Cosmic Nightmares
Cosmic Nightmares takes your standard heroic fantasy and plunges it into the deep, terrifying unknown. This isn’t about smashing monsters with a sword or flexing your magical prowess. It’s about navigating the unexplainable, the unfathomable, and realizing that the things lurking in the shadows may not even notice your existence. Every decision matters, and there’s no clear path forward. Just you, your choices, and whatever nightmare you accidentally invite in.
This game focuses on story and character above all else. You won’t be rolling dice and hoping for the best. No, your imagination, collaboration, and the agency to shape the narrative are what set Cosmic Nightmares apart. Every session is an opportunity to explore cosmic horror in a way that feels fresh, while still scratching that itch for something familiar.
It’s cosmic horror, but make it heroic fantasy—if you’re brave enough. Expect plenty of tension, dread, and unease, with just a glimmer of hope that you might outwit or outrun the horrors. But don’t count on it.
Perfect for those who love cosmic horror with a dash of fantasy, Cosmic Nightmares gives you a new perspective on classic elements. Expect the unknown, prepare for fear, and maybe—just maybe—survive long enough to see another day.
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 classic Lightspress titles, refreshed with updated design and a quick pass from our current editorial team. While they may not hit the same marks as our latest releases, they still bring solid value to your roleplaying collection without breaking the bank.
Terminology
This book comes from a time when a certain massive corporation thought it could rewrite the rules and claim ownership over everything, including words that existed long before it did. Even though we weren’t doing anything wrong, we decided to tweak a few common terms—mostly to protect ourselves, but also a little bit to declare that we can all keep playing without them if it came down to it. Not that they noticed, because in the grand scheme of things, we’re just a bug on their windshield.
Anyway, if you can’t figure out that a berserker is basically a barbarian, a knight is more or less a paladin, and the damned are warlocks, you’ve got bigger problems than a glossary or a few vocabulary swaps will fix.
Navigating This Book
Here’s a breakdown of the tools and resources you’ll find inside these pages:
Worldbuilding: This section digs into the mechanics of crafting your setting, from basics to the cultural mess lurking beneath the surface. Whether you're building from scratch or tweaking something you've already got, this will make you question what dark forces are really pulling the strings.
Characters: Let’s go beyond stats. We’re talking about motivations, fears, and how cosmic horror slowly shreds any semblance of sanity. You’ll find tips for weaving personal arcs into a larger narrative of existential dread. Expect your characters to unravel, and then some.
Guilds: Every world has factions, but these are more than just groups of merchants and artisans. Think cults with too much power, unions fighting arcane corruption, and secret societies with their own horrifying agendas. This will help you give them purpose—and some seriously twisted motivations.
Creatures: A bestiary filled with things that don’t just want to kill you, but to warp your mind and soul. From twisted versions of familiar beasts to unspeakable horrors from beyond, every entry here is a reminder that the natural world has gone way off the rails.
Magic: Magic in this setting? It’s less "wave a wand" and more "bargain with forces you can’t control." This section explores spells that are as likely to backfire as they are to work—if you consider a mangled mind a success.
Magic Items: Forget your standard enchanted swords. The artifacts here will warp reality as easily as they carve through enemies. Each one comes with a heavy dose of risk, both for the wielder and everyone around them. Use at your own peril.
Adventures: Pre-made hooks that throw players into cosmic horror tales full of unraveling reality and creeping madness. These aren’t your standard "save the kingdom" quests—expect existential crises, hidden horrors, and nothing resembling a happy ending.
Reference: Stock characters, creatures, and gear, plus notes on converting this material to fit whatever system you’re using. You’ll also find a glossary of our favorite cosmic horror terms and a bibliography in case you want to dive deeper into the madness.
The Simple Approach
To understand this book, you need to know the context in which it was written and the philosophy that runs through it. At its core, The Simple Approach emphasizes the elements that truly matter in roleplaying: narrative depth, character complexity, and player agency. While plenty of systems are still obsessed with combat, loot, and grinding, we know roleplaying can be so much more. This system is all about immersive storytelling, meaningful choices, and characters you actually care about. Whether you're uncovering hidden secrets, solving a gripping mystery, or exploring the complexities of romance, The Simple Approach offers a fresh take on traditional genres like fantasy, science fiction, and horror, along with modern and underserved ones like crime & mystery, cottagecore fantasy, dark academia, magical realism, romance, and espionage.
