Christmas Academia
Tired of roleplaying Christmas content that feels like a bargain bin of monsters, puns, and half-baked seasonal gags? Me too. That’s why I wrote Christmas Academia, a sourcebook designed to give your roleplaying sessions a thoughtful, layered take on the holiday season. Instead of leaning on lazy tropes or overplayed gimmicks, this book captures the true spirit of Christmas through secular and cultural celebrations, wrapped in the brooding, melancholic tone of contemporary dark academia. No bright-eyed Santas or overstuffed elves here, this is the season as you've always wanted to explore it: reflective, complex, and deeply human.
At its heart, Christmas Academia is a story-driven, character-focused experience. It’s about decisions, both personal and collective, and how they ripple across the narrative. Every choice your characters make weaves a tighter web of intrigue and consequence. It’s not about hauling home treasure or slaying holiday-themed monsters; it’s about investigating what the season means for your characters, their relationships, and the world they inhabit.
This sourcebook doesn’t shy away from the hard questions. What happens when traditions clash with modern sensibilities? How does the pursuit of perfection under the holiday's watchful eye unravel a person? What do the quiet moments of connection, or isolation, mean in a world steeped in the academic pressures and aesthetic of dark academia? Whether you're exploring timeless Christmas themes like redemption and reconciliation or leaning into the melancholy of long winter nights, this book gives you the tools to tell stories that linger long after the session ends.
What sets Christmas Academia apart is its refusal to be on-the-nose. There are no wink-wink-nudge-nudge jokes or obvious thematic Christmas monsters shoehorned in for a cheap thrill. Instead, it gives you the tools to infuse the spirit of Christmas into your setting without resorting to clichés. It’s all about imagination, collaboration, and agency, your group’s ability to build a world and narrative that feels meaningful, not prepackaged.
Whether your characters are navigating the politics of secret Santa exchanges with dire stakes, uncovering a lost tradition that reshapes their understanding of the season, or simply grappling with what the holiday means to them in a cold, academic world, this sourcebook has you covered. It’s not about following someone else’s script, it’s about finding your own narrative within the layered framework this book provides.
If you’re a fan of The Holdovers, The Secret History or If We Were Villains, and you love the atmospheric depth of Christmas lore, Christmas Academia is made for you. It’s familiar but fresh, evocative without being heavy-handed, and flexible enough to suit the story you want to tell. Let your next session take a turn into the academic halls of dark academia during the Christmas season, where the lines between tradition, expectation, and identity blur, and every decision shapes the story.
This book, inspired by Christmas Fantasy (also published by Lightspress), builds on the same core structure and foundational exploration of Christmas history. However, it isn’t merely a reiteration of the original work. Instead, it offers a thoughtfully reimagined approach, specifically tailored to the contemporary dark academia genre in roleplaying, providing fresh insights and unique content distinct from traditional heroic fantasy.
Navigating This Book
Christmas Academia: This section sets the stage, defining Christmas as it’s presented here. We’re talking about the season through a contemporary dark academia lens, pulling focus on the themes and elements that resonate with this aesthetic. You’ll explore the holiday’s relevance to academic settings steeped in introspection, pressure, and connection, shaping how the season fits naturally into your stories.
Secular Traditions: Traditions ground the holiday in familiarity, but they also need to evolve to fit the mood and tone of contemporary dark academia. This section adapts customs to suit your setting, offering ideas like candlelit gatherings, whispered readings of classic texts, and secret exchanges of meaningful tokens. It’s all about taking what you know and shifting it to feel authentic within a thoughtful, melancholic framework.
Holidays in Academia: Celebrating Christmas in an academic setting isn’t all garland and cheer. It’s layered with the complexities of social hierarchies, academic competition, and the emotional isolation that’s inherent in dark academia. This section explores how celebrations unfold within these structures, offering hooks for drama and introspection as characters navigate the season’s expectations.
The Meaning of Christmas: What does Christmas mean in a world where intellect and emotional weight collide? This chapter examines how characters interpret the holiday through personal, cultural, and societal lenses. Whether it’s a moment of hope, an exercise in cynicism, or something more complex, the meaning of Christmas takes center stage as your characters grapple with their own beliefs.
The Spirit of Christmas: Here, we look at how the intangible elements of Christmas, hope, redemption, connection, translate into a setting where everything feels shrouded in darkness. This isn’t about sugary sweetness but about finding slivers of light amid the shadows. Whether characters embrace it or push against it, the spirit of Christmas becomes a thematic cornerstone for your stories.
Capturing the Mood: Atmosphere is everything, especially in dark academia. This section focuses on using the season’s sensory and emotional elements, glowing fires, snow-dusted courtyards, the eerie quiet of a holiday break, to create a mood that enhances your storytelling. The goal is to weave the essence of the season seamlessly into every scene.
