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.
Name that film …
November 14, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Name that film …
I don't know if there's a formal term for it, but what's developing as my style of book design seems to be a pseudo-diegesis …
These books aren't trying to be artifacts of the narrative world, but they're also not untouched by that reality.
These books aren't trying to be artifacts of the narrative world, but they're also not untouched by that reality.
an orange and white cat is reading a book called the lore
Alt: an orange and white cat is reading a book called the lore
media.tenor.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:43 PM
I don't know if there's a formal term for it, but what's developing as my style of book design seems to be a pseudo-diegesis …
These books aren't trying to be artifacts of the narrative world, but they're also not untouched by that reality.
These books aren't trying to be artifacts of the narrative world, but they're also not untouched by that reality.
More sick d6 sets, please.
🚨 EAT THE REICH DICE🚨
The edging is over because these bad boys from @dispeldice.bsky.social are coming THURSDAY!
Each dice has a vibrant insert covered in @chamonkee.bsky.social art, with a sharp wrapping that's easy to read when you're fang deep 🫀
Get ready here: buff.ly/10yNPQenotif...
The edging is over because these bad boys from @dispeldice.bsky.social are coming THURSDAY!
Each dice has a vibrant insert covered in @chamonkee.bsky.social art, with a sharp wrapping that's easy to read when you're fang deep 🫀
Get ready here: buff.ly/10yNPQenotif...
November 14, 2025 at 4:22 PM
More sick d6 sets, please.
I came up in marketing when brands like Coca-Cola were intensely specific about things like this. It would have been: “It’s not the Coca-Cola delivery truck if the logo isn’t X feet long and there aren’t Y pounds of snow on the cab.”
It is surreal to me how much its standards have dropped.
It is surreal to me how much its standards have dropped.
November 14, 2025 at 4:19 PM
I came up in marketing when brands like Coca-Cola were intensely specific about things like this. It would have been: “It’s not the Coca-Cola delivery truck if the logo isn’t X feet long and there aren’t Y pounds of snow on the cab.”
It is surreal to me how much its standards have dropped.
It is surreal to me how much its standards have dropped.
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Another new #paxunplugged release: CANNIBAL COOK-OFF is a roleplaying party game where two teams go head to head with human heads, a cooking competition show with body parts in an 8-page zine. FREE with purchase at my booth 3953. Featuring practical gore creations by swedishmadetoys !
November 14, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Another new #paxunplugged release: CANNIBAL COOK-OFF is a roleplaying party game where two teams go head to head with human heads, a cooking competition show with body parts in an 8-page zine. FREE with purchase at my booth 3953. Featuring practical gore creations by swedishmadetoys !
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Growing up in a time when “selling out” was the most shameful thing you could do and then being forced to live through the 2020s feels like being kicked in the head by a horse every day
November 13, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Growing up in a time when “selling out” was the most shameful thing you could do and then being forced to live through the 2020s feels like being kicked in the head by a horse every day
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Festive season is coming, and of course I'm excited to make it a little spooky...
So happy to be writing for this wonderful game, alongside such talented writers. Thank you @clearkeep.bsky.social for asking me to contribute!
🎄❄️🩵
So happy to be writing for this wonderful game, alongside such talented writers. Thank you @clearkeep.bsky.social for asking me to contribute!
🎄❄️🩵
2025's Wassailing holiday annual includes a whole new stable of contributors (and @signalstation.bsky.social sidling his way in again).
@sassylich.bsky.social! @xanderbimski.bsky.social! @iknowadamseats.bsky.social! @iamatrex.com! @loremistress93.bsky.social!
… and still more to be revealed.
@sassylich.bsky.social! @xanderbimski.bsky.social! @iknowadamseats.bsky.social! @iamatrex.com! @loremistress93.bsky.social!
… and still more to be revealed.
November 13, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Festive season is coming, and of course I'm excited to make it a little spooky...
So happy to be writing for this wonderful game, alongside such talented writers. Thank you @clearkeep.bsky.social for asking me to contribute!
🎄❄️🩵
So happy to be writing for this wonderful game, alongside such talented writers. Thank you @clearkeep.bsky.social for asking me to contribute!
🎄❄️🩵
Adobe Fresco Just Added Magic (and It’s NOT AI)
YouTube video by Chris Piascik
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 10:17 PM
The pains that I go to finding period-specific oddities that you're just going to dismiss as not being period-specific …
November 12, 2025 at 7:18 PM
The pains that I go to finding period-specific oddities that you're just going to dismiss as not being period-specific …
2025's Wassailing holiday annual includes a whole new stable of contributors (and @signalstation.bsky.social sidling his way in again).
@sassylich.bsky.social! @xanderbimski.bsky.social! @iknowadamseats.bsky.social! @iamatrex.com! @loremistress93.bsky.social!
… and still more to be revealed.
@sassylich.bsky.social! @xanderbimski.bsky.social! @iknowadamseats.bsky.social! @iamatrex.com! @loremistress93.bsky.social!
