Cozy Fantasy Sourcebook
Think of a world where high stakes are swapped for heartwarming stories, where dragons are just as likely to share tea as they are to breathe fire, and where heroes don’t always need to wield swords, they might be more skilled with a baker’s rolling pin. The Cozy Fantasy Sourcebook takes you into this charming space, letting you build a story where warmth, friendship, and community matter just as much as heroics. This sourcebook is system-agnostic, meaning it slides right into your favorite roleplaying game, whether you’re using The Simple Approach, the Foragers Guild, or any other system you enjoy.
Cozy Fighter Character Handbook
Imagine a fantasy setting that swaps grimdark gloom and gritty survival for lush forests, sun-dappled cottages, and a comforting mug of tea by the fire. That's cozy fantasy, a genre where adventures lean more toward helping neighbors and savoring the little victories than saving the world. This sourcebook lets you step into the shoes of a character who’s brave, kind, and yes, still very much ready to stand their ground when it matters. In The Cozy Fighter Character Handbook, we’re all about bringing big-hearted brawn into this softer, warmer world.
Paladin Character Handbook
The Paladin Character Handbook: because holy warriors aren’t just swinging swords in plate armor. They’re icons of justice, unwavering in the face of darkness, the self-righteous folks in bright, polished metal who, no matter what the odds, refuse to stand down. In the Paladin Character Handbook, you get more than a guide to playing another crusader in shining armor. This book digs into who they are, what they believe, and what kind of impact they’re trying to make on the world. And believe me, it’s not all glory and grand speeches.
Monk Character Handbook
Step into the disciplined world of the Monk Character Handbook, where your fantasy roleplaying gets a serious upgrade. This isn't another handbook full of mindless fighting moves and stale tropes. No, this is a deep dive into the life, philosophy, and mind of a character who thrives on precision, balance, and an unwavering dedication to their personal code. Think beyond the tired cliches and martial arts tropes. Here, monks aren’t the “hit hard, think later” types, they’re the living embodiment of wisdom, grit, and relentless pursuit of perfection.
Tarot Archetypes
Tarot Archetypes Character Handbook takes the iconic major and minor arcana and transforms them into powerful archetypes for your fantasy roleplaying characters. This isn’t a book on divination, and it’s definitely not your typical character handbook. Instead, it’s a deep dive into using tarot’s classic archetypes as tools for building unique, compelling characters who are more than just stats on a sheet.
Fighter Character Handbook
So, you're the type that wants to step into a roleplaying session and not just swing a sword, but swing the sword, one with a tale, a name, maybe even a vendetta of its own. The Fighter Character Handbook is your ticket to more than just being the group’s muscle. This system-agnostic sourcebook is all about bringing your fighter to life in a way that makes you memorable for more than just big damage rolls. You’ll have agency. You’ll have stories. You’ll have other players wondering if their wizard should really be calling you “just a fighter.”
Druid Character Workbook
Step into the heart of the wilderness with the Druid Character Workbook. This isn't just another run-of-the-mill sourcebook; it’s your guide to breathing life into characters who live in harmony with nature, wield its power, and protect its balance with fierce determination. System-agnostic and versatile, this resource fits neatly into any fantasy roleplaying setting. Whether you're wrangling with treants, outsmarting urban interlopers, or rallying to fend off whatever dark force dares to disrupt the peace, this book has you covered.
Cleric Character Handbook
So you want to play a cleric, but you're tired of the same old healing-and smiting-routine? The Cleric Character Handbook is here to shake things up. This system-agnostic sourcebook will give your cleric character the attention they deserve, without chaining them to outdated tropes or mechanical limitations. It’s designed for fantasy roleplaying settings, so no matter what system you’re using, this book will fit right into your game. Whether you’re working in high fantasy or something a bit grittier, you’ll find something in here to elevate your cleric character beyond a walking first aid kit.
Bard Character Handbook
The Bard Character Handbook is a deep dive into one of the most beloved archetypes in fantasy roleplaying, the bard. But before you roll your eyes, this isn't your average "sing songs and tell stories" bard fluff. This system-agnostic sourcebook is packed with fresh takes on how to make bards stand out, offering tons of creative possibilities for any fantasy roleplaying setting. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a first-timer, you’ll find something here that breaks away from the same tired stereotypes.
Barbarian Character Handbook
The Simple Approach Edition November 2024
The Barbarian Character Handbook isn’t your typical hack-and-slash. It’s a system-agnostic sourcebook that takes the savage archetype you know and love, then cranks it up to eleven with an emphasis on storytelling, character growth, and narrative choice. This is heroic fantasy for people who want to do more than mindlessly swing a big sword. It's about adding layers to the character, their motivations, their beliefs, the struggles that drive them. Sure, they’re probably good in a fight, but what happens when their back’s against the wall, and it’s more than just steel on steel?
Artificer Character Handbook
The Simple Approach Edition November 2024
Unlike other materials that feel like a collection of disconnected options, the Artificer Character Handbook offers a deep dive into the creative minds of these characters. This isn’t a guy with a wrench and a scroll. We’re talking inventors whose very existence shifts the course of the story. Every blueprint, every miscalculation, every invention-gone-wrong has consequences, for better or worse. And you, yes, you, are the one driving those decisions.
Character Death
Character Death flips the script on the idea that death is some sacred element in roleplaying, and we’re going to do it with a good dose of sarcasm and just enough rage to make it interesting. Character death in roleplaying games is one of those tired, old tropes that should’ve been put to rest years ago, yet somehow it keeps staggering back to life like a zombie that just won’t quit. Well, this book is here to take that zombie out once with a head shot and for all. It’s time we stopped pretending that killing off characters is the only way to create drama or consequences.
