Ryan Zenith
@ryanzenith.bsky.social
Queer tabletop designer, writer, editor, and teacher. Member of Storygames Chicago.
🎲 Co-creator of Vesta Mandate 🎲
🎲 Co-creator of Vesta Mandate 🎲
Pinned
Ryan Zenith
@ryanzenith.bsky.social
· Feb 20
Vesta Mandate
Hard sci-fi, political thriller TTRPG set on the tense powderkeg of Vesta Station.
www.kickstarter.com
Come check out Vesta Mandate, a sci-fi political thriller TTRPG made with @chkurk.bsky.social and art from @tonytranrpg.bsky.social www.kickstarter.com/projects/sto...
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
What if #ttrpg combat worked like the Gardens of Ynn
Like everyone gets +1 for every previous move (or round if you're nasty) and the results further down the table get more and more dangerous
A built in escalation
Like everyone gets +1 for every previous move (or round if you're nasty) and the results further down the table get more and more dangerous
A built in escalation
November 30, 2025 at 5:10 PM
What if #ttrpg combat worked like the Gardens of Ynn
Like everyone gets +1 for every previous move (or round if you're nasty) and the results further down the table get more and more dangerous
A built in escalation
Like everyone gets +1 for every previous move (or round if you're nasty) and the results further down the table get more and more dangerous
A built in escalation
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
Just catching up with the budget coverage in the papers.
November 29, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Just catching up with the budget coverage in the papers.
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
Just a reminder to leave a rating/review on all the games you’re picking up in these sales.
Taking two seconds to leave a 5 star rating can and will help that creator immensely.
That one rating you leave could be the tipping point in the algorithm that gets that game seen by far, far more people.
Taking two seconds to leave a 5 star rating can and will help that creator immensely.
That one rating you leave could be the tipping point in the algorithm that gets that game seen by far, far more people.
November 29, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Just a reminder to leave a rating/review on all the games you’re picking up in these sales.
Taking two seconds to leave a 5 star rating can and will help that creator immensely.
That one rating you leave could be the tipping point in the algorithm that gets that game seen by far, far more people.
Taking two seconds to leave a 5 star rating can and will help that creator immensely.
That one rating you leave could be the tipping point in the algorithm that gets that game seen by far, far more people.
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
So much about this sign I saw today I am still thinking about
November 29, 2025 at 2:55 AM
So much about this sign I saw today I am still thinking about
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
IMPORTANT: When transporting a giant puffball mushroom you have recently foraged, it is absolutely crucial that you ensure the mushroom is firmly strapped into the passenger seat of your car to guard against sharp braking and potential whiplash
November 28, 2025 at 9:36 PM
IMPORTANT: When transporting a giant puffball mushroom you have recently foraged, it is absolutely crucial that you ensure the mushroom is firmly strapped into the passenger seat of your car to guard against sharp braking and potential whiplash
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
Never not thinking about Octavia E. Butler's XENOGENESIS series and how explosively that first book blew my mind and how badly I wish I had read it when I was younger (I was in my 20s)
I wonder how different my writing would look today if I had
I wonder how different my writing would look today if I had
November 29, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Never not thinking about Octavia E. Butler's XENOGENESIS series and how explosively that first book blew my mind and how badly I wish I had read it when I was younger (I was in my 20s)
I wonder how different my writing would look today if I had
I wonder how different my writing would look today if I had
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
You can buy everything I've worked on for crazy cheap right now! Go take a look!
Celebrate the holidays this year with any (or all) of Storygames Chicago's games for 50% off! Buy all our games we've made to date for just $20!
The sale runs all weekend! Hope you'll get a chance to check it out.
itch.io/s/170881/bla...
The sale runs all weekend! Hope you'll get a chance to check it out.
itch.io/s/170881/bla...
Black Friday Sale by Storygames Chicago
A bundle by Storygames Chicago, $20.50 for 9 games
itch.io
November 28, 2025 at 2:54 PM
You can buy everything I've worked on for crazy cheap right now! Go take a look!
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
We live in the era of the Dairy Queen Oreo Blizzard, the Overton window of sweets has undergone radical transformation
November 25, 2025 at 10:56 PM
We live in the era of the Dairy Queen Oreo Blizzard, the Overton window of sweets has undergone radical transformation
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
Quédate con quien te mande esto. @svqcity.bsky.social ❤️
November 25, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Quédate con quien te mande esto. @svqcity.bsky.social ❤️
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
Coming soon to IPR, after all the backer copies ship.
A few of us designers have been privileged to follow along while @stoutstoat.co.uk chipped away at this project for the last few years.
It's something new. An interactive history book like the kind you'd maybe read as a kid, but with the combined powers of archaeology and game design.
