Hero Points aren’t just handed out for nothing; they’re earned through actions that align with the setting’s genre, themes, and your character’s concept. The more you engage with the story and stay true to your character’s role, the more Hero Points you’ll accumulate. Gamemasters can award Hero Points to players for particularly great roleplaying, clever ideas, or actions that enhance the narrative. Players can also give Hero Points from their own pool to other players, fostering teamwork and collaboration.

Aligning with Genre: In a post-apocalyptic game, your scavenger character finds a makeshift weapon in the ruins of an old city, perfectly capturing the gritty survivalism of the setting. This earns a Hero Point for staying true to the harsh, resourceful nature of the genre. The gamemaster acknowledges the moment and awards you a Hero Point.

Roleplaying True to Character: In a space opera setting, your starship captain refuses to abandon their ship during an important battle, rallying the crew to hold the line against overwhelming odds. This earns a Hero Point for embodying the captain’s unyielding sense of duty and leadership. Seeing the moment's significance, another player gives you one of their Hero Points as a gesture of support.

Creative Problem Solving: In a cyberpunk setting, your hacker character finds an unconventional way to bypass a security system by exploiting a flaw in an old, forgotten code. The clever move aligns with the hacker’s resourceful and tech-savvy nature, earning a Hero Point. The gamemaster rewards your ingenuity with an additional Hero Point.

Playing to the Theme: In a historical drama, your diplomat character uses knowledge of ancient treaties to broker peace between warring factions. This earns a Hero Point for fitting perfectly with the game’s theme of navigating political intrigue and historical nuance. Another player, impressed by your character’s strategic thinking, offers you a Hero Point from their own pool.

Engaging in Conflict: In a supernatural thriller, your character deliberately steps into a haunted house, fully aware of the dangers lurking inside. The action increases the suspense and earns a Hero Point for embracing the eerie, tense atmosphere of the genre. The gamemaster, recognizing the boost to the tension in the game, awards you a Hero Point.

Rewards

Hero Points are awarded by the gamemaster for strong roleplaying, creative thinking, and staying true to the genre and theme. This system ensures that Hero Points are not only used to enhance the narrative but also serve as a way to keep the game balanced and engaging for all players.

Roleplaying Reward: After delivering an impassioned speech to rally your companions before a major battle, the gamemaster awards you a Hero Point for bringing the moment to life and setting the tone for the upcoming conflict.

Creative Use of Traits: Your character, who has the “Master of Disguise” trait, uses it in an unconventional way to impersonate a rival noble at a banquet, gaining critical information. The gamemaster rewards this creativity with a Hero Point.

Staying True to Genre: In a science fiction game, your character decides to hack into a space station’s mainframe using outdated technology from the early days of space exploration, aligning perfectly with the retro-futuristic theme. This earns you a Hero Point.

Contributing to the Atmosphere: Your character, a bard in a fantasy setting, plays a haunting melody during a quiet moment around the campfire, deepening the mood and earning a Hero Point for enhancing the scene’s atmosphere.

Building Tension: In a thriller game, your character deliberately takes a dangerous, suspenseful path through the city’s dark underbelly, knowing it’s a risky move. The gamemaster awards you a Hero Point for contributing to the story’s tension.

Rolls

Hero Points can be earned by rolling two or more of a kind. Whether you’re using dice or playing cards, this mechanic rewards you for those lucky moments when the randomizer falls in your favor.

Dice Example: During a skill check, your character rolls three d6s and gets a pair of 4s and a 2. This earns you a Hero Point for the matched numbers, rewarding you for that bit of luck.

Cards Example: In a game using playing cards, your character draws two 7s during a test of wits. This earns you a Hero Point, acknowledging the lucky draw and giving you an extra resource to use later.

Another Dice Example: If your game uses d10s and you roll three 6s in a test of strength, you earn a Hero Point. The more dice you roll, the greater the chance of earning those valuable points, but it also keeps things fair and consistent.

The Lightspress Handbook isn’t just another rulebook. This is a reimagining of what roleplaying can be, challenging the norms and redefining how we think about storytelling in games. Forget the flashy mechanics designed to impress; this book strips things down to what truly matters: playing your characters and crafting their stories. Whether you’re exploring the intricate landscapes of traditional fantasy, venturing into the unknown in space opera, uncovering secrets in a gritty crime drama, or getting lost in the cozy charm of cottagecore fantasy, The Lightspress Handbook offers a universal, adaptable approach that fits almost any genre. It’s especially designed for those who are eager to dive into genres left in the shadows, like dark academia and magical realism.