Worlds of Abjuration is your guide to building immersive settings where abjuration magic takes center stage. Whether you're creating realms fortified with protective wards, or societies that thrive on their ability to repel evil forces, this book gives you the tools to make abjuration magic a core part of your roleplaying setting. Packed with practical advice, tips, and examples, Worlds of Abjuration helps you develop vibrant locations, powerful supporting characters, and engaging plot hooks—all designed to showcase the magic of defense, negation, and protection. Get ready to explore worlds where the power of abjuration shapes the very foundation of fantasy!

Cursed Grimoire is your ultimate spellbook for dark fantasy roleplaying, packed with nearly 400 spells to add a chilling edge to your game. From sinister curses to forbidden rituals, these spells offer endless possibilities for those who dare to wield them. Whether you're summoning eldritch forces or bending shadows to your will, this grimoire is the perfect tool for any sorcerer, warlock, or necromancer looking to dive into the darker side of magic. Get ready to unleash the arcane!

This book has been remastered and expanded to align with The Simple Approach, enhancing its ease of use while staying fully compatible with The Foragers Guild and all other Lightspress games. It’s also designed to be system-agnostic, allowing you to integrate it seamlessly with any roleplaying system or setting using the free conversion rules available in the Lightspress Handbook.

Dive into the shadowy depths of Dark Fantasy with

Cursed Creatures

Cursed Characters is a must-have book for any Dark Fantasy roleplayer. Packed with sinister traits and twisted variants of familiar archetypes, it plunges players deep into a world where power always comes at a price. Whether you're reshaping your hero into a tragic figure marked by fate or crafting an entirely new cursed character, this book offers dark, immersive options to elevate your roleplaying experience. Every trait and character type is designed to fit seamlessly into Dark Fantasy settings, where danger, despair, and eldritch forces loom large over every decision.

Step into the world of The Foragers Guild, where knowledge is treasure and every artifact tells a story. Dive into a story-focused, character-driven roleplaying experience where your decisions shape the path ahead.

The Foragers Guild isn’t just another fantasy setting; it’s a place where the pursuit of knowledge takes center stage. Your characters are members of an esteemed organization dedicated to collecting and preserving artifacts of cultural and historical importance while studying the natural and supernatural creatures that inhabit this detailed world.

Tomorrow hopefully, Friday at the latest, depending on when my editors get back to me and how many spoons I have.

Print via Amazon next week.

Step into the allure and enchantment of The Simple Approach Romance in Fantasy, a captivating book that effortlessly intertwines the romance genre with your favorite fantasy settings. This story-driven, character-centered resource invites you to a world where passionate love stories, intricate relationships, and heartfelt connections take center stage. Immerse yourself in detailed scenarios inspired by The Witcher, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Kushiel’s Dart. Whether you're a seasoned roleplayer or new to the experience, explore the enchanting realms and timeless bonds of fantasy romance. Engage with a setting where your next love story is just a roll away!

Discover hidden truths in a world where magic meets mystery. The Simple Approach to Mystery in Fantasy invites you to engage in a story-focused, character-driven roleplaying experience where unraveling mysteries is more than just a plot point; it is the heart of the adventure. Imagine exploring a fantasy setting of your choice, where every corner hides secrets waiting to be uncovered. This book layers traditional mystery genre elements onto a fantasy backdrop, creating an atmosphere filled with intrigue, suspense, and the thrill of the unknown.

Explore the chilling depths of The Simple Approach to Horror in Fantasy, a haunting book that seamlessly integrates horror into your favorite fantasy settings. This atmosphere-heavy, tension-filled resource draws you into a world where dark rituals, ancient curses, and unspeakable horrors lurk in the shadows. Engage with eerie scenarios inspired by The Witcher, The Shadow of the Wind, and The Dark Tower series. Whether you're an experienced roleplayer or stepping into this dark genre for the first time, uncover the fearsome creatures and sinister plots of horror fantasy. Welcome to a place where every heartbeat is a die roll away from dread!

