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 This system-agnostic sourcebook will give your cleric character the attention they deserve, without chaining them to outdated tropes or mechanical limitations.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?
I’m Supposed to Be Hibernating
Here are this week’s new releases and 20% off discount code!
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.
“Where there is no imagination, there is no horror”
The quote in the subject line is from A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It felt appropriate as we slide into the final days of spooky season. I’ll leave it up to you to parse what that might say about the current state of the world. Anyhow, here’s what’s new this week. I hope you’re doing well today.
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.
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."