The Manifesto 🌗 22 December 2024

As the year winds down, it’s natural to take stock of where we’ve been and where we’re headed. For some, this is a once-a-year exercise, fueled by resolutions and a wistful sense of renewal. For me, it’s a constant process, a habit ingrained so deeply that it frustrates everyone around me. I’m always tweaking, refining, and rethinking, rarely content to leave things as they are. While that mindset can be maddening to others, it’s also the lifeblood of creativity and growth. Staying in flux isn’t a failure of focus; it’s the commitment to improvement in real time.

Instead of revisiting past missteps or dwelling on successes, I prefer to look forward. This isn’t about dismissing the lessons of the past but rather about integrating them, ensuring they inform what comes next. This year has been a pivotal one for the work I do. It’s been a year of codifying The Simple Approach, not just as a mechanical framework for roleplaying but as a broader philosophy for creating meaningful, usable, and flexible content. It’s forced me to articulate the values that guide my work: clarity, creativity, and adaptability, and to ensure they are baked into every project, every decision, and every product.

The exciting thing about this mindset, especially at this time of year, is the opportunity to set intentions. What do I want the next cycle to look like? How can I take what I’ve built this year and make it more impactful? A lot of what’s been accomplished so far has been about stabilization, putting systems in place, streamlining processes, and ensuring that there’s a strong foundation for everything else. That’s the kind of work that’s rarely glamorous but absolutely essential.

With those foundations laid, it’s time to focus on creativity and utility. One of the greatest joys of codifying The Simple Approach has been seeing how it opens up space for more innovation and experimentation. By defining the principles and boundaries, it paradoxically makes the creative possibilities feel endless. There’s room to push narratives in new directions, explore ideas that would have been too unwieldy before, and bring a level of consistency that ensures everything fits together seamlessly.

But stability isn’t just about structure; it’s also about resilience. This process has given me the confidence to take risks, knowing that even if an experiment doesn’t pan out, the framework will hold. That’s the beauty of this approach. It’s not about perfection or rigidity; it’s about creating a flexible, sustainable system that supports creativity rather than stifling it.

As I look ahead, I see a year filled with opportunity. More room to create. More space to innovate. Most importantly, a commitment to bringing thoughtful, purposeful, and engaging content to the table. It’s a time for reflection, yes, but also for action, for planting seeds that will grow into something extraordinary in the months to come. The process isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t need to be. What matters is the intent, the work, and the unwavering belief that what’s being built is worth it.

I hope you’re doing well today.

Berin

Master Plan Update

Here’s the rundown of what’s in store for next year, organized in the order I intend to tackle it. While I’ve outlined the plan, there aren’t any hard deadlines attached to these projects. Things will get done as I’m able to complete them. If something you’re anticipating isn’t listed here, that doesn’t mean it’s off the table or forgotten. I’m simply focused on what’s in front of me for now. Once these projects are wrapped, I’ll be able to shift my attention elsewhere.

This section will be a regular feature in future newsletters, updated with more details as I dive into each project group. You’ll see plans evolve and progress over time.

Occult Titles

First on the docket are Occult Space Opera and Occult Victoriana. These titles are the priorities for now, and once they’re complete, I’ll be letting this line rest for a while. The remaining occult titles needing updates will be refreshed to align with The Simple Approach, the current trade dress, and print requirements. I’ve slated these updates for Autumn 2025, which feels like the perfect season to revisit these kinds of themes.

Holiday Titles

The final holiday-themed releases for this year are done and dusted. There are still a few holiday books I’d like to write, but those will have to wait until next November. At that time, I’ll also tackle updates for any older titles that need to be brought in line with The Simple Approach, trade dress, and print standards. Holiday work is very much a seasonal endeavor, and I’ll be treating it that way moving forward.

Ghostlight & Dark Academia

Ghostlight is up next, with both digital and print editions in the works. This is a big one that I’ve been looking forward to for a while. After that, it’s time to focus on the Dark Academia titles, which are due for their own updates. These will likely be tackled in February and March. As with everything else, these updates will align with The Simple Approach and ensure the books meet the necessary print requirements. You’ll hear this phrase a lot—it’s part of the ongoing effort to keep things consistent and professional.

DoubleZero & Espionage

Once Ghostlight is wrapped, the next major project will be DoubleZero: Gold. Both digital and print editions are planned. After that, I’ll turn my attention to the Espionage titles. This will be a more complicated process since not everything currently branded as DoubleZero falls strictly under the Espionage category. Some of these titles will be repurposed for other lines, though they’ll remain compatible with the same system. The goal here is to make the catalog clearer and more streamlined.

Literary Games

January will kick off with brand-new literary games, released in both digital and print formats. These are full-featured games, not journaling experiences. Additionally, throughout 2025, I’ll be upgrading existing titles from journaling games to full games using The Simple Approach. It’s an ambitious project, but it’s one I’m excited to tackle.

The Simple Approach

January will also see some updates to existing books under The Simple Approach umbrella. These updates are primarily small adjustments to meet formatting needs for print. Alongside these refreshes, new titles will roll out throughout January and February in both digital and print formats.

