Michael R. Underwood (Mike)
@mikerunderwood.bsky.social
4K followers 1.3K following 1.1K posts
They/he. Trans & non-binary Midwest Princex. Author (Annihilation Aria, Geekomancy, Genrenauts, etc). Hugo & Stabby-Award finalist. Game designer (Daggerheart, Candela Obscura, Let's Go Steal an Ending: the Genrenauts rpg) https://linktr.ee/mikerunderwood
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mikerunderwood.bsky.social
New introduction:

I write science fiction and fantasy as Michael R. Underwood (Genrenauts, Geekomancy, etc.) do game design as Mike Underwood (currently: Daggerheart), and I'm developing a new actual play show.

Previously, I was a cohost of @speculate.bsky.social and @skiffyandfanty.bsky.social.
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
Live now! Settle in for a fun chat about adventure design for use with Daggerheart. What's the balance between structure and flexibility for a game built to support player agency and improvisation? Let's talk about it. <3
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
This afternoon I'll be streaming with my evolving thoughts about designing an adventure for use with Daggerheart, including a preview of a Witherwild module I am working on to be published down the road.

Twitch.tv/turbotango at 1pm EDT, on YouTube tomorrow morning.
Promotional graphic for a Twitch stream.

Image: A giant mutli-armed creature with glowing blue-green lines running around joints and glowing eyes looms over a figure with a staff and a cloak.

The Darrington Press Community Gaming License logo (a potion bottle with blue flames) at top left.

Text - in golden glowing yellow caps at top center says "How to Design Adventures"

Text - in glowing blue caps at bottom center says "For Daggerheart"
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
I'll be coming in hot, fresh off of lunch and a shower, but I have plenty to share from my WIP adventure.
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
This afternoon I'll be streaming with my evolving thoughts about designing an adventure for use with Daggerheart, including a preview of a Witherwild module I am working on to be published down the road.

Twitch.tv/turbotango at 1pm EDT, on YouTube tomorrow morning.
Promotional graphic for a Twitch stream.

Image: A giant mutli-armed creature with glowing blue-green lines running around joints and glowing eyes looms over a figure with a staff and a cloak.

The Darrington Press Community Gaming License logo (a potion bottle with blue flames) at top left.

Text - in golden glowing yellow caps at top center says "How to Design Adventures"

Text - in glowing blue caps at bottom center says "For Daggerheart"
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
Congrats on the speedy funding and here's to a great rest of the campaign!
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
This afternoon I'll be streaming with my evolving thoughts about designing an adventure for use with Daggerheart, including a preview of a Witherwild module I am working on to be published down the road.

Twitch.tv/turbotango at 1pm EDT, on YouTube tomorrow morning.
Promotional graphic for a Twitch stream.

Image: A giant mutli-armed creature with glowing blue-green lines running around joints and glowing eyes looms over a figure with a staff and a cloak.

The Darrington Press Community Gaming License logo (a potion bottle with blue flames) at top left.

Text - in golden glowing yellow caps at top center says "How to Design Adventures"

Text - in glowing blue caps at bottom center says "For Daggerheart"
Reposted by Michael R. Underwood (Mike)
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
I'm thrilled to share the news that I am Lead Designer for the new Dungeons of Drakkenheim Campaign Guide for Daggerheart!

An official collaboration b/w @dungeondudes.bsky.social, @ghostfiregaming.bsky.social, and Darrington Press.

More in my own words here: www.patreon.com/posts/140655...
Dungeons of Drakkenheim x Daggerheart | Michael R. Underwood
Get more from Michael R. Underwood on Patreon
www.patreon.com
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
Fortunately/unfortunately, it is the one I am most directly involved with!
Reposted by Michael R. Underwood (Mike)
demiplane.com
Together with @roll20.net, we are thrilled to release the FREE #Daggerheart Quickstart Package:

🗡️ Ready-to-play with exclusive maps from @mapdoctor.bsky.social (dynamic lighting + foreground layer!)
🗡️ 50+ tokens, portraits, and landscapes
🗡️ Handouts and more!

Play for free in the reply below! 👇
Daggerheart
Play for Free
New Maps, Quickstart Adventure on the VTT
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
I know that Darrington as a company pledged for at least one of the recent Daggerheart-compatible projects on KS but I am not privy to how they decide what to back/boost.
Reposted by Michael R. Underwood (Mike)
colorblindgames.bsky.social
I'll be joining @mpco.bsky.social later today (4pm PT) to chat about visual accessibility in tabletop games!
mpco.bsky.social
ACCESSIBILITY DESIGN TIP!
Accessible Player Counts Flexible player counts—solo, 2p, scalable—make your game accessible to more groups.

Attend my Design for Accessibility LIVE! on Oct 7th for more tips!
#graphicdesign #boardgames #accessibility
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
Thank you! It's been an amazing process so far. :)
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
I'm thrilled to share the news that I am Lead Designer for the new Dungeons of Drakkenheim Campaign Guide for Daggerheart!

