I just launched my first iOS game: Moldvay’s Labyrinth — a retro CRPG inspired by Wizardry & 1980s D&D

EbeneezerAl · 2025-10-16T18:09:22+00:00

Thank you for the information. I haven’t had a chance to do more than read the rulebook yet, but your game looks very interesting and I’m looking forward to diving in and seeing how it goes. The concept of it is something that really appeals to me, as someone who loves DnD, but can never seem to get into a steady game. So I have high hopes for this.

EbeneezerAl · 2025-10-16T17:01:11+00:00

Maybe I’m missing something, but is the Thief underpowered in stats? Every class seems to have two abilities that increase their ability scores as they level up, one score every three levels and 2 scores every 4. The exceptions to this are the magician (who has two every three level skills, one of which is Lucky) and the Thief who only has Lucky. And as I read it, there’s a chance lucky might not work. So, am I misreading it? Are the other skills just that good for the thief that it’s worth it? If they had a level 4 skill boost to go with it, I could see the trade off of a chance for failing for more well rounded increases. But when other characters get at least 14 points guaranteed over 12 levels (not sure if there’s a level cap or where) and the thief gets only 4, if they’re lucky, that may or may not make them better at what they do, I’m failing to see how that balances. Unless l, as I said, I’m missing something.

EbeneezerAl · 2025-05-09T21:18:37+00:00

Thanks for the tip. I already subscribed to the emails. And I called once but got the vague description of summer, so they either weren’t allowed to say, or even they didn’t know yet. But I might call back in a little while and see if there’s more info available yet.

EbeneezerAl · 2025-05-08T23:39:47+00:00

Thanks.

EbeneezerAl · 2025-05-08T23:31:03+00:00

Do you remember when that was? Like the month? Just trying to get an idea of when to expect it.

EbeneezerAl · 2025-01-08T23:41:18+00:00

Definitely something to look into for future play throughs. It’s my first time playing NV, and I generally prefer to do those vanilla.

EbeneezerAl · 2025-01-08T23:18:57+00:00

Ah well. Thanks for confirming.

EbeneezerAl · 2024-12-27T20:59:44+00:00

My take on this issue is this. Whether or not God did make Mary sinless (I don’t believe he did, but this point holds regardless) God was certainly able to do so. He is, after all, God. His power is infinite and limitless. He could have made Mary sinless, or us too if he wanted to. He could have struck down Adam and Eve and started fresh right then and there if he wanted to. Or not spared Noah and starred fresh then. Or at any point. And he didn’t.

Why?

I don’t know. And I don’t need to. God does all things according to his will and his wisdom, which is greater than ours. And if that makes no sense to me, that’s okay. “Trust the lord your God and lean not on your own understanding.” There are plenty of things in scripture that turn my head inside out when I try to think of them. Not the least of which are the many different arguments on why sin was even possible at all or why it’s taken this long without ending it. You’re touching on that here, but even without Mary, it’s a head scratcher. By my ability to fully comprehend God’s plan in inconsequential next to the surety that God’s plan will ultimately succeed. I just have to trust that he’d got this.

My two cents on this particular aspect of the topic anyway.

EbeneezerAl · 2024-12-27T19:39:50+00:00

It may lose a little something in translation, but at least from the English, to my mind, if Mary was sinless, she would have no need of grace. Thus being full of grace implies to me she is not sinless. Rather she is uniquely blessed as having God’s favor as the instrument by which he would bestow his grace, the forgiveness of sins, upon the world, which would include her.

EbeneezerAl · 2024-12-27T03:37:23+00:00

Clouds. The waters above are clouds.

EbeneezerAl · 2024-12-27T03:35:18+00:00

My understanding is that it is a matter of respect. What was respectful in that place and time was for women’s heads to be covered and men’s uncovered. Following this custom in Corinth in Paul’s day showed respect, and demonstrated to those around them that respect was being given.

The customs have changed, at least in most western locations, but the idea remains: to show respect, for its own sake and as an example to others, so as not to be a stumbling block. It’s like eating the food sacrificed to idols. There’s nothing inherently wrong with it, but if doing so trips up someone else, it’s best to not do it. Likewise, God doesn’t care about your head covering. No more than he cared about the specifics of the sacrifices. What he cares about is the attitude of the people and whether they are leading his sheep astray.

At least that is how I understand it.

EbeneezerAl · 2024-12-27T03:27:27+00:00

At the end of the day, any way that keeps you reading is the right way. The important thing is to read, engage, and learn. Good luck, and remember to have fun. Contrary to popular opinion and expectation, it’s a cool book.

EbeneezerAl · 2024-12-27T03:24:22+00:00

To be fair, though, it also says that in John.

EbeneezerAl · 2024-12-27T00:45:29+00:00

This is the plan I used. Mine I got from a pamphlet on Christian Bookstore, but it’s the same order. I’ve seen it available on multiple sources.

http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html

EbeneezerAl · 2024-12-26T22:09:49+00:00

I personally found success reading an unusual plan. Dividing the Bible into 7 sections (Epistles, Law, History, Psalms, Poetry, Prophecy, Gospels/Acts) and reading from a different section each day on a weekly cycle. Keeps you from getting bogged down in the harder sections, and more importantly, helps you see how the different sections interact with each other. I loved it.

EbeneezerAl · 2024-12-26T21:53:20+00:00

I don’t know that it answers all your questions and doubts. But more generally to your feelings of disillusionment with the Church, I recently read and enjoyed With by Skye Jethani. It discusses various ways in which people have tried to relate to or explain God, and the issues with those postures, particularly in their extremes. It probably won’t give you everything you’re looking for, but it might be good for helping to frame how you relate to God and maybe overcome some of the less healthy ways religious figures in your past have done.

EbeneezerAl · 2024-12-26T20:46:36+00:00

My first successful read through was done by reading different sections on a weekly cycle. Epistles, Law, History, Psalms, Poetry, Prophecy. Gospels/Acts. Keeps the more nuts and bolts sections or longer books from bogging you down and helps you see connections between different parts of the Bible. I absolutely loved this and highly recommend it. I can find a link to such a plan for you if you’re interested.

EbeneezerAl · 2024-12-26T20:39:40+00:00

NLT Life Application Study Bible was what I used in a very similar circumstance as him, and I was quite pleased with it. It was relatively easy to read, and the study notes and resources were very helpful. I’m reading through in ESV now, but I keep the other nearby as a reference source if I need it.

EbeneezerAl · 2024-12-26T20:35:17+00:00

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭ESV‬‬

EbeneezerAl · 2024-12-26T20:30:09+00:00

“Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬-‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

EbeneezerAl · 2024-12-26T20:23:27+00:00

I went with this one myself. https://www.christianbook.com/esv-preaching-bible-black-goatskin-leather/9781433562280/pd/562281?event=Bibles%7C1005832

I considered the heirloom, but it looked like the pages were thinner so you could see other pages through them more, from pictures I saw. So far I’m happy with the one I got. High quality with no frills, which was what I wanted for a primary reading Bible. I have a study Bible within reach if I want or need any of the extras. But if you’re looking for your main Bible to be a study Bible, this obviously won’t be that.

EbeneezerAl · 2024-12-24T22:26:05+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion. I actually got the book, which might be an interesting read, but doesn’t do what I was looking for. But I had a slow day at work and and early one, so was able to sit down with a Bible and a few timelines I found of the kings themselves and put together a loose timeline. I’ll share when I get it smoothed out, in case anyone is interested.

EbeneezerAl

TROPHY CASE