Traditions & Growth: Traditions aren’t just window dressing, they’re opportunities for character development. This chapter dives into how personal holiday rituals reveal character backstory, fuel emotional growth, and push relationships forward. It’s about making the season personal, using traditions to spark change and reflection.
Year-Round Spirit: Christmas doesn’t have to be a fleeting moment in your setting. This section explores how the themes and spirit of the holiday can be woven into the larger narrative, creating continuity and depth. It’s not about tinsel and mistletoe but about the lasting impact of the season’s ideals on your characters and worldbuilding.
Characters: Infuse your characters with the spirit of the season in ways that go beyond clichés. This section provides tools for crafting memorable figures who embody the holiday’s complexities, whether they’re haunted by past Christmases, struggling with the weight of tradition, or finding unexpected joy in the season.
Worldbuilding: Christmas isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a chance to build a richer setting. Here, you’ll find ideas for integrating holiday traditions, histories, and cultural details into your world. Make the season feel alive and authentic, rooted in the unique dynamics of your setting.
Adventures: Looking to add a touch of Christmas to your campaigns? This chapter provides hooks and ideas for weaving the holiday into your adventures without derailing your story. From subtle nods to fully realized seasonal arcs, these tools help you create adventures that feel connected to the spirit of the season.
Reference: Round out your toolkit with stock characters, creatures, and equipment designed to bring Christmas into your setting with ease. This section also includes guidance on adapting the material to fit your preferred system or using it to enhance a setting of your own design.
101 pages. PDF and epub files included.
Tired of roleplaying Christmas content that feels like a bargain bin of monsters, puns, and half-baked seasonal gags? Me too. That’s why I wrote Christmas Academia, a sourcebook designed to give your roleplaying sessions a thoughtful, layered take on the holiday season. Instead of leaning on lazy tropes or overplayed gimmicks, this book captures the true spirit of Christmas through secular and cultural celebrations, wrapped in the brooding, melancholic tone of contemporary dark academia. No bright-eyed Santas or overstuffed elves here, this is the season as you've always wanted to explore it: reflective, complex, and deeply human.
At its heart, Christmas Academia is a story-driven, character-focused experience. It’s about decisions, both personal and collective, and how they ripple across the narrative. Every choice your characters make weaves a tighter web of intrigue and consequence. It’s not about hauling home treasure or slaying holiday-themed monsters; it’s about investigating what the season means for your characters, their relationships, and the world they inhabit.
This sourcebook doesn’t shy away from the hard questions. What happens when traditions clash with modern sensibilities? How does the pursuit of perfection under the holiday's watchful eye unravel a person? What do the quiet moments of connection, or isolation, mean in a world steeped in the academic pressures and aesthetic of dark academia? Whether you're exploring timeless Christmas themes like redemption and reconciliation or leaning into the melancholy of long winter nights, this book gives you the tools to tell stories that linger long after the session ends.
What sets Christmas Academia apart is its refusal to be on-the-nose. There are no wink-wink-nudge-nudge jokes or obvious thematic Christmas monsters shoehorned in for a cheap thrill. Instead, it gives you the tools to infuse the spirit of Christmas into your setting without resorting to clichés. It’s all about imagination, collaboration, and agency, your group’s ability to build a world and narrative that feels meaningful, not prepackaged.
Whether your characters are navigating the politics of secret Santa exchanges with dire stakes, uncovering a lost tradition that reshapes their understanding of the season, or simply grappling with what the holiday means to them in a cold, academic world, this sourcebook has you covered. It’s not about following someone else’s script, it’s about finding your own narrative within the layered framework this book provides.
If you’re a fan of The Holdovers, The Secret History or If We Were Villains, and you love the atmospheric depth of Christmas lore, Christmas Academia is made for you. It’s familiar but fresh, evocative without being heavy-handed, and flexible enough to suit the story you want to tell. Let your next session take a turn into the academic halls of dark academia during the Christmas season, where the lines between tradition, expectation, and identity blur, and every decision shapes the story.
This book, inspired by Christmas Fantasy (also published by Lightspress), builds on the same core structure and foundational exploration of Christmas history. However, it isn’t merely a reiteration of the original work. Instead, it offers a thoughtfully reimagined approach, specifically tailored to the contemporary dark academia genre in roleplaying, providing fresh insights and unique content distinct from traditional heroic fantasy.
Navigating This Book
Christmas Academia: This section sets the stage, defining Christmas as it’s presented here. We’re talking about the season through a contemporary dark academia lens, pulling focus on the themes and elements that resonate with this aesthetic. You’ll explore the holiday’s relevance to academic settings steeped in introspection, pressure, and connection, shaping how the season fits naturally into your stories.
