Ryan Loos

To be clear, this isn’t a framework to apply to shows generally. It’s a glib way of encapsulating one of my core issues with the Boba Fett show.

I like to refer to that show as mathematically wrong. Half flashback + 1/4 Mando episodes = only 25% of the runtime is forward narrative momentum for the “main” character.

graphic that says no ice in Minnesota itch.io charity bundle

The No ICE in Minnesota Charity Bundle has officially LAUNCHED!

There are 1,439 games to discover for a $10+ donation to Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota!

Purchase the bundle here: itch.io/b/3484/no-ic...

No ICE in Minnesota A game jam from 2026-01-07 to 2026-01-27 hosted by jesthehuman. FAQ Can I submit multiple projects? You are welcome to submit multiple games, free, paid, or pay what you can, including new and existin...

This motivated me to finally get my work up on itch.io. I've added my very modest library to the bundle. Fellow game designers: if you can afford it, please consider joining. All proceeds go to the Minnesota Immigration Law Center. #ttrpg

itch.io/jam/no-ice-i...

At the top it says "Masks, a new generation" in font thats slanted off to the right. In the middle are five icons layed out roughly in a circle, starting with an embarrassed face, then (going right) an alien, then a bomb, then an oustretched hand, and finally two hands clasped together. At the bottom it says "Game Master Moves Re-Generated" in the same font as the top section.

Hi folks, I've made another GM moves cheatsheet, this one for #masksanewgeneration

It re-arranges the GM Moves cheatsheet into a more focused and customizable layout. Free on DTRPG.
tinyurl.com/mhandchu

P.S. If you think of other #pbta #ttrpg games that could use this treatment, let me know!

TTRPG 101: An Outsider Crash Course Don't know anything about TTRPGs? start here!

I've recently had to explain #ttrpg adventures to folks outside the hobby several times, so I wrote a blog post I can point them to in the future. Feel free to send it to folks in your life who want to know more about your hobby.

grinningportalgames.com/blog/ttrpg-101

In the upper left at an angle it says "Gabaghoul: A Sleazy Symbiosis." Below that is the key art showing a barrel in a cellar that has sprouted a green toothy mouth, a long tentacle, and several beady purple eyes. Beneath that it says "A monster of the week mystery", followed by the logo for Grinning Portal Games.

My newest #ttrpg project lives!

Gabaghoul: A Sleazy Symbiosis is a #monsteroftheweek adventure where the hunters race against the clock to stop a clan of ghouls from resurrecting (via human sacrifice) the enormous comatose mimic beneath the city.

Check it out on DTRPG
tinyurl.com/45zajwbk

I don't know why the "Piggy" thing is bothering me so much. It's one more unforgivable thing in a list of 20,000 unforgivable things, but I've been mad about it for like 12 straight hours.

A re-organized list of the keeper moves from Monster of the Week. The categories are: Foreshadowing & Tension, Surprise!, Simplify Hunter Goals, Complicate Hunter Goals, Threaten Physically, Pursue Monster Goals, Multipurpose. Each move type has a glyph next to it to indicate its original sorting (basic, location, bystander, minion, monster)

Hi folks. During my recent Monster of the Week campaign I made a resource for myself that I'd like to share.

Introducing Keeper Moves Re-Typed: the same move list you know and love, but organized by pacing/story beats. Free on DTRPG tinyurl.com/2b5ev6r3

#ttrpg #monsteroftheweek

View from the inside of a train looking out the window. There is no one in the seats on either side. Outside the window the view is all misty other than the reflection of a skeletal figure. There is a title across the top that says "No Time for the Wicked: Trapped on the Cyre 1313." On the top right there is a badge that says silver bestseller. On the bottom left is a small icon that says "A Ravenloft Adventure". At the bottom of the image it says "Trap your players in a time loop on a doomed lightning rail"

Looking for a time loop ghost train mystery for Halloween? Thats a weirdly specific ask but fortunately my adventure No Time for the Wicked is exactly that and currently 30% off! www.dmsguild.com/product/4937...

(Stay tuned for my next adventure featuring The Bagman)
#dnd #ttrpg #dnd5e

#WarRavagedPortland

I live and work in Portland. We have our problems, but we're far from "war torn." Americans, regardless of political affinity, should be horrified by a President occupying home soil. Especially when said President is so clearly driven by cruelty, selfishness, retribution, and pursuit of power.

Cover art for 8 different adventures, banner across the bottom that says "5e Adventure Bundle - 56% off"

My ghost train timeloop adventure, No Time for the Wicked, is part of this amazing Bundle on DMSguild. Check it out!
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...

#ttrpg #dnd #5e

Check out my latest blog post on making time loops in ttrpgs. Special thanks to @drew-makes-games.itch.io for inspiring this post.

Just happened to schedule a game of Eat the Reich for today without realizing it’s VE Day 😂.

The dismantling of games journalism exactly mirrors the dismantling of the industry it covers.

