In this episode, Swag enhances the trading dock with a few iron tools, increases the storage quotas for various resources, and assigns new adults to essential jobs in the settlement. Join him as he explores effective colony management in Banished, even when faced with resource limitations and no immediate building opportunities!
Episode 29: St. Agnes of Rome
In this episode of ‘A Few Moments with God,’ host Swagnilla Ice explores the inspiring life of St. Agnes of Rome, the patron saint of chaste singles. Born into Roman nobility in 291, Agnes’s unwavering faith and commitment to Christ led her to vow chastity, despite immense pressure and persecution. From miraculous protections to her ultimate martyrdom, Agnes’s story is one of courage, purity, and unyielding devotion. Join us as we reflect on her legacy and draw lessons for our own faith journeys. Don’t miss next week’s episode on St. Valentine!
Why An Authorized Pokemon Mod for Minecraft is Needed
I enjoy Minecraft (well, modded at least, but you get the point). I also enjoy Pokémon—I remember playing one of the handheld games as a child. I won against the Elite Four and the Champion on my GameBoy Color, and I enjoyed playing the version that was set in the Orre region, though I never finished it. Imagine if you could enjoy aspects of Pokémon in Minecraft safely and legally—what adventures could you come up with, and what sorts of battles you could have, both against wild Pokémon and in multiplayer, against other trainers! You could build your own Pokémon center—make it as big as you wanted, as long as you had the materials! You could maybe even challenge gyms that spawned in villages and earn a unique reward when you won—or even a badge toward a bigger battle with the ultimate reward. The possibilities would be nearly endless!
The history of unauthorized Pokémon mods goes back a few years. The first unauthorized Pokémon mod, Pixelmon, did not have a good reputation with the community at large due to hidden code that allowed the developers to shut down servers that didn’t follow their rules—not Mojang’s or The Pokémon Company’s, but theirs. Due to this, and their use of copyrighted materials such as sounds and images, the developers were sent a cease and desist letter from Mojang in 2017, which they complied with. However, the mod has been revived several times since then by others after the base code was leaked. Pixelmon Reforged, Pixelmon Generations, and Cobblemon are three more unauthorized Pokémon mods for Minecraft, but sooner or later, I bet that Nintendo and/or The Pokémon Company will move to shut them down to protect their intellectual property, which they need to do in order to safeguard it.
I believe there is a way to get an authorized Pokémon mod for Minecraft. Yes, monetization is a factor that would appeal to Nintendo and The Pokémon Company (as they are both driven by profit), but I don’t think it should be the key aspect. Instead, an authorized mod would help their companies stay relevant and open Pokémon up to people who have never heard of the anime, games (both card and video), or manga. There could even eventually be a Pokémon World Championship tournament like there was in the anime—imagine seeing someone acknowledged as the best player of the game! Right now, this is impossible with the mods not being authorized. Additionally, an authorized mod could be trusted by the community to not have malicious code that would harm your game, and it would be compatible with the version it was designed for.
Personally, I will only ever support an authorized version of Pokémon as a mod for Minecraft and not include it in my Minecraft video series until this is accomplished. This aligns with my goals of making my content both family-friendly and ethical. I use tools like the YouTube Audio Library and Content ID to ensure that I am compliant with copyright at all times in my productions. If I’m uncertain about whether or not I can include something, I keep it out. For example, I encountered issues with copyright using Pretzel Rocks for my livestreams to provide background music, so I decided to stop using it. I’d rather use the normal Minecraft music (which I know is safe to use) than deal with the hassle of copyright claims on my livestream VODs. I have chosen in the past not to post videos when they went against these principles, and I will do so again in the future—you can count on it!
Once again, I call for an authorized Pokémon mod for Minecraft—just imagine the possibilities and how it could extend the shelf life of both games with such support! An official mod would not only ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for players but also foster a thriving community of Pokémon and Minecraft fans. It would open up new creative and competitive opportunities, from building intricate Pokémon-themed structures to participating in epic battles and tournaments. By supporting an authorized mod, we can encourage Nintendo and The Pokémon Company to collaborate with Mojang and bring this dream to life. Together, let’s advocate for a mod that respects intellectual property, enhances our gaming adventures, and paves the way for even greater innovations in the future. Join me in this call to action, and let’s make our voices heard!
Creative Engineering E10: Mastering Pedestals and Easy Villagers Setup!
In this exciting episode, Swag demonstrates how to harness the power of Pedestals to generate additional resources. He also provides a step-by-step guide on using Easy Villagers to cultivate four essential vanilla crops: carrots, potatoes, beetroot, and wheat. Additionally, Swag walks you through setting up the breeder and incubator to produce jobless, non-nitwit villagers, ready to be put to work.
