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.
Clowns
Clowns is here to upend everything with sinister grins, maniacal laughter, and a whole lot of nightmare fuel. Looking to add some twisted chaos to your roleplaying setting? This sourcebook is grounded in The Simple Approach and is built to drop into any roleplaying game you’re already running. You don’t need to rewrite the rules or learn a new system—just insert these clowns into your world and watch the madness unfold.
Villain Mode Activated
"But to some people, this approach makes me the villain. They’re invested in our current parasocial norm, where creators are expected to not only churn out content but also smile, nod, and constantly seek validation through likes, follows, and endless engagement. I'm not playing the like and subscribe game, and that rubs a few folks the wrong way. Because, you know, to be truly indie, you need to do things the way everyone else does."
Handcrafted Truth
I’m not against putting real protections in place to stop AI-generated crap from pushing out actual creators. That’s something we need to be doing. But do I feel like that’s what’s happening here? No. It feels like these platforms are more interested in checking a box to appease the loudmouth conspiracy theorists out there than they are in actually protecting writers and artists. It’s like we’re dealing with AI hunters who are basically the equivalent of the “transvestigators.” You know, those whack jobs who look at someone’s collarbone and just “know” that male celebrity was assigned female at birth? Same energy, equal level of delusion, different flavor of ridiculousness.
This Book Was Unnecessary
The Manifesto is our official weekly newsletter, delivering information on new and upcoming releases, sales and events, and sources of creative inspiration directly to your email inbox. It's your essential guide to all things Lightspress, and the best part? It's completely free. Stay connected and subscribe to The Manifesto now!
Communist Oatmeal Syndicate
Disclaimer (not in all caps so as not be appear ominous):
Lightspress is definitely not rebranding as the Communist Oatmeal Syndicate. We’re not being bought out, merging, or falling under the hypnotic sway of any communist, oatmeal, or syndicate-related powers—despite what the guy with the tinfoil hat down the street might be saying. You can relax, put away your conspiracy board, and enjoy the rest of your day, safe in the knowledge that your creative freedom remains unthreatened by ex-Soviet breakfast foods.
I will not be taking questions at this time.
Running the Game
Running the Game isn’t your typical “how-to” guide, it’s the secret weapon every gamemaster, from rookie to veteran, didn’t know they needed. Based on decades of practical experience, this book is packed with tips and insights for anyone looking to run story-focused, character-driven roleplaying sessions where players’ choices actually matter. If you’re tired of the same old predictable campaigns and want to inject some creativity, depth, and collaboration into your sessions, you’ll find exactly what you need here.
The Kindle Beckons
Ah, the Kindle. That shiny, unfeeling slab of sorcery that eats paperbacks for breakfast. It hums quietly on your nightstand, smug in its omnipotence. It knows. It knows that deep down, you want to bring several epic roleplaying sourcebooks on your next trip but refuse to lug around a backpack the size of a small bison.
Operation Misanthrope
The Manifesto is our official weekly newsletter where we hit you with updates on new releases, upcoming stuff, sales, events, and whatever random bursts of inspiration we feel like tossing your way—all straight to your inbox. It’s basically your cheat sheet for everything Lightspress, and guess what? It’s 100% free. So, go ahead and subscribe, unless you hate free stuff.
Story Adaptation
As a lifelong roleplaying enthusiast, I've always been fascinated by the creativity of the hobby. One of the most thrilling elements of preparing for a game is constructing a vivid, immersive world for players to explore. To achieve this, many gamemasters and game designers, including myself, turn to a wide array of sources for inspiration. These sources include popular novels, television shows, movies, and other media. This essay aims to dig into the art of "idea mining" from these non-roleplaying materials and explore how they can be skillfully adapted to enhance our fantasy roleplaying scenarios.
Journaling the Game
Journaling the Game is your ticket to ditching the same old, tired templates and stepping into a roleplaying experience that’s actually going to meet your needs. Part of The Simple Approach to Roleplaying series, this book digs into every corner of roleplaying, serving up solid advice for players and gamemasters alike. Forget those boring, one-size-fits-none character sheets and cookie-cutter worldbuilding forms. Journaling takes the best of bullet journaling, Cornell Notes, and the spirit of journaling games, turning them into a unique, custom tool for your roleplaying adventures. Whether you’re knee-deep in intrigue, battling epic foes, or forging legendary alliances, Journaling brings something fresh to the table. Any genre, any setting, any game (not our own), journaling can be easily adapted to do whatever you needed it to do. Perfect for fans of reclaiming their agency through creative solutions, it’s the snappy upgrade your favorite hobby needs. Ready to level up your roleplaying game? Journaling is where the fun begins!
Developing Traits
Unlock the power of traits beyond just character creation. Developing Traits expands your toolkit, offering ways to integrate traits into worldbuilding, faction dynamics, and adventure design across any roleplaying game. Immerse yourself in stories where every decision matters, with conflicts defined by the traits you invent. This book doesn’t just add depth; it transforms your storytelling, making every moment in your sessions more vibrant and meaningful. Whether you're crafting intricate plots, facing epic challenges, or forging unforgettable alliances, this book provides the tools to make your roleplaying adventures truly memorable. Perfect for those seeking fresh ideas while staying true to the core of what makes roleplaying great. Ready to dive in?
Outcomes & Story
Outcomes & Story is your go-to resource for crafting engaging and immersive outcomes in any roleplaying session. Whether your characters are achieving spectacular successes or facing dramatic failures, this book provides a wealth of examples to bring every action and ability to life. While designed with The Simple Approach in mind, it seamlessly integrates with any roleplaying system, offering easy-to-use conversion notes. Perfect for gamemasters and players alike, this book ensures your storytelling is dynamic and adaptable to any scenario.
Using Themes
Unlock the power of literary themes in your roleplaying games with Using Themes. This book shows you how to bring depth and meaning to your characters, factions, worldbuilding, and adventures by using the same thematic concepts that make stories in other media so compelling. Whether you’re a fan of creative storytelling, love diving into character-driven narratives, or enjoy improvisation, this book offers a fresh yet familiar approach to enhance your roleplaying experience. Dive into the heart of your stories and discover how themes can elevate your games to a whole new level.
Foragers Guild: Gold Edition
This game is designed to inspire a sense of wonder, drawing you deep into the lives and struggles of your characters. Whether you’re navigating complex intrigues, confronting epic challenges, or forging unforgettable alliances, The Foragers Guild offers an experience that’s both fresh and familiar, splintering away from the hobby’s wargaming roots and the unfortunate baggage of violence, colonialism, and bigotry that sometimes accompanies it.
Lightspress Handbook
The Lightspress Handbook isn’t just another rulebook. This is a reimagining of what roleplaying can be, challenging the norms and redefining how we think about storytelling in games. Forget the flashy mechanics designed to impress; this book strips things down to what truly matters: playing your characters and crafting their stories. Whether you’re exploring the intricate landscapes of traditional fantasy, venturing into the unknown in space opera, uncovering secrets in a gritty crime drama, or getting lost in the cozy charm of cottagecore fantasy, The Lightspress Handbook offers a universal, adaptable approach that fits almost any genre. It’s especially designed for those who are eager to dive into genres left in the shadows, like dark academia and magical realism.