It’s a very deliberate disassembly - media in general is being actively killed off by myopic and utterly useless vandals.

I sincerely wish ill for those who *indulge* in causing layoffs.

Coming soon: Serenity Springs - Campaign setting for 5e DND Serenity Springs is a new TTRPG horror setting based on 1950’s suburban America.

#WIPwednesday #ttrpg #dnd
Working on the adventure that will come with Serenity Springs, my upcoming suburban 1950's themed horror setting.

Current question: What does the statblock for a classic Roswell-style alien look like? 👽

Intrigued? Follow along here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/207...

The Tale of Trunk The first NPC I ever created, and long-running mascot of my games.

Looking for a dose of RPG sillyness? Check out my first blog post where I introduce my longest-running NPC. Special shoutout to @thefuzzyslug.bsky.social for the art. grinningportalgames.com/blog/tale-of...

#ttrpg

Grinning Portal Games Grinning Portal Games is a small TTRPG development studio focused on creating unique and engaging games.

Hello #ttrpg world!

Introducing: Grinning Portal Games! This will be the central place to find all of my future publications, blog posts, and more. Check out the site here: grinningportalgames.com
And please follow on Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/grin...

A hand-drawn purple oval with a slight smile and two sharp teeth

Hello pile of new followers out of nowhere and old followers! Apologies for being real quite lately. I've been heads down on a personal project which I will announce here soon! (hint below)

#ThankaTTRPGcreator @wobblerocket.com offered my adventure in his newsletter the other week. I've enjoyed being part of his discord community and I look forward to more collaboration in the future.

#ThankaTTRPGcreator @drew-makes-games.itch.io probably needs no introduction in this space. He was one of the first people I reached out to when I joined Bluesky, and even helped promote my adventure at a local convention. An all around lovely human :)

#thankaTTRPGcreator A few weeks ago I was thrilled to discover that @slicesndices.bsky.social are playing my adventure live on Twitch! This clip in particular was lovely to hear. tinyurl.com/4kx4pnpy. Check them out on twitch www.twitch.tv/slicesndices and youtube www.youtube.com/@SlicesnDices.

Get more from Runic Press on Patreon TTRPG Creations For Everyone

#thankaTTRPGcreator
Shoutout to the Runic Press crew, specifically
@caspi.bsky.social for reviewing the adventure and encouraging me to write more, and @despisedsamaritan.com for putting it into the Bluesky bundle. This team makes lots of cool things, check em out at www.patreon.com/RunicPress

YouTube video by PhD&D Review: "No Time For the Wicked"

#ThankaTTRPGcreator @phdnd.bsky.social graciously agreed to review my module, and it feels great being able to include a video review on the DMSguild page. If you want awesome Ravenloft inspiration and ideas I highly recommend his channel youtu.be/1z4SlfDKu_4?...

YouTube video by Mossy Antler How to stop unsatisfying D&D sessions

#ThankaTTRPGCreator @grantbrees.mossyantler.com helped get this adventure to the finish line with some good edits, and he continues to champion it wherever it appears. He's on his own TTRPG journey with @mossyantler.games, which is full of great GMing advice. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK8R...

View from the inside of a train looking out the window. There is no one in the seats on either side. Outside the window the view is all misty other than the reflection of a skeletal figure. There is a title across the top that says "No Time for the Wicked: Trapped on the Cyre 1313." On the top right there is a badge that says silver bestseller. On the bottom left is a small icon that says "A Ravenloft Adventure". At the bottom of the image it says "Trap your players in a time loop on a doomed lightning rail"

🎉🥈🎉
No Time for the Wicked has gone silver! Check it out if you haven't already (shorturl.at/qoB7W).

Once again I'll do one #thankaTTRPGcreator every day for the next few days to celebrate. This time around it'll be mainly for folks who helped my adventure get this far 🧵

#dnd #ttrpgcommunity

You’re Elf by Rat Bastard Games Review – A 36 Word Game – You're Elf by Rat Bastard Games is an entry in the 36 Word Game Jam in which you play a dying elf reflecting on a long life.

Good morning, friends and fiends!

The Weekly Wobble has just gone out to subscribers with a discount code from @ryanloos.bsky.social

We've also got a new game review by @reyesraine.itch.io for You're Elf by @ratbastardgames.bsky.social

#dnd #ttrpg #indiettrpg

Read Reyes' review here:

From the ravenloft community on Reddit: Just finished a 2.5 year homebrew Ravenloft campaign. AMA! Explore this post and more from the ravenloft community

If you want to more about the campaign I put an AMA on the Ravenloft subreddit with a summary: tinyurl.com/44fkjuzj

Friday was the finale of my 2 year Ravenloft DnD campaign. It's such a strange mixture of feelings when something that long ends. I'm both relieved and sad that its over. Excited to try new games, and grateful for the old one. Special thanks to my players for sticking around ❤️. #ttrpgcommunity #dnd