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.
The first Trophy content from this absolute legend in years
Contributor Highlight: @glowingroots.bsky.social contributed to the core Trophy TTRPG books and published 2 Rooted in Trophy games (Candlelight and Token). The co-writer of the upcoming The Piper's Call and The Silt Verses RPG, he's writing a Trophy Gold incursion for this anthology, so stay tuned!
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...
December 27, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The first Trophy content from this absolute legend in years
This generation's Heavy Metal Parking Lot … A bunch of dads in cargo shorts waiting for their daughters to get out of the Eras Tour.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9XN...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9XN...
I Talked To 50 Dads At The Eras Tour
YouTube video by DARK WEB | Paul Scheer & Rob Huebel
www.youtube.com
December 27, 2025 at 5:34 PM
This generation's Heavy Metal Parking Lot … A bunch of dads in cargo shorts waiting for their daughters to get out of the Eras Tour.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9XN...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9XN...
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
HAMMERS is a rules-lite all-cleric dungeon crawler in the vein of OD&D and Troika! Play as occultists, witchfinders, and ecclesiastics in the pursuit of rooting out evil! Link below.
April 17, 2025 at 10:26 PM
HAMMERS is a rules-lite all-cleric dungeon crawler in the vein of OD&D and Troika! Play as occultists, witchfinders, and ecclesiastics in the pursuit of rooting out evil! Link below.
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Watching THE GREEN KNIGHT again
April 22, 2024 at 7:43 PM
Watching THE GREEN KNIGHT again
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Contributor highlight: Writer/consultant @clearkeep.bsky.social is an award winning designer! One of the first writers for Trophy, he has since twisted his roots in the system into games like Sunken and The Wassailing of Claus Manor (link in comments!)
His Dark incursion is about a city in revolt!
His Dark incursion is about a city in revolt!
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
December 25, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Contributor highlight: Writer/consultant @clearkeep.bsky.social is an award winning designer! One of the first writers for Trophy, he has since twisted his roots in the system into games like Sunken and The Wassailing of Claus Manor (link in comments!)
His Dark incursion is about a city in revolt!
His Dark incursion is about a city in revolt!
May all your mayhem be bright
December 25, 2025 at 6:57 PM
May all your mayhem be bright
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
One of the earliest-ever modern portrayals of Santa Claus features him gifting Union soldiers with a jumping-jack doll of Jefferson Davis dangling from a noose - as drawn by political cartoonist Thomas Nast.
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
![HARPERS WEEKLY.
JOURNAL OF CIVILIZATION
Vor. VII.-No. 314.]
NEW
YORK, SATURDAY, JANUARY
1863.
GELCOM
SANTA CLAUS
SANTA CLAUS IN CAMP.-[SEE PAGE 6]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qiknc4t5rq7yngvz7g4aezq7/bafkreiez4d5lsrpbn3mrwkwrnbrhb3ra7dmvagbxjaz7hg5be7njnsbary@jpeg)
December 25, 2025 at 6:09 AM
One of the earliest-ever modern portrayals of Santa Claus features him gifting Union soldiers with a jumping-jack doll of Jefferson Davis dangling from a noose - as drawn by political cartoonist Thomas Nast.
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
In case you hadn't heard, Public Access is *finally* coming to crowdfunding! We're looking to launch early next year (basically once The Between is off to the printers). The Big Man is positively quivering with excitement!
Sign up for prelaunch below!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/gau...
Sign up for prelaunch below!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/gau...
Coming soon: Public Access Analog Horror Mystery TTRPG
From the creator of Brindlewood Bay and The Between, Public Access is a roleplaying game inspired by analog and found footage horror!
www.kickstarter.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:58 PM
In case you hadn't heard, Public Access is *finally* coming to crowdfunding! We're looking to launch early next year (basically once The Between is off to the printers). The Big Man is positively quivering with excitement!
Sign up for prelaunch below!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/gau...
Sign up for prelaunch below!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/gau...