Narrative-Based Mechanics
At the heart of The Simple Approach are narrative-based mechanics that are easy to learn and designed to grow with you as you play. They let you tweak what’s here and add things we haven’t thought of yet. The journaling system replaces those one-size-fits-none character sheets, giving gamemasters a flexible tool for organizing worldbuilding, adventure design, and session notes and players ample room to allow their character to grow. Every character, setting, and adventure becomes a unique creation shaped by your choices.
Seamless Integration and Flexibility
Cosmic Nightmares isn’t a standalone roleplaying experience. You can blend it seamlessly with other Lightspress publications to create one-of-a-kind stories and settings or bring elements from other systems into your Lightspress game. If you want to use our material with your favorite system or setting, go for it. The conversion notes in the Lightspress Handbook give you the flexibility to play how you want.
Our Philosophy
We believe the true essence of roleplaying happens around the table, where creativity and collaboration come alive. It’s not about a book, a brand, or a company. It’s about the people playing together, creating something special. Our focus on cooperation, interaction, and investigation ensures that every session is more than just a game; it’s a journey filled with compelling adventures and meaningful connections. We stand by our belief that the heart of roleplaying is found in shared experiences and stories crafted by the players. This philosophy drives everything in The Simple Approach and underpins our commitment to delivering content that champions the true spirit of roleplaying, free from superficial constraints.
Commitment to Creative Freedom
This philosophy also guides our belief that creators should own their work and not be beholden to licensing terms that only benefit fickle corporations. We draw inspiration from historical, mythological, and literary sources, tapping into our shared heritage to fuel creative exploration. We maintain full copyright ownership, ensuring that our work stays independent and true to our vision. Using style guides to keep a cohesive voice and narrative structure, we deliver exceptional content free from external influences, preserving the integrity and creative standards of our work.
Accessible and Affordable Roleplaying
We’re committed to keeping our games affordable so that more people can enjoy them. Our focus isn’t on producing overstuffed, expensive books filled with art to collect dust on a shelf. We’re here to create material meant to be played, not displayed. You won’t find us chasing awards or turning our games into glorified coffee-table books. Our goal is to facilitate roleplaying, pure and simple, keeping the price points low so you can focus on the game, not your wallet.
Stay Connected and Join Us
If you’re tired of the same old grind and ready to try something that actually respects your input, then The Simple Approach is calling your name. We’re not just offering a game. We’re inviting you to join a movement, a way of playing that values your time, creativity, and agency.
For more on The Simple Approach and our unorthodox take on roleplaying, visit lightspress.com. Subscribe to our newsletter, The Manifesto, for updates on new releases, roleplaying advice, and a healthy dose of our opinions. If you’re ready to embrace something different, download the free Lightspress Handbook—your guide to what we’re all about.
Cosmic Nightmares takes your standard heroic fantasy and plunges it into the deep, terrifying unknown. This isn’t about smashing monsters with a sword or flexing your magical prowess. It’s about navigating the unexplainable, the unfathomable, and realizing that the things lurking in the shadows may not even notice your existence. Every decision matters, and there’s no clear path forward. Just you, your choices, and whatever nightmare you accidentally invite in.
This game focuses on story and character above all else. You won’t be rolling dice and hoping for the best. No, your imagination, collaboration, and the agency to shape the narrative are what set Cosmic Nightmares apart. Every session is an opportunity to explore cosmic horror in a way that feels fresh, while still scratching that itch for something familiar.
It’s cosmic horror, but make it heroic fantasy—if you’re brave enough. Expect plenty of tension, dread, and unease, with just a glimmer of hope that you might outwit or outrun the horrors. But don’t count on it.
Perfect for those who love cosmic horror with a dash of fantasy, Cosmic Nightmares gives you a new perspective on classic elements. Expect the unknown, prepare for fear, and maybe—just maybe—survive long enough to see another day.
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 classic Lightspress titles, refreshed with updated design and a quick pass from our current editorial team. While they may not hit the same marks as our latest releases, they still bring solid value to your roleplaying collection without breaking the bank.
