Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
@glenatron.bsky.social
GM and producer and music composer for Crudely Drawn Swords, lead guitarist for The Patient Wild, Game Designer for The Hallowed Walk and Trilogy, Programmer, Horse Trainer, dork-ass-loser and now apparently novelist?
Pinned
I've picked up some followers lately so I'll do a new intro post - for many years I ran a very funny epic fantasy podcast called Crudely Drawn Swords, which you can listen to right now. I'm also a musician, programmer, game designer, horse trainer and apparently now novelist? I'm learning to draw.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
Great take from Stew on how Star Wars, even in its moments of frustrating failure, understands both evil & our failure to tackle it.
Why, annoyingly, I had to reassess Star Wars’ villains
I'm well attested as to having hated The Phantom Menace, well the entire prequel trilogy, and to having been incandescent with rage at Rise of Skywalker's racist, misogynistic bullshit. I'm pretty clear too that The Force Awakens took a turn…
I'm well attested as to having hated The Phantom Menace, well the entire prequel trilogy, and to having been incandescent with rage at Rise of Skywalker's racist, misogynistic bullshit. I'm pretty clear too that The Force Awakens took a turn…
Why, annoyingly, I had to reassess Star Wars’ villains
I'm well attested as to having hated The Phantom Menace, well the entire prequel trilogy, and to having been incandescent with rage at Rise of Skywalker's racist, misogynistic bullshit. I'm pretty clear too that The Force Awakens took a turn far too far into fan service and nostalgia rather than seeking to reinvent the story for a new generation with new ideas and challenges.
stewarthotston.com
February 10, 2026 at 8:27 AM
Great take from Stew on how Star Wars, even in its moments of frustrating failure, understands both evil & our failure to tackle it.
@guitarmoog.bsky.social If you haven't run into it already you might enjoy this bit of ridiculous guitar engineering: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueCO...
Magnetically hovering guitar strings (sounds unreal)
YouTube video by Mattias Krantz
www.youtube.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:52 PM
@guitarmoog.bsky.social If you haven't run into it already you might enjoy this bit of ridiculous guitar engineering: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueCO...
Remembering that one time that I wrote a visual novel, did all the artwork and composed the music for it, then released it so anybody could play it online (or download it) for free: bridlewise.itch.io/tatterdemalion
Tatterdemalion by bridlewise
An isekai love story created for the Yuri Game Jam 2025
bridlewise.itch.io
February 9, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Remembering that one time that I wrote a visual novel, did all the artwork and composed the music for it, then released it so anybody could play it online (or download it) for free: bridlewise.itch.io/tatterdemalion
February 9, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
This is incredibly funny to try because even if it *was* true, then it would mean Streeting was defending Mandleson in September for the love of the game.
February 9, 2026 at 7:05 PM
This is incredibly funny to try because even if it *was* true, then it would mean Streeting was defending Mandleson in September for the love of the game.
It's nice that when something works half the time you can say "it works 50/50" and "it works so-so" and mean basically the same thing.
February 9, 2026 at 4:21 PM
It's nice that when something works half the time you can say "it works 50/50" and "it works so-so" and mean basically the same thing.
In fairness to the Keir Starmer he is essentially a perfectly blank slate with neither ideas, nor beliefs, nor convictions. Like a computer without an operating system. Whatever new advisors are appointed for him will effectively be a new prime minister.
BREAKING: Keir Starmer is not resigning and will be 'concentrating on the job in hand', Downing Street has said
His mood this morning has been described as 'upbeat' and 'confident'
His mood this morning has been described as 'upbeat' and 'confident'
February 9, 2026 at 1:24 PM
In fairness to the Keir Starmer he is essentially a perfectly blank slate with neither ideas, nor beliefs, nor convictions. Like a computer without an operating system. Whatever new advisors are appointed for him will effectively be a new prime minister.
Spring is coming. It may not feel like it yet, but it is.
February 9, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Spring is coming. It may not feel like it yet, but it is.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
Here i thought i will be submitting late because of blackouts, but by a lucky chance here we go! It is indeed #SecretSamol time.
