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.
I just finished the first school year at Garreg Mach and Three Houses has got its hooks in deep. I don't think I've ever been more engaged with a game on so many levels. The story, the strategy, the characters, even the mini-games are all so much fun. Brilliant stuff.
February 5, 2026 at 12:39 AM
I just finished the first school year at Garreg Mach and Three Houses has got its hooks in deep. I don't think I've ever been more engaged with a game on so many levels. The story, the strategy, the characters, even the mini-games are all so much fun. Brilliant stuff.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
Honestly, would love some work.
Apart from regular art commissions in the quoted post, I also do mixed media/photo collage images/book covers.
Three for own projects and the forth is the first draft for a published cover (it went through some changes but this is my favourite version.)
Apart from regular art commissions in the quoted post, I also do mixed media/photo collage images/book covers.
Three for own projects and the forth is the first draft for a published cover (it went through some changes but this is my favourite version.)
January 28, 2026 at 12:18 AM
Honestly, would love some work.
Apart from regular art commissions in the quoted post, I also do mixed media/photo collage images/book covers.
Three for own projects and the forth is the first draft for a published cover (it went through some changes but this is my favourite version.)
Apart from regular art commissions in the quoted post, I also do mixed media/photo collage images/book covers.
Three for own projects and the forth is the first draft for a published cover (it went through some changes but this is my favourite version.)
The kind of evening when birds sing and it feels like spring may come after all.
February 4, 2026 at 5:07 PM
The kind of evening when birds sing and it feels like spring may come after all.
If you want a new band with some of the vibes of classic Lush, you should give Softcult a listen. Their debut album just came out and they're pretty great:
softcult.bandcamp.com/album/when-a...
softcult.bandcamp.com/album/when-a...
When A Flower Doesn't Grow, by Softcult
11 track album
softcult.bandcamp.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:33 PM
If you want a new band with some of the vibes of classic Lush, you should give Softcult a listen. Their debut album just came out and they're pretty great:
softcult.bandcamp.com/album/when-a...
softcult.bandcamp.com/album/when-a...
An unforced error here from Starmer, indicating truly awful judgement.
At least it makes a change from all the forced errors indicating truly awful judgement, I suppose.
At least it makes a change from all the forced errors indicating truly awful judgement, I suppose.
NEW: Keir Starmer has admitted that he knew Peter Mandelson had carried on a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein after his paedophilia conviction when he made him US ambassador
The admission came as Starmer confirmed a criminal investigation is taking place at Prime Minister's Questions
The admission came as Starmer confirmed a criminal investigation is taking place at Prime Minister's Questions
February 4, 2026 at 12:43 PM
An unforced error here from Starmer, indicating truly awful judgement.
At least it makes a change from all the forced errors indicating truly awful judgement, I suppose.
At least it makes a change from all the forced errors indicating truly awful judgement, I suppose.
As a song title that tells a story this one's hard to beat: youtu.be/LAom5Y0VIKU?...
(As I song I maybe prefer "The Hopes And Dreams Of Heaven's 10,000 whores" off the same album but this title rules.)
(As I song I maybe prefer "The Hopes And Dreams Of Heaven's 10,000 whores" off the same album but this title rules.)
February 4, 2026 at 10:09 AM
As a song title that tells a story this one's hard to beat: youtu.be/LAom5Y0VIKU?...
(As I song I maybe prefer "The Hopes And Dreams Of Heaven's 10,000 whores" off the same album but this title rules.)
(As I song I maybe prefer "The Hopes And Dreams Of Heaven's 10,000 whores" off the same album but this title rules.)
Wednesday greensward! There was even a sleuth called Ben today.
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 4th 2026 (Medium), in 04:39
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cluesbysam.com
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 4th 2026 (Medium), in 04:39
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cluesbysam.com
Clues by Sam
A daily logic puzzle where you deduce who is a criminal!
cluesbysam.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Wednesday greensward! There was even a sleuth called Ben today.
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 4th 2026 (Medium), in 04:39
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cluesbysam.com
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 4th 2026 (Medium), in 04:39
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cluesbysam.com
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
New book day, and I already got a lovely review from the Womble!
"All That Is In The Earth is a novella that shifts shape and direction several times and asks the reader some much more interesting questions than you would initially expect."
"All That Is In The Earth is a novella that shifts shape and direction several times and asks the reader some much more interesting questions than you would initially expect."
New Review - happy publication day to All That Is In The Earth by @aknighton.bsky.social a trip to a deadly planet also asks questions about why we do what we do! Strongly recommended thanks to @lunapress.bsky.social www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2026/2/...
