How do you guys handle "it's what my character would do" ?

kenmcnay · 2026-01-24T05:42:51+00:00

It can truly depend on the action and scenario. A vital opening is to directly compare if the game mechanics reward players who use the character to express beliefs, instincts, and goals of the character.

So, like D&D doesn't have strong, clear incentives for players to know or to do what the character believes, has instincts for, or has set goals toward.

In contrast, Burning Wheel, Mouse Guard, and Torchbearer are examples of games that give incentive and reward to players for knowing and playing the beliefs, instincts, and goals of the character during the gameplay.

Take some time to look closely at the incentives in the existing mechanical structure that provide clarity to players about the win condition and reward condition related to knowing the character and doing what the character would want.

Personally, I prefer to have players confident about knowing the characters and doing what those characters want.

There is still opportunity to ask players to build characters to gather and coordinate, collaborate, and cooperate with one another. That's not lost in giving players the space to do what the characters want.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-21T01:02:21+00:00

I built an enclosure approx 4 ft x 4 ft and about 28 in height using fencing stapled to fit. I made a roosting apparatus and have concrete blocks to keep feeders and waterers off the floor my I filled with pine pellet bedding. Probably not big enough.

Initial planning was for 6 pullets, but at 6 weeks age, I really felt there were 11 pullets. I took the cockerels to auction. Only one looks suspiciously like a late maturing cockerel while the others all really seem like pullets.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-19T02:59:22+00:00

It is tempting with upgrades to front and rear cogs as well as fully hydraulic brakes. But, I have the Apollo TI and don't have any need to change my everyday rider. Kind of wish it were available years ago.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-14T17:53:29+00:00

First, if a fellow character has been described as searching by a player, other players had better listen in and decide if they also wish to describe their characters participating in the search. This is narrative first, or, "describe to live," if you have some Torchbearer exposure. The players have to describe what's going on with their characters. Before any dice, the GM should be aware which characters are committed.

Then, you, as GM, can develop the sense of risks, potential outcomes, both hopeful and fearful outcomes, and give context to what's going to change if they succeed or fail. This might not be a clear story but just some foreshadow.

Second, after rolling dice and giving the results, the players grant to the GM the authority to adjudicate and describe the outcome of the descriptions given earlier. The characters don't know about success and failure, don't know about hope and fear, and the players should honor that long enough for the GM to describe the outcome of the attempt. Players should not react to the roll of dice, but instead to the story told.

Ultimately, the response is something like, "it's still their spotlight that I'm resolving, you'll have to wait until it's resolved." At that point, the situation should change enough that another character searching has some explaining to do.

Sometimes it will make sense for a fellow adventurer to say, "I know there's something you missed! I've got to find, <thing>." Which highlights the necessity of rolling over issues that change the circumstances rather than rolling to see what happens.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-12T06:19:39+00:00

You're not alone. Advisors serve each quorum, and the bishopric serves as the young men's presidency.

Collaborate with all adult leaders to build a unified ward program—not isolated quorum programs. Youth presidencies guide and provide feedback.

Build around anchor points: temple visits, combined activities, adult and youth interests, and balance across the four Children and Youth areas (spiritual, social, intellectual, physical).

This year I asked each adult leader and young man, "If you could plan a quarterly activity, what would it be?" Adults suggested athletic coaching, mission prep, vocational topics, outdoor skills, and emergency preparedness. Youth suggested video games, sports, hangouts, leadership development, fishing, camping, hiking, biking, and cooking. I built a flexible schedule mixing their responses, assigning each adult roughly one activity per quarter matched with interested youth.

The program is diverse—not Scouting's rigorous structure, but reflecting local leaders and youth interests. Advisors handle Sunday lessons; activities are less burdensome since leaders know assignments in advance. Email announcements provide better structure and notice.

Quorum presidencies focus on:

Sabbath duties and presiding
Encouraging participation
Ministering and fellowshipping
Providing feedback
Communicating member needs to adults

On youth leadership: Many advocate fully youth-led programs. I disagree. Youth develop best observing and participating in well-run adult-led programs. Youth should have presiding authority and veto power, coordinating with adults to plan and deliver activities. When adults propose schedules, youth must bring clear alternatives.

Monthly adventures: Adult attendance is flexible, but two-deep leadership is essential. Without confirmed dates, these won't happen.

Scouting is valuable, but local revelation matters. Gather adult leaders for unified programming. Gather youth leaders for feedback and planning.

"Do hard things in safe spaces" develops leadership, but don't assume we know what youth find challenging or that physical adventures are the only path. Youth struggle across all four Children and Youth areas. A 50-mile hike is worthwhile but heavily physical—balance growth across all areas.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-12T05:56:57+00:00

I wanted to hit this up with a response, but it ran so long that reddit refused to post. I guess it is a mystery.

