Explore the creative power of release in this issue of The Manifesto. Under the third quarter moon, we reflect on subtraction, refinement, and the quiet strength of letting go. Includes a new release, Random Adventures Volume I: Shadows & Pursuits.

Balance and Renewal: The Manifesto | Vernal Equinox | 20 March 2025

Get the latest updates from Lightspress, including plans for SECTION-R, the Brack, and upcoming books in fantasy, espionage, and character theory. Plus, a statement on print editions and what's next for the Order of the Magpie.

The wait is over! Random Adventures Volume I: Shadows & Pursuits is here—a system-agnostic sourcebook for crafting mysteries, chases, and investigations that evolve with every choice. Get your copy today and make every adventure unforgettable!

A modern espionage roleplaying game where intelligence, subversion, and quiet resistance shape the world. Players navigate betrayal, tradecraft, and high-stakes power struggles in a game where success is measured in silence.

DoubleZero is officially retired, but its spirit lives on. A new modern espionage roleplaying game is coming, built using The Simple Approach. Learn why DoubleZero had to go and what is replacing it.

The Manifesto 🌕 14 March 2025

Discover how James Bond 007: Role-Playing in Her Majesty’s Secret Service revolutionized tabletop roleplaying with hero points, cinematic mechanics, and risk-based action. Learn why this groundbreaking game still influences modern design and what made it both brilliant and flawed.

The first quarter moon marks a time for action, turning ideas into reality. In this issue of The Manifesto, we explore the messy beauty of creation, new releases, and updates from Lightspress. Read now!

Order of the Magpie, a heroic fantasy roleplaying game of exploration, discovery, and knowledge, is now available! Step into the role of scholars and seekers recovering lost artifacts, protecting history, and navigating intrigue. Built on The Simple Approach, this story-driven game offers a fresh take on fantasy adventure. Get your copy today!

Rethinking GM’s Day as Growth & Meaning Day: A call to challenge outdated models, support small creators, and push roleplaying forward. Join the conversation on accessibility, diversity, and the future of the hobby.

Should you release your work for free? After nearly a decade of data, I’ve chosen Pay-What-You-Want (PWYW) over free. Here’s why it works, how it affects visibility, and what the numbers reveal.

Game Changer explores non-roleplaying books that have had an impact on me as a designer, gamemaster, and player.

The Manifesto 🌑 27 February 2025

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Now Available: The Simple Approach

Things shift. Some doors close, others open. Pages vanish without a sound, replaced by something sharper, something more intentional. No grand proclamations, no eulogies, just the quiet work of refining, reshaping, and moving forward.

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Every gamemaster has hit that mid-campaign slump where pacing drags, players lose focus, and the story loses momentum. TV writers face the same problem, but they have spent decades refining ways to keep audiences engaged. Save the Cat! Writes for TV breaks down those techniques into something practical. If your campaign could use stronger narrative hooks, better pacing, or more satisfying payoffs, this book has something to offer.

Game Changer explores non-roleplaying books that have had an impact on me as a designer, gamemaster, and player.

“You may say that people look for meaning in everything, but they don’t. They’ve got life going on around them, but they don’t look for meaning there. They look for meaning when they go to a movie. I don’t know why people expect art to make sense when they accept the fact that life doesn’t make sense.”

Game Changer explores non-roleplaying books that have had an impact on me as a designer, gamemaster, and player.