Format names need to be instantly clear. Most new players will only see the word Frontier in a menu. They won’t read the backstory or the metaphor. And at a glance, Frontier suggests a sci-fi or wild west theme, a dangerous or high-stakes mode, or something experimental... not onboarding.

The actual format is the opposite of a “frontier.” It’s safe, guided, and curated. It’s designed to help new players learn the game and compete without pressure. It’s about building a foundation, not pushing limits.

New players need immediate understanding. A good format name should make sense in one glance—and unfortunately, Frontier creates more confusion than clarity.

I like Foundation Format myself. If we introduce new card sets, we'd just call them Foundations II, Foundations III, etc. But we probably shouldn't ever do that, because we'd end up with Foundations Wild and Foundations Modern. Better to just add new cards to the Foundations set, similar to how Clash Royale does it. Alas, Foundation Format is just so long and would require edits to the UI to make it fit.

I also like Foundry Format. Definition: an establishment where founding is carried on. Founding is to take the first steps in building or to set or ground something... perfectly matches the fact that we are taking the first steps in building new players' experiences and grounding them in our game.

I also like Core Format. Definition: a central and often foundational part usually distinct from the enveloping part by a difference in nature.... and Foundations is the foundational part of Splinterlands for onboarding new players and different (free-to-play) in nature. Definition 2 (that fits): a basic, essential, or enduring part... It's basic (without calling it basic), essential for new players, and will be an enduring part of our onboarding process.

Edit: I also like Academy, which is what I voted for. Works well with our Waur Medge Academy of Battle Magic, with players battling in the safe-space of a magical institution, a place of learning the basics before venturing out into the wild frontier of Modern, Wild, and Survival.