All That Is In The Earth By Andrew Knighton — Runalong The Shelves
I would like to thank Luna Press Publishing for an advance copy of this novella in exchange for a fair and honest review Publisher – Luna Press Publishing Published – Out Now Price – £10.66 p...
www.runalongtheshelves.net
February 3, 2026 at 8:08 AM
New book day, and I already got a lovely review from the Womble!
"All That Is In The Earth is a novella that shifts shape and direction several times and asks the reader some much more interesting questions than you would initially expect."
"All That Is In The Earth is a novella that shifts shape and direction several times and asks the reader some much more interesting questions than you would initially expect."
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
The misery of having ownership of a JavaScript application and not having a spare two days every week to perform the rewrites required because each library you use keeps being upgraded in exciting move-fast-and-break-things non-backwards-compatible ways.
February 2, 2026 at 9:30 PM
The misery of having ownership of a JavaScript application and not having a spare two days every week to perform the rewrites required because each library you use keeps being upgraded in exciting move-fast-and-break-things non-backwards-compatible ways.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
It's all go at the moment. My standalone Arthurian novel, The Cleaving, is a frankly incredible price this week from Amazon. This explores the familiar story from the perspective of the women involved. You have until Friday to grab it!
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B96NL726/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B96NL726/
February 2, 2026 at 5:38 PM
It's all go at the moment. My standalone Arthurian novel, The Cleaving, is a frankly incredible price this week from Amazon. This explores the familiar story from the perspective of the women involved. You have until Friday to grab it!
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B96NL726/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B96NL726/
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
a country that wishes to continue as a going concern should always assume that anyone so wealthy that the state is the only entity large enough to even attempt to constrain him will naturally begin seeking to destroy the country
February 3, 2026 at 8:18 AM
a country that wishes to continue as a going concern should always assume that anyone so wealthy that the state is the only entity large enough to even attempt to constrain him will naturally begin seeking to destroy the country
If, for whatever reason, you do want to think about Neil Gaiman, this very long and consistently fascinating read explores his background and goes in depth on Sandman and on patterns in his life and behaviour. www.eruditorumpress.com/blog/the-cud...
The Cuddled Little Vice (Sandman)
Previously in The Last War in Albion: Alan Moore wrote Watchmen, which, for complicated reasons involving William S. Burroughs and the weak nuclear force, ended the Cold War and replaced it with a mag...
www.eruditorumpress.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:46 PM
If, for whatever reason, you do want to think about Neil Gaiman, this very long and consistently fascinating read explores his background and goes in depth on Sandman and on patterns in his life and behaviour. www.eruditorumpress.com/blog/the-cud...
The misery of having ownership of a JavaScript application and not having a spare two days every week to perform the rewrites required because each library you use keeps being upgraded in exciting move-fast-and-break-things non-backwards-compatible ways.
February 2, 2026 at 9:30 PM
The misery of having ownership of a JavaScript application and not having a spare two days every week to perform the rewrites required because each library you use keeps being upgraded in exciting move-fast-and-break-things non-backwards-compatible ways.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
If you ever see a cat in public it is your civic duty to assist that cat with whatever matters it is currently engaged in, regardless of legality or personal financial cost
February 2, 2026 at 1:00 PM
If you ever see a cat in public it is your civic duty to assist that cat with whatever matters it is currently engaged in, regardless of legality or personal financial cost
The number of people who don't understand that Chapell Roan's dress was a dress is amusing yet disappointing. Perhaps the era of CGI has left many of us incredibly susceptible to simple physical effects.
February 2, 2026 at 3:41 PM
The number of people who don't understand that Chapell Roan's dress was a dress is amusing yet disappointing. Perhaps the era of CGI has left many of us incredibly susceptible to simple physical effects.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
It's rare to see how lobbyists operate. But the Epstein-Mandelson correspondence shows us what happens all the time: plutocrats and government ministers conspiring against the public interest. This is why all lobbying should be in the public domain, but despite Labour and Con promises, it's not. 🧵
February 2, 2026 at 8:20 AM
It's rare to see how lobbyists operate. But the Epstein-Mandelson correspondence shows us what happens all the time: plutocrats and government ministers conspiring against the public interest. This is why all lobbying should be in the public domain, but despite Labour and Con promises, it's not. 🧵
We just need an Epstein-Wakefield connection to complete the set.
February 2, 2026 at 9:56 AM
We just need an Epstein-Wakefield connection to complete the set.
A small muddy graceful creature that smells like the bottom of a pond.