Swag Plays Factorio S2 E24: Boosting Efficiency and Power Storage!
In this episode of Factorio, Swag takes efficiency to the next level by adding modules that slash power consumption. He also sets up a solar panel array complete with accumulators to store the excess energy produced. The research process hits a snag as Swag has to manually transport blue science packs, leaving him eagerly anticipating the day when robots can take over the delivery service.
Swag Plays Banished S2 E16 | Early Tips, Sheep Relocation & Trade Setup
In this episode of Swag Plays Banished, Swag kicks things off with some essential tips for early gameplay while waiting for colonists to bolster the workforce. Watch as Swag attempts to split the sheep into two flocks, only to adapt and relocate them to a larger pen, optimizing the roles of herds people and gatherers. Meanwhile, the trading post is completed, and strategic decisions are made to assign goods and appoint the first tradesperson, paving the way for future economic prosperity. Tune in for insightful strategies and dynamic gameplay!
Episode 28: The Incredible Journey of St. Mary of Egypt
Join host Swagnilla Ice in this captivating episode of ‘A Few Moments with God’ as we explore the remarkable life of St. Mary of Egypt. From a life of carnal pleasures to profound faith and repentance, Mary’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of God’s forgiveness. Discover the pivotal moments that led her to a life of solitude in the desert and the miraculous events that marked her path. Reflect on the questions posed throughout the episode and draw inspiration from Mary’s unwavering faith. Don’t miss this enlightening and thought-provoking episode.
February Fun: My Exciting Plans and Projects
Hey everyone!
I’d like to kick off this blog post by expressing my heartfelt gratitude for all the support you showed me in January. Whether you tuned in to my Twitch livestreams or subscribed to my YouTube channel, your support truly means the world to me. Last month, I created some amazing content, including launching the Pyramid of Support and continuing my survival adventures in a flat world in modded Minecraft during every livestream.
This month, I have some fantastic content lined up for you. Alongside releasing new episodes of my Factorio, Banished, and Creative Engineering series on YouTube, I’ll continue my flatworld survival series in modded Minecraft live on Twitch. Of course, I might switch things up with different games for a change of pace!
I’m also keeping up with the challenges I started in January. If I don’t receive at least one subscription on Twitch during a stream, there won’t be a raid. Plus, my subgoal challenge remains: I’ll stream for three hours per session unless five new subscribers join before time is up—then, I’ll stream for an extra hour. If you reach the goal before the two-hour mark, I’ll take a short break; otherwise, I’ll skip it.
With both St. Valentine’s Day and my 40th birthday this month, you might expect some bonus content—and you’d be partially correct! I’m planning a birthday celebration stream for the day closest to February 21st (a Friday), depending on my work schedule. To stay updated on the details, make sure to join my Discord community. As for Valentine’s Day, I don’t have anything special planned since I’m single and don’t particularly care for the holiday.
Currently, I am not planning any extra content for YouTube, though I may dedicate an episode or two of my podcast, ‘A Few Moments with God,’ to topics related to these special days.
Here on Ko-fi, I already have a plan for next week’s blog post. I’ll be exploring the meaning of sentient life and discussing what I believe should and should not be classified as such. Stay tuned to read that post and other exciting content here! If you have a topic you’d like me to write about or cover on my podcast, please feel free to suggest it in the comments or via my Discord. I’d love to see your ideas!
Thank you all so much for your continued support and enthusiasm. Your engagement and encouragement keep me motivated and inspired to create and share content. I can’t wait to see what February has in store for us. Stay awesome, and I’ll catch you in the next post or stream!
Creative Engineering Episode 9: Transforming Sifting with Create Sifters: A Game Changer!
In this episode, Swag takes you on an exciting journey through the automation of sifting with the Create Sifting mod! Discover how to extract valuable resources from gravel, sand, and soul sand effortlessly. Watch as he skillfully uses pedestals to transport materials and selects the perfect mesh to achieve optimal results. Don’t miss this game-changing tutorial!
Swag Plays Factorio S2 E23: Accumulators and Productivity Upgrades
In this episode, Swag focuses on automating the production of accumulators, making a significant leap toward energy efficiency. By adding modules to the tree farm, he enhances their output with less power consumption. Swag also schedules crucial research projects that pave the way toward unlocking logistic robots. These robots promise a game-changing upgrade for the factory, enabling expansions without the need for extensive belt systems. Tune in to witness these strategic advancements and their impact on the factory’s growth!