Ryan Costello
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costello.bsky.social
Ryan Costello
@costello.bsky.social
360 followers 390 following 340 posts
Writer, podcaster, ENnie award winning Essence20 designer, G.I. Joe enthusiast, former Voltron social media manager.
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*Tina laughs exasperated after I name all five Backstreet Boys*

ME: I'm sorry my brain doesn't remember good facts...
Growing up in the 80s, when you turned on your afternoon cartoons, you never knew if you were going to get a formulaic and forgettable fun way to spend 30 minutes or haunting imagery that stays with you for the rest of your life.
If you want to recreate your favourite childhood scaring moment for a spooky #Essence20 session, Ryan and Charles have you covered.
The latest episode of Upshift is available on the #KnowDirectionNetwork.
knowdirectionpodcast.com/2025/10/upsh...
Typo of the day: Workshippers.
"Do you see the way Tim in accounting looked at Bobby the secretary?"
"You're such a workshipper.
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)
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 only make Papa Roach references as a last resort.
Cut my hand washing my new blender.

Put another way, the first recipe I used my new blender on: Cream of potato leek soup.

The second recipe I used my new blender on: Me.
I still struggle with what makes good Patreon content. Something like this feels interesting to me, but is it $2 a month interesting?
Ryan shares a behind the scenes clip and story about how the bit at the beginning of the Pathfinder Quest segment almost didn't happen. Twice.
www.patreon.com/posts/kd-307...
KD 307 BTS - The Bit That Almost Wasn't | Know Direction Network
Get more from Know Direction Network on Patreon
www.patreon.com
Pointed out a big bird in the sky to everyone in the car before realizing it was a plane

Now I know how the people of Metropolis feel.
Probably my biggest design gaff in the G.I. JOE CRB is the stats for the S.H.A.R.C. They are so unjustifiably off, which is especially bad for such a popular and useful vehicle.

I've wanted to fix them in an official capacity for a while. For now, I'll have to settle for an unofficial fix.
This is a big Upshift for fans of G.I. JOE’s iconic flying submarine, the S.H.A.R.C., because Ryan finally fixes the #Essence20 version's he got ridiculously wrong in the Core Rulebook.
The latest episode is available now on the #KnowDirectionNetwork.
knowdirectionpodcast.com/2025/10/upsh...
And if you have the time, brew up a few new ones.
Protron? Why not call it Energon powder?
Follow for more life hacks.
They say some problems can't be solved by tossing bombs and swigging mutagen, but I haven't found one yet.
#Pathfinder2e #PathfinderRPG #PathfinderArt #KnowDirectionNetwork
If I wasn't in an ongoing Pathfinder campaign again, I would definitely grab Pathfinder Quest to fill that void.

Even with that void currently filled, Pathfinder Quest has my attention.
Curious about Pathfinder Quest?

Paizo Director of Games, Jason Bulmahn, and Lead Designer (Games), Joe Pasini, tell us about their new cooperative adventure board.

We look at how the game works, the practical goals, and why you can trust the decisions you make.

youtu.be/wK6bbMQfucA
Pathfinder Quest with Jason Bulmahn and Joe Pasini
YouTube video by Know Direction Podcast Network
youtu.be
No no, that's a yellow spotted lawyer.
Do zoologists realize that when they name an animal something like yellow-spotted warbler instead of eagle or condor, they basically kill any chance it shows up in a fantasy setting or a superhero gets named after it?
I never did. I violated the game show host/contestant relationship.
I had no idea Zo! had a tragic backstory.
Strange revelation while writing this one: I've never owned anything Street Fighter. I don't own any of the Joes, or any other Street Fighter toy. I've never owned a copy of any of the games. No t-shirts, not even parody t-shirts. The only money I spent on this brand was renting Turbo in my teens.
Street Fighter is coming back to movie theatres so Ryan brings Ken Masters back to G.I. JOE, Power Rangers, and Transformers in the latest Essential Builds on the #KnowDirectionNetwork.
knowdirectionpodcast.com/2025/09/esse...
Fantasy is subjective, but arachnophobia is to whom it may concern.
Who is fantasizing about giant spiders?!
Would it kill them to smile?
You learn so much about your kids when you roleplay with them.

For example, ends up my daughter has a talent for interrogation.
The only thing I like more than talking with Jason is screaming with Jason!
Our friend Jason Keeley, design lead of Battlecry!, tells us all about the new skirmish rules, the Jotunborn ancestry, the Commander and Guardian classes, and everything else he's proud of in the latest Pathfinder roleplaying game sourcebook.
youtu.be/ymupg9e80R8
Jason Keeley Talks Battlecry!
YouTube video by Know Direction Podcast Network
youtu.be