… and still more to be revealed.
November 12, 2025 at 5:21 PM
2025's Wassailing holiday annual includes a whole new stable of contributors (and @signalstation.bsky.social sidling his way in again).
@sassylich.bsky.social! @xanderbimski.bsky.social! @iknowadamseats.bsky.social! @iamatrex.com! @loremistress93.bsky.social!
… and still more to be revealed.
@sassylich.bsky.social! @xanderbimski.bsky.social! @iknowadamseats.bsky.social! @iamatrex.com! @loremistress93.bsky.social!
… and still more to be revealed.
Since the "impossibility" of continuing James Bond's story is apparently ripping our society apart ...
I wanna shout out that Reflection in a Dead Diamond sets it all out in the most confounding but internally sound way possible.
I wanna shout out that Reflection in a Dead Diamond sets it all out in the most confounding but internally sound way possible.
Reflection in a Dead Diamond | Official Trailer | Shudder
YouTube video by Shudder
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Since the "impossibility" of continuing James Bond's story is apparently ripping our society apart ...
I wanna shout out that Reflection in a Dead Diamond sets it all out in the most confounding but internally sound way possible.
I wanna shout out that Reflection in a Dead Diamond sets it all out in the most confounding but internally sound way possible.
Completed another test of Folk last week, and it continues to generate truly gnarly folk horror histories.
It's a game of worldbuilding, community survival, and religious desperation.
In some ways, an essay on the folk horror genre in game form.
It's a game of worldbuilding, community survival, and religious desperation.
In some ways, an essay on the folk horror genre in game form.
November 11, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Completed another test of Folk last week, and it continues to generate truly gnarly folk horror histories.
It's a game of worldbuilding, community survival, and religious desperation.
In some ways, an essay on the folk horror genre in game form.
It's a game of worldbuilding, community survival, and religious desperation.
In some ways, an essay on the folk horror genre in game form.
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Wonderful BBC archive clip about black magic in Norfolk in 1964 - soot-blackened sheep’s hearts, weird effigies, and isolated fenland villages.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWTw...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWTw...
1964: A Curious Case of Black Magic in Norfolk | Tonight | Weird and Wonderful | BBC Archive
YouTube video by BBC Archive
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Wonderful BBC archive clip about black magic in Norfolk in 1964 - soot-blackened sheep’s hearts, weird effigies, and isolated fenland villages.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWTw...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWTw...
We made a game where everything wretched about the holidays and everything joyful about them smooch under a mistletoe of horror.
And we keep pulling more people into the maelstrom.
Find out more about what’s going on with all that in my chat with @plusoneexp.bsky.social
And we keep pulling more people into the maelstrom.
Find out more about what’s going on with all that in my chat with @plusoneexp.bsky.social
Interview with Mike Martens
Mike Martens is the creator of holiday games The Wassailing of Claus Manor and Black Mold of Claus Manor, as well as the upcoming Tourist Hole. Hi Mike, thanks for talking with us today! Let’s jump ri...
plusoneexp.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:37 PM
We made a game where everything wretched about the holidays and everything joyful about them smooch under a mistletoe of horror.
And we keep pulling more people into the maelstrom.
Find out more about what’s going on with all that in my chat with @plusoneexp.bsky.social
And we keep pulling more people into the maelstrom.
Find out more about what’s going on with all that in my chat with @plusoneexp.bsky.social
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
planning a zine quest project? does it have words and sentences? is it a game, an adventure, or both? i'm available in 2026 for new editing projects, so hire me to make you sound good! feel free to get in touch here or elsewhere to chat about what i can do for your project.
November 10, 2025 at 2:52 PM
planning a zine quest project? does it have words and sentences? is it a game, an adventure, or both? i'm available in 2026 for new editing projects, so hire me to make you sound good! feel free to get in touch here or elsewhere to chat about what i can do for your project.
We're out here getting hit with tear gas, losing our jobs, depleting our funds … and every time we push the line an inch, some critical portion of our leaders drop it.
The work of the people is not for a politician's comfort. And no politician should feel comfortable betraying that work.
The work of the people is not for a politician's comfort. And no politician should feel comfortable betraying that work.
Chris Murphy: "There will be pretty substantial damage to a Dem brand that has been rehabilitated if on the heels of an election in which the people told us to keep fighting, we immediately stop... if we surrender without having gotten anything, I worry it'll be hard to get them back up off the mat"
November 10, 2025 at 4:20 AM
We're out here getting hit with tear gas, losing our jobs, depleting our funds … and every time we push the line an inch, some critical portion of our leaders drop it.
The work of the people is not for a politician's comfort. And no politician should feel comfortable betraying that work.
The work of the people is not for a politician's comfort. And no politician should feel comfortable betraying that work.
I'm pulling some of Jason's ideas for TLR into the campaign finale for Planet Raygun …
Once they find out where the players are going, GMs/keepers are going to be DESPERATE to see it through to the conclusion.
