Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
@improvgm.bsky.social
Improvisor, actor, director, GM, stand up
https://linktr.ee/mikelmatthewsjr
Start Playing GM: https://startplaying.games/gm/improvgm
https://linktr.ee/mikelmatthewsjr
Start Playing GM: https://startplaying.games/gm/improvgm
"Why Yes, and... is misunderstood in ttrpgs"
Most recent blog is up and yes, I'm lying about the actual date I posted it and... I don't care because if you were to read it a week or two from now, you'd never know it was a day late.
publish.obsidian.md/improvgm
Most recent blog is up and yes, I'm lying about the actual date I posted it and... I don't care because if you were to read it a week or two from now, you'd never know it was a day late.
publish.obsidian.md/improvgm
Improvgm - Obsidian Publish
Here's a place for my thoughts and writings on ttrpgs. 1/27/2025: How 'yes, and...' is Misunderstood in TTRPGs 1/18/2025: Prep Situations, not Plots 1/11/2025: Emotion as Key to Character in ttrpgs…
publish.obsidian.md
January 26, 2026 at 3:32 PM
"Why Yes, and... is misunderstood in ttrpgs"
Most recent blog is up and yes, I'm lying about the actual date I posted it and... I don't care because if you were to read it a week or two from now, you'd never know it was a day late.
publish.obsidian.md/improvgm
Most recent blog is up and yes, I'm lying about the actual date I posted it and... I don't care because if you were to read it a week or two from now, you'd never know it was a day late.
publish.obsidian.md/improvgm
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
So I loathe having to do this with everyone else hurting right now but the repairs are going to be costly and I would rather earn if I can.
I’ve already had to pay for parts today but labor is going to be more so if you have any work, I’m real good at that.
A share would be rad as well.
I’ve already had to pay for parts today but labor is going to be more so if you have any work, I’m real good at that.
A share would be rad as well.
January 24, 2026 at 12:34 AM
So I loathe having to do this with everyone else hurting right now but the repairs are going to be costly and I would rather earn if I can.
I’ve already had to pay for parts today but labor is going to be more so if you have any work, I’m real good at that.
A share would be rad as well.
I’ve already had to pay for parts today but labor is going to be more so if you have any work, I’m real good at that.
A share would be rad as well.
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
I love how they went from "Guns Don't Kill People" to "A Gun Can Kill People Even If You Don't Use It!"
Bessent: I'm sorry he is dead, but he did bring a semiautomatic weapon to what was supposed to be a peaceful protest.
Karl: There's no evidence that he brandished the gun whatsoever
Bessent: But he brought a gun!
Karl: We do have a second amendment in this country.
Karl: There's no evidence that he brandished the gun whatsoever
Bessent: But he brought a gun!
Karl: We do have a second amendment in this country.
January 25, 2026 at 5:18 PM
I love how they went from "Guns Don't Kill People" to "A Gun Can Kill People Even If You Don't Use It!"
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
Look, fuck MTG she’s riding a wave. But the fascinating thing to me here is that she’s
explaining basic empathy to MAGA adults *the way you’d explain empathy to a five year old.* Because she *knows how they think*. There are millions of adults in this country without basic emotional skills.
explaining basic empathy to MAGA adults *the way you’d explain empathy to a five year old.* Because she *knows how they think*. There are millions of adults in this country without basic emotional skills.
Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene on Twitter. It’s 2026 and one of the few Republicans who seem capable of acknowledging that 2+2=4 is the person who was first politicized by Qanon.
January 25, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Look, fuck MTG she’s riding a wave. But the fascinating thing to me here is that she’s
explaining basic empathy to MAGA adults *the way you’d explain empathy to a five year old.* Because she *knows how they think*. There are millions of adults in this country without basic emotional skills.
explaining basic empathy to MAGA adults *the way you’d explain empathy to a five year old.* Because she *knows how they think*. There are millions of adults in this country without basic emotional skills.
Blade Runner and Project: Dark make me want to put together a polished 2 player/1 GM Actual Play.
January 24, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Blade Runner and Project: Dark make me want to put together a polished 2 player/1 GM Actual Play.
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
He is on the ground, with at least 4 agents on top of him, when one of them executes him at point-blank range. This is an undeniable, unequivocal murder by ICE agents.
January 24, 2026 at 3:58 PM
He is on the ground, with at least 4 agents on top of him, when one of them executes him at point-blank range. This is an undeniable, unequivocal murder by ICE agents.
