Welcome back to the People's Guild. In this one, we cruise into Midwest, USA to sit down with our ole pal, 
We take a bit to catch up & understand Rogue's absence, celebrate his return to the game and talk Nidhoggr, soulbound cards and, of course, the recent Splinterlands' proposal for the DAO to cover legendary developer, Cryptomancer's, salary.
Enjoy the show!
RoguePatton's Gaming and Life Updates
RoguePatton returned to the game after a break due to mobile switch issues and the adjustment to points and scholar running accounts. He expressed his enjoyment of the game and anticipation for the soul bound unlocking. RoguePatton discussed his life changes, particularly the stabilization of his family situation, which allowed him more time for other projects. He also shared his preference for the mobile experience over desktop and his strategy for playing the game on mobile, including renting untamed cards at a low cost. The team also discussed their experiences with various cards and strategies in a card game, with RoguePatton sharing his thoughts on the Rift Watcher summoners and the card 'Inevitable'. They expressed a desire for more insights into the bot's performance and how it affects the card market.
Card Game Tactics and Potential Discussion
RoguePatton, Hepthorn, and Bjangles discussed the tactics and potential of various cards in their card game. They analyzed the abilities of the 'Nidhoggr' card and questioned its viability in rule sets under 20 mana. They also highlighted the potential of the Death Blow and Blast abilities, and how they could be strategically used. The conversation also touched on the potential of the Night Stalker card, the possibility of running a Black Team, and the potential of cards like Will-o-Wisp, Dr. Blight, and Thaddeus Brood. The team agreed that the upcoming updates and rule sets could significantly impact the gameplay.
Discussing Trading Card Game Release Consistency
The team discussed the need for consistency and predictability in the release of trading card games, expressing concerns about the uniqueness of each set and the potential for too many new abilities. They agreed on a more consistent approach to set releases, with each set having unique abilities. The team also discussed their strategies and preferences for playing with their cards, with RoguePatton and Hepthorn expressing a preference for the Night Stalker over Delya. The team also touched on the potential usefulness of the back row cleanse card. A proposal to hire Cryptomancer for $14,400 per month to continue development on the Secret of Praetoria and land expansion was discussed, but not approved due to the high monthly expense. The conversation ended without a clear resolution on the matter.
Guilds, Land Development, and New Player Experience
Hepthorn, RoguePatton, and Bjangles discussed the challenges faced by their team due to delayed land development. They considered hiring a developer, Cryptomancer, to work on the land development, but expressed concerns about the team's control over the project. They also discussed the potential impact of hiring a new team member, Cryptomancer, on the team's dynamics and the community's perception. The team acknowledged the need to improve the new player experience in Splinterlands, focusing on creating a solid foundation for the game. They considered a contract-based approach for building out guilds and rehashing brawls, but expressed concerns about the logistics and execution of the proposal. The team agreed on the importance of guilds in player retention and conversion rates, but expressed concern about the lack of progress in reworking the guild system. They concluded that they need more information about the game's development plans and the role of guilds in the new player experience.
Securing Funds and Core Set Development
The team discussed securing funds from various sources and their allocation, considering hiring Cryptomancer. They acknowledged having breathing room from SPS.DAO and its Hive funds. Hepthorn expressed concern about lack of financial information. The team agreed to focus on the next core set using HPD funds, and RoguePatton suggested rotating to a new set with a new board proposal. Bjangles proposed hiring the team for the next core set's development. The team discussed ongoing game conflicts, company financials, need for transparency, and the significant request for the next core set proposal.
Proposal Concerns and Game Cost Discussion
Bjangles expressed concerns about the company's handling of a proposal and the team's ability to afford losing more members. Hepthorn suggested the company might need to change its approach by proposing a new card. The team discussed the lack of transparency and communication from the company regarding the removal of vouchers and introduction of a mini set. RoguePatton and Hepthorn discussed concerns about the cost of playing at the highest level, with RoguePatton suggesting the game might separate into different cost-based leagues. They agreed the rotation of the Chaos Legion could provide insight into gameplay without the most expensive cards.
Bronze Enjoyment, Leagues, and Ranking System Improvements
RoguePatton suggested bronze might be more enjoyable due to bot changes, disagreed with new players facing maxed cards, and proposed reintroducing leagues designed for ranked play. Bjangles discussed a recent Hive challenge on the next core set sale. They considered making leagues choosable with a salary cap and unique rule sets. They also discussed leaderboard gatekeeping issues, with Hepthorn dismissing concerns, and potential ranking system improvements like capping rank-ups.
Content Creation Challenges and Blockchain Benefits
RoguePatton desires to create content but faces challenges due to his children's ages. Hepthorn suggests RoguePatton's oldest child could help with content creation in the future. The team discusses the benefits of posting on the blockchain and the guild's participation in tournaments and initiatives. They also share their experiences with trading cards, market prices, and average mana costs in battles.
