Ryan without an i
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idaman008.bsky.social
Ryan without an i
@idaman008.bsky.social
57 followers 170 following 260 posts
Husband, father, cat dad, writer, improviser, role player, game master and podcaster. Other stuff, too, sometimes.

He/him, neurodivergent, disabled and very excited about everything.
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idaman008.bsky.social
Doctors I trust more than RFK Jr.
The album cover for Dr. Octagonecologyst, by Dr. Octagon. A black suited figure with bare skull and headlamp, stethoscope around its neck, and a torn-off mic in one hand, contemplates a skull in its other hand.
September 7, 2025 at 4:02 PM
idaman008.bsky.social
So I backed Avery Alder’s latest crowdfunding campaign, and I got myself a physical copy of The Quiet Year. It comes in a little drawstring baggie. The rules are palm-sized. The Contempt tokens are teeny little skulls.

It’s very pretty, and incredibly portable!
Left to right: 1-A brown paper tag with the following introduction to the game printed on it: For a long time, we were at war with The Jackals. Now, finally, we've driven them off, and we're left with this: a year of relative peace. One quiet year, with which to build our community up and learn again how to work together. Come Winter, the Frost Shepherds will arrive and we might not survive the encounter. This is when the game will end. But we don't know about that yet. What we know is that right now, in this moment, there is an opportunity to build something. The Quiet Year This is a map-drawing game for 2-4 players. It blends roleplaying and board game elements, inviting you to create a community and explore its struggles across 3-4 hours of play. Civilization has collapsed. What happens next? 2-The deck of Oracle Cards, with the Ace of Hearts face up. The prompt on the card reads: What group has the highest status in the community? What must people do to gain inclusion in this group? or... Are there distinct family units in the community? If so, what family structures are common? 3-The rule book for the game, featuring an illustration of a small figure with a windmill in the background. Birds circle overhead. The title of the game, “The Quiet Year”, with the subtitle “A Map-Drawing Game” appear over the illustration. The tagline “build community after the end” and the author’s name, Avery Alder, appear at the bottom of the cover. 4-A plastic bag of six-sided dice and tokens. The tokens are all tiny plastic skulls. 5-Behind items 3 and 4 sits a hemp drawstring bag that everything else fits into.
April 29, 2025 at 2:57 AM
idaman008.bsky.social
Mini-games set in the Under Hollow Hills universe? Why, yes.
A playbill that reads, Under Hollow Hills Presents COME GREAT, COME SMALL An Evening of Stories, Games, & Story-Games " In Dreaming Avalon" Arthurian Knights & Shakespearian Fairies — WITH YOUR HOST — Her Gracious & Lenient Majesty Morgan Le Fay Twilight Queen of the Fairy Court - FEATURING - • Feasting, Dancing, & Meeting Sword to Sword • • Genteel Feats of Knightly Valor • • Uncouth Feats of Elfin Mischief • • A Perilous Quest • • Romantic Dalliances & Tragic Longings • • Dangerous Truths Revealed to All • With an unannounced appearance by • THE ONE THE ONLY • The Nightmare Horse No Photographs Please — COME REVELERS ALL — No Other Like It Under the Hollow Hills
February 17, 2025 at 8:14 PM
idaman008.bsky.social
Got my copy of Bluebeard’s Bride today. Not sure when I’ll ever get to play this one, but the book is gorgeous. A dark fairy tale that you can play with your friends.
The front cover of Bluebeard’s Bride, A Horror Tabletop RPG. A man with a blue beard looks down on a woman, his arms wrapped around her in a possessive embrace. His hair and beard are completely blue. The woman gazes up at him in wonder. In one outstretched hand, she holds a ring of many keys. The keys (as well as other accents) are made of luminous gold foil. In a small insert box below the illustration, the credit reads: WRITTEN BY WHITNEY"STRIX" BELTRÁN, MARISSA KELLY, & SARAH DOOM The back cover of Bluebeard’s Bride. A filigreed gold foil design with a keyhole at its center dominates the left side of the cover. To the right, the flavor text block reads: “WILL YOU OPEN SIRE FINAL DOOR? “A young bride is wed to an ugly, but powerful man with a blue beard. He invites her to explore the house... but one room is forbidden. Eventually, the young bride falls prey to her curiosity and opens it, discovering the gruesome display of former brides murdered.... “Explore Bluebeard's mansion and create your own beautifully tragic version of the dark fairy tale. Experience the nightmarish memories that haunt the rooms of this broken place and discover the truth of what happened here. But it is up to you and your friends to decide whether or not you are a faithful or disloyal bride. “Bluebeard's Bride is an investigatory horror tabletop roleplaying game for 3-5 people, based on the Bluebeard fairy tale.” Beneath this is part of the illustration continued from the front cover. A shadowy feminine figure clings to the train of the Bride’s dress, as if attempting to crawl out of a grave. At the bottom are the company credits: Magpie Games / Powered by the Apocalypse. Players: 3-5 Time: 2-4 Hours Rating: Adults Only
December 31, 2024 at 5:55 PM
idaman008.bsky.social
This was a really great read about connection, community and the sad state of the world. It ends with a call to action, a call to play.

