Upcoming Releases and Plans
Major Focus
- The upcoming Conclave Arcana set release, coinciding with Splinterlands' seven-year anniversary in May 2025
- A significant marketing and promotional campaign (first major one for Splinterlands) launching alongside Conclave Arcana
Recent Achievements
- The team has been delivering at an unprecedented rate with high quality, including:
- Reworked practice mode
- Validators
- Survival format
- Leaderboard rework
- Land 1.75
- Kayn Gains, a new voucher card, has seen significant community engagement with nearly two million vouchers burned in just two days
Planned Releases (Next Two Months)
- Relaunch of the mobile app
- Launch of the foundation set and campaign mode for new player onboarding
- Conclave Arcana pre-sale and full launch (major new set with exciting features)
- Launch of the marketing campaign
- In-game utility for land resources and research (first implementation before Conclave Arcana launch)
Conclave Arcana Details
New Features
Conclave Arcana will introduce brand new foils, insane abilities, and fresh mechanics, opening up endless strategic possibilities and a new learning curve
New racial synergies will be a key feature, with new summoners providing synergies for elves, orcs, dwarves, oolins (aka hippo people), and gnomes. Players are encouraged to review their collections for cards of these races as they will have additional utility with the new Conclave Arcana summoners
The new summoners capable of utilizing these racial synergies, allowing them to summon these races from different elements, will be available in Conclave Arcana. The current placeholder name for this mechanic is "Racial Synergies", with the summoner ability being called "Racial Dominion"
F Bladest (dwarf) and Rozie Clank Trap (gnome) are examples of characters from the new set, with Rozie potentially being a promo or airdrop card
Porsche is the leader of the Conclave Arcana, a wizard council that took over from the previous one and allied with Silus of the rift. The storyline will involve players uncovering her plans to betray Silus
The dwarf card F Bladest showcases the Racial Dominion ability, allowing it to call upon all dwarves in the game regardless of element during team building. This is linked to the Void Armor ability, which will be granted to all dwarves summoned through Racial Dominion
The introduction of racial synergies is considered a significant addition to gameplay
The UI will include a race search filter in team building, and cards that synergize with the Archon's racial dominion ability will be highlighted
Conclave Arcana will feature more foils than before, with extremely rare cards even beyond gold foil legendaries, emphasizing the collector aspect of the game. Land ownership may provide benefits in obtaining these new foils
There will be new pack types: alchemist packs with a guaranteed gold foil and legendary packs with a guaranteed legendary card, offering better value than regular packs
Starter packs, cheaper packs with only common and rare cards, will also be available and may be included as rewards for purchasing a spell book
Foundation Set and Campaign Mode
Overview
- The foundation set and campaign mode are designed for new player onboarding
- Campaign mode is envisioned as a new PvE game mode where players learn the game through an immersive story-driven experience, starting with a choice at a crossroads
- Campaign mode will feature multimedia cutscenes, animated characters, and unique battlefields based on the story
- The goal is to emotionally invest new players, improve retention, and teach them the fundamentals of gameplay before they venture into PvP modes
- The foundation set will replace the current starter card system, with players earning these basic cards as they progress through the campaign. Foundation cards will have a distinct wooden frame icon
Mobile App
- The mobile app is being developed with the help of Studdv, the developer of Hive Keychain, aiming for a seamless user experience with Hive Keychain functionality integrated directly into the app
Land Updates
- Land 1.75 has been released, a major upgrade, especially for those with significant land plots
Planned Improvements
- Improvements for land management are planned, including removing the cool-down for rented cards placed on land and potentially for Runis
- The next priority for land is adding in-game utility for land resources and research, with the first utility related to the new foil cards in Conclave Arcana expected before its launch. This aims to create in-game businesses and tangible value for land owners
- A potential change to production and harvesting is being considered to simplify the process by requiring input resources upfront
New Chief Operating Officer (COO)
- Dave McCoy has joined Splinterlands as the COO. He has been involved with Splinterlands since day one and brings extensive business experience
- His primary focus will be on attracting and retaining new players, turning hope into confidence through execution. He believes Splinterlands has the tools to achieve unprecedented success
Q&A Session
Art and Custom Backgrounds
Q: Will updated art from campaign mode be used in ranked PvP battles? Could custom backgrounds be a future purchase?
A: Creative is eager to incorporate the campaign art into other areas of the game, but it's a matter of prioritization after current major projects. Ideas include seasonal arena backgrounds tied to different territories in Pritoria, potentially even themed shop pages. Custom backgrounds are envisioned as part of the glamours and cosmetics system in the future.
Guild Cards
Q: When can guild cards be unbound?
A: This is being considered as a potential utility for land resources or research, but there are no definite plans or timeframes yet. Player feedback will be important in determining these types of features.
Land Production
Q: Regarding the potential change to land production, can we avoid making it more micromanaging?
A: The goal of any changes to land production is to simplify management, not make it more complex. If any proposed changes increase micromanagement, they will not be implemented. The current system is acknowledged as too complicated.
Autoharvest
Q: Why didn't SPL autoharvest land when update 1.75 was released to prevent loss of weekly harvest?
A: Historically, the team does not automatically claim resources on players' behalf. Multiple announcements were made beforehand to remind players to harvest before the update. Additionally, harvesting consumes resources, and automatic spending of resources is not done without player consent.
Team Awesomeness
Q: Why is the Splinterlands team so awesome?
A: It's attributed to the fact that the team genuinely cares about the game's success and the happiness of the players. Many team members were players first and are passionate about the project. Unlike companies primarily driven by business exits, Splinterlands started as a passion project.