Secular Traditions: Traditions ground the holiday in familiarity, but they also need to evolve to fit the mood and tone of contemporary dark academia. This section adapts customs to suit your setting, offering ideas like candlelit gatherings, whispered readings of classic texts, and secret exchanges of meaningful tokens. It’s all about taking what you know and shifting it to feel authentic within a thoughtful, melancholic framework.
Holidays in Academia: Celebrating Christmas in an academic setting isn’t all garland and cheer. It’s layered with the complexities of social hierarchies, academic competition, and the emotional isolation that’s inherent in dark academia. This section explores how celebrations unfold within these structures, offering hooks for drama and introspection as characters navigate the season’s expectations.
The Meaning of Christmas: What does Christmas mean in a world where intellect and emotional weight collide? This chapter examines how characters interpret the holiday through personal, cultural, and societal lenses. Whether it’s a moment of hope, an exercise in cynicism, or something more complex, the meaning of Christmas takes center stage as your characters grapple with their own beliefs.
The Spirit of Christmas: Here, we look at how the intangible elements of Christmas, hope, redemption, connection, translate into a setting where everything feels shrouded in darkness. This isn’t about sugary sweetness but about finding slivers of light amid the shadows. Whether characters embrace it or push against it, the spirit of Christmas becomes a thematic cornerstone for your stories.
Capturing the Mood: Atmosphere is everything, especially in dark academia. This section focuses on using the season’s sensory and emotional elements, glowing fires, snow-dusted courtyards, the eerie quiet of a holiday break, to create a mood that enhances your storytelling. The goal is to weave the essence of the season seamlessly into every scene.
Traditions & Growth: Traditions aren’t just window dressing, they’re opportunities for character development. This chapter dives into how personal holiday rituals reveal character backstory, fuel emotional growth, and push relationships forward. It’s about making the season personal, using traditions to spark change and reflection.
Year-Round Spirit: Christmas doesn’t have to be a fleeting moment in your setting. This section explores how the themes and spirit of the holiday can be woven into the larger narrative, creating continuity and depth. It’s not about tinsel and mistletoe but about the lasting impact of the season’s ideals on your characters and worldbuilding.
Characters: Infuse your characters with the spirit of the season in ways that go beyond clichés. This section provides tools for crafting memorable figures who embody the holiday’s complexities, whether they’re haunted by past Christmases, struggling with the weight of tradition, or finding unexpected joy in the season.
Worldbuilding: Christmas isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a chance to build a richer setting. Here, you’ll find ideas for integrating holiday traditions, histories, and cultural details into your world. Make the season feel alive and authentic, rooted in the unique dynamics of your setting.
Adventures: Looking to add a touch of Christmas to your campaigns? This chapter provides hooks and ideas for weaving the holiday into your adventures without derailing your story. From subtle nods to fully realized seasonal arcs, these tools help you create adventures that feel connected to the spirit of the season.
Reference: Round out your toolkit with stock characters, creatures, and equipment designed to bring Christmas into your setting with ease. This section also includes guidance on adapting the material to fit your preferred system or using it to enhance a setting of your own design.
101 pages. PDF and epub files included.
Tired of roleplaying Christmas content that feels like a bargain bin of monsters, puns, and half-baked seasonal gags? Me too. That’s why I wrote Christmas Academia, a sourcebook designed to give your roleplaying sessions a thoughtful, layered take on the holiday season. Instead of leaning on lazy tropes or overplayed gimmicks, this book captures the true spirit of Christmas through secular and cultural celebrations, wrapped in the brooding, melancholic tone of contemporary dark academia. No bright-eyed Santas or overstuffed elves here, this is the season as you've always wanted to explore it: reflective, complex, and deeply human.
At its heart, Christmas Academia is a story-driven, character-focused experience. It’s about decisions, both personal and collective, and how they ripple across the narrative. Every choice your characters make weaves a tighter web of intrigue and consequence. It’s not about hauling home treasure or slaying holiday-themed monsters; it’s about investigating what the season means for your characters, their relationships, and the world they inhabit.
This sourcebook doesn’t shy away from the hard questions. What happens when traditions clash with modern sensibilities? How does the pursuit of perfection under the holiday's watchful eye unravel a person? What do the quiet moments of connection, or isolation, mean in a world steeped in the academic pressures and aesthetic of dark academia? Whether you're exploring timeless Christmas themes like redemption and reconciliation or leaning into the melancholy of long winter nights, this book gives you the tools to tell stories that linger long after the session ends.
What sets Christmas Academia apart is its refusal to be on-the-nose. There are no wink-wink-nudge-nudge jokes or obvious thematic Christmas monsters shoehorned in for a cheap thrill. Instead, it gives you the tools to infuse the spirit of Christmas into your setting without resorting to clichés. It’s all about imagination, collaboration, and agency, your group’s ability to build a world and narrative that feels meaningful, not prepackaged.
