History of Witchcraft: Volume III
History of Witchcraft: Volume III drops you into the dark, twisted world of historical England, where every shadow hides suspicion, and accusations of witchcraft can lead to doom. This system-agnostic sourcebook explores the era of Matthew Hopkins, the Commonwealth, and the Protectorate under Cromwell, blending history with supernatural horror to create a deeply unsettling roleplaying experience.
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill monster hunt. It's about ordinary people trapped in extraordinary circumstances, with characters forced to confront both the fears of the time and the terrifying unknown. The choices you make will carry weight, whether you're playing an accused witch, a fearful villager, or one of Hopkins' infamous witch-hunters. Decisions lead to tension, drama, and consequences that ripple throughout the story.
What sets this apart is the focus on imagination and collaboration. You won’t just sit back and roll dice, every session becomes a creative act where players shape the narrative. And because it’s system-agnostic, you can drop it into any historical or dark fantasy setting without the headache of compatibility issues.
If you’re a fan of terrifying tales and intense character drama, this book delivers the perfect mix of dark history and supernatural horror. If you love intricate, character-driven plots and relish crafting immersive stories with your friends, this sourcebook is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
A Universal Sourcebook
You don’t need it to play any of our games using The Simple Approach, but it’s here to spice things up if you want. It’s also written to be functionally system-agnostic, so feel free to throw its elements into any other roleplaying system your choice.
If you’re looking to use it with a different roleplaying system, don’t worry. There are notes at the end to help with conversion, and if you’re need more advice in translating material between systems, grab the Lightspress Handbook,available wherever you found this book.
Legacy Editions
Legacy Editions are a chance to revisit some of our classic titles with a fresh coat of paint. They’ve been updated with our current trade dress and given a once-over by the editorial team to clean up any lingering rough edges. Sure, they might not have all the bells and whistles of our latest releases, but that’s kind of the point. These books are a solid addition to your collection without costing you an arm and a leg. You’re getting great value at a budget price, and they still deliver on quality, even if they don’t have that new-release shine.
Navigating This Book
Here’s the rundown of what you’ll find packed inside these pages:
Matthew Hopkins: Step into the twisted world of the infamous Witchfinder General. Hopkins wasn't just any ordinary villain, he was a man who weaponized fear and superstition, spreading chaos and death across England like wildfire. His witch hunts were ruthless, with innocent people tortured and executed based on flimsy evidence and paranoia. In this section, you’ll dig into his brutal methods, from forced confessions to the infamous "swimming test," and learn how to bring this notorious character and his reign of terror to life in your sessions. Whether you're crafting a story of injustice or putting players in the shoes of those who stood against him, you’ll find everything you need to capture the horror and drama of the era.
The Protectorate: Take a closer look at the dark and paranoid days of the Cromwell era, a time when fear wasn’t limited to witches. The Protectorate wasn’t just a shift in political power; it was a breeding ground for suspicion, control, and persecution. This section examines the political climate under the Cromwells, where religious extremism and military power kept everyone on edge. Witch hysteria thrived here, with enemies of the state easily labeled as agents of the Devil. Use this to explore how power corrupts, fear spreads, and how one wrong move could lead to accusations of witchcraft. You’ll be equipped to dig into the heavy themes of power, paranoia, and survival under the iron fist of a government more concerned with control than justice.
The Literature of Witchcraft: Words have always had the power to destroy, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the literature of witchcraft. From grim theological works warning of the Devil’s influence to cheap pamphlets filled with sensationalized accusations, this section lays bare the writings that stoked fear and justified executions. These weren’t just stories, they were tools of control. You’ll uncover how religious leaders, political figures, and opportunists used the written word to fuel witch hunts and maintain power. Whether you want to incorporate historical texts into your setting or explore the devastating impact of propaganda, this section gives you everything you need to see how words were just as dangerous as any spell.
Reference: Here’s where we’ve stashed the practical stuff: notes on converting this material into your system of choice (and vice versa), a glossary of terms you’ll see throughout the book, and a bibliography of all the sources we used to craft this nightmarish journey through history.
