Start When It Matters
The Manifesto 🌑 30 December 2024
I’m writing this on 21 December, the solstice, a moment I’ve chosen to pause and reflect as I prepare to take some much-needed time off. This editorial will reach you on 30 December, but the act of writing it feels like planting a seed. That feels like the right metaphor for this time of year, though I’ve been vocal in the past about my disdain for the arbitrary nature of New Year’s resolutions.
Once upon a time, when blogs were still relevant, books were cherished companions, and the world didn’t feel like it was teetering on the edge of chaos, I would write an annual screed against these hollow promises to ourselves. The gist of my argument was simple. If something is worth doing, why wait for a specific date to start? Why hinge meaningful action on an arbitrary moment that might not even align with your circumstances?
I am not against self-improvement. Quite the opposite. My issue lies with the flimsy foundation of resolutions. A resolution is a wish, not a plan. Promising to write a novel without considering the time, energy, or knowledge required to finish is futile. Vowing to run a marathon without scheduling a single training session sets you up to fail. Intentions without follow-through are empty. Worse, they are frustrating. They make us feel like failures when the problem isn’t us but our lack of preparation.
If you want to set yourself up for success, timing matters. Not arbitrary timing, but deliberate timing. When we launch into something new, we need to understand the conditions we are working with and plan accordingly. The enthusiasm of a fresh start is valuable, but only when paired with structure and preparation. It isn’t about waiting for the perfect moment. It’s about creating the conditions where you can act with clarity and purpose.
That’s why I have always preferred starting new endeavors when it feels right, not because the calendar says 1 January, but because the circumstances align. Right now, as I sit here at the cusp of a break, I can see the beauty in beginnings that are intentional and grounded in reality. It isn’t just about planting seeds. It’s about ensuring they are sown in fertile ground with the tools to nurture them.
If you’ve been holding off on a goal because you think you need the right motivation, stop. Instead, look at what you need to get started. A goal without a plan is just a dream. The smallest, messiest action is better than waiting for the stars to align. And once you start, keep moving forward, even if it’s at a crawl.
Take this as your permission to throw out the notion of resolutions and embrace something more meaningful. Start where you are, with what you have. Start when it makes sense for you. Most importantly, start with the intention to see it through. That is how you make something worth celebrating.
And always remember, the moon is real, but calendars are a social construct.
I hope you’re doing well today.
Berin
Ghostlight: Dark Academia Roleplaying
Welcome to Manfred College of the Arts, a private institution with more secrets than an episode of daytime television. Imagine a sprawling Gothic estate, built with old money and even older grudges, now serving as an elite arts school in the sleepy coastal town of Heathcliff, Massachusetts. Think you’ve seen it all before? Not quite. Manfred’s reputation for producing top-tier talent in theater, fine arts, and music barely scratches the surface of what’s really going on behind those ivy-covered walls. If surviving cutthroat auditions wasn’t stressful enough, just wait until you realize the place is also crawling with ghosts, witches, and a few things that don’t have names. Welcome to Ghostlight, where nailing that audition might be the least of your concerns. Read More
Where the @#$%^! Did That Come From?
Yes, I dropped a whole-ass game out of the blue right before Christmas. Among all the projects I've announced, or at least teased, this one was nowhere on anyone’s radar. So, let me explain what’s going on here.
The Simple Approach has always been about integration. I wanted one unified system to tie everything together. DoubleZero was doing its own thing. The journaling games had their own mechanics. Foragers Guild had its completely separate vibe. It was a mess, and I decided to fix it.
Making everything cross-compatible makes life easier for me, giving you more creative freedom to build the game you want. Want to throw characters from The Great Gatsby into DoubleZero for a Roaring Twenties spy game centered around prohibition? Do it. Want to add magic to your contemporary Dark Academia campaign by stealing spells from Foragers Guild for Ghostlight? Go wild. Do you feel like using the beat chart from The Scarlet Letter in your fantasy campaign? Absolutely. The possibilities are endless.
But making this work requires experimentation, and that’s how The Island of Doctor Moreau came to be.
I’ve been precious about Ghostlight and DoubleZero, both existed before The Simple Approach and had to be retro-fitted into the system. Meanwhile, I’ve got Public Domain Day games in the pipeline, and I wanted to be sure I’d nailed down everything to make those seamless. That’s where The Island of Doctor Moreau came in: I needed something new to build from scratch using The Simple Approach.
I didn’t want to rehash anything I’d already done (cough Gatsby cough) or anything already announced. If this experiment turned out to be garbage, I’d see where the problems were. If it worked, I’d have a solid foundation. I chose Doctor Moreau because I knew the material well. I’ve read the book multiple times and sat through all three movie adaptations (yes, even that one).
Here’s the thing: it turned out good. Like, too good to leave on the shelf as a simple experiment. So, I released it.
The best part? I learned a lot about where The Simple Approach shines and where it needs refinement for future projects. It was a win-win all around.
So, there you have it. Surprise Christmas gift, straight from my brain to your table.
H. G. Wells' Island of Doctor Moreau Roleplaying Game
H. G. Wells' Island of Doctor Moreau Roleplaying Game puts you right in the heart of the eerie, twisted world envisioned by one of science fiction's greatest minds. It's a deep dive into human nature, morality, and the blurred lines between science and madness. Here, you not only play a character, you become part of a living, breathing story that adapts and evolves with every choice you make. Available now in the Lightspress Shop
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.
DoubleZero
If it’s not already out when this newsletter arrives in your inbox, it will be released in the coming week.
Literary Games
The first week of January will see the following releases in digital and print formats, to coincide with and celebrate Public Domain Day. This isn’t a joke, I’m as serious as a disease of the liver.
William Seabrook's Magic Island Roleplaying Game
Dashiell Hammett's Red Harvest Roleplaying Game
William Faulkner's Sound and the Fury Roleplaying Game
Ernest Hemingway's Farewell to Arms Roleplaying Game
Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front Roleplaying Game
The Simple Approach
The following new books are coming in January/February in digital and print formats:
Adversary Creation
Adventure Creation (4 volumes)
Character Creation
Equipment Creation
Faction Creation
World Creation
The following existing books are being updated to meet print criteria, coming in January/February in digital and print formats:
Character Death
Developing Traits
Journaling the Game
Running the Game
Outcomes & Story
Using Themes
Story Adaptation
Foragers Guild Gold 1.3
Updated to meet print criteria, coming in digital and print formats, by the end of January.
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 be updated in Spring 2025, with 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 work on new cozy fantasy titles throughout the year. Both digital and print editions are planned for these releases.
Dark Academia Titles
Refreshed to comply with The Simple Approach, current trade dress, and print criteria. Spring 2025.
Espionage Titles
Refreshed to comply with The Simple Approach, current trade dress, and print criteria. Spring 2025.
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.
Thank You
Thank you for joining us as we embark on new journeys together. Your support brings fresh energy to our work, letting us plant new seeds of creativity and inspiration. Here’s to beginnings, ideas taking root, and the possibilities ahead. We’re grateful to have you along.
This week’s discount code is SIXGEESE (today being the sixth day of Christmas). Use it to enjoy 20% off your orders at the Lightspress shop until the next issue of the newsletter come out.
Our next issue will be released on the day of the next first quarter moon. See you then, and as always, I hope you’re doing well today and always.
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.
