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Nathan Curtis

@tshellstudio.bsky.social
299 followers 112 following 869 posts

Autistic puzzle constructor in the Boston area; part-time math teacher and recovering composer. I post variety puzzles at www.patreon.com/nathancurtis, and my latest puzzle hunt is available at verwalds-treasures.tortoiseshellstudio.com. He/him/his

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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Hey @spatch.bsky.social I just wanted to let you know that whenever I see gamers refer to PUBG I mentally parse it as "Pick Up the Phone Booth and Die"
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Weighing "I should have a clue of [common type] in this cryptic and this is one of the only entries it works for" versus "the clue of [other type] I already have is clearly better"
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
I realized the other day that I am autistic *and* polyamorous, which mens I can have multiple special interests to talk your ear off about.
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
New variety cryptic "This Old House" now available for free at www.patreon.com/posts/160568...!
patreon.com
Free Variety Cryptic: This Old House | Nathan Curtis
Free Variety Cryptic: This Old House by Nathan Curtis on Patreon. Join Nathan Curtis's community for exclusive content and updates.
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Day 3 of grinding through writing clues for this variety cryptic and I have *got* to come up with easier gimmicks
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Reaching the point of making a variety cryptic where I have to figure out the punny message that I will hide in the puzzle and this is, as usual, one of the hardest parts.
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Here's a free Pathfinder to start off the month: www.patreon.com/posts/free-p...
patreon.com
Free Pathfinder | Nathan Curtis
Get more from Nathan Curtis on Patreon
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
I plan to make a more fleshed-out argument in another medium, but I wanted to put together some thoughts on the use of generative AI in puzzles. Tl;dr: don't. Apart from everything else about GenAI, it is fundamentally opposed to the whole reason for solving and writing puzzles.
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Spent an hour issuing over 100 refunds, 1 at a time, because Patreon messed up my billing and their support was not helpful. Helpful tip if you're a creator on Patreon: if you want to pause billing for a month, do not pause on the first of the month.
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
No streaming tonight. I've been busy this evening trying to deal with some issues with Patreon billing, and I need to take a break after that.
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
It's been a while but I'll be streaming puzzle construction at twitch.tv/tshellstudio in 15 minutes! Much better than the State of the Union!
twitch.tv
Twitch
Twitch is the world
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
I occasionally get emails from a music store I frequent about new trombone-related items or sales. The fact that the latest one includes both trombone cases and wine cases reminds me how much of an outlier I am among trombonists.
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
For the last several days, I have been working on and off on drawing weirdly specific things for a puzzle. Just me, an iPad, and Procreate. I am not an artist by any means, and my people are vaguely terrifying if you look at them too closely, but I am very pleased with the results. AI can suck it.
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
I nearly forgot today is Tuesday, but I will be streaming puzzle construction at twitch.tv/tshellstudio in 20 minutes!
twitch.tv
Twitch
Twitch is the world
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Streaming puzzle construction at twitch.tv/tshellstudio in 20 minutes!
twitch.tv
Twitch
Twitch is the world
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Streaming puzzle construction at twitch.tv/tshellstudio in 20 minutes! Will I still be in post-Mystery Hunt hangover mode? Only one way to find out!
twitch.tv
Twitch
Twitch is the world
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
While doing post-Mystery Hunt tab maintenance, I came across a whole set of hidden tabs with my work from the MH in...2024. Maybe this is why Opera kept having memory issues.
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
No streaming tonight, as I'm dealing with some difficult personal news.
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
I reeeealllly don't want to write clues today but I reeeeealllly gotta.
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
No stream today, as I will be entertaining friends. Stay tuned next week for more live puzzle construction!
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Do any of my fellow Patreon creators know how to temporarily take down a post without deleting it outright? I can go into the specifics privately, but I don't want to say much more publicly.
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
Doing my last constructing stream of the year at twtich.tv/tshellstudio in 20 minutes!
twtich.tv
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Reposted by Nathan Curtis
Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
I was so busy today I forgot to promote a thing! I made a guest puzzle for today's Raddle at raddle.quest! Thanks to @pzlr.org for inviting me to contribute!
raddle.quest
RADDLE
The daily word transformation game
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
I was so busy today I forgot to promote a thing! I made a guest puzzle for today's Raddle at raddle.quest! Thanks to @pzlr.org for inviting me to contribute!
raddle.quest
RADDLE
The daily word transformation game
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