Terminology
This book comes from a time when a certain massive corporation thought it could rewrite the rules and claim ownership over everything, including words that existed long before it did. Even though we weren’t doing anything wrong, we decided to tweak a few common terms—mostly to protect ourselves, but also a little bit to declare that we can all keep playing without them if it came down to it. Not that they noticed, because in the grand scheme of things, we’re just a bug on their windshield.
Anyway, if you can’t figure out that a berserker is basically a barbarian, a knight is more or less a paladin, and the damned are warlocks, you’ve got bigger problems than a glossary or a few vocabulary swaps will fix.
Navigating This Book
Here’s a breakdown of the tools and resources you’ll find inside these pages:
Worldbuilding: This section digs into the mechanics of crafting your setting, from basics to the cultural mess lurking beneath the surface. Whether you're building from scratch or tweaking something you've already got, this will make you question what dark forces are really pulling the strings.
Characters: Let’s go beyond stats. We’re talking about motivations, fears, and how cosmic horror slowly shreds any semblance of sanity. You’ll find tips for weaving personal arcs into a larger narrative of existential dread. Expect your characters to unravel, and then some.
Guilds: Every world has factions, but these are more than just groups of merchants and artisans. Think cults with too much power, unions fighting arcane corruption, and secret societies with their own horrifying agendas. This will help you give them purpose—and some seriously twisted motivations.
Creatures: A bestiary filled with things that don’t just want to kill you, but to warp your mind and soul. From twisted versions of familiar beasts to unspeakable horrors from beyond, every entry here is a reminder that the natural world has gone way off the rails.
Magic: Magic in this setting? It’s less "wave a wand" and more "bargain with forces you can’t control." This section explores spells that are as likely to backfire as they are to work—if you consider a mangled mind a success.
Magic Items: Forget your standard enchanted swords. The artifacts here will warp reality as easily as they carve through enemies. Each one comes with a heavy dose of risk, both for the wielder and everyone around them. Use at your own peril.
Adventures: Pre-made hooks that throw players into cosmic horror tales full of unraveling reality and creeping madness. These aren’t your standard "save the kingdom" quests—expect existential crises, hidden horrors, and nothing resembling a happy ending.
Reference: Stock characters, creatures, and gear, plus notes on converting this material to fit whatever system you’re using. You’ll also find a glossary of our favorite cosmic horror terms and a bibliography in case you want to dive deeper into the madness.
The Simple Approach
To understand this book, you need to know the context in which it was written and the philosophy that runs through it. At its core, The Simple Approach emphasizes the elements that truly matter in roleplaying: narrative depth, character complexity, and player agency. While plenty of systems are still obsessed with combat, loot, and grinding, we know roleplaying can be so much more. This system is all about immersive storytelling, meaningful choices, and characters you actually care about. Whether you're uncovering hidden secrets, solving a gripping mystery, or exploring the complexities of romance, The Simple Approach offers a fresh take on traditional genres like fantasy, science fiction, and horror, along with modern and underserved ones like crime & mystery, cottagecore fantasy, dark academia, magical realism, romance, and espionage.
Narrative-Based Mechanics
At the heart of The Simple Approach are narrative-based mechanics that are easy to learn and designed to grow with you as you play. They let you tweak what’s here and add things we haven’t thought of yet. The journaling system replaces those one-size-fits-none character sheets, giving gamemasters a flexible tool for organizing worldbuilding, adventure design, and session notes and players ample room to allow their character to grow. Every character, setting, and adventure becomes a unique creation shaped by your choices.
Seamless Integration and Flexibility
Cosmic Nightmares isn’t a standalone roleplaying experience. You can blend it seamlessly with other Lightspress publications to create one-of-a-kind stories and settings or bring elements from other systems into your Lightspress game. If you want to use our material with your favorite system or setting, go for it. The conversion notes in the Lightspress Handbook give you the flexibility to play how you want.
Our Philosophy
We believe the true essence of roleplaying happens around the table, where creativity and collaboration come alive. It’s not about a book, a brand, or a company. It’s about the people playing together, creating something special. Our focus on cooperation, interaction, and investigation ensures that every session is more than just a game; it’s a journey filled with compelling adventures and meaningful connections. We stand by our belief that the heart of roleplaying is found in shared experiences and stories crafted by the players. This philosophy drives everything in The Simple Approach and underpins our commitment to delivering content that champions the true spirit of roleplaying, free from superficial constraints.