Whether your characters are navigating the politics of secret Santa exchanges with dire stakes, uncovering a lost tradition that reshapes their understanding of the season, or simply grappling with what the holiday means to them in a cold, academic world, this sourcebook has you covered. It’s not about following someone else’s script, it’s about finding your own narrative within the layered framework this book provides.
If you’re a fan of The Holdovers, The Secret History or If We Were Villains, and you love the atmospheric depth of Christmas lore, Christmas Academia is made for you. It’s familiar but fresh, evocative without being heavy-handed, and flexible enough to suit the story you want to tell. Let your next session take a turn into the academic halls of dark academia during the Christmas season, where the lines between tradition, expectation, and identity blur, and every decision shapes the story.
This book, inspired by Christmas Fantasy (also published by Lightspress), builds on the same core structure and foundational exploration of Christmas history. However, it isn’t merely a reiteration of the original work. Instead, it offers a thoughtfully reimagined approach, specifically tailored to the contemporary dark academia genre in roleplaying, providing fresh insights and unique content distinct from traditional heroic fantasy.
Navigating This Book
Christmas Academia: This section sets the stage, defining Christmas as it’s presented here. We’re talking about the season through a contemporary dark academia lens, pulling focus on the themes and elements that resonate with this aesthetic. You’ll explore the holiday’s relevance to academic settings steeped in introspection, pressure, and connection, shaping how the season fits naturally into your stories.
Secular Traditions: Traditions ground the holiday in familiarity, but they also need to evolve to fit the mood and tone of contemporary dark academia. This section adapts customs to suit your setting, offering ideas like candlelit gatherings, whispered readings of classic texts, and secret exchanges of meaningful tokens. It’s all about taking what you know and shifting it to feel authentic within a thoughtful, melancholic framework.
Holidays in Academia: Celebrating Christmas in an academic setting isn’t all garland and cheer. It’s layered with the complexities of social hierarchies, academic competition, and the emotional isolation that’s inherent in dark academia. This section explores how celebrations unfold within these structures, offering hooks for drama and introspection as characters navigate the season’s expectations.
The Meaning of Christmas: What does Christmas mean in a world where intellect and emotional weight collide? This chapter examines how characters interpret the holiday through personal, cultural, and societal lenses. Whether it’s a moment of hope, an exercise in cynicism, or something more complex, the meaning of Christmas takes center stage as your characters grapple with their own beliefs.
The Spirit of Christmas: Here, we look at how the intangible elements of Christmas, hope, redemption, connection, translate into a setting where everything feels shrouded in darkness. This isn’t about sugary sweetness but about finding slivers of light amid the shadows. Whether characters embrace it or push against it, the spirit of Christmas becomes a thematic cornerstone for your stories.
Capturing the Mood: Atmosphere is everything, especially in dark academia. This section focuses on using the season’s sensory and emotional elements, glowing fires, snow-dusted courtyards, the eerie quiet of a holiday break, to create a mood that enhances your storytelling. The goal is to weave the essence of the season seamlessly into every scene.
Traditions & Growth: Traditions aren’t just window dressing, they’re opportunities for character development. This chapter dives into how personal holiday rituals reveal character backstory, fuel emotional growth, and push relationships forward. It’s about making the season personal, using traditions to spark change and reflection.
Year-Round Spirit: Christmas doesn’t have to be a fleeting moment in your setting. This section explores how the themes and spirit of the holiday can be woven into the larger narrative, creating continuity and depth. It’s not about tinsel and mistletoe but about the lasting impact of the season’s ideals on your characters and worldbuilding.
Characters: Infuse your characters with the spirit of the season in ways that go beyond clichés. This section provides tools for crafting memorable figures who embody the holiday’s complexities, whether they’re haunted by past Christmases, struggling with the weight of tradition, or finding unexpected joy in the season.
Worldbuilding: Christmas isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a chance to build a richer setting. Here, you’ll find ideas for integrating holiday traditions, histories, and cultural details into your world. Make the season feel alive and authentic, rooted in the unique dynamics of your setting.
Adventures: Looking to add a touch of Christmas to your campaigns? This chapter provides hooks and ideas for weaving the holiday into your adventures without derailing your story. From subtle nods to fully realized seasonal arcs, these tools help you create adventures that feel connected to the spirit of the season.
Reference: Round out your toolkit with stock characters, creatures, and equipment designed to bring Christmas into your setting with ease. This section also includes guidance on adapting the material to fit your preferred system or using it to enhance a setting of your own design.
101 pages. PDF and epub files included.