An official collaboration b/w @dungeondudes.bsky.social, @ghostfiregaming.bsky.social, and Darrington Press.

More in my own words here: www.patreon.com/posts/140655...
Dungeons of Drakkenheim x Daggerheart | Michael R. Underwood
Get more from Michael R. Underwood on Patreon
www.patreon.com
Reposted by Michael R. Underwood (Mike)
goosepoopgames.com
BLACK FLIES IS LIVE
Tell your friends, tell your enemies, tell that entity lurking in the basement.

Attract Followers, uncover Omens, seek your Fortune. Turn everyone into flies! 🖤🪰

Back now and receive bonus games and background music if we fund within the first 48 hrs.

ttrpg.link/BlackFlies
Reposted by Michael R. Underwood (Mike)
johannestevans.bsky.social
Monthly Trans & Nonbinary Creators Boost

- Share your fiction, essays, poetry, fanfic, thinkpieces, and other writing below.
- Go into the replies and look for new works to read and share.
- Follow new trans creators and make your feed brighter!

NSFW and erotica welcome.

#WriteSky #BookSky
Trans author? Share your work below!
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
ICYMI:
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
My video on How to Make & Use Social Adversaries in Daggerheart is now up on YouTube, including a live build of a Trickster Spirit, which may be one of my new favorite creations for use with the Daggerheart rules:

youtu.be/u4s42Hl29Bs
How to Make & Use Social Adversaries in Daggerheart
YouTube video by Mike Underwood
youtu.be
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
Fingers crossed for option number one!
Reposted by Michael R. Underwood (Mike)
vynvox.com
Alright, pookies—

We’re looking for #TTRPG / #ActualPlay Channels and News Outlets for Ambition Play and/or coverage.

Unfortunately, it’s a tiiight squeeze, but please let me know if you would be available. And we can get talks rolling, thanks!
thepressbetwixt.itch.io
Ambition launches on Gamefound on October 14th! Join us as over the next month we reveal more and more about what it means to be Ambitious.

ttrpg.link/Ambition

REACH FOR HEAVEN FROM UNDERNEATH

#ambitionttrpg #ttrpg #indiedev #rpg #tarot
Ambition TTRPG Gamefound Trailer
YouTube video by The Press Betwixt
www.youtube.com
Reposted by Michael R. Underwood (Mike)
gwillow.me
In all seriousness, publishers are going to have to figure out how to market books in the post-social-media landscape. That should be an implicit part of their job. What authors/artists can do on their own is increasingly limited and siloed.
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
During the Creature Con panel where I talked about designing adversaries, I created a rough draft of an adversary inspired by the piece "Shrouded Beast" by Tania Herrero, and decided to make an entire group with this theme.

Available for all paid patrons now! www.patreon.com/posts/140292...
"Shrouded Beast", a black and white art piece by Tania Herrero. A skeletal canine creature covered in shadow, with spiky spines along their back.
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
My video on How to Make & Use Social Adversaries in Daggerheart is now up on YouTube, including a live build of a Trickster Spirit, which may be one of my new favorite creations for use with the Daggerheart rules:

youtu.be/u4s42Hl29Bs
How to Make & Use Social Adversaries in Daggerheart
YouTube video by Mike Underwood
youtu.be
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
The Fabula Ultima Kickstarter for the Bestiary and the Celebration Edition of the first four books is going gangbusters, already bursting through several stretch goals. I have my eye on the one that says "The future of Fabula Ultima" 👀

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ndg...
Fabula Ultima TTJRPG Celebration Edition + Bestiary Vol. I
The ENNIE-winning JRPG-inspired tabletop role-playing game levels up with hardback and collector's editions, and the new Bestiary Vol.I
www.kickstarter.com
Reposted by Michael R. Underwood (Mike)
thepressbetwixt.itch.io
Ambition launches on Gamefound on October 14th! Join us as over the next month we reveal more and more about what it means to be Ambitious.

ttrpg.link/Ambition

REACH FOR HEAVEN FROM UNDERNEATH

#ambitionttrpg #ttrpg #indiedev #rpg #tarot
Ambition TTRPG Gamefound Trailer
YouTube video by The Press Betwixt
www.youtube.com
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
Live now! Settle in for a chat about social adversaries, including some live adversary design with chat. <3
mikerunderwood.bsky.social
Today at 1pm EDT, I'll be streaming with my tips and tricks for designing and using social adversaries in Daggerheart!

twitch.tv/turbotango
Promotional graphic for a twitch stream. 

A light-skinned figure with horizontally-pointed ears and flowers in their hair against a mottled white background. The figure wears makeup, has light blond hair, and has flowers in their hair.

At the top left, the Darrington Press Daggerheart Community Gaming License logo - an alchemical bottle with blue flame.

Text: at top center, in glowing gold caps "How to make and use social adversaries"

at bottom center, in glowing blue caps "In Daggerheart"