Commitment to Creative Freedom
This philosophy also guides our belief that creators should own their work and not be beholden to licensing terms that only benefit fickle corporations. We draw inspiration from historical, mythological, and literary sources, tapping into our shared heritage to fuel creative exploration. We maintain full copyright ownership, ensuring that our work stays independent and true to our vision. Using style guides to keep a cohesive voice and narrative structure, we deliver exceptional content free from external influences, preserving the integrity and creative standards of our work.
Accessible and Affordable Roleplaying
We’re committed to keeping our games affordable so that more people can enjoy them. Our focus isn’t on producing overstuffed, expensive books filled with art to collect dust on a shelf. We’re here to create material meant to be played, not displayed. You won’t find us chasing awards or turning our games into glorified coffee-table books. Our goal is to facilitate roleplaying, pure and simple, keeping the price points low so you can focus on the game, not your wallet.
Stay Connected and Join Us
If you’re tired of the same old grind and ready to try something that actually respects your input, then The Simple Approach is calling your name. We’re not just offering a game. We’re inviting you to join a movement, a way of playing that values your time, creativity, and agency.
For more on The Simple Approach and our unorthodox take on roleplaying, visit lightspress.com. Subscribe to our newsletter, The Manifesto, for updates on new releases, roleplaying advice, and a healthy dose of our opinions. If you’re ready to embrace something different, download the free Lightspress Handbook—your guide to what we’re all about.
Cosmic Nightmares takes your standard heroic fantasy and plunges it into the deep, terrifying unknown. This isn’t about smashing monsters with a sword or flexing your magical prowess. It’s about navigating the unexplainable, the unfathomable, and realizing that the things lurking in the shadows may not even notice your existence. Every decision matters, and there’s no clear path forward. Just you, your choices, and whatever nightmare you accidentally invite in.
This game focuses on story and character above all else. You won’t be rolling dice and hoping for the best. No, your imagination, collaboration, and the agency to shape the narrative are what set Cosmic Nightmares apart. Every session is an opportunity to explore cosmic horror in a way that feels fresh, while still scratching that itch for something familiar.
It’s cosmic horror, but make it heroic fantasy—if you’re brave enough. Expect plenty of tension, dread, and unease, with just a glimmer of hope that you might outwit or outrun the horrors. But don’t count on it.
Perfect for those who love cosmic horror with a dash of fantasy, Cosmic Nightmares gives you a new perspective on classic elements. Expect the unknown, prepare for fear, and maybe—just maybe—survive long enough to see another day.
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 classic Lightspress titles, refreshed with updated design and a quick pass from our current editorial team. While they may not hit the same marks as our latest releases, they still bring solid value to your roleplaying collection without breaking the bank.
Terminology
This book comes from a time when a certain massive corporation thought it could rewrite the rules and claim ownership over everything, including words that existed long before it did. Even though we weren’t doing anything wrong, we decided to tweak a few common terms—mostly to protect ourselves, but also a little bit to declare that we can all keep playing without them if it came down to it. Not that they noticed, because in the grand scheme of things, we’re just a bug on their windshield.
Anyway, if you can’t figure out that a berserker is basically a barbarian, a knight is more or less a paladin, and the damned are warlocks, you’ve got bigger problems than a glossary or a few vocabulary swaps will fix.
Navigating This Book
Here’s a breakdown of the tools and resources you’ll find inside these pages:
Worldbuilding: This section digs into the mechanics of crafting your setting, from basics to the cultural mess lurking beneath the surface. Whether you're building from scratch or tweaking something you've already got, this will make you question what dark forces are really pulling the strings.
Characters: Let’s go beyond stats. We’re talking about motivations, fears, and how cosmic horror slowly shreds any semblance of sanity. You’ll find tips for weaving personal arcs into a larger narrative of existential dread. Expect your characters to unravel, and then some.
Guilds: Every world has factions, but these are more than just groups of merchants and artisans. Think cults with too much power, unions fighting arcane corruption, and secret societies with their own horrifying agendas. This will help you give them purpose—and some seriously twisted motivations.
Creatures: A bestiary filled with things that don’t just want to kill you, but to warp your mind and soul. From twisted versions of familiar beasts to unspeakable horrors from beyond, every entry here is a reminder that the natural world has gone way off the rails.