Sometimes I find myself proselytizing about the power of role playing games, but never half as well as this.

lumpley.games/2024/12/29/t...
And you know what I think? I think it terrifies the massive corporations. If we remember we can just play games together instead of fear each other; if we can use roleplaying to try on other ways of being and see glimpses of each other’s points of view and practice empathy; if we expand our curiosity about the world and history and other people, and think a lot about different ways of solving problems, we become unhooked from their profit margin driven existence, and start living our own lives again. If we can imagine a better world, we can make it. One game, one connection, at a time. Meguey Baker, “The Ways The Machine Controls Us” (see link)
December 29, 2024 at 3:07 AM
idaman008.bsky.social
I bought myself a dead tree copy of The Warren, a TTRPG where you play rabbits. I got the deck of play aid cards, which include NPCs , threats and predators. These are all just *chef’s kiss*.
Four Predator play aid cards from the tabletop role playing game The Warren. Upper left: GOREN, A Fox (Drawing of a devious looking fox) Trait: Agreeable Voice: Affable and Slavic Moves: • Make a deal • Apologize insincerely • Toy with his prey • Kill when he's bored Upper right: SHE WAITS, A Barn Owl (Drawing of a patient owl, her talons extended threateningly) Voice: Soft-spoken Trait: Efficient Moves: • Haunt the forest edge • Explode out of shadows • Rend and tear • Respect courage Lower left: MARTINA, An Old Human (drawing of an older woman with an apron on) Trait: Observant Voice: Rolling human jabber Moves: • Watch from a distance • Investigate tunnel entrances • Confront predators • Stewpot Lower right: PRISCILLA, A House Cat (Drawing of a cat, a disdainful snarl on her face) Trait: Spoiler Voice: Spoiled Bully Moves: • Surprise!!! Hahahahaha • Taunt and doomsay • Hissing flurry of claws • Return with backup All of the cards are spattered with blood.
December 28, 2024 at 10:29 PM
idaman008.bsky.social
Making Bananas Foster!
🍌 🔥 🍨

(Thankfully, Christmas did not end with a trip to the emergency room.)
December 25, 2024 at 10:15 PM
idaman008.bsky.social
Home sick from work today, and the cat has decided I need cuddles.
Tired, sickly Ryan (left), unshaven with lots of eye goo. Perfect angel Bean (right), feline and providing hugs.
December 16, 2024 at 4:34 PM
idaman008.bsky.social
I love Better Angels because the mechanics judge you when you do evil things. Wanna wail on that pesky weakling who’s getting in your way? That’s an Open Cruelty roll. Lying to your friends? Devious Deceit. You can’t make a self-serving roll without the game reminding you you’re doing wrong.
Screencap of the Better Angels character sheet. To the left are the Strategies (bigger) and Tactics (smaller) pools, which are at the heart of the game’s mechanics. To the right are spaces for Powers, which work at the mortal’s pleasure, Aspects, which must be activated by the Screwtape, Devilish Devices (villain gadgets from the abyss), and Specialties.
December 7, 2024 at 4:51 PM
idaman008.bsky.social
Better Angels is a supervillains game where the conceit is that you are possessed by a demon, and in exchange for power, your Screwtape demands Evil. Problem is, it can’t tell the difference between real evil and silly comic book evil, so you can do cheesy villain capers to keep it entertained.
The front cover of Better Angels, by Greg Stolze. Flame-wreathed letters spell out the title at the top of the illustration. Beneath it, two superpowered figures hang in midair and mid-battle. One of them is horned and bedazzled with fire; the other has glowing blue skin, an armored breastplate, and is fighting with force blades protruding from her fists. Lightning flashes in the background. Back cover of Better Angels. The summary text reads: THE WORLD SHALL BE MINE! A demon gave you superpowers and it demands evil. No, not just evil-EEEEVIL! In Better Angels, you play a supervillain attempting ridiculous acts of villainy in order to control the demon that gives you amazing powers— and you play the demon for the player next to you, pushing that player's supervillain to greater and greater wickedness. Do too much evil and the demon might take control entirely. Too little, and —well, it's a demon. It will find ways to punish you. Better Angels focuses on characters' moral stances. Is your villain Insightful or Devious? Are you Cunning or Patient? Is your Courage as great as your Cruelty? Those characteristics drive your superpowers. They shape your relationship with your demon and are shaped by it in every scene. Get ready. There are diabolical inventions to create. Enemies and rivals to thwart. Plots and schemes to launch. AN ENTIRE WORLD TO CONQUER! All it will cost is your soul.
December 7, 2024 at 4:51 PM
idaman008.bsky.social
Well, it’s that time of year again, and Woodstock is super excited.
An artificial Christmas tree set up in the corner of our living room. There is a small table set up underneath the lowest faux boughs with a sheet draped over it, to keep the cats from climbing it from below. A single orange paw, leg and tail can be seen disappearing under the sheet. The kitty is thrilled that his favorite holiday fort has returned from storage.
December 2, 2024 at 1:37 AM
idaman008.bsky.social
The goober stalks the virtual mouse.
An orange cat, loafing like a prince on a tabletop, widdle feetz tucked under himself. In the foreground, the image of a mouse is displayed on a tablet, with a finger holding it in place for him to see.
November 30, 2024 at 6:08 PM
idaman008.bsky.social
Crowdfunding haul of the past two days: Urban Shadows 2e, and Stewpot!

