Nic Cresswell.
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tw0fish.bsky.social
Nic Cresswell.
@tw0fish.bsky.social
Freelance 3D/Games Artist.
Indie Dev.
DM's open & always happy to chat.
I'm apparently still no better at knowing when #PortfolioDay is coming around again or what I'd included in my last one.

But at least this time I know there's new stuff to post! So, I'll take that as a win, haha! :D
January 13, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Welcome back artists!🖌🎨✨️🍾

Quote Post with an old piece that you still like!
December 27, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Following in the wake of the 'Roller Stamp' I designed recently, comes my take on the Inkwell and Quill. Featuring a button activated inkwell with ink application, a rolling quill tip and a sealed bottle of orange ink. #b3d #substancepainter #gamedev #gameart #indiedev
December 22, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Here's the stamp in engine doing its thing! Albeit in a very rudimentary way. xD

2/2

#UE5 #gamedev #indiedev #gameart
October 24, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Even in the lands of fantasy, the humble stamp is still the bedrock of bureaucracy. From the banality of delivery receipts to the edicts of nations, they all receive a mark in one form or another. See next post for it in action!

1/2

#substancepainter #b3d #gameart #indiedev
October 24, 2025 at 7:46 PM
A Cinnabar Moth. :D
September 24, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Action cards, at a base level, are broken down into two categories. Immediate and Persistent. The former are played from the hand while the latter are played onto the board. In this example, the persistent card modifies trade values and gains tokens for a cost. #indiedev #gamedev #UE5

9.2/n
August 23, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Action Cards (thematic name TBD) are one of the ways players can circumnavigate difficult situations or gain beneficial outcomes. The primary means of drawing cards is by expending resources when docked at a port. #indiedev #gamedev #UE5

9.1/n
August 23, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Each contract comes with a route, a port list that acts as a turn limit for completion. Players can choose to end a turn at any point, but must be careful not to overstay or overspend resources, but also not to rush. It will also reduce naval pursuit when clearing the board. #indiedev #gamedev

8/n
August 15, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Telescoping board pieces (more than a little inspired by the GoT opening sequence) are an excellent way to get bigger assets on the board within the limited room of the rotating hex tiles. An airship tower for trading with any port and a black market haven for contraband.
#indiedev #gamedev #UE5
7/n
August 12, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Many of the actions the player can take, as well as events that occur have a chance of drawing the attention of the navy. Needing some way to represent this I've added a "pursuit track" to the outer ring. The red peg denotes the distance between you and them. #indiedev #gamedev #UE5

6/n
August 10, 2025 at 7:31 PM
If the current board isn't giving you what you need you can always choose to chart a course to somewhere new. Either to open up a more beneficial trade route or possibly gain access to some other functions that will aid you in your endeavour. #gamedev #indiedev #UE5

5/n
August 7, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Points Of Interest, represented by a "?" at the rear of a port, are minor excursions the player can choose to take. Small narrative vignettes that can yield a variety of outcomes.

The system is a little crude at the moment, but at least it's functioning!

#indiedev #gamedev #UE5

4/n
August 5, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Now you've arrived at a new port, what's next?! Trading, that's what!

Basic trading is limited to adjacent ports, beginning at the one the player is docked at. However there will be means of extending beyond these limits, as well as elements that ignore them completely. #indiedev #gamedev #UE5
3/n
August 3, 2025 at 3:28 PM
A key part of any mercantile endeavour, legitimate or otherwise, is travel. Short distances are largely uneventful, but intend to travel to further harbours and you best steel yourself for the unexpected along the way. In this case, the good fortune of free loot. #indiedev #gamedev #UE5

2/n
August 2, 2025 at 7:52 PM
A new (to here) project, a new thread. The best way I can describe it is as a mash up of some CYOA narrative, tabletop boardgaming, strategy, a little buccaneering, exploring and trading. All while trying to stay one step ahead of the navy on the path to fortune and glory! #indiedev #gamedev

1/n
August 2, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Having hit a wall(s) with my recent project, I decided to switch focus back to my other one. A benefit of multiple projects is always having something to make progress in or feel motivated about. A downside is the more time away the more you want to update with new things learned. #indiedev #gamedev
August 2, 2025 at 6:04 PM
If you see this, post your blue art 💙
July 22, 2025 at 8:59 AM
An assortment of randomly selected images from the library that occupies most of my phone space. :D
July 10, 2025 at 7:10 PM
It's gold now! Looking significantly less like medication too, haha!

Next is a second coat of gold and then weathering/aging.

If all goes well on this small test, I might formulate an actual plan and make some more stuff.
July 10, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Happy #PortfolioDay !

I've recently been spending a lot of time prototyping something in #UE5 (see pinned thread if interested!), so the art side of things has been a little slow of late.

Though hopefully something new is on the way soon!
July 8, 2025 at 10:12 AM
I found some air-dry clay when looking for something else and decided to test if it was still good with a little "coin". So after fashioning a crude tool from a ruler, sandpaper and masking tape, I set about it once dry. Next step, paint.

Now I can be bad in 3D, both digitally and physically! xD
July 7, 2025 at 5:46 PM
It's almost like he somehow knew he was being talked about.
July 2, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Seems like my cat has decided to enact a very similar plan.
July 2, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Gameplay is still the primary focus, but staring at grey assets takes its toll. So I thought I'd take a small break to see if I can remember how to do anything artistic, haha. It may still be grey right now, but I'm quite pleased by the half-tooth gear movement. #UE5 #gamedev #indiedev

15/n
June 25, 2025 at 3:24 PM