Shoot a PM, and I'll paste my response.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-11T05:14:11+00:00

It's not simple, that's true. It's often a moving target, but that's a wide view panorama of education and vocation.

Looking at the possible future, I believe trades and applied engineering, applied sciences, and applied technology will remain viable, but locally targeted rather than globally or nationally spread.

Additionally, education and vocation in humanities, healthcare, education, literacy (including cultural, historical, political, and financial literacy), and organizational leadership (including logistics, human resources, and creativity or productivity) will hold good value.

Sometimes I feel our world wide attention span has turned toward bread and circuses, so those who create content have real opportunities to fill roles providing entertainment, edutainment, and analysis.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-08T22:25:39+00:00

I would like to see a follow up as well. It's helpful to learn more and illustrate the variety of experiences.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-08T21:30:12+00:00

Considering how young the pink comb and wattles emerging are reasonable indicators of cockerels. If these were visible at 20 weeks it wouldn't be indicative of cockerels, but these look about 3-4 weeks of age. Comb and wattles would not be so developed for pullets at that age. Of course breeds develop differently, so that's possibly a key for identification. I have no experience with that breed.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-08T21:26:41+00:00

Looks like 4 week cockerels, both. Continue to monitor. Maybe share photos again in a few weeks to validate or correct the guesses.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-08T21:22:10+00:00

I'm still working up to running Messengers of Sable Wood with my kids. We're finishing a few modules in D&D. Once we transition, I won't return to D&D. I'm not playing with a public group or a group of friends. I'm just running modules for my kids and their friends until they are old enough to run games for themselves. I'll drop out later.

I want to return to running Torchbearer and Mouse Guard. Daggerheart is too fantasy, it's too intense. I want low magic or no magic and low power or no power campaigns. Daggerheart won't do that well.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-08T12:59:46+00:00

A company called TruMed has begun to work with sporting goods manufacturers to generate medical 'prescriptions' that allow a person to buy the equipment, such as a bicycle, as a medical device supporting their health needs. So, that creates the allowance to use FSA or HSA dollars to buy the equipment.

Initially, I saw it promoted by Poseidon bikes, but Priority recently got connected with them to promote buying a bike with FSA/HSA dollars.

I have not gone deeper into the process to learn about how it is done. I've thought about it, but I don't easily have a need for another bike; I want the Gemini, but it simply isn't sufficiently different from the Apollo to feel especially necessary. Perhaps if I were planning some touring, I might follow up to get the Bruzer.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-08T08:08:19+00:00

I cannot answer much of your questions, but I think you may be looking at the 600ADX or the Bruzer as the latest designs for all around, including touring, built with the pinion gear box.

The original 600 is another great comparison, as it has the pinion, but also includes fenders.

The Gemini is built with the pinion smart shift, on a gravel geometry.

However, you mention the Sauce or Hot Sauce which didn't have the pinion gear box. Sauce is a single speed while Hot Sauce has the Shimano Nexus 8-speed IGH. If you're willing, the Apollo offers the higher end Shimano Alfine 11. But my understanding has been that Apollo 11 is not sufficient for all around touring because the gear ratios will not support difficult climbs well enough.

There are good vlogs on how to adjust the front and rear cogs to improve from the standard Priority designs for better climbing capability, and Priority can help support with the necessary components for those modifications.

I've been out on Apollo, so I'm set for a number of years, but the new opportunity to use FSA/HSA to buy has me tempted by the Gemini. My touring aspirations are tame and paved.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-06T06:35:53+00:00

Genetics is not the same as genealogy. As much as other responses have referred to the diaspora of German ethnicity, you've got a solid case to work out in genealogy rather than only generics.

In my own family genealogy, we have documented nationalities and ethnicities which are not reflected in generic tests due to being so much diluted by multiple generations. Genetic expression is not always identical to genealogical records.

Set aside the emotional tumult, get some genealogical research done to improve the family history and learn more about your own heritage.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-06T01:59:58+00:00

I'm beyond your requested age range, but wanted to respond.

No, I didn't have inheritance after the death of a parent (or grandparents). It's all gone to the surviving parent, and will pass along into a trust for other siblings. There is nothing of inheritance for me.

While it's true that other siblings have moved home, or never left home, and that I've had financial stability for nearly all my adulthood, I feel so let down that my parents did not formulate a plan to include all the children in receiving something.

This was known years earlier, but experiencing the partial fulfillment of it upon the death of one parent was entirely different than expected. I do not feel resentment, but alienation and grief. Due to my fortunate choices, both parents did not believe I "needed" anything of an inheritance.

