Before we tackle the review of The Secrets of Candarlin, I would like to thank the author Christopher Bünte for sending us a physical copy of his new gamebook.
If after reading this review you would like to purchase the product, you can contact the author directly through the Woohoomania official website or Facebook page. The prices are, at the moment, those indicated on the Kickstarter page. They start from 10 euros for the PDF and 40 euros for the box containing all the materials (including a digital copy).
Like the author’s previous projects, The Secrets of Candarlin has also been published in English and German. We have also reviewed The Kingdom Beyond the Hill by the same author.
Lots of Materials in a Practical Box
The author has accustomed us to high-quality products, with a huge amount of materials. Even in The Secrets of Candarlin we find, in the all-inclusive box, confirmation of the desire to offer an experience as complete as possible.
For convenience, I’ll summarize what’s in the box set that you can find for 40 euros:
- The Secrets of Candarlin gamebook in A5 format
- The map of the game locations in the city, in A3 format in black and white
- A double-sided map in A5 format in the colour of the geographical area
- A volume with a detailed description of the city of Candarlin and the main NPCs
- A pad with compilable character sheets
- Two six-sided dice
- A pencil
The packaging that contains all the game material is really practical. It is a sturdy cardboard box that will look great on your bookshelf.
However, if you don’t want to risk ruining the book by playing it, there are excellent alternatives on the author’s website to avoid having to “consume” what is provided in the package.
The Secrets of Candarlin Aesthetics Review
The story, divided into 340 paragraphs, takes up about 200 pages and makes the A5-format volume decidedly practical and easy to handle; an winning choice also considering the audience to which it is aimed.
Il librogame è infatti pensato per giocatori dai 12 anni in su. E’ molto apprezzabile che il linguaggio sia chiaro e perfettamente comprensibile e facilmente avvicinabile anche a chi non è madrelingua.
Each page is pleasantly decorated with a motif that recalls the sea, a reference to the geographical position of Candarlin, the port city where the adventure takes place. The text is accompanied by a fair number of illustrations, all decidedly evocative, which effectively convey the tones of the narration. Even though these are works of mixed origin (as explained by the author), the whole is not heterogeneous and makes the volume very interesting.
Game Rules and Character Creation
As per a classic gamebook, The Secrets of Candarlin is structured in paragraphs. At the end of each paragraph, you are asked to choose between two or more options that will allow you to proceed with the plot. In some cases, you will have to pass a test. In this case, you will have to roll the dice and the result will indicate the next paragraph to read.
To face the challenges within the story, it is, therefore, necessary to roll one or both six-sided dice, add the result and compare it with what is indicated in the paragraph to find out which direction to take. In other cases, it will be necessary to overcome a difficulty level for a test related to the characteristics of our character. Also, in this case, we will use the six-sided dice to overcome the obstacle without bad consequences.
Before we begin, however, we need to create our hero. Well, the rules for filling out the character sheet are simple. After choosing a name, you need to distribute 4 points for the characteristics and 6 for the skills. Our character’s hit points at the beginning of the adventure are 25 and as equipment, we will have a long dagger that gives us a small bonus to the attack. We will also have 20 gold coins and 2 food rations.
During the adventure, we will find other objects and weapons, but our character can carry a maximum of three weapons, armour and a shield. So careful choices will have to be made in the game.
An In-Depth Setting: Candarlin Queen of the Grey Sea
As anticipated, inside the package there is an A5-sized booklet of about 40 pages full dedicated to the city of Candarlin.
This is the description of the setting of the port city in the fantasy continent of Te Arras which is the backdrop to the adventure of the gamebook. The text presents an overview of general topics including the geography of the area, the history and the peculiarities of the population, including the laws, religion and habits. Among these pages are listed 28 important places of the city, such as the lighthouse and the Grand Bazaar. In the end, we find the description of several important personalities of the city, a series of real cards of the NPCs that we could meet along the unfolding of the plot.
A Captivating Plot Within Everyone’s Reach
In The Secrets of Candarlin, you take on the role of a young adventurer on the streets of Candarlin, once the proud capital of the kingdom of Ogduria and now part of the Numedian Empire after a lost war.
At first, with a simple mission, you will find yourself helping a stranger and you will be catapulted into a vortex of events. You will face thieves, solve puzzles and explore dungeons. The resistance against the invaders is stirring in the streets and the secret society of the Shadows of the Night seems involved. Furthermore, Lord Garmantis and the High Priest of Light are looking for something mysterious.
This is the premise of the adventure contained in The Secrets of Candarlin, which I will not spoil so as not to ruin the gaming experience. Christopher Bünte has great experience in writing gamebooks and has already set three other volumes (The Kingdom Beyond the Hill, The Temple of Shadows and Shadow over Brintal) in the imaginary world of Te Arras. Don’t worry, it is not mandatory to know the other texts or have played them to fully appreciate this adventure.
The Secrets of Candarlin Review Conclusions
After having faced this gamebook a couple of times, I can say that it is an excellent product. The plot is fluid and well organized, and the support of the setting volume is certainly an added value. The abundance of accessories in the box reinforces the impression of a complete and practical product, even if the binding does not allow a high stress from opening.
If you love fantasy stories full of adventure and mystery, The Secrets of Candarlin is the product for you, even if you have never approached a gamebook!
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