Secret Projects and Species Roles
Q: Are there any secret projects planned, and in the future, will species have specific roles tied to land?
A: There are no secret projects planned other than the long-term "Secret of Pritoria". Regarding species roles on land, it's a cool idea that hasn't been extensively discussed, but it could be considered in the future, especially with land 2.0 and different buildings. Currently, different elements have bonuses on different land types.
Mint Numbers
Q: Will the new set have mint numbers?
A: Not every card will have mint numbers due to complications with card combining. However, mint numbers are planned for at least some cards under certain conditions in the new set, with more details to come closer to release. This will be exciting for collectors.
Excitement Level
Q: On a scale of 1 to 10, how stoked are you about the project and getting back to game design?
A: Matt expressed being extremely excited about the project's current trajectory, with hope turning into confidence as planned developments are being delivered successfully. He is incredibly happy to be moving back to game design and away from operational tasks, which caused frustration. Dave McCoy's involvement is a perfect solution for this transition.
Cryptomancer's Role
Q: Will Cryptomancer continue working on land after 1.75?
A: Yes, Cryptomancer will continue to work on land. He was hired by the DAO for this purpose and has gained significant knowledge of the system, making continuity crucial for future development.
Town Hall Frequency
Q: Now that there are many updates, can we expect more frequent town hall-style events?
A: While monthly town halls with Matt will likely continue, there are plans for more frequent community communication opportunities, such as town halls focused on specific areas like marketing, creative, or tech. This will provide more insights into different aspects of development.
Matt's Relief
Q: Dave, how relieved is Matt now that you are helping with operations?
A: Matt reiterated his extreme happiness with Dave's involvement, which will allow him to focus more on game design after the next couple of months.
DEC and Conclave Arcana Packs
Q: Is it true that Matt wants the land DEC to buy Conclave Arcana packs?
A: Matt clarified that he expects to need more DEC on land as in-game utility is added. While some players might choose to move DEC to purchase packs, he recommends keeping DEC on land for its benefits and acquiring additional DEC for Conclave Arcana.
Facebook Account
Q: Are we still updating Splinterlands' Facebook account?
A: The Facebook account will be addressed when the timing is right for the marketing campaign, which is planned to ramp up in the near future. Previous issues with spam need to be addressed with a redesign.
Attracting and Retaining New Players
Q: What are the greatest levers to be pulled in terms of attracting and retaining new players over the next 3-9 months?
A: The current focus is on building a great game experience with the foundation set, campaign mode, and Conclave Arcana. The marketing strategy involves engaging on multiple platforms, running ads, and participating in podcasts. The key is to make the game fun and increase player retention rates significantly. The team is committed to measuring and improving these metrics. They are looking for authentic players who love the game, not just paid hype.
Splinterfest Hugs
Q: Dave, can you hard commit to giving hugs to everyone at Splinterfest?
A: Dave responded with a definite 100% commitment, especially to Clayboy.
Conclave Arcana Packs Purchase
Q: Any heads up regarding where to buy CA packs if someone has separate accounts for land and playing?
A: It shouldn't matter which account purchases Conclave Arcana packs, as the associated items should be transferable between accounts. The magistrate title benefit on land requires it to be on the same account used for playing and managing land.
Focus on Attracting and Retaining New Players
Q: For Dave and Blaze, is there one specific thing you're going to focus on to attract and retain new players?
A: Blaze emphasized building the right game and strategic marketing across various platforms once the game updates are in place. Dave highlighted the importance of measuring and improving player retention rates and being persistent in finding solutions to attract and keep new players.
DEC Burn and Secret of Pritoria
Q: Why were liquids not included in the Secret of Pritoria white papers for DEC burn?
A: Matt explained that there's an unlimited number of potential resources that could be added. The current focus is on the planned land utility and Conclave Arcana, all of which involve DEC burning. It's better to assess the impact of existing plans before adding more complexity to the system.
Team Dedication
Q: Does everyone know how much the team cares and how hard they work?
A: This was a statement of appreciation for the team's dedication, with a reminder to treat them kindly in Discord. Clayboy, the DAO manager, was also recognized for his hard work. Dave McCoy mentioned his decision to transition out of his role in the SPS DAO to maintain separation between the DAO and the company.
Splinterfest 2023
Q: What has to happen for there to be a Splinterfest this year, and what are the chances?
A: For Splinterfest to happen, the next few months would need to go very well with the new release and player acquisition, putting the company in a position to expand. A favorable crypto market would also help. The odds are not super high, but it's something the team would like to do if possible.
Matt's Role
Q: Matt, how are you planning to approach the change in your role now that Dave McCoy is on board, and what will you be focused on?
A: The change will be gradual. Matt wants to focus on game design, creating specifications for new features, considering community ideas, and staying updated on other games and projects for inspiration. The goal is to have design ahead of development.
Races and Species Identification
Q: Will races and species that can be summoned have markings or symbols, or should players study the lore?
A: Instead of relying heavily on iconography due to the vast number of races, the approach will be based on clear artwork and a trait tag underneath the character name indicating the race. Filters in the game will also allow players to search by race. Creative will focus on making the artwork easily identifiable.
Nate's Choice
Q: Nate, would you rather fight a hundred goblin-sized dragons or one dragon-sized goblin?
A: Nate humorously chose to fight one dragon-sized goblin, reasoning that it might be easier to distract than many fire-breathing dragons and less likely to steal valuables.
