Mike Martens | Clear Keep
@clearkeep.bsky.social
he/him. UX & TTRPG. Visiting weird vistas. ENNIES & IGDN award winner.
Creator: Planet Raygun, Sunken, The Wassailing, Tourist Hole
Contributor: Butter Princess, Dark Designs in Verdigris, Trophy, Public Access, Silt Verses RPG
clearkeep.us
Creator: Planet Raygun, Sunken, The Wassailing, Tourist Hole
Contributor: Butter Princess, Dark Designs in Verdigris, Trophy, Public Access, Silt Verses RPG
clearkeep.us
Pinned
O HEY.
I'm a UX writer and ttrpg designer, with graphic design in my side holster.
If you want a feed about any of those things or their intersections, add me! 👾👾👾
I'm also bad at marketing myself, so this is your chance to follow someone before they're cool.
I'm a UX writer and ttrpg designer, with graphic design in my side holster.
If you want a feed about any of those things or their intersections, add me! 👾👾👾
I'm also bad at marketing myself, so this is your chance to follow someone before they're cool.
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
To riff on cybernetics a little here, the Purpose of a Game is What it Does, and one of the biggest changes that has happened over the decade is that sentiment has moved away from the idea that there even IS a perfect game, and that the ideal game does The Thing It Does.
February 10, 2026 at 3:31 PM
To riff on cybernetics a little here, the Purpose of a Game is What it Does, and one of the biggest changes that has happened over the decade is that sentiment has moved away from the idea that there even IS a perfect game, and that the ideal game does The Thing It Does.
Because the bushes are people.
This kind of smart, walkable, mixed-use urbanism is illegal to build in most American cities.
February 9, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Because the bushes are people.
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Happy Monday!
Public Access is coming to Kickstarter in March, and it would help us a lot if you signed up for prelaunch!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/gau...
Please repost!
Public Access is coming to Kickstarter in March, and it would help us a lot if you signed up for prelaunch!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/gau...
Please repost!
February 9, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Happy Monday!
Public Access is coming to Kickstarter in March, and it would help us a lot if you signed up for prelaunch!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/gau...
Please repost!
Public Access is coming to Kickstarter in March, and it would help us a lot if you signed up for prelaunch!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/gau...
Please repost!
It's worth reading up on the environment behind age-verification on the web and connected platforms.
These laws extend beyond the political boundaries you might expect.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_...
www.eff.org/deeplinks/20...
These laws extend beyond the political boundaries you might expect.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_...
www.eff.org/deeplinks/20...
The Year States Chose Surveillance Over Safety: 2025 in Review
2025 was the year age verification went from a fringe policy experiment to a sweeping reality across the United States. Half of the U.S. now mandates age verification for accessing adult content or so...
www.eff.org
February 9, 2026 at 5:03 PM
It's worth reading up on the environment behind age-verification on the web and connected platforms.
These laws extend beyond the political boundaries you might expect.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_...
www.eff.org/deeplinks/20...
These laws extend beyond the political boundaries you might expect.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_...
www.eff.org/deeplinks/20...
Into the Odd (Remastered) is such a beautiful book.
Easily top ten all time among ttrpg books.
That's all. It's just really, really good.
Easily top ten all time among ttrpg books.
That's all. It's just really, really good.
February 9, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Into the Odd (Remastered) is such a beautiful book.
Easily top ten all time among ttrpg books.
That's all. It's just really, really good.
Easily top ten all time among ttrpg books.
That's all. It's just really, really good.
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Working on some test spreads for a nearly finished game. Just got a few more pieces of art to make for it.
February 6, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Working on some test spreads for a nearly finished game. Just got a few more pieces of art to make for it.
I don’t have a strong opinion about it, but it surprised me that Blades 68 is an expansion/mod for Blades in the Dark and not a standalone spinoff.
This seems to be the first Evil Hat FitD game where that’s the case.
This seems to be the first Evil Hat FitD game where that’s the case.
February 6, 2026 at 5:37 PM
I don’t have a strong opinion about it, but it surprised me that Blades 68 is an expansion/mod for Blades in the Dark and not a standalone spinoff.
