Ryan Costello
@costello.bsky.social
Writer, podcaster, ENnie award winning Essence20 designer, G.I. Joe enthusiast, former Voltron social media manager.
Hawk's Personnel Files was a long time coming, and yet felt like it went from pitch to product in no time. It gave me the excuse to reread some of my favourite JOE comics and then work out the best way to bring them to the game.
November 14, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Hawk's Personnel Files was a long time coming, and yet felt like it went from pitch to product in no time. It gave me the excuse to reread some of my favourite JOE comics and then work out the best way to bring them to the game.
Transformers ONE was a blast. My first time working on a TF book since the Transformers Core Rulebook, written while the movie was still in theatre. Even if it's a tie-in product, I got to design a lot of new options that I think add to any TF campaign.
November 14, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Transformers ONE was a blast. My first time working on a TF book since the Transformers Core Rulebook, written while the movie was still in theatre. Even if it's a tie-in product, I got to design a lot of new options that I think add to any TF campaign.
Two more Essence20 sourcebooks I worked on arrived.
Amazing experience on both of these books, with teams I really appreciated being a part of.
Amazing experience on both of these books, with teams I really appreciated being a part of.
November 14, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Two more Essence20 sourcebooks I worked on arrived.
Amazing experience on both of these books, with teams I really appreciated being a part of.
Amazing experience on both of these books, with teams I really appreciated being a part of.
Monster Core 2 here just in time to do the mash.
(Hellacool glowing energy balls not part of the cover art but a reflection of my lights)
(Hellacool glowing energy balls not part of the cover art but a reflection of my lights)
October 27, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Monster Core 2 here just in time to do the mash.
(Hellacool glowing energy balls not part of the cover art but a reflection of my lights)
(Hellacool glowing energy balls not part of the cover art but a reflection of my lights)
I'm a Guest of Honour at Keycon 42 in Winnipeg from May 15-17.
I'll be chairing a bunch of panels, the topics of which haven't been settled yet. What would subjects would you like to hear me talk about?
keycon.org/42/guests/
I'll be chairing a bunch of panels, the topics of which haven't been settled yet. What would subjects would you like to hear me talk about?
keycon.org/42/guests/
October 23, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I'm a Guest of Honour at Keycon 42 in Winnipeg from May 15-17.
I'll be chairing a bunch of panels, the topics of which haven't been settled yet. What would subjects would you like to hear me talk about?
keycon.org/42/guests/
I'll be chairing a bunch of panels, the topics of which haven't been settled yet. What would subjects would you like to hear me talk about?
keycon.org/42/guests/
Stone Cold Steve Austin's dialogue bubble in this Entertainment Earth ad for their latest Funko Pops sums up my reaction to seeing him with the cast of Kpop Demon Hunters.
August 29, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Stone Cold Steve Austin's dialogue bubble in this Entertainment Earth ad for their latest Funko Pops sums up my reaction to seeing him with the cast of Kpop Demon Hunters.
There's a Perk in the Transformers RPG that gives mode locked Cybertronians an Alt Mode.
At least, that was the intent. Technically the Perk is not limited to robotic PCs.
A member of the Renegade Discord server asked what it would look like if a human PC took the Perk.
So I made this diagram.
At least, that was the intent. Technically the Perk is not limited to robotic PCs.
A member of the Renegade Discord server asked what it would look like if a human PC took the Perk.
So I made this diagram.
August 9, 2025 at 3:51 AM
There's a Perk in the Transformers RPG that gives mode locked Cybertronians an Alt Mode.
At least, that was the intent. Technically the Perk is not limited to robotic PCs.
A member of the Renegade Discord server asked what it would look like if a human PC took the Perk.
So I made this diagram.
At least, that was the intent. Technically the Perk is not limited to robotic PCs.
A member of the Renegade Discord server asked what it would look like if a human PC took the Perk.
So I made this diagram.
Always happy to see the #Essence20 Field Guide To Action & Adventures get some love. In this case, the ENnies are once again giving it some love by including it as an award-winning title in their Humble Bundle.
www.humblebundle.com/books/awardw...
www.humblebundle.com/books/awardw...
August 4, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Always happy to see the #Essence20 Field Guide To Action & Adventures get some love. In this case, the ENnies are once again giving it some love by including it as an award-winning title in their Humble Bundle.
www.humblebundle.com/books/awardw...
www.humblebundle.com/books/awardw...
When you spot a typo too late.
😣
😣
July 31, 2025 at 3:39 PM
When you spot a typo too late.
😣
😣
Pete Petrusha tells Danielle about adapting the bizarre detective noir comic for foodies, Chew, into a #TTRPG.
The latest Game Design Unboxed is available now on the #KnowDirectionNetwork.
knowdirectionpodcast.com/2025/07/game...
The latest Game Design Unboxed is available now on the #KnowDirectionNetwork.
knowdirectionpodcast.com/2025/07/game...
July 30, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Pete Petrusha tells Danielle about adapting the bizarre detective noir comic for foodies, Chew, into a #TTRPG.
