Balance and Renewal: The Manifesto
Vernal Equinox | 20 March 2025
This first quarterly newsletter serves as a reflection point, a moment to pause and take stock of where Lightspress stands and where it's headed. Like the turning of a season, it's an opportunity to look back at the work that's taken shape and set intentions for what comes next. Consider this a quiet space to share the journey, what’s unfolding, what’s on the horizon, and the ideas taking root for the months ahead.
The vernal equinox marks a rare moment of balance, when day and night share the sky as equals. It’s a turning point, a threshold between seasons, carrying with it the promise of renewal and the energy of beginnings. As I stand at this crossroads, I find myself reflecting not only on the rhythm of the moon but on the journey of creation, growth, and discovery it has inspired.
Balance is at the heart of both the equinox and the creative process. Each phase we’ve explored, the quiet of the new moon, the momentum of the first quarter, the illumination of the full moon, and the refinement of the third quarter, holds its own purpose. Together, they form a whole, reminding us that creation isn’t a straight line but a cycle, a dance of light and shadow, progress and pause.
The equinox also invites us to honor the balance between intention and action, between holding on and letting go. In creation, as in life, there’s a rhythm to knowing when to nurture an idea and when to step back and let it take its own shape. It’s a delicate balance, and this moment of equal light and dark feels like a perfect time to reflect on what that means, not just for our work, but for ourselves.
For me, this cycle has been about more than creativity. It’s been about connecting values, empathy, literacy, non-violence, to the act of making something meaningful. It’s been about exploring how those values shape the stories we tell and the way we live. The equinox reminds me that this, too, is a balance: holding space for what matters while staying open to change, to new ideas, to growth.
The season ahead brings renewal, longer days, warmer light, and the energy to create with fresh perspective. It’s a time to plant seeds, not just in the soil but in our work, our intentions, and our relationships. What we plant now, we’ll nurture through the coming cycles, trusting it will grow in its time.
For you, this might be a moment to reflect on your own balance. Where are you nurturing too much or too little? What seeds do you want to plant for the season ahead? And how might you honor both the light and the shadow within your creative process? The equinox is a reminder that both are necessary, that growth comes from the interplay of both energy and rest.
So let’s honor this moment of balance. Let’s celebrate what we’ve created, the values we hold, and the light that’s growing stronger each day. Let’s step into this new season with clarity, intention, and the courage to create anew.
The balance of the equinox lasts only a moment, but its lessons remain. What will you carry forward? What will you grow in this season of renewal? Whatever it's, the world is turning toward light, and the possibilities are endless.
I hope you’re doing well today.
Berin
Art, Survival, and the Cost of Integrity
Lightspress didn’t come from luck. It came from necessity. In 2016, I was living in Finland while my wife was in grad school, and as a foreigner, my job prospects were nonexistent. I wasn’t fluent in Finnish, didn’t have a degree from a Finnish university, and didn’t have a rare skill the market needed. If I wanted to work, I had to create my own job.
I’d been freelancing full-time since 2010, but that kind of work is unreliable. Roleplaying publishing had been a side project since 2014, but I knew it couldn’t stay that way. If I wanted to make a living at it, I had to stop treating it like a hobby. I had to take full control, of what I made, how I made it, and how it reached people.
Now, nearly a decade later, Lightspress is still here. Few people get to do this for so long, and I don’t take that for granted. Creative work isn’t easy. Making a living at it is even harder. But people love to rewrite the story after the fact. Some assume I was lucky. Others act like it was effortless. The truth is simpler. I worked for this. I still work for it every day.
People have had opinions about that from the start. When I was focused on survival, I was accused of having no artistic integrity. Now that I have the space to be more intentional, I hear the opposite. I should keep everything in print. I should never leave money on the table. “Everyone else does it” isn’t the argument people think it is. I built Lightspress on my own terms. No unnecessary artwork. No crowdfunding. No chasing trends.
For those who’ve supported this work, thank you. Lightspress exists because people believe in what it stands for. That’s what keeps it going.
SECTION-R Plans
Let’s start with a clear statement. I’ve said everything I intend to say about DoubleZero. It’s done. Moving on.
SECTION-R MANDATE: ANTI-TYRANNY ESPIONAGE ROLEPLAYING is the next project, set for release in April. This isn’t a high-tech, gadget-laden power fantasy. It’s intelligence work in the real world. Think Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Sandbaggers, not James Bond. It’s about strategy, deception, and the slow, quiet battle against unchecked power.
SECTION-R is also the foundation for something bigger. It’ll be the first book in a connected modern setting, a shared espionage world designed to expand. Other games will follow, covering different sides of the spy genre and branching into crime, mystery, and adjacent themes. Each will stand on its own, but together they’ll form a broader network, one where stories cross paths, where intelligence work bleeds into the shadows of organized crime, and where the line between justice and corruption is always shifting.
Fantasy & The Brack
The Brack is what the Order of the Magpie calls the planes, the multiverse, or the infinite spaces that lie beyond a single world. Within it, entire realities exist, each one an Oyster—a self-contained world with its own stories, histories, and mysteries. Some are lost, some are waiting to be found, and some are tied to the Order itself.
The Brack was always meant to support a range of fantasy subgenres, each explored through its own game. Some stories take place in different regions of a single world. Others unfold across separate time periods. Some exist in entirely different realities. Your table decides how they connect, or if they connect at all.