This seems to be the first Evil Hat FitD game where that’s the case.
This seems to be the first Evil Hat FitD game where that’s the case.
Iconic game, exquisitely designed. The Elizabeth Bennett of social-dynamic ttrpgs.
A new edition of Good Society is set to grace the ton!
With revised rules and additional sumptuous art, this new edition will be useful, usable and scandalously good looking.
Check it out and help support this unique game of regency romance, scandal and drama!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/sto...
With revised rules and additional sumptuous art, this new edition will be useful, usable and scandalously good looking.
Check it out and help support this unique game of regency romance, scandal and drama!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/sto...
Coming soon: Good Society: A Jane Austen RPG – 2nd Edition
Navigate the pitfalls of romance, reputation, manners, and marriage in the sumptuous new edition of this award-winning regency rpg.
www.kickstarter.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Iconic game, exquisitely designed. The Elizabeth Bennett of social-dynamic ttrpgs.
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Swear to god, ICE could just announce they're leaving a city but not leave and the media will just stop covering that city completely even though ICE never left.
It's what ICE and the media did with LA and they're doing it with Minneapolis too
It's what ICE and the media did with LA and they're doing it with Minneapolis too
February 6, 2026 at 12:19 AM
Swear to god, ICE could just announce they're leaving a city but not leave and the media will just stop covering that city completely even though ICE never left.
It's what ICE and the media did with LA and they're doing it with Minneapolis too
It's what ICE and the media did with LA and they're doing it with Minneapolis too
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Play solo as the GM!
Triple-O, my beloved player character emulator, is coming back in zine format!
More tables, examples, and use cases!
Run published adventures, emulate NPCs or allies, playtest your own prep!
Follow today on BackerKit (free one-page version for early backers)
👉 is.gd/tripleo
Triple-O, my beloved player character emulator, is coming back in zine format!
More tables, examples, and use cases!
Run published adventures, emulate NPCs or allies, playtest your own prep!
Follow today on BackerKit (free one-page version for early backers)
👉 is.gd/tripleo
January 6, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Play solo as the GM!
Triple-O, my beloved player character emulator, is coming back in zine format!
More tables, examples, and use cases!
Run published adventures, emulate NPCs or allies, playtest your own prep!
Follow today on BackerKit (free one-page version for early backers)
👉 is.gd/tripleo
Triple-O, my beloved player character emulator, is coming back in zine format!
More tables, examples, and use cases!
Run published adventures, emulate NPCs or allies, playtest your own prep!
Follow today on BackerKit (free one-page version for early backers)
👉 is.gd/tripleo
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
In celebration of the imminent Blades ‘68 campaign, I thought I’d talk a bit about its graphic design.
BUT FIRST let’s compare and contrast with the graphic design of Blades in the Dark, a landmark in the history of RPG layout.
Type nerdery ahoy 🧐
BUT FIRST let’s compare and contrast with the graphic design of Blades in the Dark, a landmark in the history of RPG layout.
Type nerdery ahoy 🧐
February 3, 2026 at 1:31 AM
In celebration of the imminent Blades ‘68 campaign, I thought I’d talk a bit about its graphic design.
BUT FIRST let’s compare and contrast with the graphic design of Blades in the Dark, a landmark in the history of RPG layout.
Type nerdery ahoy 🧐
BUT FIRST let’s compare and contrast with the graphic design of Blades in the Dark, a landmark in the history of RPG layout.
Type nerdery ahoy 🧐
“The game is a conversation” means more than “it’s people talking in turns.”
How does a good conversation flow? What helps it? How is it shared?
How does a good conversation flow? What helps it? How is it shared?
February 2, 2026 at 9:03 PM
“The game is a conversation” means more than “it’s people talking in turns.”
How does a good conversation flow? What helps it? How is it shared?
How does a good conversation flow? What helps it? How is it shared?
PbtA games at large should pick up the "What are you afraid might happen?" beat of risky rolls that's used in Carved from Brindlewood.