It's something new. An interactive history book like the kind you'd maybe read as a kid, but with the combined powers of archaeology and game design.
Game designers bring to life to Scotland's mysterious Picts
Writers and archaeologists also worked on a new guide to a lost early medieval Scottish society.
www.bbc.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Coming soon to IPR, after all the backer copies ship.
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
If you're looking for more rpg-related YouTube channels that aren't actual plays, check out Weird Place. They remind me of PBS's Idea Channel from almost 10 years ago. Very relaxing, informative watches.
www.youtube.com/@weird_place...
www.youtube.com/@weird_place...
Weird Place
Two humans celebrating the art of analog gaming
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
If you're looking for more rpg-related YouTube channels that aren't actual plays, check out Weird Place. They remind me of PBS's Idea Channel from almost 10 years ago. Very relaxing, informative watches.
www.youtube.com/@weird_place...
www.youtube.com/@weird_place...
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
If you're a fan of Vesta Mandate and you've had a chance to read through or play, leave a comment or rating on our Itch page!
It helps a ton to get us in front of more players! Thanks everyone!
storygameschicago.itch.io/vesta-mandate
It helps a ton to get us in front of more players! Thanks everyone!
storygameschicago.itch.io/vesta-mandate
Vesta Mandate by Storygames Chicago
Hard sci-fi, political thriller TTRPG set on the Tense Powder Keg of Vesta Station
storygameschicago.itch.io
November 25, 2025 at 12:14 AM
If you're a fan of Vesta Mandate and you've had a chance to read through or play, leave a comment or rating on our Itch page!
It helps a ton to get us in front of more players! Thanks everyone!
storygameschicago.itch.io/vesta-mandate
It helps a ton to get us in front of more players! Thanks everyone!
storygameschicago.itch.io/vesta-mandate
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
Playtest aftermath from this morning.
Got a lot of really great insights from this one. A reminder that it’s important to playtest with a breadth of different people.
Got a lot of really great insights from this one. A reminder that it’s important to playtest with a breadth of different people.
November 22, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Playtest aftermath from this morning.
Got a lot of really great insights from this one. A reminder that it’s important to playtest with a breadth of different people.
Got a lot of really great insights from this one. A reminder that it’s important to playtest with a breadth of different people.
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
Necesito encontrar un grupo de amigos con quien jugar juegos de mesa o rol, tener un friends to lovers con alguno (o varios) y ser feliz de ahí a que me muera
November 3, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Necesito encontrar un grupo de amigos con quien jugar juegos de mesa o rol, tener un friends to lovers con alguno (o varios) y ser feliz de ahí a que me muera
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
A tiny dragon guarding his treasure.
November 19, 2025 at 8:35 PM
A tiny dragon guarding his treasure.
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
More dungeons should have food courts
November 20, 2025 at 10:37 AM
More dungeons should have food courts
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
This means that like what should be the same scene of LARPS, Forum Roleplaying, Parlor Games, Murder Mysteries, Escape Rooms, Board Games, etc all don't really have the crossover they realistically should
November 19, 2025 at 7:10 PM
This means that like what should be the same scene of LARPS, Forum Roleplaying, Parlor Games, Murder Mysteries, Escape Rooms, Board Games, etc all don't really have the crossover they realistically should
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
An all-too-common mistake is inferring the sexuality of historical figures based on contemporary standards that didn’t apply back then. For example, in the 1970s it was normal for a cop, a biker, a Native American, a construction worker, and a cowboy to be friends. It didn’t mean they were gay.
November 19, 2025 at 10:19 PM
An all-too-common mistake is inferring the sexuality of historical figures based on contemporary standards that didn’t apply back then. For example, in the 1970s it was normal for a cop, a biker, a Native American, a construction worker, and a cowboy to be friends. It didn’t mean they were gay.
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
‘Excruciating’ comes from the same root word as ‘crucify.’
We hope this knowledge doesn’t cause you great pain or anguish.
We hope this knowledge doesn’t cause you great pain or anguish.
November 19, 2025 at 3:39 PM
‘Excruciating’ comes from the same root word as ‘crucify.’
We hope this knowledge doesn’t cause you great pain or anguish.
We hope this knowledge doesn’t cause you great pain or anguish.
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
Reposted by Ryan Zenith
Incredibly excited to have Vesta Mandate on IPR!
New!
Threadcutters - elite tarot assassins
Vesta Mandate - sci-fi political thriller on a space station
www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/
Threadcutters - elite tarot assassins
Vesta Mandate - sci-fi political thriller on a space station
www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/
November 19, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Incredibly excited to have Vesta Mandate on IPR!