iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

What happens when D&D characters have to face the horrors of a 1950's suburb? Serenity Springs is now available on @rpgtrader.bsky.social! rpg-trader.com/products/900... #Dnd #5e #5.5e #ttrpg

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Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

You’ve fought goblins, mimics, and dragons. You’ve explored forgotten tombs, snowy mountains, and dangerous mines. Isn’t it time you settled down? Bought a house? Joined a community? Check out Serenity Springs, a D&D setting and adventure based on 1950s suburban America. tinyurl.com/ytd9w688

Across the top it says "Serenity Springs: Realm of Noxious Nostalgia" There is a man and woman sitting at a dining table talking to each other. Next to the table, a window to the outside shows TV static and a mutant pig monster. The two people and the monster are teal while everything else is in grayscale.

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Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

I love a good mashup and Mad Max but animals fits that bill perfectly. Check out Road Rage by @daggerwoodgames.bsky.social www.kickstarter.com/projects/dag...

kickstarter.com

Coming soon: Road Rage

A high-octane mutant apocalypse TTRPG where failure builds Rage and Rage hits back.

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

The Serenity Springs Kickstarter is up for only three more days! Throw your players into a monochrome horror dimension based on 1950s suburban America! www.kickstarter.com/projects/gri... #ttrpg #D&D #5e

kickstarter.com

Serenity Springs - Campaign setting and adventure for D&D

What happens when D&D characters have to contend with the horrors of a 1950's suburb?

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Funded! Thank you to everyone who supported and shared the project! Now back to work polishing and editing. #dnd #ttrpg #kickstarter #5e www.kickstarter.com/projects/gri...

kickstarter.com

Serenity Springs - Campaign setting and adventure for D&D

What happens when D&D characters have to contend with the horrors of a 1950's suburb?

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Want to learn more about Serenity Springs? Tune in to @talesfromelsewhere.bsky.social tomorrow at 10:00 am (PST) where Peter and I will discuss the unique blend of history, design, and offbeat ideas that eventually became Serenity Springs. www.youtube.com/live/DV0GdNv... #ttrpg #dnd #5e

youtube.com

Taking D&D in Strange Directions - Live Interview

YouTube video by Tales from Elsewhere

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Major kudos to @excalibird.bsky.social for her work on the two covers for Serenity Springs! The project goes live on Kickstarter tomorrow! #dnd #ttrpg #5e

Two pieces of cover art. The one on the left says "Serenity Springs: Realm of Noxious Nostalgia" and depicts a couple sitting down to dinner while a flying bug/pig monster menaces them from just outside their window. The one on the right says "Freaks from Beyond the Hayze: A Serenity Springs Adventure." It shows a suburban street with several Dnd characters in the mid-ground. The foreground is full of people looking scared and confused.

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

One of my favorite questions I've been asked about my work.

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Here's what Serenity Springs' kitbashed artstyle looks like in practice. We took this (archive.org/details/hous...) image from Household Magazine, and added a hand-drawn Alien getting ready for mischief. #ttrpg #dnd #5e

A woman in 50s clothing standing next to an open dryer and smiling down on it. Behind her is a window and its raining outside. In the corner of the window is an alien holding up a ray gun.

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Serenity Spring's artwork is kitbashed from old 1950s magazines. It's not hard to find unintentionally creepy pictures like the one below. She has absolutely murdered someone with that clock and will kill again. Source: archive.org/details/hous...

A woman holding a paint roller in one hand and in another holding up a tiny clock that has a bunch of sharp spikes jutting out of it. She is situated behind the clock giving a mischievous look.

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

How does one get in or out of Serenity Springs? A magic item called the Universal Remote teleports you there for petty reasons. This vengeful little contraption exists in some form in every plane, sending all manner of life-forms to Serenity Springs. More shapes in the comments!