This relieves SO MUCH pressure on the GM/keeper. And not just when directly using the prompt's answer …
This relieves SO MUCH pressure on the GM/keeper. And not just when directly using the prompt's answer …
February 2, 2026 at 6:46 PM
PbtA games at large should pick up the "What are you afraid might happen?" beat of risky rolls that's used in Carved from Brindlewood.
This relieves SO MUCH pressure on the GM/keeper. And not just when directly using the prompt's answer …
This relieves SO MUCH pressure on the GM/keeper. And not just when directly using the prompt's answer …
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
As of tomorrow, Cairn Press is live!
Bring me your modules, your supplements, your hacks - as long as they are Cairn adjacent, I'll take consider it!
More soon.
cairnpress.ink
Bring me your modules, your supplements, your hacks - as long as they are Cairn adjacent, I'll take consider it!
More soon.
cairnpress.ink
Cairn Press
The official website for the Cairn Press imprint.
cairnpress.ink
January 30, 2026 at 3:43 AM
As of tomorrow, Cairn Press is live!
Bring me your modules, your supplements, your hacks - as long as they are Cairn adjacent, I'll take consider it!
More soon.
cairnpress.ink
Bring me your modules, your supplements, your hacks - as long as they are Cairn adjacent, I'll take consider it!
More soon.
cairnpress.ink
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Contributor Highlight: @madelancholy.bsky.social coordinates by day, and then spends time playing/running TTRPGs, game writing, or editing video for their YouTube actual-play channel Madelancholy. They have written for Brindlewood Bay and contributed to the Sprigs and Kindling community zine.
From the publisher that brings you Sprigs & Kindling (that's me!), in collaboration with @jesseross.com and @pemetawe.bsky.social comes a new anthology of one shot incursions for Trophy! Sign up to be notified of launch 😄 www.kickstarter.com/projects/fir...
Coming soon: Ruin: An Anthology of One Shot Incursions for Trophy
A collection of 14 new incursions for Trophy Gold and Trophy Dark.
www.kickstarter.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Contributor Highlight: @madelancholy.bsky.social coordinates by day, and then spends time playing/running TTRPGs, game writing, or editing video for their YouTube actual-play channel Madelancholy. They have written for Brindlewood Bay and contributed to the Sprigs and Kindling community zine.
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Do you play The Between: Ghosts of El Paso? Does your table have a Kid? Do they need more rivals to shoot at?
@picaroon-jack.bsky.social and I have got you covered.
Rivals is a small zine w/ 12 rivals ready to thrown down and, likely, die in the dirt.
signalstation.itch.io/rivals-a-gho...
@picaroon-jack.bsky.social and I have got you covered.
Rivals is a small zine w/ 12 rivals ready to thrown down and, likely, die in the dirt.
signalstation.itch.io/rivals-a-gho...
Rivals: A Ghosts of El Paso Zine by Michael Van Vleet
12 Brand-New Rivals for The Kid!
signalstation.itch.io
January 26, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Do you play The Between: Ghosts of El Paso? Does your table have a Kid? Do they need more rivals to shoot at?
@picaroon-jack.bsky.social and I have got you covered.
Rivals is a small zine w/ 12 rivals ready to thrown down and, likely, die in the dirt.
signalstation.itch.io/rivals-a-gho...
@picaroon-jack.bsky.social and I have got you covered.
Rivals is a small zine w/ 12 rivals ready to thrown down and, likely, die in the dirt.
signalstation.itch.io/rivals-a-gho...
#Zimo My biggest crowdfunding campaign was the one I bought social media ads for. Not a lot, $50-100 worth, something like that. <1% of total revenue.
I wasn’t methodical about testing to draw direct causation, but it’s worth trying if you want to expand reach.
I wasn’t methodical about testing to draw direct causation, but it’s worth trying if you want to expand reach.
January 26, 2026 at 8:15 PM
#Zimo My biggest crowdfunding campaign was the one I bought social media ads for. Not a lot, $50-100 worth, something like that. <1% of total revenue.
I wasn’t methodical about testing to draw direct causation, but it’s worth trying if you want to expand reach.
I wasn’t methodical about testing to draw direct causation, but it’s worth trying if you want to expand reach.
