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Episode 147: A DuceCrypto Conversation
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The People's Guild: A Splinterlands Podcast
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Welcome back to The People’s Guild. This week we’re joined by @ducecrypto for a wide-ranging conversation on all things Splinterlands. From tournament structure and competitive play to SPS market dynamics, land strategies, and community engagement, we cover the present challenges and the future opportunities that lie ahead.
Whether it’s ideas to make tournaments more compelling, fresh approaches to player rewards, or exploring how the DAO should evolve, this episode digs deep into what matters most for the game and its players.
Enjoy the show!
Splinterlands Tournament Structure Improvements
The group discussed potential improvements to Splinterlands tournaments, with Duce crypto proposing a new tournament structure featuring 8-player queues and the use of out-of-print packs as prizes. They explored the idea of on-demand single-elimination tournaments with a best-of-3 format, where players would pay to enter using packs from the SPS DAO. Bjangles suggested using challenge rooms for streaming purposes, while FatJimmy expressed excitement about the potential for competitive play and esports development. The conversation touched on the challenges of streaming high-level play with hidden information and the need for a delay mechanism to maintain fairness.
Splinterlands Tournament Strategy Overhaul
The group discussed the state and future of Splinterlands tournaments, with a focus on making them more competitive and attractive to players. They agreed that tournaments should be the primary venue for high-stakes play, while maintaining a casual environment for new players through features like Foundation mode. The conversation also touched on the need to better utilize older cards and create more opportunities for casual players, potentially through new game modes or story-based content. They discussed the challenges of balancing competitive and casual elements, as well as the importance of rental systems and card value in the game's economy.
SPS Price Impact and Market Challenges
The group discussed the recent price increase of SPS. They debated the merits of pricing packs in SPS versus DEC, with FatJimmy explaining that all proceeds from the new mini set would go to the DAO rather than the team. Duce expressed concerns about the limited demand for SPS. The group agreed that new players would be the key driver for SPS value, but acknowledged the challenges of attracting enough new users to significantly impact the market.
Splinterlands Engagement and Revenue Strategies
The group discussed various aspects of playing and engaging with Splinterlands, including account management, guild dynamics, and content creation. Duce shared his experience with alt accounts and guilds, highlighting his success with a gold foil deck and his decision to move from Brawlers to Shield of Glory. They also talked about the challenges of navigating Hive and PeakD platforms, with Duce recommending reposting important content to easily find it later. The conversation shifted to the potential of short-form content on PeakD's Snaps feature and the possibility of earning from interactions. Finally, they explored the idea of incorporating advertising into Splinterlands to generate revenue, with Duce suggesting banner ads and sponsored tournaments as viable options.
Game Updates and Rule Changes
The group discussed recent updates to the game, including the ability to turn off liquidity bots and changes to mana caps. They also talked about the transition from using "summoners" to "archons" in the game, with some resistance from FatJimmy to the change. The conversation touched on various rule sets and their preferences, with Duce expressing a fondness for battle rules that severely limit card choices. They briefly discussed the popularity of the Frontier mode and the success of recent tournaments. The conversation concluded with Duce sharing his morning routine, which includes bouncing on a mini trampoline to get energized before playing the game.
Rules Committee for Competitive Play
The group discussed the need for a rules committee to ensure card abilities and interactions work as intended, particularly for competitive play. They agreed that new rule sets could be introduced regularly, with outdated ones retired, to keep gameplay fresh. The importance of having clear, accessible documentation for abilities and interactions was emphasized, as well as the need for a centralized information source in-game. The group also noted the discontinuation of updates to the Splinter Cards website, expressing concern about the lack of development for this resource.
Splinterlands Hall of Legends Discussion
The group discussed various topics including weed cultivation in New York, the history of Saturday Night Live, and the comedy of George Carlin. They also talked about the game Splinterlands, specifically the Hall of Legends promo cards and their limited availability. The conversation touched on the high prices and limited supply of certain cards, leading to frustration among players. They agreed that while Hall of Legends promos were necessary for whales to buy, the pricing and quantity of these cards may have pushed some players out of the game. The group also discussed the current meta of the game, noting that while some legendary cards are still relevant, many rare cards have fallen out of favor.
Splinterlands Strategy and Gaming Insights
The group discussed various topics including personal grooming habits, academic experiences, and gaming strategies. They shared anecdotes about their university experiences, particularly at the University of Texas at Austin, and discussed teaching middle school math. The conversation then shifted to fantasy football for Splinterlands players, with participants expressing interest in higher-stakes tournaments. They also discussed card values and strategies in the game, mentioning specific cards and deck compositions. The conversation concluded with a discussion about the effectiveness of certain cards in countering others, particularly in the context of the modern meta-game.
Splinterlands Land and Tournament Strategies
The group discussed land strategies and tournament formats in Splinterlands. Duce expressed frustration with the current land system and its high taxes. They agreed to explore the possibility of 8-player tournaments, with Duce planning to formalize a proposal. The conversation concluded with plans for an upcoming AMA set to cover the SPS Governance Proposal - Hire SMC To Create a New Mini-Set with Dave, Rogue, Tales, Azircon and others.

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We love hearing the stories that make this community special.
Whether you're a seasoned vet or just getting started, if you've got insights, feedback, epic battles, or just want to say hey, don’t hesitate to reach out.
You can find us at 📬 thepeoplesguildspl@gmail.com or Twitter.
Join the conversation on The People’s Guild Discord
and the Team Possible Weekly Chat.
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Join us in our Splinterlands journey by creating your own battle mage!
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