Slightly diminish a game
Ars Slight of Hand
Ars Slight of Hand
Slightly diminish a game:
Changeling: The GPS Is On The Fritz
Changeling: The GPS Is On The Fritz
slightly diminish a game:
Mage: The Abstention
Mage: The Abstention
January 24, 2026 at 4:56 AM
Slightly diminish a game
Ars Slight of Hand
Ars Slight of Hand
I explained to my student teacher this week that “AI writes like a sophomore in college who didn’t do the reading and half paid attention in classes.” I stick by that
January 24, 2026 at 4:45 AM
I explained to my student teacher this week that “AI writes like a sophomore in college who didn’t do the reading and half paid attention in classes.” I stick by that
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
In October, ICE grabbed Maher Tarabishi.
He was a 24/7 caregiver for his disabled son Wael.
At the time of Maher’s detention, disability advocates warned that taking away Wael’s caregiver put his life at risk.
Wael died on Friday at age 30.
ICE caused his death.
They didn’t get to say goodbye.
He was a 24/7 caregiver for his disabled son Wael.
At the time of Maher’s detention, disability advocates warned that taking away Wael’s caregiver put his life at risk.
Wael died on Friday at age 30.
ICE caused his death.
They didn’t get to say goodbye.
Disabled son of ICE detainee dies after 30 days of hospitalization
It had been months since Wael Tarabishi seen his father. The family is calling on ICE to release Maher Tarabishi so he may attend his son's funeral.
www.wfaa.com
January 24, 2026 at 3:01 AM
In October, ICE grabbed Maher Tarabishi.
He was a 24/7 caregiver for his disabled son Wael.
At the time of Maher’s detention, disability advocates warned that taking away Wael’s caregiver put his life at risk.
Wael died on Friday at age 30.
ICE caused his death.
They didn’t get to say goodbye.
He was a 24/7 caregiver for his disabled son Wael.
At the time of Maher’s detention, disability advocates warned that taking away Wael’s caregiver put his life at risk.
Wael died on Friday at age 30.
ICE caused his death.
They didn’t get to say goodbye.
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
this guy is a terrible liar who genuinely believes he is great at lying
CNN put together a clip of JD Vance claiming ICE agents have "absolute immunity" followed by him two weeks later claiming "I didn't say that officers who engage in wrongdoing would enjoy immunity"
January 24, 2026 at 3:20 AM
this guy is a terrible liar who genuinely believes he is great at lying
Generally I get a plain bagel with sausage and cheese and that was because if I just ordered a sausage bagel, they lost their minds and couldn’t imagine it without cheese and egg.
Or I get a plain bagel with butter.
I have the pallette of a child
Or I get a plain bagel with butter.
I have the pallette of a child
Learning my friends’ bagel orders is a coin flip whereby I learn if I can continue to respect them or our relationship is irrevocably damaged
January 24, 2026 at 3:07 AM
Generally I get a plain bagel with sausage and cheese and that was because if I just ordered a sausage bagel, they lost their minds and couldn’t imagine it without cheese and egg.
Or I get a plain bagel with butter.
I have the pallette of a child
Or I get a plain bagel with butter.
I have the pallette of a child
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
I've been here 24 hours, but already with what I've seen, well, I genuinely believe we're going to win. People here are well aware that what happens here impacts the entire country, that it sets the tone for resistance. ICE is angry, ICE is terrified, of how deeply unpopular it is.
January 22, 2026 at 3:58 AM
I've been here 24 hours, but already with what I've seen, well, I genuinely believe we're going to win. People here are well aware that what happens here impacts the entire country, that it sets the tone for resistance. ICE is angry, ICE is terrified, of how deeply unpopular it is.
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
Another friend put it to me like this: "ICE has made the classic Nazi mistake. They've invaded a winter people in the winter."
January 22, 2026 at 3:58 AM
Another friend put it to me like this: "ICE has made the classic Nazi mistake. They've invaded a winter people in the winter."
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
I came to Minneapolis to report on what's going on, and one of the main questions I showed up with is "just what is the scale of the resistance?" After all, we're all used to the news calling Portland a "war zone" or whatever when it's just some protests in one part of town.
January 22, 2026 at 3:58 AM
I came to Minneapolis to report on what's going on, and one of the main questions I showed up with is "just what is the scale of the resistance?" After all, we're all used to the news calling Portland a "war zone" or whatever when it's just some protests in one part of town.