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Democrats can and must make it clear there will be trials and anyone even somewhat associated with ICE will face them. Maybe give a quit-your-job deadline on appeasement and give people 72 hours. I don't know. But currently the plan is to let them murder us in the street and get away with it.
January 24, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Democrats can and must make it clear there will be trials and anyone even somewhat associated with ICE will face them. Maybe give a quit-your-job deadline on appeasement and give people 72 hours. I don't know. But currently the plan is to let them murder us in the street and get away with it.
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
I don’t want to hear anything from an elected official unless it’s a plan to defund the DHS and impeach Noem, Bovino, etc. No texts. No emails. No talk about the economy. Step up or step off.
January 24, 2026 at 7:23 PM
I don’t want to hear anything from an elected official unless it’s a plan to defund the DHS and impeach Noem, Bovino, etc. No texts. No emails. No talk about the economy. Step up or step off.
The more we find out about this morning, the more it seems like this is a moderate position.
From this moment forward (and before, but clearly now):
-If you work for ICE.
-If you vote for money for ICE.
You are complicit. This is the gestapo. You're on the wrong side. You can't pretend not to know.
-If you work for ICE.
-If you vote for money for ICE.
You are complicit. This is the gestapo. You're on the wrong side. You can't pretend not to know.
January 24, 2026 at 7:30 PM
The more we find out about this morning, the more it seems like this is a moderate position.
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Contributor Highlight: @foresightstudio.bsky.social is a science consultant, layout artist, and occasional fortune-teller who writes tabletop roleplaying games as Foresight Studio. His work has appeared in Public Access, The Silt Verses RPG, The Between, and Triangle Agency!
From the publisher that brings you Sprigs & Kindling (that's me!), in collaboration with @jesseross.com and @pemetawe.bsky.social comes a new anthology of one shot incursions for Trophy! Sign up to be notified of launch 😄 www.kickstarter.com/projects/fir...
Coming soon: Ruin: An Anthology of One Shot Incursions for Trophy
A collection of 14 new incursions for Trophy Gold and Trophy Dark.
www.kickstarter.com
January 23, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Contributor Highlight: @foresightstudio.bsky.social is a science consultant, layout artist, and occasional fortune-teller who writes tabletop roleplaying games as Foresight Studio. His work has appeared in Public Access, The Silt Verses RPG, The Between, and Triangle Agency!
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
From this moment forward (and before, but clearly now):
-If you work for ICE.
-If you vote for money for ICE.
You are complicit. This is the gestapo. You're on the wrong side. You can't pretend not to know.
-If you work for ICE.
-If you vote for money for ICE.
You are complicit. This is the gestapo. You're on the wrong side. You can't pretend not to know.
January 24, 2026 at 5:07 PM
From this moment forward (and before, but clearly now):
-If you work for ICE.
-If you vote for money for ICE.
You are complicit. This is the gestapo. You're on the wrong side. You can't pretend not to know.
-If you work for ICE.
-If you vote for money for ICE.
You are complicit. This is the gestapo. You're on the wrong side. You can't pretend not to know.
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
i’m not particularly attached to “abolish ICE” as a slogan but as a policy it’s mandatory
January 24, 2026 at 5:50 PM
i’m not particularly attached to “abolish ICE” as a slogan but as a policy it’s mandatory
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
I've been leaning towards Tubi being the streaming service, and now I think it's official: they have Season 1 and Season 2 of one of the best science and technology comedy shows ever made… "Look Around You".
Thanks, Tubi. Thubi.
tubitv.com/series/30001...
Thanks, Tubi. Thubi.
tubitv.com/series/30001...
Look Around You
This unique combination of parody and homage to early 70s/80s British educational programs examines different scientific topics in each episode.
tubitv.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:56 PM
I've been leaning towards Tubi being the streaming service, and now I think it's official: they have Season 1 and Season 2 of one of the best science and technology comedy shows ever made… "Look Around You".
Thanks, Tubi. Thubi.
tubitv.com/series/30001...
Thanks, Tubi. Thubi.
tubitv.com/series/30001...