Michael R. Underwood

Mike Underwood (they/he) is a award-winning game designer, author, and midwest princex. Writing as Michael R. Underwood, their works of fiction include space opera Annihilation Aria, the Ree Reyes Geekomancy books, the Stabby Award-finalist Genrenauts series, and Born to the Blade (written with Malka Older, Cassandra Khaw, and Marie Brennan).

Mike was an Additional Designer on the Daggerheart Core Rulebook from Critical Role's Darrington Press and is a leading creator of Daggerheart-compatible material. Mike is a 3x Gold ENNIE award winner for their work on Daggerheart Core and Daggerheart Quickstart Adventure: the Sablewood Messengers. Mike was a Design Consultant on Candela Obscura and provided additional writing for the game. They're currently the Lead Designer of the Dungeons of Drakkenheim Daggerheart Campaign Guide as well as developing Let's Go Steal an Ending, a Forged in the Dark ttrpg based on their Genrenauts series as well as Hope Dies Last, a triptych of Daggerheart-compatible campaign frames.

They've been a bookseller, sales representative, and were the North American Sales & Marketing Manager for Angry Robot Books (2012-2018). They were a co-host of the actual play show Speculate! From 2015-2023) and a guest host on the Hugo Award-finalist The Skiffy and Fanty Show. They're one of the organizers of the Tabletop Arts Fund and co-founded the Bag of Giving charity actual play series.

Mike lives in Chicago with their wife and an ever-growing library. He also loves geeking out with games of all sorts and searching for the perfect pizza pie.