Episode 114: A People's Guild Roundtable

episode 114 - peakd.png

Episode 114: A People's Guild Roundtable

The People's Guild: A Splinterlands Podcast

Check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify & anywhere else you may get your podcasts

Welcome back to the People's Guild. In this one, it's just the two co-hosts hangin out & talkin shop. We cover a lot of the current happenings and share our thoughts.

An episode of observation & perspective.

Enjoy the show!

Splinterlands Fantasy Football League Discussion

Hepthorn and Bjangles discussed the Splinterlands Fantasy Football League, which was organized by BraveTofu. They expressed their appreciation for the community coming together for activities outside of Splinterlands, using SPS as the buy-in. Hepthorn mentioned his participation in the league and his Eagles fan background, which led to some friendly trash talk. They also mentioned the success of the drafts and the active participation of the members. The conversation ended with an invitation for others to join the league and reach out to Tofu for more information.

Rebellion Reward Unbinding and Card Trading Discussion

Bjangles and Hepthorn discussed the recent announcement of the rebellion reward unbinding, which allows players to unlock their cards at a 20x rate. They expressed their satisfaction with the decision, noting that it would contribute to keeping Decentralized (Dec) close to peg. They also discussed the potential for increased trading and sales of cards, with some already being listed on the market. Hepthorn mentioned his progress towards maxing out his cards, while Bjangles shared his strategy of burning a significant amount of cards to achieve his goal. Both agreed that the new system would provide more opportunities to burn DEC.

New Cards and Tactics Discussion

Bjangles and Hepthorn discussed their experiences with new cards like the Chaos Adjutant, which can scatter poison across the team, and the potential impact of Mid Hogger's force reduction on high mana matches. They talked about Nidhoggr's abilities, including assigning tactics to three allies, and how execute might interact with scattershot. Hepthorn asked about the execute ability of the Thanalorian Blade. They discussed the potential of abilities like blast, death blow, and execute, and how they could be utilized effectively with certain card combinations.

Recent Performance and Guild Progress Discussion

Hepthorn and Bjangles discussed their recent performance in a game, with Hepthorn expressing frustration over a close loss and Bjangles sharing his successful performance against a big player. They also discussed their guild's progress, noting their recent promotion to Tier 5 and the need for more donations. Both expressed optimism for future performances and the guild's continued growth. They anticipated the upcoming town hall meeting for potential updates and news, but had no specific information or rumors to share.

New Player Experience and Marketing Strategy

Bjangles and Hepthorn discussed the importance of a new player experience in the game, with suggestions for a separate league format and a free-to-play app. They agreed that new player experience should be prioritized over other aspects, and that packs should be available for new players. They also discussed the timing of a marketing push, suggesting it should coincide with the launch of the next core set. The conversation also touched on the need for funds to keep the team running, with a potential proposal for the team to receive funds in installments over several months until the next core set is delivered.

Mini Set vs Core Set Discussion

Bjangles and Hepthorn discussed the concept of a mini set versus a core set, with Hepthorn expressing uncertainty about the idea due to the recent influx of new abilities and reward cards. Hepthorn suggested that the novelty of new cards might be diminishing, which could affect the excitement around a mini set. Bjangles, on the other hand, considered the promotional cards as a potential mini set, but Hepthorn couldn't envision himself being excited about it. The conversation ended without a clear decision on the matter.

Overwhelming Abilities and New Player Experience

Bjangles and Hepthorn discussed the overwhelming number of abilities introduced into the game since the start of Rebellion. They tallied up the total number of abilities, including those from the reward set and promo cards, and estimated that there could be around 25 new abilities. Hepthorn expressed his concern about the game becoming too overwhelming, which he believes is partly due to the lack of league levels and the increased number of options. He also mentioned that he no longer plays on his phone due to the difficulty of navigating through the numerous cards and abilities. Bjangles suggested that this feedback could be useful for improving the new player experience on mobile.

Game Design, Abilities, and Card Set Integration

Bjangles and Hepthorn discussed the game's design, focusing on the introduction of new abilities and the rotation of cards. They agreed that the recent influx of abilities was overwhelming and suggested that there might be a sweet spot in delivering new content to keep it fresh without overwhelming players. They also noted that the abilities have become more complicated, requiring more thought and understanding from players. They proposed simplifying the abilities to make them more enjoyable for players. They also discussed the idea of tying certain abilities to specific card sets, like Chaos Legion, to drive value for those cards and provide clarity on future game direction. They expressed anticipation for how the meta will shape up with new abilities and sets, and acknowledged the challenges of maintaining balance and the value of unique abilities.

Hive Value Decline and Power-Up Day Discussion

Bjangles expressed disappointment over the decline in the value of Hive, despite efforts to support the community and invest in Hive Power. He noted that they were now 40,000 below the required amount for the Return Proposal, despite having reached 500,000 in the past. Hepthorn acknowledged the situation, suggesting that more Hive might be needed to stay afloat. The conversation ended with Bjangles noting that Hive had a power-up day every month, which could potentially provide bonuses.

Discussing Hive Participation and Blockchain Potential

Bjangles and Hepthorn discussed the importance of participating in the high power up day to receive bonuses and the need for collaboration between their communities for mutual benefit. They speculated on the reasons for a recent drop in hive support and agreed on the need to regain support. They also discussed the potential of Hive as a blockchain platform for various applications, including games, and expressed concern about people's limited perception of Hive. They ended the conversation with plans for upcoming guests on their show and a reminder to participate in the Hive challenge.

TPG thumbs-10.png