Adversaria Tyrannus
Adversaria Tyrannus is the villain sourcebook you’ve been waiting for, if you’re in the market for oppressive, authoritarian antagonists who make you feel more than a little too uncomfortable. This is not your typical mustache-twirling evil-doers' club. These are villains who serve a regime that's both horrifying and unsettlingly close to real-world horrors, even if you’re running a heroic fantasy setting. Whether you’re a fan of dark dystopian fiction or just someone who needs fresh yet disturbingly familiar enemies, this book will twist the knife in your expectations.
Adversaria Tyrannus dives deep into the mindsets that create these villains, showing how an authoritarian state grinds people down, corrupts ideals, and shapes monsters out of mortals. They aren’t just out for power, they’re enforcing a nightmare system that thrives on obedience, fear, and a complete disregard for human decency. Some serve out of loyalty, others out of fear, and a few because they genuinely believe they’re doing the right thing. That’s what makes them truly terrifying: they’re committed to the cause.
Perfect for fans of dark, dystopian horror, Adversaria Tyrannus is a must-have for anyone looking to push their heroic fantasy roleplaying campaign into the shadows. These villains won’t just test your players’ combat skills, they’ll test their convictions.
Historia Transfiguri
Historia Transfiguri is a wild ride through myths, legends, and the bizarre missteps of early 20th-century scholarship, taking its cues from Frank Hamel’s Human Animals (1915). What starts as an exploration of shapeshifters, humans becoming animals and vice versa, quickly veers off into the deep end of the paranormal pool. Witches, ghosts, and all manner of creepy nocturnal things make their way into the mix. You might think you're getting a collection of folklore, but Hamel has other plans, none of which involve sticking to the topic.
Strange Stories of H.G. Wells: Volume I
Strange Stories is a toolbox for fans of weird fiction who want to inject unsettling, character-driven tales into their tabletop roleplaying sessions. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill collection of plot hooks and story goals. It’s built on the bones of short fiction by H.G. Wells, ready to be reshaped and twisted to fit any system, any setting, and any genre.
Lightspress Handbook R1.2
The Lightspress Handbook is envisioned as a living document, constantly evolving, regularly tweaked, and updated as needed to keep up with changes and feedback. This isn't a one-and-done deal; it's a flexible resource meant to grow alongside the needs of its readers. Below are the latest updates and adjustments, in alphabetical order.
Beat Charts: We clarified a few things, including how to determine the number of beats per adventure and how detailed you should be when putting together your own beat chart.
Bibliography: A list of books that were influential in the creation of The Simple Approach in general and this Handbook in particular. It’s not exactly Appendix N, and it contains some things that you might find confusing, but I assure you, they all contributed to the philosophy and attitude if not the actual mechanics and genre tropes.
Build Points: Yeah, we didn’t bother giving you specific totals in earlier versions because, get this, they vary by setting and genre. The whole point is that there’s no one-size-fits all. We figured you’d just create a few sample characters and, you know, use your brain to figure out what works best. But since some of you need the dots larger and practically touching, we went ahead and added a baseline. You're welcome.
Creating Traits: Less of a how-to and more of a rant that you’re never limited to any list in any book, you can and should create your own, borrow from other games, and assert your creativity and imagination when putting together the character that you envision and want to play.
DoubleZero Conversion: We’ve added notes on converting the old version of DoubleZero to The Simple Approach, which is easy because it’s basically a different core mechanic, some semantics, and a lone instance of basic math.
Frequently Asked Questions: There are more of them, hopefully addressing some of your more insightful, sincere, and sometimes inane queries.
Glossary: The glossary has been updated to reflect a few things added via our most recent books.
Level of Expertise: In previous versions, we made the egregious mistake of using "level of experience" and "level of expertise" interchangeably. Why? Because the original manuscript said "level of efficacy," and frankly, we got sick of giving out vocabulary lessons. So, we're clearing it up now, it’s "level of expertise" from here on out.
Negative Traits: Call them disadvantages, flaws, drawbacks, whatever you like. We’ve added a section to clarify how they can be used, and the role of both the player and the gamemaster in using them effectively.
Trait Costs: We’ve taken extra-special care to devote additional word count explaining that, during character creation, traits cost 1 built point per point of rating. Hopefully, this addenda will clear up any confusion.
Pets Gone Wrong
Pets Gone Wrong is here to unleash chaos with innocent eyes, wagging tails, and just the right amount of malevolent terror. Want to inject some primal, twisted fear into your roleplaying setting? This sourcebook is built with The Simple Approach in mind, designed to slip seamlessly into any roleplaying game you’re already running. There’s no need to toss out the rules you know, just add these pets to your world and let the horror unfold.
Creepy Dolls
Creepy Dolls is here to take your nightmares and turn them into something worse, an ever-present, eerie force that haunts your players long after the session ends. If you're ready to inject a bit of unsettling horror into your roleplaying setting, this sourcebook has what you need. It's grounded in The Simple Approach, so it easily drops into whatever roleplaying game you're already running. No need to learn a new system or mess with a bunch of mechanics, just add these Creepy Dolls into the mix and watch the dread take hold.
Terrible Children
Terrible Children are here to throw everything into disarray with eerie stares, unsettling silence, and a whole lot of creeping dread. Looking to add some unnerving horror to your roleplaying setting? This sourcebook is built on The Simple Approach, designed to seamlessly integrate into any roleplaying game you’re already running. No need to overhaul the rules or figure out a new system—just drop these disturbing kids into your world and watch your players squirm.