Episode 127: A Stever82 Conversation

Welcome back to The People's Guild! We're thrilled to have @fatjimmy back in the co-host seat as we dive into another jam-packed episode. And of course, we’re welcoming back our good buddy @stever82, a staple of the Splinterlands community and a voice we always love having on the show!

This week, we’re tackling some of the most critical discussions in Splinterlands—from meta shifts and card balancing to DAO governance, pack pricing strategies, and the evolving role of SPS. With Conclave Arcana on the horizon, the time to refine the game’s direction and ensure a strong future has never been more important.

We also explore marketing strategies, scholar model adjustments, and improvements to engagement and communication, all while keeping a close eye on what the next phase of Web3 gaming means for Splinterlands.

Enjoy the show!

The team discussed the need for more frequent community engagement, suggesting at least two town halls per month. They proposed inviting community members and third-party platform developers as guest speakers to share their experiences and strategies. The increased frequency of town halls could help maintain community interest, provide transparency, and facilitate feedback. The team also mentioned the potential of incorporating Twitter spaces into their communication strategy, leveraging the time zone advantage of their European team member.

The team discussed the technicalities of setting up and managing nodes for the Splinterlands game. FatJimmy expressed interest in running a node on an old Mac and suggested that the team might have more than 50 nodes. The team also discussed the potential decentralization of nodes and the need for technical skills to manage them. Bjangles brought up the concern of cloud providers' vulnerability to government regulations, which could affect the decentralized nature of the nodes. The team also touched on the upcoming validator update and the possibility of delegating licenses. Additionally, they discussed the current state of the Ethereum bridge for SPS and the need for it to be turned back on.

The team discussed the removal of DEC from leaderboards in Splinterlands, and how it may affect both professional scholars who earn rewards from the game and the game's overall economy. The discussion highlighted concerns about the game becoming pay-to-win if only top players could afford certain rewards. The team also speculated on the potential effects of removing DEC from the game, such as potentially reducing the value of certain cards. The team also touched on the upcoming addition of new tradable assets to the game's shop and the potential for these to offset the loss of DEC rewards.

The team discussed the challenges they face when buying packs in the Splinterlands game. They discussed the need for variable pricing, taking into account the cost of SPS, and the potential impact on players who use credits. The conversation also touched on the current set value of Rebellion and how it compares to the cost of buying packs. They agreed that the game needs to offer more to Web3 gamers who expect an ROI. The team also discussed the potential rewards for new players and the need to ensure a smooth landing for them. The conversation ended with a discussion on the risks of relying too heavily on luck in purchasing packs.

The group discusses potential marketing strategies for Splinterlands, focusing on attracting TCG players and Web3 users. They explore the idea of leveraging streamers to host tournaments and introduce new players to the game. The conversation touches on the challenges of converting free-to-play users to paying customers and the importance of making it easier to purchase and stake SPS. They estimate that a successful marketing campaign could bring in 10,000 to 20,000 new players, with a potential 10% conversion rate to paying users. The group also mentions the upcoming implementation of Ramp.com, which will allow direct purchases of SPS within the game, potentially removing a significant barrier to entry for new players.

The team discussed the potential price increase and trading opportunities for SPS tokens. They also discussed their personal token holdings and strategies for managing them. The conversation shifted to the game Splinterlands, where they discussed the potential for growth and the need to balance token management with gameplay. They also reminisced about a past event at Splinterfest where a player won a game with some wild RNG. The team agreed that the game is fun and addictive, and there is potential for it to expand its player base.

The team discussed concerns about the scholar model in Splinterlands, where top players dominate the leaderboard, potentially discouraging casual players from experimenting with different decks. They agreed that this could lead to a stagnant meta, negatively impacting the game's fun factor. The scholars, however, bring a positive aspect, enabling players from less fortunate areas to earn and provide for their families. The team considered revisiting the scholar model and possibly implementing a system where scholars could play one account, allowing them to potentially go pro by excelling in tournaments. The removal of tangible rewards like DEC was seen as a final straw for some, even though it didn't directly impact them. The discussion highlighted the need to balance the scholar model with the need to maintain a fun and competitive gaming environment.

The group discusses potential improvements to Splinterlands' reward system and card availability. They suggest making previous reward cards available for purchase with glint, potentially at higher prices, to give new players access to competitive cards. They also propose allowing players to list locked reward cards for sale, with the buyer paying the unlock fee. The conversation touches on reducing the unlock price for reward cards and implementing a calendar system for special card sales in the glint shop. These ideas aim to improve game accessibility, player engagement, and fairness in card acquisition.

The discussion covers various aspects of Splinterlands, including the DAO, proposals, and game mechanics. Participants express mixed feelings about the current state of DAO proposals, with some suggesting fewer but more meaningful proposals. They discuss the idea of introducing alternative ways for the community to provide input, such as polls or surveys. The conversation also touches on the financial impact of the DAO on Splinterlands, with some suggesting it has been crucial for the company's survival. The group explores potential improvements to the game, including changes to promo cards, pack opening mechanics, and the visual representation of gold foil cards. They express excitement and hope for upcoming developments in the game, particularly the release of Conclave Arcana, while acknowledging the need for continued communication from the development team to maintain community engagement.