February 1, 2026 at 8:49 PM
A small muddy graceful creature that smells like the bottom of a pond.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
Thinking about whoever said that by accepting a meal from people and then arresting them ICE agents broke a cultural taboo that was invented by, like, the first humans to set up a tent
February 1, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Thinking about whoever said that by accepting a meal from people and then arresting them ICE agents broke a cultural taboo that was invented by, like, the first humans to set up a tent
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
You might have noticed I've stopped really commenting on or reposting any of The Things That Are Happening. It's not because I don't care, it's because I know you've seen it all.
BUT THIS IS DOING MY NUT
EVERYTHING I'VE DISLIKED IN THE LAST 15 YEARS HAS BEEN THIS ONE THING??! THIS IS ASTONISHING
BUT THIS IS DOING MY NUT
EVERYTHING I'VE DISLIKED IN THE LAST 15 YEARS HAS BEEN THIS ONE THING??! THIS IS ASTONISHING
We risk overestimating his influence with all this, but it's wild that he seems to come in contact with the worst people in the English-speaking world just before they make the most anti-human decisions of their lives.
“Notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein played a role in convincing Bobby Kotick to embrace loot boxes, essentially gambling for children” what is this sentence, what is this world
February 1, 2026 at 1:20 PM
You might have noticed I've stopped really commenting on or reposting any of The Things That Are Happening. It's not because I don't care, it's because I know you've seen it all.
BUT THIS IS DOING MY NUT
EVERYTHING I'VE DISLIKED IN THE LAST 15 YEARS HAS BEEN THIS ONE THING??! THIS IS ASTONISHING
BUT THIS IS DOING MY NUT
EVERYTHING I'VE DISLIKED IN THE LAST 15 YEARS HAS BEEN THIS ONE THING??! THIS IS ASTONISHING
Sunday sward!
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 1st 2026 (Hard), in less than 9 minutes
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cluesbysam.com
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 1st 2026 (Hard), in less than 9 minutes
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cluesbysam.com
February 1, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Sunday sward!
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 1st 2026 (Hard), in less than 9 minutes
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cluesbysam.com
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Feb 1st 2026 (Hard), in less than 9 minutes
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cluesbysam.com
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
You can test new tech ideas using the Seinfeld Test
Would the product eliminate the plot of an episode? (Google maps, cell phones, paypal, battery packs)
Good tech.
Would the product inspire new Seinfeld plots? (NFTs, AI chatbots, crypto currency, blindboxes, metaverse land sales)
Bad tech.
Would the product eliminate the plot of an episode? (Google maps, cell phones, paypal, battery packs)
Good tech.
Would the product inspire new Seinfeld plots? (NFTs, AI chatbots, crypto currency, blindboxes, metaverse land sales)
Bad tech.
January 31, 2026 at 6:57 AM
You can test new tech ideas using the Seinfeld Test
Would the product eliminate the plot of an episode? (Google maps, cell phones, paypal, battery packs)
Good tech.
Would the product inspire new Seinfeld plots? (NFTs, AI chatbots, crypto currency, blindboxes, metaverse land sales)
Bad tech.
Would the product eliminate the plot of an episode? (Google maps, cell phones, paypal, battery packs)
Good tech.
Would the product inspire new Seinfeld plots? (NFTs, AI chatbots, crypto currency, blindboxes, metaverse land sales)
Bad tech.
We watched this today and it made me think a) I like when they made films in places rather than just green boxes and b) Kiefer Sutherland in this is 100% the prototype for Ewan McGregor's Obi-wan.
It's a silly, fun, old-school swashbuckler.
It's a silly, fun, old-school swashbuckler.
You know what, if you're feeling a bit down in the dumps, the 1990s Disney Three Musketeers with Charlie Sheen and Kiefer Sutherland and all that lot is actually a damn good watch
January 31, 2026 at 9:59 PM
We watched this today and it made me think a) I like when they made films in places rather than just green boxes and b) Kiefer Sutherland in this is 100% the prototype for Ewan McGregor's Obi-wan.
It's a silly, fun, old-school swashbuckler.
It's a silly, fun, old-school swashbuckler.
This is my favourite romance novel, no question.
January 31, 2026 at 9:55 PM
This is my favourite romance novel, no question.
Supposed to be teaching a lesson with my friend and her mare today when her horrible baby appeared through the hedge of the neighbours' field so I retrieved him and the rest of the lesson was combined with supervising baby.
January 31, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Supposed to be teaching a lesson with my friend and her mare today when her horrible baby appeared through the hedge of the neighbours' field so I retrieved him and the rest of the lesson was combined with supervising baby.