BIG. EPIC. DRAMA.
Once they find out where the players are going, GMs/keepers are going to be DESPERATE to see it through to the conclusion.
BIG. EPIC. DRAMA.
I can't even begin to tell you how The Lands Remaining burns in my brain—it's a blaze of creativity I have to find ways to contain, to shape. It's going to be the biggest paradigm shift I've created in the space since Brindlewood Bay. I feel it with a bone-deep certainty.
November 9, 2025 at 10:48 PM
I'm pulling some of Jason's ideas for TLR into the campaign finale for Planet Raygun …
Once they find out where the players are going, GMs/keepers are going to be DESPERATE to see it through to the conclusion.
BIG. EPIC. DRAMA.
Once they find out where the players are going, GMs/keepers are going to be DESPERATE to see it through to the conclusion.
BIG. EPIC. DRAMA.
I am sorry. I know this is your whole feed right now.
And I'm weak.
And I'm weak.
November 9, 2025 at 4:40 PM
I am sorry. I know this is your whole feed right now.
And I'm weak.
And I'm weak.
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Final sticker pkg for my Patreons this month. (Please note jumping on this tier now will get you on the mailing list for the Dec pack.)
October 28, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Final sticker pkg for my Patreons this month. (Please note jumping on this tier now will get you on the mailing list for the Dec pack.)
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
Woodcut print by Eline Brontsema, Blue Swimming Hall , Fincknsteinallee 2024. Size 67.8 x 51 cm.
October 29, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Woodcut print by Eline Brontsema, Blue Swimming Hall , Fincknsteinallee 2024. Size 67.8 x 51 cm.
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
I have been told by many physicists that a game which powers itself is an impossibility.
“Christ, fella. Read a law of thermodynamics or two,” they chortle through their towering ivory teeth as they high-five each other.
Well, we stand here today with new evidence that Science is fools.
“Christ, fella. Read a law of thermodynamics or two,” they chortle through their towering ivory teeth as they high-five each other.
Well, we stand here today with new evidence that Science is fools.
Does anyone know what system this Apocalypse World game runs on?
I’m seeing it everywhere.
I’m seeing it everywhere.
a close up of a woman 's face with a disney logo on the bottom right
Alt: a close up of a woman 's face with a disney logo on the bottom right
media.tenor.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:31 PM
I have been told by many physicists that a game which powers itself is an impossibility.
“Christ, fella. Read a law of thermodynamics or two,” they chortle through their towering ivory teeth as they high-five each other.
Well, we stand here today with new evidence that Science is fools.
“Christ, fella. Read a law of thermodynamics or two,” they chortle through their towering ivory teeth as they high-five each other.
Well, we stand here today with new evidence that Science is fools.
Reposted by Mike Martens | Clear Keep
SeCrEt KnOwLeDgE
peer inside the MIND of a DESIGNER who didn't want to say WHAT THEIR GAME MEANNNNT
peer inside the MIND of a DESIGNER who didn't want to say WHAT THEIR GAME MEANNNNT
Tourist Hole curious?
@plusoneexp.bsky.social had me hop on stream to walk through the mechanics, their intent, and probably as much as you’ll ever hear from me on what the game is actually about.
@plusoneexp.bsky.social had me hop on stream to walk through the mechanics, their intent, and probably as much as you’ll ever hear from me on what the game is actually about.
Tourist Hole: Procedures at Play
YouTube video by Plus One Exp
www.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:24 PM
SeCrEt KnOwLeDgE
peer inside the MIND of a DESIGNER who didn't want to say WHAT THEIR GAME MEANNNNT
peer inside the MIND of a DESIGNER who didn't want to say WHAT THEIR GAME MEANNNNT
Cut that into a commercial:
“Trump doesn’t care if the people closest to him fall. Why do you think he cares if you do?”
“Trump doesn’t care if the people closest to him fall. Why do you think he cares if you do?”
holy shit -- one of Trump's toadies just passed out and the White House event is brought to an abrupt end
November 6, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Cut that into a commercial:
“Trump doesn’t care if the people closest to him fall. Why do you think he cares if you do?”
“Trump doesn’t care if the people closest to him fall. Why do you think he cares if you do?”
Tourist Hole curious?
@plusoneexp.bsky.social had me hop on stream to walk through the mechanics, their intent, and probably as much as you’ll ever hear from me on what the game is actually about.
@plusoneexp.bsky.social had me hop on stream to walk through the mechanics, their intent, and probably as much as you’ll ever hear from me on what the game is actually about.
Tourist Hole: Procedures at Play
YouTube video by Plus One Exp
www.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Tourist Hole curious?
@plusoneexp.bsky.social had me hop on stream to walk through the mechanics, their intent, and probably as much as you’ll ever hear from me on what the game is actually about.
@plusoneexp.bsky.social had me hop on stream to walk through the mechanics, their intent, and probably as much as you’ll ever hear from me on what the game is actually about.