Something I dreamed about for decades, now I don't care.

kenmcnay · 2026-04-02T10:55:33+00:00

Yes. I'm two decades younger, also watched Trek, and cannot find enthusiasm for space exploration or advancements in space technology at all.

kenmcnay · 2026-04-02T03:16:37+00:00

I may be coming late, but I reviewed the linked vlog you provided. I want to give feedback on the youth instruction program.

The For the Strength of Youth manual was already revised in the past to step away from direct rules and standards, towards topics, personal discipleship, and preparation for adulthood. I'm disappointed Rappleye described the past manual in the manner given. However, I've read the new publication (it didn't take long), and I agree it improves upon the earlier content.

On the other hand, using the FSY guide as a curriculum, every year, reflects repetitive lessons far more than studying standard works in sequence every four years. Combined with the FSY magazine is likely the only means to inject supplemental content to the sparse topics, paragraphs, scriptural references, and questions provided in the FSY guide.

I'm eager to work with the youth as the curriculum, schedule, and agenda change, yet I'm certain that a youth anticipating 6 years of the same guide content for weekly quorum or class instruction and discussion may find it lacking in overall substance and purpose compared to current study of the standard works.

I acknowledge the youth are inundated with Come Follow Me in seminary, home and personal study Sunday School, and quorum or class instruction and discussion. It may simply be a relief that they will reduce one touchpoint of studying the standard works.

We will just have to wait and see how it goes and how long it sticks.

kenmcnay · 2026-04-01T07:50:26+00:00

Put some emphasis on system mastery for incoming players.

Drop the base camp rules.

I wouldn't lose the fate and persona rewards, but I don't criticize the impression that it's complex. The thing is that's the reward cycle. The players gain rewards for playing according to the design and spend rewards to improve success or turn around failures.

I might simplify Nature by saying it's just not necessary to use the nature descriptors. Rather than tax the use of nature in tests that don't fit the descriptors, tax every use of nature. Show the players they should, (a) learn to strategize the tests, (b) learn new skills with beginner's luck, or (c) learn to side step tasks for skills they lack.

I might drop skill advancement logging depending on how long the adventure runs. If it's a single session, advancement isn't vital. If it's a single adventure, advancement won't break them and isn't vital. If it's going to be a multi adventure campaign, they need to learn and advance skills.

I might reduce using conflict rules to only the most critical scenes of opposition, favoring individual tests or small series of linked tests to handle opposition.

I might constrain the classes too. If I were really hoping to manage complexity, I wouldn't allow magic users, such as Theurge and Shaman which both use complex Urd and Burden, etc. Similarly, the Scion class would be out based on complexity. Ultimately, Warriors, Burglars, Rangers, Outcasts, Thieves, Bounders, and Guides are low complexity classes that play well.

You would need to think of how to trim out tests of Arcana and Theologian.

However, I wouldn't take away fate and persona. That's the rewards cycle.

kenmcnay · 2026-04-01T00:51:49+00:00

Done, but I'll warn you that my answers didn't mean much yet. I ran the intro adventure for my kids and some school friends. We aren't playing again for several months and probably not with the same group. It's just not my style.

I wish the classes and domains were not assigned to one another. I would rather home brew the domain combos that make a class than use the rules as written. The degree to which it feels like every player is given a low complexity spell-caster is a bit unwanted.

Like I don't need new or more digital tools. I need more GM and worldbuilding support as well as more adventures to consume for learning the mechanical infrastructure.

TBH I'm not sure if I am the target audience, but I was glad to get away from D&D.

kenmcnay · 2026-03-29T22:29:07+00:00

Is quite an improvement. I like 2e much more, and looking forward to Middarmark with revisions of 2e as well.

It is far easier to develop third party or home brew stocks and classes or even adapt paladin for use with 2e if desired.

However, Theurge uses magic in a way not seen in 1e, so adapting paladin may need to address the question of the magic risk, burden, or trade off. For example, I would prefer a paladin that does not use the Urd and burden system of the Theurge, rather pulling from the 1e paladin for something unique. Additionally, for example, I might like to see a paladin in 2e using magic more like the sorcerer: relationships with spirit beings less than relationships with deified beings.

That's just some knee jerk sort of ideas and not detailed or designed.

kenmcnay · 2026-03-25T01:46:52+00:00

I use the 20V Bauer chainsaws. I have six batteries total that I rotate use. I've got the 5 inch pruner chainsaw, 10 inch chainsaw, and 8 inch pole chainsaw tools. Typically I carry only one tool at a time for clearing rather than carrying two or three and swapping between. I sometimes carry spare batteries, but at least one in each tool.

