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Better Worldbuilding Through Commerce
30% off Cozy Fantasy: A Foragers Guild Guide
30% off Merchant Guilds: A Foragers Guild Guide
30% off DoubleZero: Shadows
30% off DoubleZero: Escape
A Cozy Fantasy Reading List
Lightspress.com Update
Coming Soon, the next releases for DoubleZero and Foragers Guild.

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Better Worldbuilding Through Commerce

As a designer who values realism and worldbuilding, I have come to appreciate the role that merchant guilds can play in fantasy settings. They add depth and complexity to the world, and can also drive further worldbuilding by highlighting the implications and ripple effects of their existence.

Merchant guilds emerged historically in medieval Europe and Asia, designed to regulate trade, establish prices, and protect the interests of their members. In fantasy settings, they can provide a sense of historical accuracy and realism, while also offering opportunities for roleplaying and storytelling.

One of the ways that merchant guilds can drive deeper worldbuilding is through their interactions with other factions in the world. These should have their own agendas and interests, which can lead to conflicts and alliances with other groups. By exploring these dynamics, guides and designers can flesh out the political and social structures of the world.

Merchant guilds can also have ripple effects on the world beyond their immediate interactions. For example, the prices and availability of goods may be influenced by the activities of these organizations, which can in turn impact the wider economy and society. This can create opportunities for roleplaying related to trade, negotiation, and economics, while also adding depth to the world. By researching the historical guilds of our own world, guides can draw on real-life precedents and practices to create believable and engaging fictional organizations. This can make the world feel even more tangible and immersive.

Finally, merchant guilds can serve as a lens through which to explore the world from a different perspective. They’re not concerned with the grand, sweeping events of the plot, but rather the small details of everyday life. That provides the players with an opportunity to see a different side of the setting, and hopefully forge a deeper connection with the world.

Cozy Fantasy: A Foragers Guild Guide

A system-neutral fantasy roleplaying sourcebook.

The sun was setting over the quaint village of Willowdale, casting a warm golden glow over the cobblestone streets and cottages. The scent of baking bread and roasting meats wafted through the air, mixing with the sounds of laughter and cheerful chatter. This was a place where magic and mystery coexisted with everyday life, where faeries flitted among the flowers and dragons were rumored to roam the nearby hills. It was a place where anything was possible, and where a young orphan, Lily, was about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

Cozy fantasy is a sub-genre of fantasy that emphasizes comfort, warmth, and a sense of community over epic battles and high stakes. It's a world where magic and mythical creatures are part of everyday life, but the focus is on the quiet moments and simple pleasures. Picture a world where you can curl up with a good book by a roaring fire in a cozy cottage, or enjoy a hot cup of tea in the company of friends at a local tavern.

This type of setting is perfect for fantasy roleplaying because it provides a welcome respite from the typical high-stakes, action-packed fantasy worlds. In cozy fantasy, player characters can explore a rich, imaginative world filled with magic and wonder, but without the constant pressure to save the world from destruction. The adventures can be a relaxed and enjoyable experience, where player characters can focus on building relationships, discovering new places, and simply enjoying each other's company.

One of the best things about cozy fantasy is that it offers a lot of creative freedom. There are no hard and fast rules, so the guide can create a world that is unique and tailored to the group's preferences. For example, the adventures could take place in a magical world filled with talking animals and enchanted forests, or it could be set in a medieval-style kingdom where magic is used for everyday tasks. The possibilities are endless.

This comprehensive guide is packed with everything you need to bring your cozy fantasy visions to life. Whether you're a guide looking for a change of pace or a player searching for a world where you can truly relax and immerse yourself, this sourcebook is the perfect tool to help you build a world that's both magical and cozy. So why wait? Start your journey into the heart of cozy fantasy today!

This book includes:

Worldbuilding: The setting elements required to support the existence of your cozy fantasy setting, including different genres, types of fantasy worlds, history, and more.
Guilds: Guilds that your cozy fantasy character can belong to and the resources and support they can provide, as well as possible antagonist organizations the characters can face.
Player Characters: Creating interesting cozy fantasy characters that are detailed and fun to play, with descriptions, personalities, cultural backgrounds, and more.
Antagonists: Developing both cozy fantasy antagonists and antagonists for cozy fantasy player characters, with a range of compelling motivations and intriguing backstories.
Supporting Roles: A range of cozy fantasy supporting characters in different roles, and the types of supporting cast that can be around cozy fantasy player characters.
Adventures: Ideas for different types of adventures centered around cozy fantasy, including goals, stakes, and obstacles.

Merchant Guilds: A Foragers Guild Guide

A system-neutral fantasy roleplaying sourcebook.

In the bustling city of Aranthor, the Merchant Guild held sway over commerce and trade. It was a powerful organization, with members ranging from wealthy merchants to humble peddlers, all united by their desire for profit. Their guild hall stood tall in the heart of the city, a grand building with ornate carvings and a sprawling marketplace at its feet. For generations, the Merchant Guild had been the driving force behind the city's prosperity, but their power and influence were now threatened by the rise of a new rival: a mysterious and shadowy group known only as the Black Market. As tensions between the two factions grew, it seemed that a storm was brewing on the horizon, one that would shake the very foundations of Aranthor's economy.

IA merchant guild is an organization of traders and merchants who have banded together to promote their mutual interests, protect their businesses, and maintain their economic power. They often hold significant influence in the cities and towns where they operate, and may even have their own laws, customs, and regulations. Guilds provide support and resources to their members, like access to trade routes, financial backing, and legal representation. In a world filled with magical creatures, powerful kingdoms, and dangerous quests, the Merchant Guilds play a vital role in facilitating trade and commerce, while navigating the complex political landscape of the realm.

This book includes:

Merchant Guilds: Details on creating a merchant guild, its scope and resources, and the support it might provide to player characters, as well as possible goals and obstacles members of the merchant guild might face.
Worldbuilding: The setting elements required to support the existence of merchant guilds, including different genres, types of fantasy worlds, history, and more.
Player Characters: Creating interesting merchant guild member characters that are detailed and fun to play, with descriptions, personalities, cultural backgrounds, and more.
Antagonists: Developing both merchant guild antagonists and antagonists for merchant guild member player characters, with a range of compelling motivations and intriguing backstories.
Supporting Roles: A range of merchant guild member supporting characters in different roles, and the types of supporting cast that might be around merchant guild member player characters.
Adventures: Ideas for different types of adventures centered around the merchant guild, including goals, stakes, and obstacles.

A Cozy Fantasy Reading List

On my other blog, BooksMoviesCoffee, I’ve written a piece with a list of cozy fantasy novels that come highly recommended. I have not read them all myself, but they’re all well-reviewed, and my sources are usually spot-on when making genre suggestions. Read the full article here.

Lightspress.com Update

In absolutely unexciting news, the website has been overhauled again. The changes aren’t dramatic, but it’s a lot cleaner, easier to navigate, and most importantly, easier for me to update. It’s a new framework that will allow me to add new things going forward. For a start, there’s finally a Foragers Guild page. If you look carefully at the DoubleZero page, you’ll find some upcoming releases listed that haven’t previously been announced.

Coming Soon

DoubleZero: Epilogue, a survival horror setting toolkit for DoubleZero.
DoubleZero: Heist, a modern roleplaying adventure toolkit for DoubleZero.
Quests: A Foragers Guild Guide, a system-neutral fantasy adventure toolkit.
Soldiers: A Foragers Guild Guide, a system-neutral fantasy profession 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.

The Lightspress Manifesto for 23 February…