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
I can't unhear it
I was re-watching that legendary Breaking Bad scene where Walt confronts Tuco for the first time and I swear it sounds like they used the Howard Dean Scream as an overdub during the aftermath
January 22, 2026 at 6:16 PM
I can't unhear it
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
I think we’ve got better and more culturally-varied street food than I could have imagined, cool jackets galore, and drugs that make us think we’re really fast and strong before they kill us.
we're getting all the downsides of cyberpunk (social alienation, ruthless hyper capitalism, digital mass surveillance state) but none of the promised upsides (cheap street food, cool jackets, super drugs that make you really fast and strong before they kill you)
January 20, 2026 at 10:02 PM
I think we’ve got better and more culturally-varied street food than I could have imagined, cool jackets galore, and drugs that make us think we’re really fast and strong before they kill us.
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
Wait, what’s an rpg
they should make baldurs gate rpg
January 21, 2026 at 3:35 AM
Wait, what’s an rpg
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
On MLK Day, we honored a leader who named poverty for what it is: a moral crisis. In honor of his legacy, we’re investing in Just Home — 83 affordable apartments at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi for formerly incarcerated New Yorkers with complex medical needs.
January 21, 2026 at 3:05 AM
On MLK Day, we honored a leader who named poverty for what it is: a moral crisis. In honor of his legacy, we’re investing in Just Home — 83 affordable apartments at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi for formerly incarcerated New Yorkers with complex medical needs.
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
"B-But if we don't use AI, how will we storyboard cutscenes--" MOTHERFUCKER MY WIFE LET ME USE HER CROCHET PLUSHIES, WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE
January 21, 2026 at 2:11 AM
"B-But if we don't use AI, how will we storyboard cutscenes--" MOTHERFUCKER MY WIFE LET ME USE HER CROCHET PLUSHIES, WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
sir, another bluesky thread of absurd life content has dropped
January 21, 2026 at 2:09 AM
sir, another bluesky thread of absurd life content has dropped
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
As writer, I would love to not have to keep using the "Everything GOP smacks of rape culture/domestic violence" metaphor, vary it up a bit, but they just keep going to the same well! It is what it is.
US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent:
What I am urging everyone here to do is sit back, take a deep breath, and let things play out. The worst thing countries can do is escalate against the United States.
What I am urging everyone here to do is sit back, take a deep breath, and let things play out. The worst thing countries can do is escalate against the United States.
January 20, 2026 at 5:23 PM
As writer, I would love to not have to keep using the "Everything GOP smacks of rape culture/domestic violence" metaphor, vary it up a bit, but they just keep going to the same well! It is what it is.
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
Depressing. And so, so unbearably stupid. Shortsighted and foolish. We’ve lost decades (at least) of progress.
This is the most astonishing graph of what the Trump regime has done to US science. They have destroyed the federal science workforce across the board. The negative impacts on Americans will be felt for generations, and the US might never be the same again.
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
January 21, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Depressing. And so, so unbearably stupid. Shortsighted and foolish. We’ve lost decades (at least) of progress.
Reposted by Mikel L. Matthews Jr.
while i am not an academic i did see this coming and post about it on bluesky, which is why i am quoted in this article
December 17, 2025 at 8:17 PM
while i am not an academic i did see this coming and post about it on bluesky, which is why i am quoted in this article
TTRPG players!
I’ve got seats open for The One Ring: Darkening of Mirkwood (Wednesday 7pm Central) and Angel: The RPG (think Buffy/Angel. Sundays at 1pm Central).
We’re just starting The One Ring and are a few sessions in with Angel.
startplaying.games/gm/improvgm
I’ve got seats open for The One Ring: Darkening of Mirkwood (Wednesday 7pm Central) and Angel: The RPG (think Buffy/Angel. Sundays at 1pm Central).
We’re just starting The One Ring and are a few sessions in with Angel.
startplaying.games/gm/improvgm
Professional Game Master - Mikel (ImprovGM) | StartPlaying
ImprovGM on Tiktok. I've been doing improv for over 20 years and run workshops at GenCon teaching those skills to gamers. I run a wide variety of games that focus on player run narratives that empha...
startplaying.games
January 20, 2026 at 7:23 PM
TTRPG players!
I’ve got seats open for The One Ring: Darkening of Mirkwood (Wednesday 7pm Central) and Angel: The RPG (think Buffy/Angel. Sundays at 1pm Central).
We’re just starting The One Ring and are a few sessions in with Angel.
startplaying.games/gm/improvgm
I’ve got seats open for The One Ring: Darkening of Mirkwood (Wednesday 7pm Central) and Angel: The RPG (think Buffy/Angel. Sundays at 1pm Central).
We’re just starting The One Ring and are a few sessions in with Angel.
startplaying.games/gm/improvgm