80 pages. PDF and epub files included.
History of Witchcraft: Volume III drops you into the dark, twisted world of historical England, where every shadow hides suspicion, and accusations of witchcraft can lead to doom. This system-agnostic sourcebook explores the era of Matthew Hopkins, the Commonwealth, and the Protectorate under Cromwell, blending history with supernatural horror to create a deeply unsettling roleplaying experience.
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill monster hunt. It's about ordinary people trapped in extraordinary circumstances, with characters forced to confront both the fears of the time and the terrifying unknown. The choices you make will carry weight, whether you're playing an accused witch, a fearful villager, or one of Hopkins' infamous witch-hunters. Decisions lead to tension, drama, and consequences that ripple throughout the story.
What sets this apart is the focus on imagination and collaboration. You won’t just sit back and roll dice, every session becomes a creative act where players shape the narrative. And because it’s system-agnostic, you can drop it into any historical or dark fantasy setting without the headache of compatibility issues.
If you’re a fan of terrifying tales and intense character drama, this book delivers the perfect mix of dark history and supernatural horror. If you love intricate, character-driven plots and relish crafting immersive stories with your friends, this sourcebook is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
A Universal Sourcebook
You don’t need it to play any of our games using The Simple Approach, but it’s here to spice things up if you want. It’s also written to be functionally system-agnostic, so feel free to throw its elements into any other roleplaying system your choice.
If you’re looking to use it with a different roleplaying system, don’t worry. There are notes at the end to help with conversion, and if you’re need more advice in translating material between systems, grab the Lightspress Handbook,available wherever you found this book.
Legacy Editions
Legacy Editions are a chance to revisit some of our classic titles with a fresh coat of paint. They’ve been updated with our current trade dress and given a once-over by the editorial team to clean up any lingering rough edges. Sure, they might not have all the bells and whistles of our latest releases, but that’s kind of the point. These books are a solid addition to your collection without costing you an arm and a leg. You’re getting great value at a budget price, and they still deliver on quality, even if they don’t have that new-release shine.
Navigating This Book
Here’s the rundown of what you’ll find packed inside these pages:
Matthew Hopkins: Step into the twisted world of the infamous Witchfinder General. Hopkins wasn't just any ordinary villain, he was a man who weaponized fear and superstition, spreading chaos and death across England like wildfire. His witch hunts were ruthless, with innocent people tortured and executed based on flimsy evidence and paranoia. In this section, you’ll dig into his brutal methods, from forced confessions to the infamous "swimming test," and learn how to bring this notorious character and his reign of terror to life in your sessions. Whether you're crafting a story of injustice or putting players in the shoes of those who stood against him, you’ll find everything you need to capture the horror and drama of the era.
The Protectorate: Take a closer look at the dark and paranoid days of the Cromwell era, a time when fear wasn’t limited to witches. The Protectorate wasn’t just a shift in political power; it was a breeding ground for suspicion, control, and persecution. This section examines the political climate under the Cromwells, where religious extremism and military power kept everyone on edge. Witch hysteria thrived here, with enemies of the state easily labeled as agents of the Devil. Use this to explore how power corrupts, fear spreads, and how one wrong move could lead to accusations of witchcraft. You’ll be equipped to dig into the heavy themes of power, paranoia, and survival under the iron fist of a government more concerned with control than justice.
The Literature of Witchcraft: Words have always had the power to destroy, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the literature of witchcraft. From grim theological works warning of the Devil’s influence to cheap pamphlets filled with sensationalized accusations, this section lays bare the writings that stoked fear and justified executions. These weren’t just stories, they were tools of control. You’ll uncover how religious leaders, political figures, and opportunists used the written word to fuel witch hunts and maintain power. Whether you want to incorporate historical texts into your setting or explore the devastating impact of propaganda, this section gives you everything you need to see how words were just as dangerous as any spell.
Reference: Here’s where we’ve stashed the practical stuff: notes on converting this material into your system of choice (and vice versa), a glossary of terms you’ll see throughout the book, and a bibliography of all the sources we used to craft this nightmarish journey through history.
80 pages. PDF and epub files included.