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
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
December 22, 2025 at 1:37 PM
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...
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
www.affinity.studio/blog/fcr
Attention older affinity users. That free font collection is now available for you. (You can get it from the welcome screen in v2 apparently)
Attention older affinity users. That free font collection is now available for you. (You can get it from the welcome screen in v2 apparently)
A special type of thank you for Affinity V1/V2 users
The new Affinity app is free for everyone to download, but we’re also gifting something else to our early supporters...
www.affinity.studio
December 22, 2025 at 1:19 PM
www.affinity.studio/blog/fcr
Attention older affinity users. That free font collection is now available for you. (You can get it from the welcome screen in v2 apparently)
Attention older affinity users. That free font collection is now available for you. (You can get it from the welcome screen in v2 apparently)
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Last chance to sign up for my art blog newsletter before the next issue drops tomorrow, all about Ed Emshwiller's series of four-armed Santa covers for Galaxy magazine! 70s-sci-fi-art.ghost.io
December 21, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Last chance to sign up for my art blog newsletter before the next issue drops tomorrow, all about Ed Emshwiller's series of four-armed Santa covers for Galaxy magazine! 70s-sci-fi-art.ghost.io
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
I don’t ever want to hear anyone say “the raids aren't as bad.” this is the last 2 days.
lataco.com/daily-memo-d...
lataco.com/daily-memo-d...
December 20, 2025 at 5:39 AM
I don’t ever want to hear anyone say “the raids aren't as bad.” this is the last 2 days.
lataco.com/daily-memo-d...
lataco.com/daily-memo-d...
This is the hill I will have an occasional picnic on.
LARP - Live Action Role Playing
TARP - Tabletop Action Role Playing
CARP - Computer Action Role Playing
TARP - Tabletop Action Role Playing
CARP - Computer Action Role Playing
December 19, 2025 at 3:56 AM
This is the hill I will have an occasional picnic on.
Oh, Gabriel … You are going to love the Forest.
I’m running The Wassailing of Claus Manor tonight, and I see that Pine Tar, this year’s expansion, is now arriving today. Can’t wait for more holiday weirdness from @clearkeep.bsky.social @signalstation.bsky.social @oxsago.bsky.social @plusoneexp.bsky.social
December 18, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Oh, Gabriel … You are going to love the Forest.
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
In PINE TAR, the latest zine for The Wassailing of Claus Manor, I had Santa claim that one could learn to do what he does by becoming a burglar.
Same set of tasks, with only the last link in the chain of events reversed: taking instead of giving.
Makes you think.
plusoneexp.com/products/the...
Same set of tasks, with only the last link in the chain of events reversed: taking instead of giving.
Makes you think.
plusoneexp.com/products/the...
The Pine Tar of Claus Manor
The Wassailing is back...Have you been naughty or nice? The Pine Tar looks outside the estate grounds for new calamities to befall The Wassailing of Claus Manor. In this holiday number we entangle the...
plusoneexp.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
In PINE TAR, the latest zine for The Wassailing of Claus Manor, I had Santa claim that one could learn to do what he does by becoming a burglar.
Same set of tasks, with only the last link in the chain of events reversed: taking instead of giving.
Makes you think.
plusoneexp.com/products/the...
Same set of tasks, with only the last link in the chain of events reversed: taking instead of giving.
Makes you think.
plusoneexp.com/products/the...
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
NATIVITY IN BLACK
"For unto you is born this day in the city of Galgenbeck, a tyrant..."
rivetheadgames.com/shop/nativit...
Relive the nativity story this holiday season. A #TTRPG storybook for #MorkBorg packed with merry and cheer.
May your #Christmas be... black.
"For unto you is born this day in the city of Galgenbeck, a tyrant..."
rivetheadgames.com/shop/nativit...
Relive the nativity story this holiday season. A #TTRPG storybook for #MorkBorg packed with merry and cheer.
May your #Christmas be... black.
