Degrading? It's the truth. This game is an auto-battler. Once cards are in place there is a determined outcome based off of RNG. Can it still have a competitive element? Yes of course but its more of a fun competitive. We can make Candy Land competitive but still a numbers game so skill is out of the equation. Splinterlands has a bit of skill at the highest level but if 2 players play same cards there is still a chance that only one person wins due to RNG. That is the opposite of competitiveness and skill. I love this game and Aggy and Matts vision, and why I'm still here. I'm also a College Esports Coach who Coaches players playing League of Legends and other various genre of top competitive games. Lots of skill involved but even all of them have some form of a meta helper that is allowed even in tournament play. Some of our players use these at times as a quick update on the meta if they have been away from the game for a couple weeks or more. We also have a training program for new recruits that uses a form of a meta helper companion to learn the game through 100s of hours of gameplay while using the tool provided until they are knowledgeable and skilled enough to start competing for a spot on the team.

When you have a common meta even in an auto battler, players at a high level know the common meta and are constantly countering and introducing new metas, then these "battle helpers" have data for a new common meta and it is constantly evolving by the minute. It does indeed take competitiveness to a whole new level. It makes it a bit harder for the casual player if they don't use a companion unless they put in a lot of hours and if you want a successful game that appeals to a broader audience you can't expect everyone to put in 100s and 1000s of hours. You have to give them a bit of a foundation to start with to give them a fighting chance. With these tools maybe eventually they no longer require those tools.

Speaking from a high competitive level in this genre and similar games I really hope people broaden their lens a bit and educate themselves. Refer back to competitive games with how "Metas" are formed and constantly countered by good players. Any real competitor understands this and would not have concern for an average player using a battle helper. This does not hurt the true competitive player at a high level. It does hurt a casual for fun player who doesn't wish to spend the time required to beat the meta. We ban "Meta Helpers" and I believe we stay a little niche game in the web 3 space. Again it all boils down to education on the subject and understanding what type of game this is and stop comparing it to chess and mtg.

I'm against automation but I'm not against a tool providing meta information. And that's what this is at its core is a meta provider. If it becomes not beatable by the best players in the game then yes it would need to be addressed but if we have a enough cards and gameplay mechanics that should never be the case. A high level player that studies the game will always be able to counter what is predictable.

Good Fortune to all those traversing the "lands" of Praetoria in the near future.

Matr1x