History of Witchcraft: Volume III drops you into the dark, twisted world of historical England, where every shadow hides suspicion, and accusations of witchcraft can lead to doom. This system-agnostic sourcebook explores the era of Matthew Hopkins, the Commonwealth, and the Protectorate under Cromwell, blending history with supernatural horror to create a deeply unsettling roleplaying experience.
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill monster hunt. It's about ordinary people trapped in extraordinary circumstances, with characters forced to confront both the fears of the time and the terrifying unknown. The choices you make will carry weight, whether you're playing an accused witch, a fearful villager, or one of Hopkins' infamous witch-hunters. Decisions lead to tension, drama, and consequences that ripple throughout the story.
What sets this apart is the focus on imagination and collaboration. You won’t just sit back and roll dice, every session becomes a creative act where players shape the narrative. And because it’s system-agnostic, you can drop it into any historical or dark fantasy setting without the headache of compatibility issues.
If you’re a fan of terrifying tales and intense character drama, this book delivers the perfect mix of dark history and supernatural horror. If you love intricate, character-driven plots and relish crafting immersive stories with your friends, this sourcebook is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
A Universal Sourcebook
You don’t need it to play any of our games using The Simple Approach, but it’s here to spice things up if you want. It’s also written to be functionally system-agnostic, so feel free to throw its elements into any other roleplaying system your choice.
If you’re looking to use it with a different roleplaying system, don’t worry. There are notes at the end to help with conversion, and if you’re need more advice in translating material between systems, grab the Lightspress Handbook,available wherever you found this book.
Legacy Editions
Legacy Editions are a chance to revisit some of our classic titles with a fresh coat of paint. They’ve been updated with our current trade dress and given a once-over by the editorial team to clean up any lingering rough edges. Sure, they might not have all the bells and whistles of our latest releases, but that’s kind of the point. These books are a solid addition to your collection without costing you an arm and a leg. You’re getting great value at a budget price, and they still deliver on quality, even if they don’t have that new-release shine.
Navigating This Book
Here’s the rundown of what you’ll find packed inside these pages:
Matthew Hopkins: Step into the twisted world of the infamous Witchfinder General. Hopkins wasn't just any ordinary villain, he was a man who weaponized fear and superstition, spreading chaos and death across England like wildfire. His witch hunts were ruthless, with innocent people tortured and executed based on flimsy evidence and paranoia. In this section, you’ll dig into his brutal methods, from forced confessions to the infamous "swimming test," and learn how to bring this notorious character and his reign of terror to life in your sessions. Whether you're crafting a story of injustice or putting players in the shoes of those who stood against him, you’ll find everything you need to capture the horror and drama of the era.
The Protectorate: Take a closer look at the dark and paranoid days of the Cromwell era, a time when fear wasn’t limited to witches. The Protectorate wasn’t just a shift in political power; it was a breeding ground for suspicion, control, and persecution. This section examines the political climate under the Cromwells, where religious extremism and military power kept everyone on edge. Witch hysteria thrived here, with enemies of the state easily labeled as agents of the Devil. Use this to explore how power corrupts, fear spreads, and how one wrong move could lead to accusations of witchcraft. You’ll be equipped to dig into the heavy themes of power, paranoia, and survival under the iron fist of a government more concerned with control than justice.
The Literature of Witchcraft: Words have always had the power to destroy, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the literature of witchcraft. From grim theological works warning of the Devil’s influence to cheap pamphlets filled with sensationalized accusations, this section lays bare the writings that stoked fear and justified executions. These weren’t just stories, they were tools of control. You’ll uncover how religious leaders, political figures, and opportunists used the written word to fuel witch hunts and maintain power. Whether you want to incorporate historical texts into your setting or explore the devastating impact of propaganda, this section gives you everything you need to see how words were just as dangerous as any spell.
Reference: Here’s where we’ve stashed the practical stuff: notes on converting this material into your system of choice (and vice versa), a glossary of terms you’ll see throughout the book, and a bibliography of all the sources we used to craft this nightmarish journey through history.
80 pages. PDF and epub files included.