Today I’m going to write about a controversial topic that I’ve seen discussed frequently on discord and social media. Bots.
I’ve seen people argue reasons for and against Bots. That bot are the only way new players can catch up, that older players don’t want bots due to greed, and that bots are eating up the rewards pool.
Today I bring an argument to the table that none of that really matters, and this is why. The most common argument is that bots are drying up / eating up the rewards pool - This is the biggest and most common reason against bots, and admittedly it is a valid concern. However I don't think that the fault should be attributed soley to bots. At most bots (much like global warming) have done nothing more than expedite what was bound to happen. Admittedly the current DEC rewards on Splinterlands are paltry at best, and This is in part due to the massive increase in players winning matches and taking that DEC. The player base is growing at a spectacular rate, and regardless of how many accounts of these are bots, we would have hit those human numbers sooner or later, resulting in similar dec reward problems
- Remember that each bot account has to invest at least $10 USD to get started, not to mention these accounts may be buying or renting cards to win fights, actually contributing to the economy.
- As such , as more bots come onboard, if the aim is to achieve profitability thru DEC rewards, there is a lot more to be desired in terms of ROI
- That means the primary reward that MIGHT make bots feasible are the reward cards, which are being minted at incredible rates, resulting in the market being flooded and prices hitting the floor as quickly as possible, once again making it harder to achieve any significant ROI.
- what’s more the reward capacity of each bot is capped based on the dec capture rate, and the daily quest rewards. The latter of which, only becomes significant in silver rank and above, where better cards are needed to be able to reach these levels, putting DEC back into the economy, because these cards have to be rented or bought. If anything this BENEFITS older players who hold these cards, because it is encouraging more purchases and rentals by the bot accounts.
- The problem is not with bots, but with gameplay - Honestly lower level gameplay is about as straightforward as it gets. To the point, where I keep a spreadsheet of what to play at each mana level, and I just cycle thru it. The fact that I have to do it manually is a formality, and honestly I was doing this with 3-4 accounts simultaneously before I discovered bots were not shunned by the devs.
So to recap: Inherently bots are not the central problem to the game, nor are they a threat in any substantial manner. As mentioned, regardless of whether there are more bots or more players, a 10 dollar entry fee must be paid to gain rewards. Whether there are more players or bots, this will make the rewards less per fight. This makes it harder, whether human or bot to recoup that ROI. Lower level matchups are so black and white that you can quickly figure out the best matchups on a spreadsheet and just spit out the same formulas. Much like a bot.
Lastly with regards to the reward cards, the situation is similar if not better. As mentioned above, the DEC situation already makes it difficult for bots to recoup their ROI in the form of DEC. Thus the other option being the liquidation of rewards cards. This presents two scenarios:
- Bot owners want to quickly recoup their ROI and liquidate their holdings as quickly as they receive them. This may produce a short term flooding of the market, pushing prices down, making it easier for discerning players to stock up on cards, making it easier for new players to level up these cards, and long time players to stock up and hold them for when the print runs out. Both of these situations are good, as veterans will be able to add to their stock piles, and newer players have cheap access to specific cards, even rare and legendary ones, keeping them excited and invested in the game, which is what is needed to keep the game alive and progressing.
- Bot Owners are discerning enough to hold on to rewards - this is actually the less likely and worse option, as it would drive up card prices. Whilst this may be beneficial for veterans, who want to continue to see prices rise to maximize their earnings, it’s worse for new players as it makes it harder for them to get the cards that they want.
The issue then is not so much with the bots, but rather how the game reacts to this growth, and how the community needs to adjust their expectations about not only how the game works, but how the economy behind the game needs to work for long term survival. As more people play the game, whether in the form of humans or bots, the way we play will change, and as will the economy. Relying on DEC drops as a form of income is unsustainable at best. The game’s economy will truly take off when opportunities are created for DEC to cycle further, with value being created giving assets a reason to change hands with frequency.
Let me know what you think! Do you agree? Do you Disagree?