Radiant Lantern Guild

Our story began with a single spark.

In 2018, three designers who met at a local game café in San Francisco decided to turn weekend playtests into something bigger: a living guild where anyone with an idea could learn, refine, and publish extraordinary tabletop games.

Mission

We exist to ignite tabletop ideas into publish-ready board games. Every creator who walks through our doors receives professional mentorship, access to veteran playtesters, and a clear path from prototype to publisher.

Values

  • • Joyful curiosity first
  • • Radical feedback with respect
  • • Craft over speed
  • • Community before competition

Timeline

2018
Guild founded in a Mission District café with 12 members and one hand-built prototype.
2020
First coast-to-coast virtual playtest weekend hosted; 340 creators joined across 9 countries.
2022
Guild partners with three major publishers; six member-designed titles reach store shelves.
2023
Opened permanent 4,000 sq ft studio with 24/7 access for members and children’s design labs.
2024
Launched Radiant Lantern Fellowship awarding $75k in annual micro-grants to underrepresented designers.
2025
Now 2,800 active members worldwide and 41 published titles carrying the Radiant Lantern seal.

Meet a few of our keepers

Lila Voss
Founder & Creative Director

Former lead designer at a major tabletop publisher; still keeps her 2017 prototype in the lobby.

Marcus Hale
Head of Playtesting

World champion at organizing 200-person blind tests and keeping them fun.

Sofia Rivera
Mentorship Lead

Started the Radiant Lantern Fellowship and still answers every direct message personally.

Theo Lang
Publisher Relations

Helps members convert playtest feedback into contracts that actually pay the rent.