Magic: Magic in this setting? It’s less "wave a wand" and more "bargain with forces you can’t control." This section explores spells that are as likely to backfire as they are to work—if you consider a mangled mind a success.
Magic Items: Forget your standard enchanted swords. The artifacts here will warp reality as easily as they carve through enemies. Each one comes with a heavy dose of risk, both for the wielder and everyone around them. Use at your own peril.
Adventures: Pre-made hooks that throw players into cosmic horror tales full of unraveling reality and creeping madness. These aren’t your standard "save the kingdom" quests—expect existential crises, hidden horrors, and nothing resembling a happy ending.
Reference: Stock characters, creatures, and gear, plus notes on converting this material to fit whatever system you’re using. You’ll also find a glossary of our favorite cosmic horror terms and a bibliography in case you want to dive deeper into the madness.
The Simple Approach
To understand this book, you need to know the context in which it was written and the philosophy that runs through it. At its core, The Simple Approach emphasizes the elements that truly matter in roleplaying: narrative depth, character complexity, and player agency. While plenty of systems are still obsessed with combat, loot, and grinding, we know roleplaying can be so much more. This system is all about immersive storytelling, meaningful choices, and characters you actually care about. Whether you're uncovering hidden secrets, solving a gripping mystery, or exploring the complexities of romance, The Simple Approach offers a fresh take on traditional genres like fantasy, science fiction, and horror, along with modern and underserved ones like crime & mystery, cottagecore fantasy, dark academia, magical realism, romance, and espionage.
Narrative-Based Mechanics
At the heart of The Simple Approach are narrative-based mechanics that are easy to learn and designed to grow with you as you play. They let you tweak what’s here and add things we haven’t thought of yet. The journaling system replaces those one-size-fits-none character sheets, giving gamemasters a flexible tool for organizing worldbuilding, adventure design, and session notes and players ample room to allow their character to grow. Every character, setting, and adventure becomes a unique creation shaped by your choices.
Seamless Integration and Flexibility
Cosmic Nightmares isn’t a standalone roleplaying experience. You can blend it seamlessly with other Lightspress publications to create one-of-a-kind stories and settings or bring elements from other systems into your Lightspress game. If you want to use our material with your favorite system or setting, go for it. The conversion notes in the Lightspress Handbook give you the flexibility to play how you want.
Our Philosophy
We believe the true essence of roleplaying happens around the table, where creativity and collaboration come alive. It’s not about a book, a brand, or a company. It’s about the people playing together, creating something special. Our focus on cooperation, interaction, and investigation ensures that every session is more than just a game; it’s a journey filled with compelling adventures and meaningful connections. We stand by our belief that the heart of roleplaying is found in shared experiences and stories crafted by the players. This philosophy drives everything in The Simple Approach and underpins our commitment to delivering content that champions the true spirit of roleplaying, free from superficial constraints.
Commitment to Creative Freedom
This philosophy also guides our belief that creators should own their work and not be beholden to licensing terms that only benefit fickle corporations. We draw inspiration from historical, mythological, and literary sources, tapping into our shared heritage to fuel creative exploration. We maintain full copyright ownership, ensuring that our work stays independent and true to our vision. Using style guides to keep a cohesive voice and narrative structure, we deliver exceptional content free from external influences, preserving the integrity and creative standards of our work.
Accessible and Affordable Roleplaying
We’re committed to keeping our games affordable so that more people can enjoy them. Our focus isn’t on producing overstuffed, expensive books filled with art to collect dust on a shelf. We’re here to create material meant to be played, not displayed. You won’t find us chasing awards or turning our games into glorified coffee-table books. Our goal is to facilitate roleplaying, pure and simple, keeping the price points low so you can focus on the game, not your wallet.
Stay Connected and Join Us
If you’re tired of the same old grind and ready to try something that actually respects your input, then The Simple Approach is calling your name. We’re not just offering a game. We’re inviting you to join a movement, a way of playing that values your time, creativity, and agency.
For more on The Simple Approach and our unorthodox take on roleplaying, visit lightspress.com. Subscribe to our newsletter, The Manifesto, for updates on new releases, roleplaying advice, and a healthy dose of our opinions. If you’re ready to embrace something different, download the free Lightspress Handbook—your guide to what we’re all about.