In Nievelmarch straight up bruegeling it. And by it... the holiday season of course.
Happy Secret Samol @kirbykrakle.bsky.social
In Nievelmarch straight up bruegeling it. And by it... the holiday season of course.
Happy Secret Samol @kirbykrakle.bsky.social
February 9, 2026 at 4:16 AM
Here i thought i will be submitting late because of blackouts, but by a lucky chance here we go! It is indeed #SecretSamol time.
In Nievelmarch straight up bruegeling it. And by it... the holiday season of course.
Happy Secret Samol @kirbykrakle.bsky.social
In Nievelmarch straight up bruegeling it. And by it... the holiday season of course.
Happy Secret Samol @kirbykrakle.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
Now the King's Evil Counsellor is deposed we shall be govern'd well.
February 8, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Now the King's Evil Counsellor is deposed we shall be govern'd well.
Happy #SecretSamol to Ocean1212w (not of this parish) who suggested Marn being rude to someone. This was the first year i felt confident enough in my art to do a painting from the very beginning of Sangfielle. The sepia feels more in-setting but I was pleased with the colours.
February 9, 2026 at 9:39 AM
Happy #SecretSamol to Ocean1212w (not of this parish) who suggested Marn being rude to someone. This was the first year i felt confident enough in my art to do a painting from the very beginning of Sangfielle. The sepia feels more in-setting but I was pleased with the colours.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
This is my third year of #secretsamol, my first year not getting a prompt for Lyke, and my most ambitious project so far. Thanks to @glenatron.bsky.social for the Perpetua prompt ‘where the star fell,’ which allowed me to spend a lot of time looking at images of both stars and swamps.
February 9, 2026 at 5:26 AM
This is my third year of #secretsamol, my first year not getting a prompt for Lyke, and my most ambitious project so far. Thanks to @glenatron.bsky.social for the Perpetua prompt ‘where the star fell,’ which allowed me to spend a lot of time looking at images of both stars and swamps.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
Second time in 3 days I’m posting this Vonnegut quote wrt AI.
February 8, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Second time in 3 days I’m posting this Vonnegut quote wrt AI.
Saturday sward!
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 7th 2026 (Tricky), in less than 8 minutes
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cluesbysam.com
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 7th 2026 (Tricky), in less than 8 minutes
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cluesbysam.com
Clues by Sam
A daily logic puzzle where you deduce who is a criminal!
cluesbysam.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Saturday sward!
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 7th 2026 (Tricky), in less than 8 minutes
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cluesbysam.com
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 7th 2026 (Tricky), in less than 8 minutes
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cluesbysam.com
This is exactly it. I rediscovered drawing a few years ago and I've got so much better just by doing it. No talent involved, the trick is to enjoy things while you're bad at them. The only difference between the two pictures in this skeet is time and practice: bsky.app/profile/glen...
I've found that often "talent" is just "something to which this person was exposed early in life, so it comes a little easier when they start actually working on it." Because the body remembers. But you can still develop a skill at which you're not "talented" if you put in the work.
I'm going to say this again in case you haven't heard this one: I was a talented writer and it did *nothing whatsoever* because I hadn't put in the work, and I put in the work for ten years (subtracting the bit where I had to quit for my mental health) to write Witchmark
talent alone could *never*
talent alone could *never*
February 7, 2026 at 4:09 PM
This is exactly it. I rediscovered drawing a few years ago and I've got so much better just by doing it. No talent involved, the trick is to enjoy things while you're bad at them. The only difference between the two pictures in this skeet is time and practice: bsky.app/profile/glen...
#PretendPanel The Redstone Rescue is an explicitly political book: part of my goal in creating the setting was to show that one could have a country in a low-technology fantasy setting that was more equable and more just than the one I live in. I have read too many dystopias,I need hope.
I'm breaking the rule of not bringing up politics, #pretendpanel! Still, I think it's important to think about it in our writing.
