diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index cf456dec6..202b738b6 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -20,6 +20,14 @@ renderer/**/*.import
 renderer/**/*.uid
 renderer/output/*.png
 
+# Spikes (Godot cache + import artifacts)
+spikes/**/.godot/
+spikes/**/*.import
+spikes/**/*.uid
+
+# Asset downloads (vendor archives, not game content)
+docs/assets/downloads/
+
 # Database (shared across worktrees at ../settledreach.db, not tracked)
 db/commonwealth.db*
 
diff --git a/tooling/blender b/tooling/blender
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..2e3643b19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tooling/blender
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Blender wrapper — resolves flatpak/native/brew installs to a single entry point.
+# All project scripts should call this instead of 'blender' directly.
+#
+# Resolves relative paths in --python and -- args to absolute paths so flatpak
+# sandboxing doesn't break file resolution.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   tooling/blender --background --python script.py -- input.glb output.glb
+
+# Convert relative paths to absolute
+args=()
+for arg in "$@"; do
+    if [[ -e "$arg" ]]; then
+        args+=("$(realpath "$arg")")
+    else
+        args+=("$arg")
+    fi
+done
+
+if command -v blender &>/dev/null; then
+    exec blender "${args[@]}"
+elif flatpak info org.blender.Blender &>/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    exec flatpak run org.blender.Blender "${args[@]}"
+else
+    echo "ERROR: Blender not found (checked PATH and flatpak)" >&2
+    exit 1
+fi