It's Tuesday night, so I'll be streaming puzzle construction at twitch.tv/tshellstudio in about 20 minutes!
twitch.tv
Twitch
Twitch is the world
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Streaming puzzle construction at www.twitch.tv/tshellstudio in 20 minutes! Come and watch me make what will be my first puzzle of 2026!
twitch.tv
Twitch
Twitch is the world
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
Hey @eruditorumpress.com this is a total longshot but do you have any friends/family in the Boston area who will be traveling to Ithaca for the holidays or vice versa? I'm trying to return a package that is prohibitively expensive to ship.
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
My latest bonus puzzle, a Super Sixes, is up on Patreon! If you want to see it, visit www.patreon.com/c/nathancurtis and pledge $2/month or more to get access to this puzzle and more, every single month!
patreon.com
Get more from Nathan Curtis on Patreon
creating Variety Crossword and Logic Puzzles
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
Streaming puzzle construction at twitch.tv/tshellstudio in 25 minutes!
twitch.tv
Twitch
Twitch is the world
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
Streaming puzzle construction at twitch.tv/tshellstudio in 30 minutes! Come and watch me make a seasonal variety grid!
twitch.tv
tshellstudio - Twitch
tshellstudio streams live on Twitch! Check out their videos, sign up to chat, and join their community.
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
Free Two-Tone puzzle up at www.patreon.com/posts/144922...!
patreon.com
Free Two-Tone | Nathan Curtis
Get more from Nathan Curtis on Patreon
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Streaming puzzle construction in at twitch.tv/tshellstudio in 80 minutes! Stop by and say hi!
twitch.tv
Twitch
Twitch is the world
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
No stream tonight, but I should be back next week.
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
This month's bonus puzzle, a Hex Pathfinder, is now available on Patreon! Visit patreon.com/nathancurtis and subscribe at $2/month or above to get this puzzle and more puzzles like this every month.
patreon.com
Get more from Nathan Curtis on Patreon
creating Variety Crossword and Logic Puzzles
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
I can't access anything in my Google Drive because I can't get a secure connection with Google. And all of the drafts I am currently working on are only on my Drive so I'm screwed for now. Oh goody!
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Usually when I see people posting aurora pics on social media and go out to look for myself, I can't tell if I actually saw anything. Not tonight! (No pics, sorry)
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Streaming puzzle construction at twitch.tv/tshellstudio in 20 minutes!
twitch.tv
Twitch
Twitch is the world
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Streaming puzzle construction at twitch.tv/tshellstudio in 30 minutes!
twitch.tv
Twitch
Twitch is the world
010
Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
Free Spiral puzzle up at www.patreon.com/posts/142764...! Lots of famous people in this grid.
patreon.com
Free Spiral | Nathan Curtis
Get more from Nathan Curtis on Patreon
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
I'm having company over tonight, so I won't be streaming. But please tune in next week!
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
I really don't feel like writing clues today, but it's got to be done.
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
This month's free puzzle, a Wrap Party, is up now at www.patreon.com/posts/141312.... I hope you enjoy it!
patreon.com
Free Wrap Party | Nathan Curtis
Get more from Nathan Curtis on Patreon
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Streaming puzzle construction in 30 minutes at twitch.tv/tshellstudio! I will be trying to make a new-to-me format, so I invite you to come and watch me flail!
twitch.tv
Twitch
Twitch is the world
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
Gonna be livestreaming puzzle construction at www.twitch.tv/tshellstudio in 15 minutes! I don't know what kind of puzzle I'm going to construct! Come and help me decide!
twitch.tv
Twitch
Twitch is the world
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
This month I started offering an additional bonus puzzle every three months to patrons at $3/month and up, and the first extra bonus went up yesterday. Whether you're a paid member or not, you can visit www.patreon.com/nathancurtis to pledge $3/month to get a total of 40 puzzles per year.
patreon.com
Get more from Nathan Curtis on Patreon
creating Variety Crossword and Logic Puzzles
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
FYI I will not be streaming tonight. If you want to see some of my puzzles in action, you can tune in to @illogicaljoker.bsky.social's solving stream www.twitch.tv/thatcrypticguy at 9PM tonight, where he will be tackling two of my recent cryptics.
twitch.tv
Twitch
Twitch is the world
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Streaming puzzle construction at twitch.tv/tshellstudio in 30 minutes!
twitch.tv
Twitch
Twitch is the world
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Streaming puzzle construction at twitch.tv/nathancurtis in 30 minutes!
twitch.tv
NathanCurtis - Twitch
NathanCurtis streams live on Twitch! Check out their videos, sign up to chat, and join their community.
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Streaming puzzle construction at twitch.tv/tshellstudio in 30 minutes! Come watch me put letters into boxes to make words!
twitch.tv
Twitch
Twitch is the world
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Nathan Curtis @tshellstudio.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
Streaming puzzle construction at twitch.tv/tshellstudio in 20 minutes!
twitch.tv
Twitch
Twitch is the world
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