Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Ghostlight so far, and my responses:

The development of Ghostlight has been an experience, to say the least. Here are some personal reflections:

Creating a print book involves a completely different layout than that of a digital PDF. Contrary to popular belief, simply printing the same PDF designed for on-screen viewing isn't feasible. It entails waiting for proofs to arrive from the printer, making necessary corrections, ordering additional proofs, and so forth. This process can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a few months, depending on various factors.

To address a common inquiry:

I recognize that some of the choices in this list may seem a bit obvious, but I believe they fulfill the expectations of certain a certain set of people. It's important to note that this list is intended as a starting point, not a definitive canon. You’re encouraged to explore and incorporate music that resonates with your own narratives and creative vision.

A few days ago I posted an example of a beat chart, which included the difficulty of challenges based on the point in the story where they take place. It’s a series of prompts for gamemasters to build adventures on; not quite fill-in-the-blanks, but add your own characters and contexts to get the story to flow logically without railroading players into a single path to fulfilling their goals.

Why am I taking this approach? Because representation matters, and coded representation isn’t full representation. Carving out a special niche for certain groups of people isn’t inclusion. Trying to be sly about things is performative and frequently dishonest. Because trying too hard often ends up falling into the trap of misappropriation, the exact opposite of what I’m trying to accomplish. Worrying about people who are against diversity and inclusion getting upset only leads to less diversity and inclusion, so the offended parties are invited to sit down and shut up. 

I will probably repeat this list for every project I work on going forward, with slight variations. All of the simple “approach values”, whether they’re expressed as the Black Box Manifesto or framed as lo-fi or punk DIY, remain intact. It comes down to this:

Another feature of The Suspicion Engine that will debut in Ghostlight are the tools provided for adventure design. Basically, there are reusable beat charts that outline a variety of story types. You can also create your own beat charts with the information provided.

Ghostlight introduces a new system dubbed The Suspicion Engine, which I'll examine more in upcoming posts. Here's a quick rundown of its mechanics.

You’re a theater student, and you’re here because you have talent. Who you were before, who you still are outside of the college, why you’ve worked so hard to get here and what you’re willing to do to remain are more important than special abilities.

The primary setting is the performing arts college, esteemed for its alumni, including famous actors, directors, and producers in theater and film. For some, it’s where you go when you can’t get into Julliard. Despite its reputation for being haunted and the superstitions among students and faculty, there's no overt paranormal activity. Not overtly.

Today I want to talk about the influences that led me to create Ghostlight. From Shakespeare to Dark Shadows, Universal Monsters to Murder, She Wrote, many different things came together to form the basis of this Gothic dark academia roleplaying game. 

In creating Ghostlight, my aim has not just been to create a game, but to release a setting that supports storytelling, intrigue, and mystery within the hallowed halls of a secluded New England performing arts college. My overarching design principles stand, guiding every aspect of development. Today I want to revisit those principles and talk about how they apply to this project.

Ghostlight invites you into a realm of dark academia, where Gothic intrigue thrives. Set within the walls of a prestigious private performing arts college nestled in a seaside New England town, your characters immerse themselves in the world of theater. But beneath the surface of this seemingly ordinary setting lies a tapestry of mysteries waiting to be unraveled. Can they peel back the layers of secrets shrouding the school, the town, and its inhabitants?