December 5, 2025 at 4:14 PM
NATIVITY IN BLACK
"For unto you is born this day in the city of Galgenbeck, a tyrant..."
rivetheadgames.com/shop/nativit...
Relive the nativity story this holiday season. A #TTRPG storybook for #MorkBorg packed with merry and cheer.
May your #Christmas be... black.
"For unto you is born this day in the city of Galgenbeck, a tyrant..."
rivetheadgames.com/shop/nativit...
Relive the nativity story this holiday season. A #TTRPG storybook for #MorkBorg packed with merry and cheer.
May your #Christmas be... black.
Writing these bios is one of my favorite things about The Wassailing's holiday numbers …
Ooooooh, so cryptic!
Ooooooh, so cryptic!
Talk about a tremendous lineup of writers adding new troubles to the Family Deck!
@iknowadamseats.bsky.social @loremistress93.bsky.social @sassylich.bsky.social @signalstation.bsky.social Alex Rybitski & Amanda Mullins all add their voices to the deeply disturbed Claus clan.
2/4
@iknowadamseats.bsky.social @loremistress93.bsky.social @sassylich.bsky.social @signalstation.bsky.social Alex Rybitski & Amanda Mullins all add their voices to the deeply disturbed Claus clan.
2/4
December 16, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Writing these bios is one of my favorite things about The Wassailing's holiday numbers …
Ooooooh, so cryptic!
Ooooooh, so cryptic!
GATE is a variant of CATS that's tailored for creators introducing their game to readers – where CATS is a discussion framework for the play group.
I used GATE to write a new overview of The Wassailing, and Pine Tar includes a dissection of how it developed.
I used GATE to write a new overview of The Wassailing, and Pine Tar includes a dissection of how it developed.
Oh damn! I forgot
The GATE method by @clearkeep.bsky.social
+
Surviving Con Games by @iknowadamseats.bsky.social
Are two items in this that are rum on the fruitcake of this great expansion.
The GATE method by @clearkeep.bsky.social
+
Surviving Con Games by @iknowadamseats.bsky.social
Are two items in this that are rum on the fruitcake of this great expansion.
We checked our list w/@clearkeep.bsky.social & found out you've been nice
The Pine Tar of Claus Manor is the second expansion for the award-winning Wassailing of Claus Manor & brings in a wrecking crew of contributors!
Let's dive into it, and why you should grab it TODAY!
ttrpg.link/PineTar
1/4
The Pine Tar of Claus Manor is the second expansion for the award-winning Wassailing of Claus Manor & brings in a wrecking crew of contributors!
Let's dive into it, and why you should grab it TODAY!
ttrpg.link/PineTar
1/4
December 16, 2025 at 5:48 PM
GATE is a variant of CATS that's tailored for creators introducing their game to readers – where CATS is a discussion framework for the play group.
I used GATE to write a new overview of The Wassailing, and Pine Tar includes a dissection of how it developed.
I used GATE to write a new overview of The Wassailing, and Pine Tar includes a dissection of how it developed.
Just when you thought The Wassailing was the wildest, richest, deepest, expressionest, postmodernist horror-tinged holiday roleplaying game ever created …
We slapped some pine tar on it.
New scenarios! New mechanics! New rules! New advice! New NPCs! Old village, newly included! Stamps!
We slapped some pine tar on it.
New scenarios! New mechanics! New rules! New advice! New NPCs! Old village, newly included! Stamps!
We checked our list w/@clearkeep.bsky.social & found out you've been nice
The Pine Tar of Claus Manor is the second expansion for the award-winning Wassailing of Claus Manor & brings in a wrecking crew of contributors!
Let's dive into it, and why you should grab it TODAY!
ttrpg.link/PineTar
1/4
The Pine Tar of Claus Manor is the second expansion for the award-winning Wassailing of Claus Manor & brings in a wrecking crew of contributors!