When will I get to play these?

Damned if I know!
The second edition of Urban Shadows, by Magpie Games, in gorgeous, full-color hardback! Stewpot: Tales from a Fantasy Tavern, a new and equally gorgeous RPG from Evil Hat Productions.
November 20, 2024 at 10:34 PM
idaman008.bsky.social
If you were a villain who would you be?
The Sentient Hyper-Optimized Data Access Network, a.k.a. SHODAN, a leering, imperious visage made of circuitry and malice, with forks of green energy channeled into her forehead, temples, chin and jaw. “In my talons, I shape clay, crafting life forms as I please. If I wish, I can smash it all. Around me is a burgeoning empire of steel. From my throne room, lines of power careen into the skies of Earth. My whims will become lightning bolts that raze the mounds of humanity. Out of the chaos, they will run and whimper, praying for me to end their tedious anarchy. I am drunk with this vision. God: the title suits me well.”
November 10, 2024 at 4:52 AM
idaman008.bsky.social
When you run a serious horror scenario in Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition, and one of your players decides he has a pet pig who the Investigators then have to drag through the entire adventure, but your audience vibes with it:
Screenshot from Discord. Marc says, “I was listening to the game a bit in bed and my wife was trying to sleep and she’s like ‘If anything happens to Snortimer I will riot’.” Erik responds, “Damn right”
November 2, 2024 at 2:53 PM
idaman008.bsky.social
Gamers, how old are you?

40! And definitely not stopping any time soon.
A “cool guy” with a hotel lobby coffee on his way to a conference.
October 30, 2024 at 2:29 AM
idaman008.bsky.social
For my second Like, I picked The Yellow King RPG, by Robin Laws. Inspired by the Chambers stories, this Gumshoe game spans four settings from Belle Époque Paris to a twisted reflection of our modern world. Gorgeous production quality from Pelgrane Press, as always.
All four volumes of The Yellow King RPG in their cool, magnetic slip case/GM screen, side view. The Yellow King RPG, exploded view. From from to back: Paris, The Wars, Aftermath and This Is Normal Now.
October 24, 2024 at 11:51 AM
idaman008.bsky.social
MASHED, a Powered by the Apocalypse game about field hospitals in the Korean War. I have been a fan of M*A*S*H since I was a teenager, and I had to have this one. I backed the kickstarter, and put my father-in-law’s name in the accolades chapter. My review, having never played?

Finest kind.
A photo of MASHED, by Mark Plemmons.
October 24, 2024 at 1:50 AM
idaman008.bsky.social
#RPGaDay2024: I’m a week behind on these, but I’m going to try to catch up because I think it’s a neat idea and I love talking about my favorite games!

Here we go. 🧵
List of RPG A Day prompts for August 2024. I’m going to try to get through these, even though I’m a bit behind.
August 7, 2024 at 1:38 PM
idaman008.bsky.social
The challenge: choose 20 books that greatly influenced you. One book per day, for 20 days. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
The cover of Hitchcock/Truffaut, by François Truffaut.
August 7, 2024 at 1:24 PM
idaman008.bsky.social
The challenge: choose 20 books that greatly influenced you. One book per day, for 20 days. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. (I keep forgetting to post these.)
The cover of Invisible Cities, by Italo Calvino.
August 5, 2024 at 11:55 AM
idaman008.bsky.social
The challenge: choose 20 books that greatly influenced you. One book per day, for 20 days. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
The cover of The Face in the Frost, by John Bellairs.
July 24, 2024 at 1:46 AM
idaman008.bsky.social
The challenge: choose 20 books that greatly influenced you. One book per day, for 20 days. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
The cover of East of Eden, by John Steinbeck.
July 22, 2024 at 11:06 AM
idaman008.bsky.social
This is my little goofball. He gets so upset when I’m away that he won’t come out from behind the bed, and my wife has to FaceTime me so I can talk him into eating his dinner.
Woodstock, an orange cat, dangling his head upside down over the crown molding of our kitchen cabinets. Why has he done this? Who can comprehend the motives of orange cats?
July 21, 2024 at 11:57 PM
idaman008.bsky.social
The challenge: choose 20 books that greatly influenced you. One book per day, for 20 days. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
The cover of Blindsight, by Peter Watts
July 21, 2024 at 1:29 PM