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.
On the topic of people named Ebenezer, a great man once said: "Naughty, naughty, very naughty."
November 28, 2025 at 11:53 AM
On the topic of people named Ebenezer, a great man once said: "Naughty, naughty, very naughty."
It's Creators' Day on Itch- the ideal opportunity to download my new visual novel, a sapphic romance featuring silly jokes, original art and music by me. If you do, I will receive all of the revenue (the game is free.) bridlewise.itch.io/tatterdemalion
Tatterdemalion by bridlewise
An isekai love story created for the Yuri Game Jam 2025
bridlewise.itch.io
November 28, 2025 at 10:50 AM
It's Creators' Day on Itch- the ideal opportunity to download my new visual novel, a sapphic romance featuring silly jokes, original art and music by me. If you do, I will receive all of the revenue (the game is free.) bridlewise.itch.io/tatterdemalion
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
This is just to say
I have binned
the condiments
that were in
the back of the fridge
and which
we could not possibly
have been saving
for any discernible purpose
I ask no forgiveness
They were antique
so cold
and so impossibly past their use-by dates.
I have binned
the condiments
that were in
the back of the fridge
and which
we could not possibly
have been saving
for any discernible purpose
I ask no forgiveness
They were antique
so cold
and so impossibly past their use-by dates.
November 28, 2025 at 9:29 AM
This is just to say
I have binned
the condiments
that were in
the back of the fridge
and which
we could not possibly
have been saving
for any discernible purpose
I ask no forgiveness
They were antique
so cold
and so impossibly past their use-by dates.
I have binned
the condiments
that were in
the back of the fridge
and which
we could not possibly
have been saving
for any discernible purpose
I ask no forgiveness
They were antique
so cold
and so impossibly past their use-by dates.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
This is a really good comprehensive overview of the current evidence on Devon being the cradle of world civilization
Well worth your time, good maps too
Well worth your time, good maps too
Did you know Bronze Age Cyprus had trade connections all the way to Britain? Tin was imported from south-west England, playing a fundamental role in the transition from copper to full tin-bronze metallurgy across Europe and the Mediterranean.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
From Land's End to the Levant: did Britain's tin sources transform the Bronze Age in Europe and the Mediterranean?
Bronze Age–Early Iron Age tin ingots recovered from four Mediterranean shipwrecks off the coasts of Israel and southern France can now be provenanced to tin ores in south-west Britain. These exceptionally rich and accessible ores played a fundamental role in the transition from copper to full tin-bronze metallurgy across Europe and the Mediterranean during the second millennium BC. The authors’ application of a novel combination of three independent analyses (trace element, lead and tin isotopes) to tin ores and artefacts from Western and Central Europe also provides the foundation for future analyses of the pan-continental tin trade in later periods.
doi.org
November 27, 2025 at 6:28 PM
This is a really good comprehensive overview of the current evidence on Devon being the cradle of world civilization
Well worth your time, good maps too
Well worth your time, good maps too
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen
Dar Williams
Richard Thompson
Runrig
Tori Amos
Eluveitie
Dar Williams
Richard Thompson
Runrig
Tori Amos
Eluveitie
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen
Tori Amos
Radiohead
Ash
They Might Be Giants
Public Service Broadcasting
Tori Amos
Radiohead
Ash
They Might Be Giants
Public Service Broadcasting
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen
Bon Jovi
Jim Byrnes
Joan Jett
The Who
Imelda May
Bon Jovi
Jim Byrnes
Joan Jett
The Who
Imelda May
November 27, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen
Dar Williams
Richard Thompson
Runrig
Tori Amos
Eluveitie
Dar Williams
Richard Thompson
Runrig
Tori Amos
Eluveitie
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
The "don't have an extra kid if you can't afford it" brigade get awfully upset when you suggest they don't stay in their £2m house if they can't afford it, don't they?
November 27, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The "don't have an extra kid if you can't afford it" brigade get awfully upset when you suggest they don't stay in their £2m house if they can't afford it, don't they?
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
The Redstone Rescue is a fun fantasy detective story that gradually shifts into flat out adventure. It's got adventure and humour and peril and several readers have called it borderline cozy, which is probably fair. A little magic, a lot of faith in people: turnanother.page/book/the-red...