February 7th: How much has real world politics had an impact on your writing, or do you avoid that like the plague?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
February 7th: How much has real world politics had an impact on your writing, or do you avoid that like the plague?
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
February 7, 2026 at 3:54 PM
#PretendPanel The Redstone Rescue is an explicitly political book: part of my goal in creating the setting was to show that one could have a country in a low-technology fantasy setting that was more equable and more just than the one I live in. I have read too many dystopias,I need hope.
Working on my figure drawing, just repeatedly sketching the same reference and testing my accuracy until I'm mostly correct, and thinking about my horsemanship teacher saying "don't practice until you get it right, practice until you can't get it wrong."
February 7, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Working on my figure drawing, just repeatedly sketching the same reference and testing my accuracy until I'm mostly correct, and thinking about my horsemanship teacher saying "don't practice until you get it right, practice until you can't get it wrong."
Realising that my Bandcamp Friday purchases yesterday Mark me out as the old man that I clearly am - only one from this year and one is from 2024! I can't pretend to be up to date if I only buy music from the old days.
February 7, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Realising that my Bandcamp Friday purchases yesterday Mark me out as the old man that I clearly am - only one from this year and one is from 2024! I can't pretend to be up to date if I only buy music from the old days.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
In these dark days of February, a little something to look forward to.
February 7, 2026 at 6:42 AM
In these dark days of February, a little something to look forward to.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
My biggest #BandcampFriday recommendation today is Mollusca with their brilliant, upbeat, very gay pop-rock. This album cheers me up every time I put it on:
molluscaband.bandcamp.com/album/sedate...
molluscaband.bandcamp.com/album/sedate...
SEDATE ME!, by Mollusca
9 track album
molluscaband.bandcamp.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:30 PM
My biggest #BandcampFriday recommendation today is Mollusca with their brilliant, upbeat, very gay pop-rock. This album cheers me up every time I put it on:
molluscaband.bandcamp.com/album/sedate...
molluscaband.bandcamp.com/album/sedate...
My biggest #BandcampFriday recommendation today is Mollusca with their brilliant, upbeat, very gay pop-rock. This album cheers me up every time I put it on:
molluscaband.bandcamp.com/album/sedate...
molluscaband.bandcamp.com/album/sedate...
SEDATE ME!, by Mollusca
9 track album
molluscaband.bandcamp.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:30 PM
My biggest #BandcampFriday recommendation today is Mollusca with their brilliant, upbeat, very gay pop-rock. This album cheers me up every time I put it on:
molluscaband.bandcamp.com/album/sedate...
molluscaband.bandcamp.com/album/sedate...
It's #BandcampFriday which means if you download any of my music for free I will get all the money you don't spend!
crudely-formed-chords.bandcamp.com/album/to-res...
crudely-formed-chords.bandcamp.com/album/to-res...
To Reshape The World: Crudely Drawn Swords Season 4 OST, by Ben Moxon
33 track album
crudely-formed-chords.bandcamp.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:17 PM
It's #BandcampFriday which means if you download any of my music for free I will get all the money you don't spend!
crudely-formed-chords.bandcamp.com/album/to-res...
crudely-formed-chords.bandcamp.com/album/to-res...
ADHD update: No, whales do not yawn.
February 6, 2026 at 11:25 AM
ADHD update: No, whales do not yawn.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
From this week’s Beano.
August 28, 2025 at 10:28 AM
From this week’s Beano.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
My replies to a pro-Starmer "well what kind of standard *should* we hold the prime minister to?" type post suggest that maybe being furiously angry about British politics for the whole of my forties has left me deranged.
I think the basic standard we need is someone who can tie their own shoelaces without tying their own feet together, falling down the stairs, rolling out of the front door and into the path of traffic and getting run over by an extremely slow moving clown car.
It's been fifteen years at least.
It's been fifteen years at least.
February 5, 2026 at 11:17 AM
My replies to a pro-Starmer "well what kind of standard *should* we hold the prime minister to?" type post suggest that maybe being furiously angry about British politics for the whole of my forties has left me deranged.