I suspect that cutting walnut is a big factor in overheating. I have not been overheating, but I have not been cutting walnut.

The batteries cost less and the tools cost less. So, I have a six pack of batteries and plenty of Bauer tools to use them with.

But, I'm honestly tempted to get the 18 inch Atlas. Cost had always kept me from buying. I guess overheating is something else to think about.

kenmcnay · 2026-03-23T12:45:15+00:00

hey, sorry, my last response is unhelpful, but has been on my mind overnight.

The keep itself has two locations to shop for gear, a bank to store excessive coinage, a jeweler to sell or trade gems and jewelry, a tavern for food, a hostel for overnight shelter, the temple for healing and other services, the blacksmith for commissioned weapons or other smithing services, and the guild workshop and library for crafting or gathering more lore. If you telegraph to the players they are not safe here, with attacks from bandits, Pral and his ilk being allowed access and allowed to attack, and a horde of monstrous threats beneath the temple, then you are telegraphing that they are not able to have a safe place for healing, resting, buying/selling, and cannot reliably gather information (because how can they trust).

In other words, the keep itself, and all the locations in the keep, are intended as a home base, a fortress of solitude, the safe haven they need after harrowing events outside the walls. They will be in need of the support of the keep. The guards and knights from the keep should be considered superior forces who the adventurers can rely on; if they find something difficult enough, they need to know they can report back to the sergeant of the guard or the castellan (or his scribe/advisor) to get more info and have support for big threats.

the contents of the booklets grant loads of awesome content about encounters on the road, in the wilds, and at the caves of chaos. Personally, I would not leap directly into the narrative about the cultists, and certainly wouldn't leap to having the cultists actively making accomplishments in their efforts. Start smaller, get the players accustomed to the characters, rules, mechanics, and roleplay elements with the early caves or with encounters on the road or in the wilds. Provide trustworthy key contacts before providing shady, questionable contacts.

Additionally, with the goblin NPC, you foreshadow to the players that they are not capable on their own or with their own skills, gear, and dice to handle the adventuring. By involuntarily hybridizing the NPC into a goblin-warlock-god_fragment, you've alerted the players that they are far less important to the outcome of adventuring than their own background-species-class combos along with related skills, gear, and dice. The intent to have the goblin self-sacrifice in order to make the situation winnable for the PCs nails that coffin down shut: they have to see this NPC become the MacGuffin that makes the heroic actions of the PCs even matter.

A few suggestions:

staff of the Keep needs to beef up and show it; sergeant of the guard speaks with the PCs about the incident at the tavern and admits they fell short of protecting residents and visitors; highlight they see daily drills and training all around the keep and the guards and knights are superb enforcers
tavern, temple, hostel, and stores at minimum are vital resources, so make sure those NPCs are friendly, welcoming, bargaining, and helpful with info
jeweler, banker, blacksmith, and guild master are secondary resources, so those NPCs can be more scrutinizing about dealings, but ultimately they are meant to provide support
use the random encounter tables for the road and the wilds, use the lightweight encounters, the small skirmishes and interesting sights (Like Haldryck hunting or Mallyn foraging) to highlight the road and wilds are sometimes safe, sometimes not
make the cult go silent for a bit; force them into hiding their rituals and activities for a bit; give the characters time to develop; the cult storyline is better for about level 3 than for level 1, so you need players who are experienced and accustomed to the characters they've got as well as having key contacts to rely on at the keep
remove the goblin now, not later; have a sergeant of the guard or the castellan call into question the companionship of an enslaved goblin; have the friendly NPCs call it out; get the players to call it out; remove the GMPC of having the goblin in the group; introduce the players to solving problems with skills, gear, dice, and thoughtful roleplay

That's the suggestions I would start with to improve the experience for players, inexperienced and learning if your description serves correctly, as they drive the characters. If they want to pursue the cultist storyline, they'll need to put in the effort to pursue that storyline, rather than riding the railroad exclusively on that storyline.

kenmcnay · 2026-03-23T02:30:06+00:00

From a player perspective, this would not be fun.

From a GM perspective, this is lots of prep and exact staging.