The latest Game Design Unboxed is available now on the #KnowDirectionNetwork.
knowdirectionpodcast.com/2025/07/game...
The latest Game Design Unboxed is available now on the #KnowDirectionNetwork.
knowdirectionpodcast.com/2025/07/game...
This is my happy face!
July 28, 2025 at 2:43 PM
This is my happy face!
Do you understand how hard it is to write bombastic, over-the-top military fantasy prose for the G.I. JOE RPG without it sounding like I'm ripping it from the headlines?
July 24, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Do you understand how hard it is to write bombastic, over-the-top military fantasy prose for the G.I. JOE RPG without it sounding like I'm ripping it from the headlines?
I used to paint a lot of minis but I'm down to one a year, and the quality is all over the place. I'm really happy with how Sgt Slaughter figure this turned out. It makes me want to paint more minis.
#GIJOERPG #Essence20
#GIJOERPG #Essence20
July 7, 2025 at 1:41 PM
I used to paint a lot of minis but I'm down to one a year, and the quality is all over the place. I'm really happy with how Sgt Slaughter figure this turned out. It makes me want to paint more minis.
#GIJOERPG #Essence20
#GIJOERPG #Essence20
There it is.
The greatest garage sale sign I've ever seen.
The greatest garage sale sign I've ever seen.
June 21, 2025 at 1:50 PM
There it is.
The greatest garage sale sign I've ever seen.
The greatest garage sale sign I've ever seen.
New campaign is off to a great start.
May 29, 2025 at 1:30 AM
New campaign is off to a great start.
Renegade Game Studios surprised #Essence20 fans by releasing the Transformers ONE sourcebook PDF today for anyone who preordered.
renegadegamestudios.com/transformers...
renegadegamestudios.com/transformers...
May 22, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Renegade Game Studios surprised #Essence20 fans by releasing the Transformers ONE sourcebook PDF today for anyone who preordered.
renegadegamestudios.com/transformers...
renegadegamestudios.com/transformers...
I love that a planet introduced in the Star Wars RPG in 1990 went on to be a pivotal setting in one of the best pieces of Star Wars media ever.
Source: starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Ghorman
Source: starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Ghorman
May 15, 2025 at 1:14 PM
I love that a planet introduced in the Star Wars RPG in 1990 went on to be a pivotal setting in one of the best pieces of Star Wars media ever.
Source: starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Ghorman
Source: starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Ghorman
FYI, @johngodek.bsky.social, the G.I. JOE episode @herzwesten.bsky.social referenced was The Viper Is Coming, a classic Sunbow era episode in which a window wiper with an accent makes G.I. JOE think a Cobra asset named The Viper was plotting against them.
May 2, 2025 at 12:37 PM
FYI, @johngodek.bsky.social, the G.I. JOE episode @herzwesten.bsky.social referenced was The Viper Is Coming, a classic Sunbow era episode in which a window wiper with an accent makes G.I. JOE think a Cobra asset named The Viper was plotting against them.
Old news for my American friends, I know, but the Toys R Us near my home and the one near my work are shutting down. The St Jean one really hurts, since that's the one I've been going to since childhood.
March 12, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Old news for my American friends, I know, but the Toys R Us near my home and the one near my work are shutting down. The St Jean one really hurts, since that's the one I've been going to since childhood.
My ENnie arrived!
February 23, 2025 at 8:05 PM
My ENnie arrived!
He always was the most supportive Avenger.
February 19, 2025 at 1:27 PM
He always was the most supportive Avenger.
The problem with booing the national anthem is that it's vague enough that the worst people can spin it.
Use your voice! Chant "Trump's a loser" and "Elon sucks!" Hit them where it hurts. Force FOX news to have to either say "Trump's a loser" on air or pretend they can't make out the chants.
Use your voice! Chant "Trump's a loser" and "Elon sucks!" Hit them where it hurts. Force FOX news to have to either say "Trump's a loser" on air or pretend they can't make out the chants.
February 18, 2025 at 2:33 AM
The problem with booing the national anthem is that it's vague enough that the worst people can spin it.
Use your voice! Chant "Trump's a loser" and "Elon sucks!" Hit them where it hurts. Force FOX news to have to either say "Trump's a loser" on air or pretend they can't make out the chants.
Use your voice! Chant "Trump's a loser" and "Elon sucks!" Hit them where it hurts. Force FOX news to have to either say "Trump's a loser" on air or pretend they can't make out the chants.
Volumes 14 and 15 of Steel City Publishing's Creating G.I. JOE arrived, completing my set. It is unreal how much I've learned about the design process behind all of the characters and vehicles in the 82-94 run of G.I. JOE. These are my favourite G.I. JOE BTS books in my collection.
February 12, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Volumes 14 and 15 of Steel City Publishing's Creating G.I. JOE arrived, completing my set. It is unreal how much I've learned about the design process behind all of the characters and vehicles in the 82-94 run of G.I. JOE. These are my favourite G.I. JOE BTS books in my collection.
All we know based on the trailer is that Galactus has a head. Or at least the back of one.
February 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
All we know based on the trailer is that Galactus has a head. Or at least the back of one.