The Order of the Magpie is the thread that ties them together. It exists in all of these worlds, shaping and observing, always present in some form. A version of the Order will also appear in the modern setting, making SECTION-R and the Brack part of the same larger universe if you choose to link them.
Books in development include:
A LANTERN IN THE IVY: COZY FANTASY ROLEPLAYING
FIVE CROWS DEEP: FANTASY NOIR ROLEPLAYING
A SPELL TO BIND US: ROMANTASY ROLEPLAYING
TAKE THOU THE SWORD: ARTHURIAN ROMANCE ROLEPLAYING
Other Genres
This was never about abandoning other genres. It was about stepping away long enough to see them clearly. The Brack and SECTION-R needed to take shape first. Now, the space is opening again.
Poisonville, from Red Harvest and Moloch, will be part of the SECTION-R world, a Lightspress-canon city where the past never stays buried. It’s not here yet, but it’s coming. You might notice it showing up in other books before then. The occult line is taking shape too, bridging the world of espionage and power with something older, stranger, harder to define. That’s still a little further down the road, but you’ll see hints of it soon enough.
Dark academia and fantasy academia will have their time.
For now, it’s about moving forward. I spent too long running in circles, reworking the same ground. I had to step out before I could step back in. And when I do, it won’t be to repeat what came before. It’ll be to make something stronger.
The next version of everything will be better. That’s certain.
The RANDOM Series
For the people who think our books are too philosophical, here’s a compromise. A reluctant, minimal, single concession. The RANDOM series includes random die rolls and lists, but let’s be clear—I haven’t dumbed anything down. The philosophy is still there. The thoughtfulness is still there. It just comes with a little more structured unpredictability.
Sarcasm aside, these books are useful. Whether you’re deep in long-term planning or need something quick in the moment, they give you tools to work with. They’re designed to spark ideas, shift perspectives, and introduce unexpected turns without feeling arbitrary.
Coming soon:
RANDOM ADVENTURES II: RIVALS & RECKONINGS
RANDOM ADVENTURES III: BURDENS & UPRISINGS
RANDOM ADVENTURES IV: AWAKENINGS & SANCTUARIES
Use them however you want. Roll dice, scan lists, take what fits, ignore what doesn’t. They’re here to help, not to dictate.
The Character Theory Series
Character books have always done well, so they’re coming back under The Simple Approach. The Theory series isn’t about long lists of abilities or mechanical crunch. These books take a deeper, more philosophical approach to roleplaying, exploring the meaning behind archetypes rather than just their mechanics. And for that one guy who’s going to complain anyway, they’ll be clearly labeled as such.
Each book focuses on a single archetype, tracing its roots through history, fiction, and pop culture. It’s not just about how to play the role—it’s about why the role exists. Worldbuilding is woven in to help establish and support the archetype, along with guidance on designing adventures that highlight its strengths and acknowledge its weaknesses. There are also journaling and solo play elements, which means that if you squint and tilt your head a little, each book could be considered a game unto itself.
They’re written using The Simple Approach traits and ratings, but they’re functionally system-agnostic.
The first four releases will be:
FIGHTER THEORY: A SYSTEM-AGNOSTIC SOURCEBOOK
ROGUE THEORY: A SYSTEM-AGNOSTIC SOURCEBOOK
CLERIC THEORY: A SYSTEM-AGNOSTIC SOURCEBOOK
WIZARD THEORY: A SYSTEM-AGNOSTIC SOURCEBOOK
For Order of the Magpie, the five core roles introduced in the main book will each get their own deep dive:
NOVICE THEORY: ORDER OF THE MAGPIE SOURCEBOOK
FORAGER THEORY: ORDER OF THE MAGPIE SOURCEBOOK
ARCHIVIST THEORY: ORDER OF THE MAGPIE SOURCEBOOK
CURATOR THEORY: ORDER OF THE MAGPIE SOURCEBOOK
WARDEN THEORY: ORDER OF THE MAGPIE SOURCEBOOK
SECTION-R will also have character books, along with every archetype in every game going forward. These books aren’t just about characters. They’re about the people who play them.
A Statement on Print
Everything will be available in print going forward, released at the same time as the digital editions. Yes, it’s through Amazon. No, that’s not changing. I’ve explained my reasoning before, and I’m not interested in rehashing it. As for DriveThruRPG, I have no plans to offer print-on-demand there. Never say never, but don’t count on it.
Did You Know?
You can leave comments on this newsletter. It’s true! If you’re reading this in email, there’s a link at the bottom to view this newsletter on the Lightspress website. If you’re already reading this on the website, scroll to the bottom and let us know you’re here!
The Manifesto is the official source for news on upcoming releases, articles and opinions, and assorted ramblings on our games and our philosophy of roleplaying. New issues are released four times a month, on the new moon, first quarter moon, full moon, and last quarter moon, with special quarterly issues for each equinox and solstice. Stay connected and subscribe to The Manifesto now!
Lightspress promotes a simple approach to roleplaying, focusing on the utility and value of the content rather than flashy production. We strategically employ visual elements to amplify the message conveyed by the text, allowing us to create powerful and affordable toolkits. Remember, the true essence of the roleplaying experience lies not within the pages of a book, but in the creativity and collaboration fostered around your tabletop.