A simple old fashioned TV remote with four buttons across the middle: + volume, - volume, + channel, - channel

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

A 1950s suburb isn't gonna have traditional DnD dungeons, so how about a landed Roswell-coded UFO? Notes to my music guy for this part just reads "Theramin ass theramin." Intrigued? Check out the Kickstarter for Serenity Springs, launching March 31 tinyurl.com/3pppxe2h #ttrpg #dnd #5e

A large gridded DnD map all in black and white. Its the interior of a circular UFO. There is one large room in the center that leads out to 8 miscellaneous connected smaller circular rooms around it. In order starting from the top and going clockwise the rooms contain:
- Some navigation equipment
- An engine room
- An armory
- A room full of strange mold that was taken over by a monster
- Cryosleep chambers
- A laboratory
- Storage for captured people
- a space that prints food and spare parts

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

In Serenity Springs, walking somewhere always takes 1 hour while driving always takes 10 minutes. Its a navigation challenge for the players, and a parody of the car-dependence kicked off in this era. Intrigued? Check out the Kickstarter, launching March 31. tinyurl.com/3pppxe2h #ttrpg #dnd

tinyurl.com

Coming soon: Serenity Springs - Campaign setting and adventure for DnD

What happens when DnD characters have to contend with the horrors of a 1950's suburb?

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

In Serenity Springs, sentient TV static called The Hayze censors all violence and nudity. The spelling is a direct reference to the Hays Code, a real thing that rigidly confined media in the 20th century. Intrigued? Check out the Kickstarter, launching March 31 tinyurl.com/3pppxe2h #ttrpg #dnd

tinyurl.com

Coming soon: Serenity Springs - Campaign setting and adventure for 5E

What happens when 5E characters have to contend with the horrors of a 1950's suburb?

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

#SelfPromoSaturday time! Serenity Springs is my biggest project yet, a setting and adventure for 5E based on 1950s suburban America, launching on KS at the end of the month! What other #ttrpg projects are folks working on? www.kickstarter.com/projects/207...

kickstarter.com

Coming soon: Serenity Springs - Campaign setting and adventure for 5E

What happens when 5E characters have to contend with the horrors of a 1950's suburb?

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

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.

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

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.

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Jes the human @jesthehuman.itch.io · 09/02/2026

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...

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

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

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...

itch.io

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...

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

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!

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.

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

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

grinningportalgames.com

TTRPG 101: An Outsider Crash Course

Don't know anything about TTRPGs? start here!

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

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

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Hank Green @hankgreen.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

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.

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

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

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)

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

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

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"

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

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.

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

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

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

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

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

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

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

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Commander Sterling @commandersterling.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

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.

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

#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...

kickstarter.com

Coming soon: Serenity Springs - Campaign setting for 5e DND

Serenity Springs is a new TTRPG horror setting based on 1950’s suburban America.

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

Grinning Portal Games @grinningportal.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

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

grinningportalgames.com

The Tale of Trunk

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

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

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...

grinningportalgames.com

Grinning Portal Games

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

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

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)

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

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

#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.

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

#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 :)

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

#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.

youtube.com

YouTube

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

#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

patreon.com

Get more from Runic Press on Patreon

TTRPG Creations For Everyone

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

#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?...

youtu.be

Review: "No Time For the Wicked"

YouTube video by PhD&D

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

#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...

youtube.com

How to stop unsatisfying D&D sessions

YouTube video by Mossy Antler

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

🎉🥈🎉 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

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

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

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Ryan Loos @ryanloos.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Highly recommend adding The Endless to that list. Its really clever and unique.

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Reposted by Ryan Loos

wobblerocket 🎲🎮 @wobblerocket.com · 09/02/2025

Monday morning, 57 subscribers to my Weekly Wobble newsletter will receive a discount code for @ryanloos.bsky.social's Eberron adventure, No Time for the Wicked. You're gonna miss out if you don't hit the link and sign up: www.wobblerocket.com/subscribe/

Cover art for No Time for the Wicked, a Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition adventure by Ryan Loos. The image shows the inside of a train car cast in shadows.. Outside, the window is foggy and covered in condensation. A skeletal figure can be seen outside the window.

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