November 27, 2025 at 11:39 AM
The Redstone Rescue is a fun fantasy detective story that gradually shifts into flat out adventure. It's got adventure and humour and peril and several readers have called it borderline cozy, which is probably fair. A little magic, a lot of faith in people: turnanother.page/book/the-red...
Another green sward today!
I solved the daily Clues by Sam, Nov 27th 2025 (Tricky), in less than 12 minutes
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
cluesbysam.com
I solved the daily Clues by Sam, Nov 27th 2025 (Tricky), in less than 12 minutes
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
cluesbysam.com
Clues by Sam
A daily logic puzzle where you deduce who are criminals and who are innocent!
cluesbysam.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Another green sward today!
I solved the daily Clues by Sam, Nov 27th 2025 (Tricky), in less than 12 minutes
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
cluesbysam.com
I solved the daily Clues by Sam, Nov 27th 2025 (Tricky), in less than 12 minutes
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
cluesbysam.com
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
Is it moving or is it us?
November 27, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Is it moving or is it us?
The Redstone Rescue is a fun fantasy detective story that gradually shifts into flat out adventure. It's got adventure and humour and peril and several readers have called it borderline cozy, which is probably fair. A little magic, a lot of faith in people: turnanother.page/book/the-red...
November 27, 2025 at 11:39 AM
The Redstone Rescue is a fun fantasy detective story that gradually shifts into flat out adventure. It's got adventure and humour and peril and several readers have called it borderline cozy, which is probably fair. A little magic, a lot of faith in people: turnanother.page/book/the-red...
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
We are now further away from the theatrical release of Raiders of the Lost Ark (June 12, 1981) than it was from the year it takes place in (1936). We have reached the Indiana Jones event horizon.
November 27, 2025 at 12:49 AM
We are now further away from the theatrical release of Raiders of the Lost Ark (June 12, 1981) than it was from the year it takes place in (1936). We have reached the Indiana Jones event horizon.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
I'm old.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
November 27, 2025 at 4:21 AM
I'm old.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
My visual novel remains free to download if you want to give it a try!
Is it any good? Well, suffice to say it is well worth the price.
(Honestly I think it's worth it for the music alone.)
Is it any good? Well, suffice to say it is well worth the price.
(Honestly I think it's worth it for the music alone.)
You're probably thinking "I really wish Ben had spent most of the last couple of months drawing and writing a visual novel about a girl from Southampton who gets isekai'd and falls in love with a witch" and buddy you're in luck: bridlewise.itch.io/tatterdemalion
Tatterdemalion by bridlewise
An isekai love story created for the Yuri Game Jam 2025
bridlewise.itch.io
November 26, 2025 at 11:24 PM
My visual novel remains free to download if you want to give it a try!
Is it any good? Well, suffice to say it is well worth the price.
(Honestly I think it's worth it for the music alone.)
Is it any good? Well, suffice to say it is well worth the price.
(Honestly I think it's worth it for the music alone.)
I picked a random pose from @trueref.bsky.social to try and draw today then spent the whole freaking day trying to sketch it out until I finally got the proportions right. I picked it because it looked easy and I was so wrong, which is how you can tell I still have a lot to learn. (No actual nudity)
November 26, 2025 at 11:19 PM
I picked a random pose from @trueref.bsky.social to try and draw today then spent the whole freaking day trying to sketch it out until I finally got the proportions right. I picked it because it looked easy and I was so wrong, which is how you can tell I still have a lot to learn. (No actual nudity)
A sad day today - my "Robotania" t-shirt finally died, one of the first generation of t-shirts I got because the singer in the band I was in insisted we wear colours, a rare topic about which he was correct. The shirt was 20-something years old, carefully hand-sewn by @badmachinery.com, I assume.
November 26, 2025 at 6:25 PM
A sad day today - my "Robotania" t-shirt finally died, one of the first generation of t-shirts I got because the singer in the band I was in insisted we wear colours, a rare topic about which he was correct. The shirt was 20-something years old, carefully hand-sewn by @badmachinery.com, I assume.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
they think it's all OBR, it is now
November 26, 2025 at 12:15 PM
they think it's all OBR, it is now
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
I mean, come on...
November 26, 2025 at 11:09 AM
I mean, come on...
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
the degree to which Labour have limboed under my lowest expectations for them is remarkable.
what the fuck
November 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
the degree to which Labour have limboed under my lowest expectations for them is remarkable.
Everyone having a chill time playing No Man's Sky until Eowyn shows up.
November 25, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Everyone having a chill time playing No Man's Sky until Eowyn shows up.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
You're probably thinking "I really wish Ben had spent most of the last couple of months drawing and writing a visual novel about a girl from Southampton who gets isekai'd and falls in love with a witch" and buddy you're in luck: bridlewise.itch.io/tatterdemalion
Tatterdemalion by bridlewise
An isekai love story created for the Yuri Game Jam 2025
bridlewise.itch.io
November 24, 2025 at 10:47 PM
You're probably thinking "I really wish Ben had spent most of the last couple of months drawing and writing a visual novel about a girl from Southampton who gets isekai'd and falls in love with a witch" and buddy you're in luck: bridlewise.itch.io/tatterdemalion
If we learn anything from the last few decades it's that you definitely can fool the grandchildren of the revolution. In fact it's super-easy because they have only known the subsequent world and don't understand how easily it could be broken, and how hungrily the wolves outside are waiting.
November 25, 2025 at 3:07 PM
If we learn anything from the last few decades it's that you definitely can fool the grandchildren of the revolution. In fact it's super-easy because they have only known the subsequent world and don't understand how easily it could be broken, and how hungrily the wolves outside are waiting.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
Northodox have a sale on now for all of their books, including my fantasy murder mystery The Executioner's Blade. Go grab a copy before it goes out of print in January!
www.northodox.co.uk/product-page...
www.northodox.co.uk/product-page...
November 25, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Northodox have a sale on now for all of their books, including my fantasy murder mystery The Executioner's Blade. Go grab a copy before it goes out of print in January!
www.northodox.co.uk/product-page...
www.northodox.co.uk/product-page...
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
Who needs a 300 acre Countryside Park when you can have a 3rd runway instead...
#HarmondsworthMoor
#3rdRunway
news.sky.com/story/heathr...
This is extremely bad news, given the damage it will do to the established park, hosting lakes, rivers, woodland plantatiin and acres of wildflower meadow.
#HarmondsworthMoor
#3rdRunway
news.sky.com/story/heathr...
This is extremely bad news, given the damage it will do to the established park, hosting lakes, rivers, woodland plantatiin and acres of wildflower meadow.
Heathrow Airport's £49bn third runway plan chosen by government
Heathrow's £49bn plan for a third runway has been chosen as the plan to expand the airport, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has announced.
news.sky.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Who needs a 300 acre Countryside Park when you can have a 3rd runway instead...
#HarmondsworthMoor
#3rdRunway
news.sky.com/story/heathr...
This is extremely bad news, given the damage it will do to the established park, hosting lakes, rivers, woodland plantatiin and acres of wildflower meadow.
#HarmondsworthMoor
#3rdRunway
news.sky.com/story/heathr...
This is extremely bad news, given the damage it will do to the established park, hosting lakes, rivers, woodland plantatiin and acres of wildflower meadow.
I just read "Moontangled" from @stephanieburgis.bsky.social and all the Harwood Spellbook series are sparkling fantasy romances in an alternate Britain of magicians and fair folk. Good stuff!
I wouldn't recommend a vampire book because vampires are boring and I would not willingly read about one.
I wouldn't recommend a vampire book because vampires are boring and I would not willingly read about one.
November 25, 2025 at 10:02 AM
I just read "Moontangled" from @stephanieburgis.bsky.social and all the Harwood Spellbook series are sparkling fantasy romances in an alternate Britain of magicians and fair folk. Good stuff!
I wouldn't recommend a vampire book because vampires are boring and I would not willingly read about one.
I wouldn't recommend a vampire book because vampires are boring and I would not willingly read about one.
Reposted by Ben from Crudely Drawn Swords
You never see Wes Streeting's face associated with anything good, do you?
November 24, 2025 at 1:43 PM
You never see Wes Streeting's face associated with anything good, do you?