Foragers Guild Gold 1.3

The next update for Foragers Guild Gold is scheduled for January. This will include minor tweaks to ensure compliance with print standards, but it won’t be a massive overhaul. Both digital and print editions will be released.

Lightspress Handbook 1.3

The digital version of Lightspress Handbook will release once Foragers Guild Gold 1.3 heads to print. The print edition of the handbook is scheduled for a Summer 2025 release.

Traditional Fantasy Titles

Character-focused titles will receive updates in Spring 2025, with both digital and print editions planned. The rest of the traditional fantasy catalog will eventually get its turn, but those updates will take longer to schedule and execute.

Cozy Fantasy Titles

Existing cozy fantasy books are set for a refresh in Spring 2025. Alongside these updates, I’ll be working on new cozy fantasy titles throughout the year. Both digital and print editions are planned for these releases.

6E Conversion Handbook

When the new SRD is finally released, I’ll begin work on a full 6E/The Simple Approach conversion guide. This handbook will be available as a free/pay-what-you-want resource, similar to the Lightspress Handbook. If all goes well, you can expect this project to debut around Spring 2025.

Core Games

Throughout 2025, I’ll release one-book games built around The Simple Approach. These will be available in both digital and print formats. The planned titles include:

• Crossbones Opera

• Hardboiled Follies

• MOLOCH

• Moonlight Opera

• Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

• Santa Claus CRUSHES the Martians

• Spectres of Mars

• Starlight Opera

• Streetlight Opera

Everything Else

If a project isn’t listed here, it’s not currently on the schedule. As I complete these tasks, I’ll reassess priorities and revise the schedule as needed. You can expect quarterly updates in this section to keep things transparent and up to date. Stay tuned for more as we move forward.

Latest Releases

Here’s what’s new in the Lightspress shop this week!

Christmas Victoriana

Picture this: snow-draped streets lit by the flicker of gas lamps, bustling holiday markets brimming with trinkets and treats, and characters driven by hope, redemption, and maybe a touch of mischief. This sourcebook delivers a lighthearted but thoughtful approach to Christmas stories set in the Victorian era, where every choice shapes the story and every character matters. Read More

Christmas Space Opera

Let’s talk about the holidays in roleplaying: they usually miss the mark. You’ve seen it, overloaded with pun-filled reindeer knights, Santa clones, and monsters that wear their thematic gimmicks on their sleeves. Sure, it’s entertaining for about five minutes, but where’s the heart? That’s what I set out to fix with Christmas Space Opera. This isn’t about slapping some tinsel on generic tropes and calling it festive. It’s about capturing the essence of the season, joy, generosity, connection, and reimagining it in a sprawling, interstellar setting that’s as dazzling as it is heartfelt. Read More

Modern Satanism (Revised & Expanded)

Modern Satanism flips the script. Forget the horned boogeyman and pearl-clutching Satanic-panic hysteria. This isn’t about evil for the sake of being edgy. This is a story-driven, character-focused exploration of an upside-down world where good and bad are labels slapped on by whoever’s holding the loudest megaphone. In a setting drenched with government corruption and suffocating theocracy, those who stand for liberty, justice, and individuality assume the mantle of traditional villains. Not because they are bad, but because the people in charge have redefined morality to suit their own ends. Shock value? Sure. Symbolism? Absolutely. At its core, Modern Satanism is about pushing back when the so-called heroes have stacked the deck. Read More

Christmas Romance

Christmas Romance is your chance to infuse your roleplaying with the warmth, magic, and bittersweet charm of the holiday season, without the usual barrage of groan-worthy puns or groggy-eyed monsters lurking under tinsel. Let’s be honest, most attempts to merge Christmas and roleplaying are as flat as last year’s fruitcake. That’s where this book steps in, offering a story-first, character-forward approach to the season that doesn’t feel like a gimmick. Read More

Occult Romance

Occult Romance invites you into a shadowed world where love and mystery intertwine, offering a roleplaying experience that is as alluring as it is unsettling. Here, characters are caught between the profound pull of affection and the inescapable allure of the unknown. Every decision you make will shape a story of desire and dread, drawing you deeper into a narrative brimming with unspoken truths, forbidden rituals, and the intoxicating allure of power. Read More

Thank You

Thank you for helping us refine and reflect on our work. Your support lets us consider, adjust, and improve, allowing our projects to mature gracefully. We’re grateful for your presence as we close one chapter and prepare for the next. Thank you for your commitment and trust.

This week’s discount code is YULETIDE. Use it to enjoy 20% off your orders at the Lightspress shop until the next issue of the newsletter come out.

The plan has always been to release a special issue of the newsletter quarterly, on each solstice and equinox Because there are already 5 newsletters this month because of the way the moon phases hit, and because the winter solstice is the day before the last quarter moon, we’re not going to drop a sixth newsletter, two days in a row.

Our next issue will be released on the day of the next new moon. See you then, and as always, I hope you’re doing well today and every day.

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.