iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 21/09/2026

She's a classic extremely clean but very untidy person, super technically creative but no imagination, so all her mechs are simply named after random objects she sees when she has to pick a name. She has a nanite spray she uses to keep clean and the mech version gives her mechs a healthy blue glow

A scientist lady in a lab coat with long unkempt hair. She's wearing workers boots, trousers with a hole in the knee, a red top, special looking metallic gloves and has a pair of goggles perch on top of her hair

A mech made using Retrogrademinis. It's based on the Barbarossa frame with a siege cannon and apocalypse rail on the shoulder mounts and holding a large shotgun in the right hand. The mech is coloured cyan with deep blue highlights and the weapons are deep blue with red highlights. The whole thing has a cyan glow around it

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 16/09/2026

Well, I guess it's time to dig out this ol' pic for the final time :D

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 09/09/2026

Oh and if you wanna hear @jenbles.bsky.social fine work without our silly voices over the top, here's some dang good JRPG styling right here!

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 04/09/2026

All set up and ready to go at @tabletopscot.bsky.social repping @gameworkers.co.uk Come see me at the IWGB stall i09 if you're in the area and wanna chat about how the union helps tabletop workers :) We've got pins and members' games for sale, taking donations towards the Rockstar Fighting Fund

The Independent Workers of Great Britain union Game Workers' branch table at Tabletop Scotland with a wraparound table banner, flyers, pins and members' zines for sale, taking donations for the Rockstar Fighting Fund

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 28/08/2026

Forgot to tag in our amazing cast for this show - my bad! @phonthelegend.bsky.social as Donovan @bachrach.bsky.social as Piper @stellarencore.bsky.social as Rider35 @aurora-lore.bsky.social as Zane

End Stage Mechaclysm poster with images of the players' mechs created using Retrogrademinis and coloured in GIMP

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 18/08/2026

Got my friend a dice commissioned for his 40th the other week and it came out so good :D

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 15/08/2026

In just 4 hours, End Stage Mechaclysm enters it's 2nd level, the Underground Stage! Pop over to twitch.tv/halfling_wizard_prod at 7:30pm UTC to see what happens when a bunch of uber-rich a-holes have way too much money on their hands and want to play with giant robots (and the lives of some pilots!)

A poster for End Stage Mechaclysm, a Halfling Wizard Production. Black background with a teal central rectangle, holding text and images of the players' mechs. The text reads: System created by GM Ben Newbon. Phon as Donovan Pembroke pilot of The Royal Regent. Hailey as Piper Aarons pilot of Spatha. Pan as Rider35. Aurora as Zane Waters pilot of Myeerah. Biweekly Saturdays 7:30om UTC twitch.tv/halfling_wizard_prod

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 01/08/2026

End Stage Mechaclysm is a big robot game using my own super simple Crit Core system (SRD to be finalised and released "soon"). We're going to be on the forefront of class war, taking on the world, the system, and everything that could possibly be thrown at giant machines, starting with each other!

The End Stage Mechaclysm title in sci-fi fonts, coloured kinda cyan with black and white patterning.

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 01/08/2026

and finally, @aurora-lore.bsky.social as Zane Waters, a top level esports gamer, who's left their reservation for more exciting pastures and ends up in Myeerah, ready to smash shit up and can snatch ranged attacks right out of the air!

A bronze and black brawler mech in a braced stance with green glowing vents and an arm shield attached to its left forelimb
Made using retrogrademinis.com and coloured using GIMP

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 01/08/2026

Also @stellarencore.bsky.social playing Barly, with a dark past and secrets galore, piloting the messy bio-mech, Grandstar, which has missiles embedded into its skin/hull and can "regrow" itself 😬

A gangly goblin shaped blue mech with many protruding spikes with red tips, crouching down and leaning one arm on its knee
Made using retrogrademinis.com and coloured using GIMP

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 01/08/2026

Next is @bachrach.bsky.social with ex-Olympic fencer, Piper Aarons and her agile, sword-wielding mech, Spatha, which can disrupt enemy systems with its special strikes.

A anthropomorphic black and white, sleek looking mech, standing cross legged with an electric blue flame like blade extending from its right hand
Made using retrogrademinis.com and coloured using GIMP

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 01/08/2026

First up we have @phonthelegend.bsky.social playing as Donovan Pembroke in a mech of his own design, The Royal Regent, gold plated and gem encrusted with special plasma rifles and a super powerful turret-style mode.