Join the intrigue of The Simple Approach to Espionage in Fantasy, an enthralling book that masterfully combines the espionage genre with your favorite fantasy settings. This character-centric, plot-driven resource invites you to explore a realm where spies, double agents, and covert missions are the norm. Immerse yourself in intricate plots inspired by The Lies of Locke Lamora, The Gentleman Bastard series, and the Night Angel Trilogy. Whether you're a veteran roleplayer or new to the scene, uncover the secrets and hidden agendas of espionage fantasy. Connect with a domain where your next covert operation is just a roll away!

Join the intrigue and adventure of The Simple Approach to Crime in Fantasy, a captivating book that seamlessly blends the crime genre with your favorite fantasy settings. This story-focused, character-driven resource immerses you in a world where heists, cons, and clandestine operations are the order of the day. Dive into detailed scenarios inspired by Fafhrd & the Grey Mouser, Thieves’ World, and the Vlad Taltos novels. Whether you're a seasoned roleplayer or new to the experience, explore the dark alleys and hidden treasures of crime fantasy. Connect with a realm where your next score is just a roll away!

Today, I want to share a tale that bridges my past and present in roleplaying. The Serpent's Noose, our latest addition, has roots stretching back to the early 2000s. Inspired in part by E.R. Eddison's book The Worm Ouroboros, this campaign setting examines the endless cycles of life, death, and rebirth — a concept deeply intertwined with Buddhist and Hindu philosophies.

So I’ve talked a bit about cottagecore, I’ve discussed dark academia, and at some point I’ll write about magical realism. The throughline for me is escapism. They’re all ways of looking at the world in, if not an entirely positive and hopeful way, then at least a comforting one. One can see the tropes of each genre as coping mechanisms, literally for the characters in these stories and vicariously for those of us in this real world. There is a simplicity in these genres; they may be difficulty to explain, sure, and different people will have a wide range of definitions about what fits within each category, but you know it when it feels right. If nothing else, characters can be seen to be living under a code of ethics, or a personal philosophy, uncomplicated principles that guide their lives.

What I want to talk about today is dark academia. Both the aesthetic and the genre. I have an opinion, a conjecture, not a fact, about why it’s popular. While I cannot speak for everyone, and am not an expert, I can speak to why it appeals to me, and why it’s going to be a running thread through a lot of the modern roleplaying games I have planned over the coming months, possibly the next couple of years.

So, TLDR, I’m only doing games that explore cooperation, interaction, and investigation going forward. I’m not saying there will be zero violence. I’m saying that when it does exist, it’s to make a point, and it should be shocking, and it should be a terrible, tragic thing. But I’m also saying that meeting supporting characters and having romantic adventures in the classical sense and solving problems and making discoveries are fun, and escapist, and uplifting, and a balm for the soul. And that’s what I want to put out into the world.

Assessing the core elements of fantasy roleplaying for their adventure potential is important for both gamemasters and players. Character classes, spell types, magic weapons, magic items, and creature types are the building blocks of adventure, shaping the stories that unfold within the setting. By understanding the story capabilities of these elements, gamemasters can craft more engaging experiences, while players can make informed choices that align with their roleplaying preferences.

The following is an excerpt from Dreams of the Midnight Kingdom. Happy Pride, everyone!

The setting of the Midnight Kingdom examines profound themes of gender, love, and marriage, prompting characters to confront and redefine traditional constructs of masculinity and femininity while asserting their individual agency within the confines of societal expectations. This exploration adds layers of complexity to the narrative, inviting players to immerse themselves in a world where gender roles are fluid, love knows no bounds, and the institution of marriage is subject to scrutiny and reinterpretation.

For those interested in running a cottagecore RPG, understanding the gentle, pastoral essence of the genre is essential. Whether you're creating fantasy roleplaying games or crafting cozy fantasy scenarios, these books will provide you with the inspiration and understanding needed to bring the cottagecore aesthetic to life. Here are five books I recommend for diving into the cottagecore fantasy genre and incorporating its elements into your tabletop roleplaying games: