Dashiell Hammett's Red Harvest Roleplaying Game
Welcome to a roleplaying experience where the grit of Dashiell Hammett’s original noir classic collides with the power of your imagination. Inspired by the novel Red Harvest, this sourcebook immerses you in a seedy world of corruption, double-dealing, and moral ambiguity. The book captures the tone and atmosphere of the novel, bringing Personville (or “Poisonville,” if you prefer) to life as a brutal playground for character-driven drama.
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill crime story. This is noir storytelling at its finest, where alliances are fleeting, motives are murky, and survival depends on outsmarting the next guy. Every choice you make, every loyalty you question, every punch you throw, these decisions ripple through the story, shaping the outcome. The focus here is on the narrative, the characters, and the interplay of their ambitions, flaws, and secrets.
Here’s where the real magic lies. The Red Harvest roleplaying experience isn’t about who can roll the highest or stack the most loot. It’s about crafting a collaborative story that feels like Hammett himself could have written it. Imagine characters as flawed and fascinating as the Continental Op or Dinah Brand, each adding layers of complexity to the tale. Whether you’re navigating the labyrinth of rival gang factions or trying to dodge the fallout from one too many bad decisions, every moment feels alive with tension and possibility.
The sourcebook is packed with tools to help you run a session as tangled and volatile as Personville itself. Detailed character templates make it easy to build protagonists and supporting characters with depth. Tips for crafting conspiracies and betrayals ensure the story stays unpredictable. There are even prompts to help spark conflicts that spiral into chaos, because what’s a noir story without things going sideways?
This isn’t a book you read and forget; it’s a springboard for your own noir stories. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Hammett’s work or someone looking to inject a little hardboiled drama into your roleplaying sessions, this sourcebook strikes the perfect balance between homage and innovation. It stays true to the genre’s roots while opening doors for fresh takes and unexpected twists.
You don’t need a deep knowledge of Hammett’s bibliography to get started. The sourcebook guides you through the noir setting and its themes, making it accessible to newcomers while staying rewarding for long-time fans. What you’ll need is a sharp wit, a willingness to collaborate, and an appreciation for stories where no one is squeaky clean.
All literary roleplaying games published by Lightspress use The Simple Approach system and philosophy, and are completely compatible with one another, making all sorts of interesting crossovers possible.
380 pages. PDF and epub files included.
Navigating This Book
Here’s what you’ll uncover in these pages, laid out in meticulous detail to inspire and guide your roleplaying experience:
Red Harvest: Get a comprehensive look at Red Harvest, from its gritty, groundbreaking narrative to its enduring influence on noir fiction. Explore why Hammett’s tale of moral ambiguity and ruthless power struggles makes such a compelling foundation for a roleplaying game. You’ll explore the historical context of the novel, uncover its thematic depths, and see how these elements translate into complex storytelling opportunities.
Characters: Meet the cast of Red Harvest in all their morally compromised glory. This section includes detailed profiles of the original characters, providing insight into their motivations and roles in the story. You’ll also find tips for crafting original characters that seamlessly fit into the setting, whether they’re shady operators, reluctant heroes, or agents of chaos. The character creation system gives you the tools to bring these ideas to life, ensuring every character is as layered and unpredictable as the story itself.
Factions: Step into the power struggles of Personville with an exploration of the factions at play. From the criminal organizations tearing the town apart to the individuals trying to exploit or survive the chaos, every group is brought to life with vivid detail. You’ll also find guidance on introducing new factions, designed to expand the setting while staying true to the tone of Hammett’s world. Whether it’s rival gangs, corrupt officials, or opportunistic outsiders, these groups add layers of intrigue to your story.
Personville: Immerse yourself in the grimy streets of Personville with an expanded look at the setting. This section dives into the time period, offering historical context and cultural details that deepen the worldbuilding. Learn how to take the core elements of the novel and expand them, creating a vibrant backdrop for your stories. From the smoky back rooms of shady speakeasies to the tense quiet of a town on the brink, this setting is ripe for exploration and chaos.
The System: Discover how The Simple Approach mechanics have been fine-tuned for Red Harvest. This section lays out the complete ruleset, designed to keep the focus on story and character while providing enough structure to handle tense confrontations and complex schemes. Whether you’re new to the system or a seasoned pro, you’ll find everything you need to run a session as gritty and unpredictable as Hammett’s novel.
Beat Chart: The narrative structure of Red Harvest is broken down into beats, offering a roadmap for your own literary adventure. Use it as a step-by-step guide to retell the story or remix it into something entirely new. This section is perfect for those who want to capture the essence of the original novel while adding their own twists and turns.
Prequels: Explore the events leading up to the original novel with ideas for creating prequels. Whether you’re uncovering the rise of Personville’s criminal factions or investigating the backstory of key characters, this section offers inspiration for expanding the lore and setting the stage for new stories.
Side Stories: Branch out from the main plot with stories that run parallel to the events of the novel. Follow the exploits of minor characters, explore overlooked corners of Personville, or introduce entirely new perspectives. These side stories add depth to the world and open up opportunities for fresh narratives.
Sequels: What happens after the dust settles? This section helps you craft sequels that pick up where Red Harvest leaves off. Explore the consequences of the original story’s events, introduce new challenges, and push the characters into uncharted territory. The possibilities are as endless as they are compelling.
Crossovers: Blend Red Harvest with other literary works for a fresh twist on classic tales. Whether you’re mixing noir with gothic horror, injecting some Hemingway into the mix, or creating a hardboiled take on Austen, this section provides ideas for crossovers that honor both works while creating something entirely new.
Reference: Round out your experience with a treasure trove of stock characters, creatures, and equipment to populate your stories. This section also includes notes on converting the material for use with other systems or adapting elements from those systems into The Simple Approach. Flexibility is key, and this reference section ensures you’ll never run out of inspiration.
The Simple Approach
Roleplaying isn’t about a book, a brand, or a company. It’s about the people sitting around the table, telling stories together. It’s where creativity comes alive, collaboration shines, and connections are made. The magic isn’t in the products. It’s in the players, working together to solve problems, uncover mysteries, and shape adventures. That’s what we believe in, and it’s why we do what we do: to help you create meaningful, unforgettable experiences.
We’re not interested in chasing awards or making flashy coffee-table books. Roleplaying deserves better than overpriced, overdesigned tomes that look great but don’t offer much else. Our focus is on creating tools that are practical, affordable, and built to be used. Everything we make is about helping you tell the stories you want to tell, free from the clutter of unnecessary rules or corporate gimmicks.
If you’re tired of the same old grind and want roleplaying content that respects your time, your creativity, and your ideas, you’re in the right place. Head to lightspress.com, grab a copy of the Lightspress Handbook, and sign up for our newsletter, The Manifesto. The Simple Approach isn’t just a system. It’s a way to reimagine what roleplaying can be, and we’d love for you to be part of it.
Welcome to a roleplaying experience where the grit of Dashiell Hammett’s original noir classic collides with the power of your imagination. Inspired by the novel Red Harvest, this sourcebook immerses you in a seedy world of corruption, double-dealing, and moral ambiguity. The book captures the tone and atmosphere of the novel, bringing Personville (or “Poisonville,” if you prefer) to life as a brutal playground for character-driven drama.
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill crime story. This is noir storytelling at its finest, where alliances are fleeting, motives are murky, and survival depends on outsmarting the next guy. Every choice you make, every loyalty you question, every punch you throw, these decisions ripple through the story, shaping the outcome. The focus here is on the narrative, the characters, and the interplay of their ambitions, flaws, and secrets.
Here’s where the real magic lies. The Red Harvest roleplaying experience isn’t about who can roll the highest or stack the most loot. It’s about crafting a collaborative story that feels like Hammett himself could have written it. Imagine characters as flawed and fascinating as the Continental Op or Dinah Brand, each adding layers of complexity to the tale. Whether you’re navigating the labyrinth of rival gang factions or trying to dodge the fallout from one too many bad decisions, every moment feels alive with tension and possibility.
The sourcebook is packed with tools to help you run a session as tangled and volatile as Personville itself. Detailed character templates make it easy to build protagonists and supporting characters with depth. Tips for crafting conspiracies and betrayals ensure the story stays unpredictable. There are even prompts to help spark conflicts that spiral into chaos, because what’s a noir story without things going sideways?
This isn’t a book you read and forget; it’s a springboard for your own noir stories. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Hammett’s work or someone looking to inject a little hardboiled drama into your roleplaying sessions, this sourcebook strikes the perfect balance between homage and innovation. It stays true to the genre’s roots while opening doors for fresh takes and unexpected twists.
You don’t need a deep knowledge of Hammett’s bibliography to get started. The sourcebook guides you through the noir setting and its themes, making it accessible to newcomers while staying rewarding for long-time fans. What you’ll need is a sharp wit, a willingness to collaborate, and an appreciation for stories where no one is squeaky clean.
All literary roleplaying games published by Lightspress use The Simple Approach system and philosophy, and are completely compatible with one another, making all sorts of interesting crossovers possible.
380 pages. PDF and epub files included.
Navigating This Book
Here’s what you’ll uncover in these pages, laid out in meticulous detail to inspire and guide your roleplaying experience:
Red Harvest: Get a comprehensive look at Red Harvest, from its gritty, groundbreaking narrative to its enduring influence on noir fiction. Explore why Hammett’s tale of moral ambiguity and ruthless power struggles makes such a compelling foundation for a roleplaying game. You’ll explore the historical context of the novel, uncover its thematic depths, and see how these elements translate into complex storytelling opportunities.
Characters: Meet the cast of Red Harvest in all their morally compromised glory. This section includes detailed profiles of the original characters, providing insight into their motivations and roles in the story. You’ll also find tips for crafting original characters that seamlessly fit into the setting, whether they’re shady operators, reluctant heroes, or agents of chaos. The character creation system gives you the tools to bring these ideas to life, ensuring every character is as layered and unpredictable as the story itself.
Factions: Step into the power struggles of Personville with an exploration of the factions at play. From the criminal organizations tearing the town apart to the individuals trying to exploit or survive the chaos, every group is brought to life with vivid detail. You’ll also find guidance on introducing new factions, designed to expand the setting while staying true to the tone of Hammett’s world. Whether it’s rival gangs, corrupt officials, or opportunistic outsiders, these groups add layers of intrigue to your story.
Personville: Immerse yourself in the grimy streets of Personville with an expanded look at the setting. This section dives into the time period, offering historical context and cultural details that deepen the worldbuilding. Learn how to take the core elements of the novel and expand them, creating a vibrant backdrop for your stories. From the smoky back rooms of shady speakeasies to the tense quiet of a town on the brink, this setting is ripe for exploration and chaos.
The System: Discover how The Simple Approach mechanics have been fine-tuned for Red Harvest. This section lays out the complete ruleset, designed to keep the focus on story and character while providing enough structure to handle tense confrontations and complex schemes. Whether you’re new to the system or a seasoned pro, you’ll find everything you need to run a session as gritty and unpredictable as Hammett’s novel.
Beat Chart: The narrative structure of Red Harvest is broken down into beats, offering a roadmap for your own literary adventure. Use it as a step-by-step guide to retell the story or remix it into something entirely new. This section is perfect for those who want to capture the essence of the original novel while adding their own twists and turns.
Prequels: Explore the events leading up to the original novel with ideas for creating prequels. Whether you’re uncovering the rise of Personville’s criminal factions or investigating the backstory of key characters, this section offers inspiration for expanding the lore and setting the stage for new stories.
Side Stories: Branch out from the main plot with stories that run parallel to the events of the novel. Follow the exploits of minor characters, explore overlooked corners of Personville, or introduce entirely new perspectives. These side stories add depth to the world and open up opportunities for fresh narratives.
Sequels: What happens after the dust settles? This section helps you craft sequels that pick up where Red Harvest leaves off. Explore the consequences of the original story’s events, introduce new challenges, and push the characters into uncharted territory. The possibilities are as endless as they are compelling.
Crossovers: Blend Red Harvest with other literary works for a fresh twist on classic tales. Whether you’re mixing noir with gothic horror, injecting some Hemingway into the mix, or creating a hardboiled take on Austen, this section provides ideas for crossovers that honor both works while creating something entirely new.
Reference: Round out your experience with a treasure trove of stock characters, creatures, and equipment to populate your stories. This section also includes notes on converting the material for use with other systems or adapting elements from those systems into The Simple Approach. Flexibility is key, and this reference section ensures you’ll never run out of inspiration.
The Simple Approach
Roleplaying isn’t about a book, a brand, or a company. It’s about the people sitting around the table, telling stories together. It’s where creativity comes alive, collaboration shines, and connections are made. The magic isn’t in the products. It’s in the players, working together to solve problems, uncover mysteries, and shape adventures. That’s what we believe in, and it’s why we do what we do: to help you create meaningful, unforgettable experiences.
We’re not interested in chasing awards or making flashy coffee-table books. Roleplaying deserves better than overpriced, overdesigned tomes that look great but don’t offer much else. Our focus is on creating tools that are practical, affordable, and built to be used. Everything we make is about helping you tell the stories you want to tell, free from the clutter of unnecessary rules or corporate gimmicks.
If you’re tired of the same old grind and want roleplaying content that respects your time, your creativity, and your ideas, you’re in the right place. Head to lightspress.com, grab a copy of the Lightspress Handbook, and sign up for our newsletter, The Manifesto. The Simple Approach isn’t just a system. It’s a way to reimagine what roleplaying can be, and we’d love for you to be part of it.
Welcome to a roleplaying experience where the grit of Dashiell Hammett’s original noir classic collides with the power of your imagination. Inspired by the novel Red Harvest, this sourcebook immerses you in a seedy world of corruption, double-dealing, and moral ambiguity. The book captures the tone and atmosphere of the novel, bringing Personville (or “Poisonville,” if you prefer) to life as a brutal playground for character-driven drama.
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill crime story. This is noir storytelling at its finest, where alliances are fleeting, motives are murky, and survival depends on outsmarting the next guy. Every choice you make, every loyalty you question, every punch you throw, these decisions ripple through the story, shaping the outcome. The focus here is on the narrative, the characters, and the interplay of their ambitions, flaws, and secrets.
Here’s where the real magic lies. The Red Harvest roleplaying experience isn’t about who can roll the highest or stack the most loot. It’s about crafting a collaborative story that feels like Hammett himself could have written it. Imagine characters as flawed and fascinating as the Continental Op or Dinah Brand, each adding layers of complexity to the tale. Whether you’re navigating the labyrinth of rival gang factions or trying to dodge the fallout from one too many bad decisions, every moment feels alive with tension and possibility.
The sourcebook is packed with tools to help you run a session as tangled and volatile as Personville itself. Detailed character templates make it easy to build protagonists and supporting characters with depth. Tips for crafting conspiracies and betrayals ensure the story stays unpredictable. There are even prompts to help spark conflicts that spiral into chaos, because what’s a noir story without things going sideways?
This isn’t a book you read and forget; it’s a springboard for your own noir stories. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Hammett’s work or someone looking to inject a little hardboiled drama into your roleplaying sessions, this sourcebook strikes the perfect balance between homage and innovation. It stays true to the genre’s roots while opening doors for fresh takes and unexpected twists.
You don’t need a deep knowledge of Hammett’s bibliography to get started. The sourcebook guides you through the noir setting and its themes, making it accessible to newcomers while staying rewarding for long-time fans. What you’ll need is a sharp wit, a willingness to collaborate, and an appreciation for stories where no one is squeaky clean.
All literary roleplaying games published by Lightspress use The Simple Approach system and philosophy, and are completely compatible with one another, making all sorts of interesting crossovers possible.
380 pages. PDF and epub files included.
Navigating This Book
Here’s what you’ll uncover in these pages, laid out in meticulous detail to inspire and guide your roleplaying experience:
Red Harvest: Get a comprehensive look at Red Harvest, from its gritty, groundbreaking narrative to its enduring influence on noir fiction. Explore why Hammett’s tale of moral ambiguity and ruthless power struggles makes such a compelling foundation for a roleplaying game. You’ll explore the historical context of the novel, uncover its thematic depths, and see how these elements translate into complex storytelling opportunities.
Characters: Meet the cast of Red Harvest in all their morally compromised glory. This section includes detailed profiles of the original characters, providing insight into their motivations and roles in the story. You’ll also find tips for crafting original characters that seamlessly fit into the setting, whether they’re shady operators, reluctant heroes, or agents of chaos. The character creation system gives you the tools to bring these ideas to life, ensuring every character is as layered and unpredictable as the story itself.
Factions: Step into the power struggles of Personville with an exploration of the factions at play. From the criminal organizations tearing the town apart to the individuals trying to exploit or survive the chaos, every group is brought to life with vivid detail. You’ll also find guidance on introducing new factions, designed to expand the setting while staying true to the tone of Hammett’s world. Whether it’s rival gangs, corrupt officials, or opportunistic outsiders, these groups add layers of intrigue to your story.
Personville: Immerse yourself in the grimy streets of Personville with an expanded look at the setting. This section dives into the time period, offering historical context and cultural details that deepen the worldbuilding. Learn how to take the core elements of the novel and expand them, creating a vibrant backdrop for your stories. From the smoky back rooms of shady speakeasies to the tense quiet of a town on the brink, this setting is ripe for exploration and chaos.
The System: Discover how The Simple Approach mechanics have been fine-tuned for Red Harvest. This section lays out the complete ruleset, designed to keep the focus on story and character while providing enough structure to handle tense confrontations and complex schemes. Whether you’re new to the system or a seasoned pro, you’ll find everything you need to run a session as gritty and unpredictable as Hammett’s novel.
Beat Chart: The narrative structure of Red Harvest is broken down into beats, offering a roadmap for your own literary adventure. Use it as a step-by-step guide to retell the story or remix it into something entirely new. This section is perfect for those who want to capture the essence of the original novel while adding their own twists and turns.
Prequels: Explore the events leading up to the original novel with ideas for creating prequels. Whether you’re uncovering the rise of Personville’s criminal factions or investigating the backstory of key characters, this section offers inspiration for expanding the lore and setting the stage for new stories.
Side Stories: Branch out from the main plot with stories that run parallel to the events of the novel. Follow the exploits of minor characters, explore overlooked corners of Personville, or introduce entirely new perspectives. These side stories add depth to the world and open up opportunities for fresh narratives.
Sequels: What happens after the dust settles? This section helps you craft sequels that pick up where Red Harvest leaves off. Explore the consequences of the original story’s events, introduce new challenges, and push the characters into uncharted territory. The possibilities are as endless as they are compelling.
Crossovers: Blend Red Harvest with other literary works for a fresh twist on classic tales. Whether you’re mixing noir with gothic horror, injecting some Hemingway into the mix, or creating a hardboiled take on Austen, this section provides ideas for crossovers that honor both works while creating something entirely new.
Reference: Round out your experience with a treasure trove of stock characters, creatures, and equipment to populate your stories. This section also includes notes on converting the material for use with other systems or adapting elements from those systems into The Simple Approach. Flexibility is key, and this reference section ensures you’ll never run out of inspiration.
The Simple Approach
Roleplaying isn’t about a book, a brand, or a company. It’s about the people sitting around the table, telling stories together. It’s where creativity comes alive, collaboration shines, and connections are made. The magic isn’t in the products. It’s in the players, working together to solve problems, uncover mysteries, and shape adventures. That’s what we believe in, and it’s why we do what we do: to help you create meaningful, unforgettable experiences.
We’re not interested in chasing awards or making flashy coffee-table books. Roleplaying deserves better than overpriced, overdesigned tomes that look great but don’t offer much else. Our focus is on creating tools that are practical, affordable, and built to be used. Everything we make is about helping you tell the stories you want to tell, free from the clutter of unnecessary rules or corporate gimmicks.
If you’re tired of the same old grind and want roleplaying content that respects your time, your creativity, and your ideas, you’re in the right place. Head to lightspress.com, grab a copy of the Lightspress Handbook, and sign up for our newsletter, The Manifesto. The Simple Approach isn’t just a system. It’s a way to reimagine what roleplaying can be, and we’d love for you to be part of it.