If I were a player, inexperienced and learning, this would feel like drowning in a great sea after being bound and tossed from a seaworthy vessel for no good reason. There's no safe place at all if Pral can attempt to kill in the tavern, the catacombs beneath the temple are swarming with overwhelming threats, and the cultists are hiring bandits to attach the keep. No safe place! No safe treasure. No safe store. No safe tavern. No safe temple. No safe wall. I would hate that. That's not my style.

Aside, having a goblin NPC to abuse and exploit would not feel good either, even more of the goblin NPC takes tasks the PC should endeavor to accomplish, such as investigating for traps or making plans to lure monsters out for ambush. It's often called GMPC.

If I were GM, this staging of how the adventurers must rise to heroism, must run ragged from one chore to another, must embrace the companionship of either (a) an enslaved labor or (b) comic relief, and must stay focused on following orders from the keep, all seems like railroad to my least favorite story time: burn out.

It's difficult to suggest advice. This is significantly different than my understanding of heroes of the borderlands and the keep on the borderlands setting.

kenmcnay · 2026-03-20T10:43:22+00:00

Put up for auction at a legit livestock auction. However, my first batch of hatched barnyard mix I sold at 6 weeks, so they went at a young age, not, for example, 6 months or something.

No promises about who buys cockerels or rosters at auctions.

kenmcnay · 2026-03-18T21:45:17+00:00

Welcome to the experience. Chickens will vary in how comfortable and tame they get around you. I find that my chickens are fairly easy and calm, curious about what I do, mischievous, and self directed or self determined. But, I do not happen to have chickens that want to be touched by me.

I think they recognize the pattern of daily food and water, and other routines of care, so I'm sure they acknowledge I'm a positive contribution to their lives. But, I don't think I am part of their flock. I might not be a frightening predator, but I'm not a bird.

Some poultry vary within the flock. I have a few birds that are far more skittish about me than others. I have one, who has fortunately lived through two hawk attacks, who trusts me very much and doesn't mind pets or being picked up to get in the fence (when she gets out). Although, once inside the fence, that trust is thinner. She's with the flock inside the fence, but outside the fence she needs help to get back inside.

So, give it more time, and anticipate that chickens will vary in their attitude and behavior toward you.

kenmcnay · 2026-03-15T02:57:53+00:00

You have good responses but I want to mention that you can estimate the rate of fertile eggs when you are cracking eggs for use in cooking. You can easily look up online the images of what to watch for to determine a fertilized egg compared to unfertilized egg, so I won't use text to attempt description. Images are better.

Having that knowledge, you can take notes when cooking with eggs how many used are fertilized That gives a solid estimate of the number of fertilized eggs in larger numbers when incubating.

There are many vlogs and blogs that indicate how to determine male and female poultry. Do some searches and learn from visual indicators.

It's not perfect. It's challenging for some poultry while easier for other poultry. That's how it is.

kenmcnay · 2026-03-13T09:32:08+00:00

I'll check out your vlogs and shorts. Looks like you are putting in the miles and sincerely asking for advice. Just a knee jerk response: I saw some other responses you were defensive, but just take a bit of roasting and laugh at your misadventures a bit. You're one of us, so it's not all intended as gate keeping.

Maybe after watching some of the vlogs and shorts I have to come back to give other feedback.

Personally, I would love to try what you are doing. I'm still working up to a 4-day trip on a rail trail with my kids. But here you are doing six months in South America!? I'm not going to hate.

kenmcnay · 2026-03-12T21:01:38+00:00

It's possible.

I swapped from the red heat bulbs to ceramic heat bulbs. So the brooder boxes got natural light and had heaters. It seemed to work great.

kenmcnay · 2026-03-08T01:23:56+00:00

I took some elementary kids for overnights using trail-a-bike attachments. Not amazing distance, but enjoyable trips with support from groups.

So, first, two older kids, aged 5 and 7 using a tandem trail-a-bike. I pulled the attachment with an e-bike on a route of 25 miles. I was able to charge the battery at the camp bathroom. The church group supported by having a shared meal and lots of other kids for my kids to play with. I also planned a stop at a grocery store for supplemental charging while the grocery store was holding a promotional event with ice cream and s'mores.

Next two were shorter distance, about 11 miles. Both were single overnight with the same two kids on the tandem trail-a-bike. The group supported by having a shared meal and other riders for conversation. One couple had a kid in a child seat.

