keep main cast I have been interested in seeing a game played with a rotating party for awhile though...

[@aarons3014]

I agree with you. I thought her choices always served the story, and were always interesting. The flame scar is a good example. Most people's scars are never mentioned again. She got to use hers. Robbie did too, when he let a spirit into his head. To me, that shows they were both playing at an advanced level.

[@MrSHADOWANGEL999]

A really unique style

[@Cincelia]

the magical chickens seem so mundane but it made it so much fun!

[@elanurishunter]

It added the comedy bit to it at first 🤣

[@Ms.Kaleidoscope]

I could watch Spencer starke GM again and again and again, this chapter was absolutely breathtaking and I was so invested in the narrative, the characters, and the story! I really hope we get to see him GM again… and maybe even be a player in candela obscura!

[@xandostres]

I think Spencer's style of handing it off to the players is really good for sustainable GMing, though I believe it to be very party-dependent in the sense that if you have newer players or they're more on the shy end, or just have trouble improvising, it will be far less effective than seen on the show. I think the system mechanically as well is very open to interpretation, which makes for good content by professional game designers and actors, but I think the amount of things Candela doesn't give you is frustrating. There are multiple instances in which the game says "Hey we recognize people that want X or Y exist, but we won't accommodate for them", which is fine if you're running a niche type of game like one where the players can't die (there is no death in the rules). But it feels like it was put in to make as many people feel cool with playing it as possible, like you're frantically trying to catch as much sand as possible, but that lack of concentration makes the people you inherently do want to play the game slip through the cracks.

[@Rahul63942]

Is anyone else able to minimise KZbin and the video still play in the small screen?? I go it for most amd only chapter 2 of candela!!

[@thesinfoniaproject]

hold the damn phone, was that a weird remix of for the damaged coda at the intro? please tell me someone heard that

[@Coilla85]

And a lovely, horrifying story it was! ♡

[@Figgy5119]

PSA for those hoping that as the title stated that this was a feature about crafting a mystery: it's not, this is a video about being a collaborative DM, which is fine, but nothing new and not what the title implies.

[@harborwolf22]

Brennan seemed... Disconnected in a lot of this. Maybe that's just his manner.

[@emmakane6848]

A lot of people point out that when ever he plays but isn’t acting in a scene that his affect is a bit blank, but he is very much engaged despite that. I can think of a few moments in the 3 episodes where other players were doing something that shocked him - which you could see on his face very clearly and know he was paying attention. I just think that for the most part Brennan is always planning out his next move/seeing what abilities he can use because he knows how every choice matters in such deadly situations.

[@EarnestEgregore]

You mean like the whole three episode arc? I don't know, I think he seemed normal... My wife and I thought he had some of the better emotional beats along with his buddy... unless you just mean what you saw of him in this video? He's also a DM so a bit of disassociation is difficult to avoid when you have that type of mind, in my experience, but he seemed just as engaged as everyone else to me

[@harborwolf22]

@@EarnestEgregore I watched the entirety of the 'pregame' video they all did, and the first episode, and then some highlights. It wasn't like he was bored, just not as animated as he usually is, but I understand it's a long form thing and it's tough to 'STAY INTERESTED!' for the entire time. Compared to his usual content this is him being Mellow.

[@EarnestEgregore]

yea maybe taking it seriously and also maybe just feeling a little under the weather or something @@harborwolf22

[@rhysgeese1424]

It's an active listening/disassociating thing. He does this in other games he's a player in as well. It's more obvious here than in other actual plays because there are no cut aways.

[@DarkBishop342]

I wonder.... if you tie up Spenser's hands can he speak at all?

[@itwasidio1736]

some people just add a lot of gestures when they speak, so maybe not

[@frankmartinjr6236]

I don’t like how loose the rules are. People just making up stuff and rules is strange

[@jeccalou9894]

It's cooperative role play and improv heavy. It's not for everyone and that's OK. But D&D is not the be all end all of TTRPG. It's bloated and has so many arbitrary rules it makes it difficult for a normal player to follow any of it without an experienced DM or player. Candela Obscura (and plenty other TTRPGs) gives people an opportunity to play without having their hands and feet bound by rules.

[@NOSTahlgia]

Drop this guy please.

[@evetobe]

Thankfully CR won't listen to you, jerk

[@sabersight908]

this is a great explenation for how the story was made but GOD i hate this guys way of DMing its so bad, like emphasizing ever damn word doesn't make it mysterious or interesting, it just makes listening painfully slow and annoying, and also describing scenes like your watching a movie is quite odd in my opinion, i'd say you should just normal describing the enviorment and what people are doing, instead of describing a zoom in shot, a cut, etc.

[@docsavage6156]

It's LA, eveyone thinks that they're an auteur.

[@Thamer4life]

Not really keen on anything made or DMed by Downy Jr over here :l

[@sinbycosvi9]

....Okay?

[@xaj3252]

Yikes

[@navdhillon7912]

You are not good enough Spenser...stay home next time.

[@qazwsx014jsbd8]

You can dislike his dming without being such a dick about it