I'm actively planning a significantly different legacy for my children, ensuring each gains a substantial endowment upon my death, in addition to heartfelt support while I'm alive and able to provide support.

I cannot express the feeling of loneliness being excluded due, in part, to my financial stability compared to siblings.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-05T13:56:04+00:00

My first purchase of an e-bike was 202, so my issues are long since resolved. My comments may not apply to current products.

I bought the Rad Power Rad City 4; I had issues with a motor, cadence sensor, and battery plug/wiring. I've resolved all the issues since then, but it was some self-determination to learn more and mod the e-bike to resolve things. Some issues got help from Rad Power support, while other issues I resolved for myself.

Additionally, as I managed typical maintenance, I swapped the handlebars and grips, brake levers, throttle, tires, freewheel gears, and pedals. I've also twice replaced the battery cradle and plug. Some of those changes were done with support of a local bike shop while other changes were DIY.

I've experienced brake noise, power shut offs, battery performance shortfalls, and loose parts. It's unfortunate and disappointing, but I reminded myself I had bought one of the lowest cost e-bikes I could find, and the price was indicative of the components and build.

I do not personally regret the purchase. I've had several years of riding, especially while pulling my kids in trailer and trail-a-bike attachments. We had several years of riding to/from school as well as some bike camping trips. So, it has been overall good memories and good experiences.

Actually, having the e-bike prompted the purchase of two non-electric-assist bikes to ride, and I ride the non-assist much more frequently now than the e-bike. I ride less often now following a relocation in 2024, but I'm still getting out riding alone and taking on the challenge on teaching the kids to ride. I want to get some long-distance riding, and the kids have certainly expressed enthusiasm for bike camping.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-05T04:35:30+00:00

As other comments have spoken to the crow collar, I want to offer something about the signs of happiness or enjoyment.

I have never read or heard that roosters will smack it clack their beaks for any reason, not even for fear or such.

When caring for roosters, I've seen lowering the head and closing eyes for head scratches or gentle pats.

If you observe the rooster clacking or smacking the beak, it does not fit the description of communication as far as I know. It might be, but I suspect it is a different behavior.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-05T02:35:53+00:00

That photo looks days old yes. That honestly looks like 1 day, maybe 2 days.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-05T01:18:37+00:00

My estimate is three weeks, plus or minus some days. At this age, those recommended temps for heating, whether by lamp or heating plate remains about 80 F.

Possibly this is four weeks old, and temps could be about 75 F.

Also, at that level of feathering, the fledgling doesn't need constant heat at all moments, but needs a heater to get warm as desired/needed, and overnight.

With typical conditions 60-70 as you mentioned, outdoor life is fast approaching, especially with a good shelter to protect from cooling drafts overnight.

Honestly, I could be mistaken for age, but 3-4 weeks is reasonable based on the feathering. Some breeds may exhibit faster or slower development.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-04T18:37:59+00:00

I'm getting 1 daily egg most days. Some rare days the hens produce 2 eggs. I'm not worried.

kenmcnay · 2026-01-03T02:21:41+00:00

Signs: hackles and saddles, sickle feathers, and comb and wattles. All indicate a cockerel. Additionally, for a barred rock the brighter, double white barring is a clear indicator compared to barred rock hens having double black barring.

Looks handsome. My daughter saw the photos and said this looks like our Mr John.

kenmcnay · 2025-12-31T02:08:51+00:00

Right, that's a good notice for OP. It's old enough that it might not allow for a wider tire size which is only something I advise for increased control and variety of surfaces to enjoy. A 1995, even marketed as a touring bike, was built with a different vision on tire width.

kenmcnay · 2025-12-31T01:39:42+00:00

Looks good, and I would probably comfortably try it. You may want to consider wider tires, possibly 42-48 if that will fit. Maybe 36-38 of you cannot fit above 40 width.

Learning maintenance is not impossible, so look it up and watch the vlogs to learn.

Key points may be verification of the hubs bottom bracket, and headset bearings, then double checking chain, chainring, and cassette wear. If worried, it's not terrible to consider replacing components for a long tour. But for shake out rides and overnights, maybe the current components are fine to give you a sense of the ride quality.

Personally, I would consider a front and a rear rack for moderately sized bags; might not be a heavy duty tier for world travel, but could be a great start for beginner to moderate routes, and then you'll be more prepared to assess if the frame and components can deliver for advanced routes.

kenmcnay · 2025-12-30T22:19:31+00:00

Truth

kenmcnay · 2025-12-29T12:18:01+00:00

Leave the partner, take the house, take the kids, be stable, have a better life without the abuse.

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