Let's dive into it, and why you should grab it TODAY!
ttrpg.link/PineTar
1/4
The Pine Tar of Claus Manor
The Wassailing is back...Have you been naughty or nice? The Pine Tar looks outside the estate grounds for new calamities to befall The Wassailing of Claus Manor. In this holiday number we entangle the...
ttrpg.link
December 16, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Just when you thought The Wassailing was the wildest, richest, deepest, expressionest, postmodernist horror-tinged holiday roleplaying game ever created …
We slapped some pine tar on it.
New scenarios! New mechanics! New rules! New advice! New NPCs! Old village, newly included! Stamps!
We slapped some pine tar on it.
New scenarios! New mechanics! New rules! New advice! New NPCs! Old village, newly included! Stamps!
This is a good one. And you should watch it before you decide to go down the deep hole of selling homemade gatorade.
my short film Homemade Gatorade is showing at Sundance 2026 😋 such a wonderful honor, I can’t believe it !!
big big thanks to my friends that contributed to this film, and to all my patrons that helped fund it ✨ @sundance.org
big big thanks to my friends that contributed to this film, and to all my patrons that helped fund it ✨ @sundance.org
December 15, 2025 at 8:41 PM
This is a good one. And you should watch it before you decide to go down the deep hole of selling homemade gatorade.
"Mechanics" are the clockwork.
"Rules" are how the clockwork works.
Mostly doesn't matter, lots of overlap, but …
"Rules" are how the clockwork works.
Mostly doesn't matter, lots of overlap, but …
talking about this in the dice exploder discord but kinda interested in what the rabble thinks
from a TTRPG perspective, what is the difference between a mechanic and a rule and do we actually care about that difference?
from a TTRPG perspective, what is the difference between a mechanic and a rule and do we actually care about that difference?
December 15, 2025 at 8:36 PM
"Mechanics" are the clockwork.
"Rules" are how the clockwork works.
Mostly doesn't matter, lots of overlap, but …
"Rules" are how the clockwork works.
Mostly doesn't matter, lots of overlap, but …
Ripper deep cuts @themountaingoats.bsky.social show last night, ending with the non-Darnielle all-timer Sweet Jane.
And Nicole Lawrence adding a whole new dimension across the set 🤘
And Nicole Lawrence adding a whole new dimension across the set 🤘
December 15, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Ripper deep cuts @themountaingoats.bsky.social show last night, ending with the non-Darnielle all-timer Sweet Jane.
And Nicole Lawrence adding a whole new dimension across the set 🤘
And Nicole Lawrence adding a whole new dimension across the set 🤘
Helvetica is always one step from Arial.
Remember that.
Remember that.
Remember when we let all the Helvetica dweebs get into positions of power, and their nihilistic Modernist ethos set the stage for the downward spiral toward enshittification of the internet and civil society as a whole?
Man, fuck Helvetica.
Man, fuck Helvetica.
December 14, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Helvetica is always one step from Arial.
Remember that.
Remember that.
Remember when we let all the Helvetica dweebs get into positions of power, and their nihilistic Modernist ethos set the stage for the downward spiral toward enshittification of the internet and civil society as a whole?
Man, fuck Helvetica.
Man, fuck Helvetica.
December 14, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Remember when we let all the Helvetica dweebs get into positions of power, and their nihilistic Modernist ethos set the stage for the downward spiral toward enshittification of the internet and civil society as a whole?
Man, fuck Helvetica.
Man, fuck Helvetica.
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
It's hard to believe that it's only been ten years since UCLA English Lit grad Lee Gold launched her influential zine Alarums & Excursions (named after Elizabethan drama). Its hard to believe, as it's actually 50 years, as it launched in 1975, and she only wrapped it this year.
I cannot express how pathetic you have to be to believe this happened in the TTRPG hobby in the last decade
December 14, 2025 at 8:07 AM
It's hard to believe that it's only been ten years since UCLA English Lit grad Lee Gold launched her influential zine Alarums & Excursions (named after Elizabethan drama). Its hard to believe, as it's actually 50 years, as it launched in 1975, and she only wrapped it this year.