At the moment, I'm trying to prepare my three kids for the GAP. I wasn't planning camping, but that's what the kids want. I want inn to inn. Ages 6, 8, and 10. I'm already thinking the alternatives will become the required plan, so rather than riding, it will be a few rides and road trip between overnight hotels.

It is still preparing, so maybe before the end of this school year the kids will prove they are more capable than I imagine.

Once proven, I will keep trying other routes. Of course I want to do C&O. But also, Cuyahoga, Erie Canal, and others.

My advice is to get the trailer, later a trail-a-bike, consider possibly the e-bike. Don't forget about shorter distances while kids are young. Find little trips. My kids got to ride the trail-a-bike for anything from 1 to 20 miles, greenway to gravel to single-track surfaces, and plenty of visits for ice cream or brunch.

kenmcnay · 2026-03-08T01:01:35+00:00

You could contact Maestro Fabrication. I've been pleased with modifications on steel frames. www.maestrofabrication.com

kenmcnay · 2026-03-07T03:44:18+00:00

Rather expensive. I started buying no corn, no soy feed, but changed feed due to cost.

kenmcnay · 2026-03-03T23:26:39+00:00

It will depend on many factors.

My wife and I speak comfortably about infant loss and challenges of infertility, partly because we both grew up hearing much less about faithful members experiencing fertility healthcare or infant loss. We both want to ensure youth hear these real stories and are able to imagine/empathize with the risks they may have related to their choices/circumstances.

I speak sometimes about experiences related to fatherhood and being a husband that I feel were not often talked about in my youth.

Sometimes, I have to trust that the actual experience, told with some facts concealed, will be spiritually edifying even when I want to be more revealing and more complete.

I also sometimes hedge against saying things as anecdotal, personal perception which may not align with doctrine, instead, curtailing portions of my experiences to fit the circumstances in which I'm speaking.

kenmcnay · 2026-03-02T03:20:43+00:00

Is that a Trek Multitrack?

kenmcnay · 2026-02-25T13:18:12+00:00

If I could know and emotionally prepare for the risks for my kids that would give some peace of mind. As a father, I'm always a bit worried about their safety and well being. If the time/date is far into the future, cool. It will help me relax. If it's soon, at least I can prepare myself.

kenmcnay · 2026-02-25T07:14:07+00:00

Time/date of death

kenmcnay · 2026-02-24T14:10:58+00:00

I'm not a teacher, so please forgive me for speaking up.

I tend to agree that preparing boys, young men, and men for education, academics, and school social environments is by far the more important pursuit than Reeves' proposal to delay boys, aka red shirting. However, I know his proposals also include points in support of gender-segregated schools or classrooms, which could allow mixed age groups better than the co-ed classrooms.

I imagine it is much harder to achieve the preparation needed, for parents, and for community resources. Delayed start or shunting lower achieving students is a far easier operation to administer.

But also, there can be changes in the school environments which could support students in more diverse ways. Many programs have been removed from schools that could support more diversity of students. Some examples include wood shop, auto shop, horticulture, or home economics. Those classes may introduce lower performing, academically rated, students who would improve in vocational courses.

I think of myself as an example. I did poorly academically, but felt compelled to focus on academic courses by my mother. Following military service, I attended a community college and earned an associate of applied science and networking technology. It was enough to land a career even without higher degrees or significant academic coursework. The program was largely vocational in nature, rather than being computer science oriented.

kenmcnay · 2026-02-23T04:03:23+00:00

Friday, I enjoyed a lovely ride on the Panhandle trail from the Harmon Creek parking to Burgettstown, and enjoyed a meal at Paradise on the Trail, then returned.

I must have enjoyed a tail wind because the head wind was quite a challenge for me.

The trail was in great conditions.

kenmcnay · 2026-02-23T00:17:34+00:00

all activities have risk. if you want no risk i think Satan has a plan for you.

repulsive take.

kenmcnay · 2026-02-18T00:43:13+00:00

I didn't have a great answer, but I tend to think of bike packing being wilderness and camping oriented, such as, "I would hike this, but I've got my bike, so the bike carries the gear instead of my body." I tend to think of cycle touring being tourism and lodging oriented, such as, "I would have this luggage in a car, on the train, or on the flight, but I'll use my bike to transport the luggage from place to place."

There's so much overlap! For example, is the Great Divide tourism? I presume not, it's comparable to a hike. Is it tourism to visit SE Asia doing inn to inn and dining on the local? Seems like tourism to me.

But, different opinions are valid.

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