The Lighthouse 001 | The Lightspress Approach
17 June 2025
So Here’s the Plan…
The blog is for announcements.
The newsletter is for direction.
That line matters. The blog will keep doing what it does best: announcing new releases, archiving updates, supporting SEO. You can follow the RSS feed if you want to stay ahead of the catalog.
But the newsletter is something else. It’s not reactive. It’s not a list of links. This is where we name the shape of what we’re building.
We’re moving toward a steady, genre-centered structure. That means foundational works first. Then depth. Then variation. Each genre or subgenre will have its own spine, supported by a consistent set of tools:
A core game, aligned with the new streamlined version of The Simple Approach
A Companion, offering system-adaptable source material
A Dramatis Personae, with character profiles tailored to the genre
A Plot Hook Fake Book, filled with story seeds and narrative prompts
A Critical Twists book, built to bend stories at their breaking points
A Character Record, to support character-first play in that genre
A Campaign Record, to structure longer arcs within that narrative space
The newsletter will highlight featured releases, not just what's new but what matters most. Some of that will align with the blog, but most of it won’t. This is a slower channel. It’s where the work has time to take shape.
Everything begins with the new version of The Simple Approach. All core games will be updated or rebuilt to fit that system. All new work will be built to match it from the start.
That’s the plan. Not a rush. A rhythm.
What “System-Adaptable” Means
System-adaptable means every tool is built for easy use with any roleplaying system. You can use The Simple Approach if you want full alignment, but you don’t have to. These tools are shaped by story, not stats.
Use with Any System: Each prompt, trait, or structure is designed to support storytelling. You can drop it into your existing system without heavy rewriting or laboriously adjusting mechanics.
Built Around Story Function: Instead of writing to one rule set, we focus on what a scene or character needs. That means the tension, stakes, and tone come through no matter what system you use.
Clear Enough to Translate: The content uses plain structure and purpose-driven framing. That makes it easy to match to whatever your system calls for, whether that’s a skill check, a save, or a move.
Aligned with The Simple Approach: If you’re using The Simple Approach, everything fits out of the box. Trait formatting, conflict framing, and spotlight tools all match the core rules without extra steps.
More Useful than Agnostic: System-agnostic tools give you raw ideas without any structure. This book goes further. It gives you form and focus, shaped by how players interact with story.
More Focused than Neutral: System-neutral tools often feel watered down. This work keeps full narrative clarity. You’ll know what each piece is for, and how it moves the story forward.
Story Comes First: We don’t write for mechanics. We write for story. That keeps the work flexible, powerful, and ready to serve whatever system you bring to the table.
Why It Works: System adaptable design means you don’t have to strip something down or build it back up. You just pick it up and go. That lets the story move. That keeps prep light. That gives players room.
The Lightspress Approach
Every book we make starts with the same question: what does the storyteller need?
Not the collector. Not the rules lawyer. Not the lore chaser. The storyteller. The person at the table trying to pull meaning from moments, looking for structure that helps instead of gets in the way. That’s who we write for.
We call our books toolkits, but not everyone hears that the same way. Some folks expect plug-and-play adventures, pregenerated characters, polished arcs ready to drop into a session. But a toolkit isn’t a finished product. A hammer’s not a shelf. We’re not giving you something done. We’re giving you something that helps you build. Our tools are open, flexible, and intentionally incomplete so your story has space to breathe.
That’s why there’s no art in our books. Art makes decisions for you. It tells you what something looks like before you’ve imagined it. We don’t want to set your tone or box in your world. The page stays open on purpose. You fill it.
We care more about clarity than decoration. That’s why we’ll include glossaries with pronunciation guides going forward, not to show off but to make sure everyone at the table can speak with confidence. That’s also why you’ll find updated and streamlined bibliographies. Our ideas come from somewhere. We want to show our roots and let you follow them if you want.
We revise our books because they’re living work. When something can be sharper or clearer, we change it. Not because it was broken but because it could be better. That’s not backtracking. That’s what care looks like. We want to do less of it, but we’ll continue to do it when it’s needed.
Sometimes that care means letting go. When a book no longer reflects the voice or standard we hold to, we retire it. Quietly. Fully. Some come back as something new. Some don’t. The point isn’t nostalgia. The point is focus.
Not every book goes to print. Some are made for digital reading. Some rotate in and out. If something isn’t in print, there’s a reason behind it. It’s not about demand. It’s about design.
And if a book disappears, we took it down. Not by accident. Not quietly. Not because it stopped selling. Because it stopped meeting the mark.
We don’t use AI. Every word in every book is written by a human being. With perspective. With voice. With intent. That kind of work comes from craft. Good-faith readers can tell. Bad-faith readers see bogeymen everywhere, so we’re not going to waste time being offended.
This is the Lightspress approach. We cut what clutters. We keep what matters. We design like someone’s actually going to use it. Because we hope that you do.
Thanks for reading. More soon.
Quick Hits
Comments Are Closed for Now: We’ve temporarily disabled comments across public platforms to prevent further disruption. Reader safety and focus come first. Conversations will return eventually.
A Better FAQ Is on the Way: We’re shifting energy away from answering low-quality questions and into building a clear, searchable FAQ. The goal is to support genuine curiosity and reduce confusion at the source.
Pricing Reflects the Work: Every title is priced with care. We don’t use urgency tactics like flash sales or countdowns. Some books may be bundled later, but only after their spotlight phase is complete.
And To Recap
New Releases Will Be Blog-Only: To keep this newsletter focused, we’re announcing all new titles on the blog. You can subscribe to the RSS feed if you want to follow those as they appear.
The Newsletter Has a New Focus: Each issue will center on one genre or theme. That means deeper dives, more curated recommendations, and a slower, more intentional rhythm.
The Simple Approach Is Being Updated: A new, clearer version of The Simple Approach is underway. Existing titles will be brought into alignment. New games will launch with that structure from the start.
Genre Lines Are Being Standardized: Each genre will eventually include a core game, a Companion, a Dramatis Personae, a Plot Hook Fake Book, a Critical Twists collection, and campaign tools. This is the long-term plan.
Backlist Titles Are Being Retired or Revised: Some older books have already been removed. Others will return in revised form. If something disappears, it’s because we’re making room for better work.
We Don’t Use Social Media: Just a reminder that Lightspress doesn’t participate on social platforms. You know why, or can probably guess if you don’t. If you want updates or conversation, this is the place.
Thank You
If this issue meant something to you, forward it to someone who’d understand.
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For the full catalog of current titles, visit lightspress.com/discover.
