The Lightspress Manifesto for 2 March 2023
The Lightspress Manifesto for 2 March 2023
New releases, GM's Day sale, and what's coming next!
Here's the Scoop:
30% off DoubleZero: Epilogue, a survival horror setting toolkit.
30% off DoubleZero: Heist, a modern roleplaying adventure toolkit.
30% off DoubleZero: Obscura, a dark academic setting toolkit.
Coming Soon: The next releases for DoubleZero and Foragers Guild.
GM’s Day Sale at DriveThruRPG
I think most of the Lightspress Media catalog is 15% off right now (I don’t pick what goes into these sitewide sales). While I appreciate the concept of GM’s Day, I’m still not sure why they commemorate the day Gary Gygax died rather than his birthday or the anniversary of the release of the first Dungeon Masters’ Guide or something. Anyway, you can check it out at this link.
DoubleZero: Epilogue
A survival horror setting toolkit for DoubleZero: Modern Roleplaying
The world had ended, and with it, life as we knew it. The once-bustling cities were now desolate wastelands, filled with the rotting remains of the dead. The skies were a sickly shade of gray, blocked out by a never-ending cloud of ash and smoke. The few survivors who remained lived in constant fear, scavenging for whatever scraps of food and supplies they could find, and always watching their backs for the next threat that lurked around the corner. In this new world, there was no room for weakness, and every decision made could mean the difference between life and death. And in the midst of this bleak, post-apocalyptic landscape, a small group of survivors had just stumbled upon something that would change their lives forever.
Post-apocalyptic survival horror is a subgenre of horror fiction that takes place after a major catastrophic event, like a nuclear war, pandemic, or natural disaster. The survivors must navigate a hostile and dangerous world filled with scarce resources, deadly creatures, and other desperate humans. This type of setting lends itself well to roleplaying, where players can take on the roles of the survivors and work together to overcome the challenges of this new world. The guide can set up encounters and scenarios that challenge the player characters' survival skills and test their moral compasses, leading to a tense and engaging experience. Additionally, the post-apocalyptic setting allows for a wide range of creative storytelling opportunities, with the players' decisions having a significant impact on the fate of their characters and the world they inhabit.
DoubleZero: Heist
An adventure toolkit for DoubleZero: Modern Roleplaying
The night was dark and quiet as the team assembled outside the museum. They had spent months planning this heist, studying the museum's security system, and developing a foolproof plan to steal the priceless diamond necklace on display. The team consisted of five individuals, each with their own unique set of skills that made them essential to the operation. They wore all-black outfits and carried high-tech gadgets to bypass the museum's security measures. As they made their way inside, they moved with precision and agility, avoiding detection by the guards patrolling the halls. Finally, they reached the exhibit room and found the necklace resting in its glass case. One team member used a laser cutter to break the case open while another disabled the alarms. With the necklace in hand, they made their escape, leaving no trace behind. It was a job well done, but they knew they had to act fast before the authorities caught up with them.
A heist story involves a group of skilled individuals planning and executing a complex robbery or theft. The setting often includes high-stakes action, suspenseful twists, and intricate scheming. The genre can be adapted to create a modern tabletop roleplaying setting by setting up a heist as the central narrative for the player characters to navigate. The player characters take on the roles of skilled individuals with unique abilities and specialties and work together to plan and execute a successful heist while avoiding detection and overcoming obstacles. The heist could be set in a variety of locations, from a high-security museum to a futuristic bank or an underground vault. The tabletop roleplaying adventure can provide a collaborative and immersive experience that allows player characters to use their creativity and strategic thinking to outsmart their opponents and pull off the ultimate heist.
DoubleZero: Obscura
A Dark Academia setting toolkit for DoubleZero: Modern Roleplaying
As soon as she stepped onto the campus, Olivia knew she had found her home. The towering Gothic architecture and sprawling grounds, overgrown with ivy and brambles, seemed to whisper of secrets and hidden knowledge. As she wandered the maze-like corridors of the library, she couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement at the thought of all the books waiting to be discovered. Olivia had always been drawn to the darker side of literature, the tragedies and mysteries that seemed to hold the key to understanding the human condition. And now, she was determined to unlock what lay hidden in the shadows.
Dark academia is a literary and aesthetic subculture that glorifies intellectualism, romanticizes the darker aspects of academia. It often features themes of death, tragedy, and mystery. DoubleZero: Obscura emphasizes those elements and incorporates themes like secret societies, occultism, and forbidden knowledge. Players take on the roles of students or faculty members at a prestigious but ominous institution, navigating the treacherous social dynamics, and uncovering the hidden truths and sinister machinations lurking beneath the surface. Dark Academia lends itself to adventures with an emphasis on investigation, exploration, and intellectual challenges.
Coming Soon
Quests: A Foragers Guild Guide, a system-neutral fantasy adventure toolkit.
Soldiers: A Foragers Guild Guide, a system-neutral fantasy profession toolkit.
DoubleZero: Action Figures, a military adventure setting toolkit
DoubleZero: Greed, a modern adventure toolkit
Lightspress Media is a tabletop roleplaying company with a lo-fi approach. Utility of content takes precedence over ostentatious production value. Graphic elements should enhance the message of the text, not act as page filler and eye candy. Physical books need to be compact, portable, and sturdy. This minimalist aesthetic results in powerful toolkits both useful and affordable. Tabletop roleplaying isn’t the book. It’s the creativity and collaboration that takes place around the tabletop.
I am also adoring Heist; I posted a comment on DTRPG, but here I am recommending a movie, Now You See Me, and its sequel. Stage magic and bank robbery. I could totally sink my time into running a heist game like this.
I'm tying Double Zero: Collapse and DoubleZero: Epilogue already. The latter so naturally emerges in the wake of the former.