Welcome back to the People’s Guild.
We’re back with a brand-new episode of TPG, and today we’re joined by a fresh face in the Splinterlands community: 
In this episode, we walk through his first impressions of the game, the learning curve, rental strategies, Ghost Modern exploration, the rating system, and what it feels like for a new player to step into our ecosystem. We also dive into the broader gaming world he comes from, including his work as a board game designer. His latest project — a fast, fantasy-themed math-strategy title — is currently live on Kickstarter, and you can check it out here:
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/alariaquest/alaria-quest-the-goblin-kings-dungeon
SideQuest Games: https://sidequestgamesllc.com/
It’s a fun conversation, a fresh perspective, and a great reminder of how Splinterlands can feel through new eyes.
Enjoy!
New Content Creator Joins Splinterlands
The meeting welcomed MTGJedi, a new content creator to the Splinterlands community, who was introduced through the Grand Prix by Bulldog. MTGJedi shared his positive experience with the welcoming community, highlighting the similarities between the Splinterlands and Raid Shadow Legends communities in their supportive nature. He expressed interest in Splinterlands, noting the game's evolution and the exciting time it's in with new mechanics and ideas. The discussion also touched on MTGJedi's streaming habits, where he primarily focuses on Raid Shadow Legends but occasionally tries new games like Splinterlands for collaborations or sponsorships.
Splinterlands Grand Prix Discussion
Bjangles and MTGJedi discussed the Grand Prix competition and its compatibility with Splinterlands gameplay. MTGJedi expressed challenges due to playing on an iPhone and mentioned the need for a mobile app, which Bjangles addressed by mentioning the iOS Splinterlands app and the Hive Keychain app as alternatives. They also talked about MTGJedi's ranking in the competition, noting his high win rate and current placement. MTGJedi shared his observations on the game's difficulty in Diamond 3, particularly regarding win-loss reward penalties and the challenge of assembling competitive card groups with low point thresholds.
Splinterlands Strategy and Game Mechanics
Bjangles and MTGJedi discussed the challenges of building a competitive card collection in Splinterlands, with MTGJedi expressing interest in renting additional cards to expand their strategy options. Bjangles explained how to access practice mode, which allows players to simulate battles with various rule sets and difficulty levels, and suggested that MTGJedi try playing against a skilled opponent. The conversation also touched on the potential for new game modes inspired by Marvel Snap, as well as the integration of land-based mechanics into Splinterlands, with FatJimmy mentioning the limited availability of castles and keeps in the game's digital continent.
Splinterlands Feudal Tax System Discussion
The group discussed the feudal tax system in Splinterlands, where keeps generate revenue from plots and castles oversee multiple keeps. Bjangles and FatJimmy shared their experiences with the game, with Bjangles noting its deep economy and multiple gameplay elements that attract different players. MTGJedi, a new player, found the transition from Magic: The Gathering to Splinterlands relatively smooth due to similar mechanics, though he still needs to learn card positioning and strategies. The conversation concluded with recommendations for using practice mode to improve gameplay and understanding of card abilities like Snipe.
Game Features and Rating System
Bjangles and MTGJedi discussed the features of practice and challenge modes in the game, highlighting the ability to fine-tune game parameters and access Ghost Modern cards. They also talked about the rating system, with Bjangles mentioning potential adjustments to make it less grindy, and MTGJedi expressing a desire for a system that encourages more play. Bjangles suggested using Peak Monsters to manage rentals and purchases, and MTGJedi acknowledged being unfamiliar with the platform but expressed interest in exploring it.
Peak Monsters Rental System Discussion
The group discussed the blockchain game Peak Monsters, focusing on its rental system for cards and the potential for earning money through gameplay. Jimmy explained that players can earn SPS tokens through battles and tournaments, with some scholars using rented decks to compete. Bjangles shared examples of players using their earnings to make significant purchases, including one scholar who used Splinterlands winnings to pay for a family funeral in the Philippines. The conversation highlighted how the game has evolved to emphasize gameplay over pure financial returns, with many players reinvesting their earnings to deepen their involvement in the game.
Splinterlands Trading and Collection Strategies
The discussion focused on the trading and collecting aspects of Splinterlands, with FatJimmy and MTGJedi sharing their experiences of buying, selling, and collecting cards. Bjangles and MTGJedi discussed the elements and play styles in Splinterlands, with MTGJedi expressing a preference for blue and black cards due to their synergies. Bjangles admired MTGJedi's collection and mentioned a YouTube short by Brave Tofu that humorously criticized Commander Slade's elusive nature.
Splinterlands NFT Gaming Insights
The group discussed the remaining days of the Grand Prix season, with MTGJedi acknowledging a 300-point deficit but expressing hope to improve his position. They explored the perception and impact of NFTs in gaming, with MTGJedi sharing his initial negative reaction to NFTs but now appreciating Splinterlands' balanced approach that allows players to focus on gameplay or NFT aspects as desired. The conversation highlighted how Splinterlands effectively introduces players to NFTs without overwhelming them with crypto details, making the game accessible to a broader audience.
Raid Shadow Legends Game Discussion
The group discussed Raid Shadow Legends, a mobile game where players collect and upgrade heroes from various franchises like Ninja Turtles and Alien vs. Predator. MTGJedi explained that while he is new to crypto, Raid has a large player base of 2.5 million and offers strategic gameplay through gear customization. The conversation touched on the game's monetization methods, including account trading and promotional codes for rare champions, with MTGJedi suggesting that new players use his download link to earn gift cards through gameplay.
Splinterlands Player Experience Improvements
The group discussed the new player experience in Splinterlands, with MTGJedi sharing insights from their recent streaming session where they found the tutorial ineffective. Bjangles highlighted the unique DAO structure where the community directly influences game development, and FatJimmy mentioned upcoming new abilities with the miniset release. The discussion concluded with plans to explore MTGJedi's board game, though the transcript ended before this was fully discussed.
Splinterlands Governance and Game Development
FatJimmy explained to MTGJedi about the governance token SPS in the Splinterlands ecosystem, which allows players to propose and vote on game direction and hiring decisions. MTGJedi expressed interest in working on games full-time and mentioned his desire to continue playing Splinterlands, potentially joining a guild. Bjangles discussed MTGJedi's board game, Ellaria Quest, which is currently on Kickstarter and combines elements of fantasy quests and poker, offering a quick and engaging gameplay experience.
Fantasy Math Game Kickstarter Update
MTGJedi discussed his board game "Alaria Quest," which is currently on Kickstarter and features a math-based poker game with fantasy themes. He explained that the game is ready for manufacturing and aims to ship in January, with a target date of April if production delays occur. Bjangles, who runs a school in Taiwan, expressed interest in the game's educational potential and inquired about supporting the project. MTGJedi also shared plans for two other games set in the same fantasy world, including a pirate-themed game and a poker drafting game, and mentioned his use of AI in the concepting process for artwork.
Legendary Summoner Design Process
Bjangles discussed the process of designing new Legendary Summoners in Splinterlands, where top presale purchasers can earn the opportunity to create their own summoner. He mentioned that securing a leaderboard spot requires a significant financial investment, with the top spot costing more than $90,000 and the sixth spot costing roughly $50,000. The group also discussed the potential for more pirate-themed cards in future sets, with MTGJedi expressing interest in contributing to this effort. The conversation ended with plans for a follow-up retrospective in a few months and an invitation for MTGJedi to join the UX Discord for feedback and collaboration.
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