A golden 4 legged mech with patches of bright blue, green and pink on its arms, holding two large rifles with bright blue highlights
Made using retrogrademinis.com and coloured using GIMP

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 01/08/2026

6 hours til session 1 of End Stage Mechaclysm! We've got arsehole billionaires! We've got big massive robots! We've got lasers, missiles, electro-swords and more! Oh yeah, pilots too, I suppose... just the PCs... I guess they're kinda important... Join us 8:30pm UTC on www.twitch.tv/halfling_wiz...

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 27/07/2026

So massively hyped for End Stage Mechaclysm this Saturday, 8:30pm UK time. Finished designing the players' mechs today and it's all coming together lovely! Don't think I'll have time this week to put together a trailer for it proper but I am still pretty proud of the one I did for the announcement😊

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 09/07/2026

LMAO totally didn't notice the typo! Saved by community member who actually reads!

The End Stage Mechaclysm title in sci-fi fonts, coloured kinda cyan with black and white patterning. This time spelled correctly!

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 09/07/2026

We are getting into gear on this and my excitement is bubbling up!

The End Stage Mechaclysm title in sci-fi fonts, coloured kinda cyan and black and white

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 05/07/2026

Found a lil friend on a walk earlier before the rains hit

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 29/06/2026

There's been some amazing interest in the casting for my next streamed AP, End Stage Mechaclysm, so I've decided to move forward the closing date for applications to the end of this week! If you love mech games and want to play one in my super simple system, this is for you! tally.so/r/Pd4PNB

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 09/06/2026

In half an hour my horror-zombie-apocalypse game with @pantslesstables.bsky.social goes live over at www.twitch.tv/pantslesstab... for Pantsless Pride. Come join me with @sassypants1996.bsky.social @misskatoniktv.bsky.social @roseblossom2468.bsky.social @monroeroe.bsky.social at 3:30pm UK time!

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 07/06/2026

The garden is really coming alive with the recent mixing of warm, sunny periods and cooler wetter spells 😎

A concrete planter with giant pink poppies, tiger lilies, roses, foxgloves and various green leaves with a wooden fence behind.

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 03/06/2026

Keeps getting stuck on the readme file of all things! seen this before @annethegnome.bsky.social? Any thoughts?

The upload screen for Archive.org,showing a progress bar for ReadMe.txt at 10GB/12GB with all other files for CybertopiaAP in the background

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 23/05/2026

First hammock day of the season!

A photo of me in a dark blue hammock in my garden, smiling and wearing a black cap, sunglasses and pink fade top

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 15/05/2026

Dunno if my phone camera goes hi Rez enough for you needs but here's mine

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 15/05/2026

Oh hey, so I've been sitting on this for like a week because... well, life... but: Cybertopia hit 5,000 listens recently AND made the finalist list for the Colorado Webfest! So proud of this lil show and our wonderful cast! :D

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 05/05/2026

In exactly one week, I will be running my first session of a mini-series over at @pantslesstables.bsky.social If you've seen me posting about horror in TTRPGs and whatnot lately, this what that was about and I'm super excited to run it. This cast is actually SUPERB as well!

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 30/04/2026

It's a good day! Sun is shining, went for Turkish brekky with an old friend, just had a haircut and now grabbing some bento 🙂 And Draw Steel tonight!

A table at Bentoya in Edinburgh with a bowl of miso soup and pot of green tea in front of a big ol' fridge of fish

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 28/04/2026

Afterdeath session zero went great! All the players have great character ideas, the world we've put together is off to a cool start and everyone is so enthusiastically bought in on playing a deeply traumatic (for the PCs) horror game! Almost like they can't wait to put these poor PCs thru hell!

AFTERDEATH written in Daemonesque font in red and white colouring that makes it look like roiling flesh and bone and blood

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 27/04/2026

Found a very cool font for my upcoming game!

AFTERDEATH written in Daemonesque font, coloured red. Looks like twisted flesh and bones

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 07/04/2026

Aggressively into table safety... Too much?

I will of course take into account everything entered into the Lines & Veils sheet and I welcome very liberal use of the X card - tho I recognise that doing that is a very difficult thing for many people. I promise you it will not ruin the show - we will figure out any issue and rectify any problem that makes anyone too uncomfortable in any moment. Any other game I run, I always tell players they can do whatever they need to if they can't abide by something during play: X in discord, cam off, disconnect, visibly run away even! Do whatever you need to in the moment to protect yourself - we will at the very least take a break and potentially end the session or even whole show if we need to and that is no shame on you. However I want to assure you all that I will do absolutely everything I can to make this a fun and happy experience for all of you!

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 04/04/2026

Trying my hand at drawing again, this time my latest Lancer mech ... This shit is not easy!

A rough line drawing, blocking out a bipedal 4 armed mech with a flat-top head and backpack visible behind, holding two large revolvers, a large cannon and grenade. It's standing upright with the cannon outstretched, revolvers out but not aimed and the forth arm stretched backwards readying a throw.

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 27/03/2026

Also gotta take the opportunity to show off my lovely mechs 😎

LL4 Raleigh mech frame holding a bolt thrower, two hand cannons raised up, a nexus case on the back and small autoloader drone flying above. It's got a teal body with cyan glow and the weapons are blue and red. Made in retrogrademinis and coloured in GIMP

LL4 Barbarossa mech frame with shoulder mounted apocalypse rail and bolt thrower. It's got a cyan and blue body with cyan glow and the weapons are blue and red. Made in retrogrademinis and coloured in GIMP

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 13/03/2026

Heh good timing - just took this!

A picture of me taken with my webcam, in my home office with couch and acoustic guitars in the background. I'm weaing a zipped up grey hoodie and holding a glass of red wine up to the camera.

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 21/02/2026

Wanna see me play as a goofy Mr Handy surgeon? It's going to be a delight! Catch our first session any moment now :D

A collection of Fallout characters:
a military drill sergeant supermutant
a stealthy ninjasuited human with long hair and a powerglove
a ragged hooded knife wielding human
a bearded man with a backpack and pipboy
a winking lady with a camping pack and medkit
a Mr Handy robot with labcoat and dr outfit

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 19/02/2026

Recorded a game of Overgrown in the morning and had such a great time with it! First time doing this sort of thing in the AM and after some wee eepies, we rolled and everything went swimmingly. Probably a while until it comes out but here's a no-context spoiler for y'all!

A grey car that has been crashed into from behind and is covered in goopy white slime

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 04/02/2026

Heard this on the radio earlier and think I've finally found a song I can do at least some justice to (Whiskey Roll by Cammy Barnes). Also love being able to rep some Scottish acts from time to time :D

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 27/01/2026

Keep getting this when I click that link

Itch.io page not found image. A red skeleton shrugging on a black background with 3 blue question marks above its head. Text below it reads: We couldn't find your page

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 10/01/2026

Just look at these beautiful ppl!

8 people in squares around a central square showing a golden masquerade mask. 6 of the people are wearing masks.

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 10/12/2025

New LL means new mech setup and pic! I'm sticking with the Raleigh build but moving into Barbarossa to make use of the autoloader drone and next LL the siege cannon. I'm veering away from mass missile racks to pile into big hitters because even with the talents and bonuses, armour just strips dmg

Image of a mech on a white background built using retrogrademinis and colorised in GIMP. It's a Raleigh frame with a bolt thrower, two raised hand cannons, an RPG on its back and mines and grenades hung around it's neck. The chassis is a blue/gunmetal, whilst the weapons are blue with red piping and grenades and mines are red

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 07/12/2025

Gotta given this from my friends last night for my birthday the other week :D (It's really uncomfortable to hold and the drink holding portion is really small but it looks real cool!)

My hand holding a Vecna themed dungeons and dragons goblet. It is all carved and textured in golds, purples and pinks, with skulls and a skeletal figure of Vecna

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 06/11/2025

I'm joining this protest outside Rockstar North in Edinburgh today and if you're nearby, we'd really appreciate your support. After what happened with my colleagues under Leslie Benzies (of former Rockstar "fame"), and now this, we really need to fix this industry! (also come meet me! 😉)

A flyer from IWGB Game Workers Union. It reads:
FIGHT ROCJSTAR UNION BUSTING
Stand in solidarity with workers to demand reinstatement.
Thursday 6 November 1pm - 2pm
Barclay House
108 Holyrood Rd
EH8 8AS
Edinburgh

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Ben Newbon @bennewbon.itch.io · 18/10/2025

Overgrown 2e now available in print internationally! (as long as you're in either London, UK or Perth, Australia...). Pop into Orc's Nest or Tactics games depending on what side of the world you're in ;)

Shop front of Tactics Games on Barrack St, Perth, Western Australia. Visible are many games stocked in the large glass windows and a hanging green sign using "Tactics Games - Game and Hobby Specialists"

The Orc's Nest shop front in Covent Garden area of London, UK. A small set of windows displays a range of board games boxes and a large sign saying Orcs Nest with a badge of a grumpy orc face

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