Welcome!
The Splinterlands discord has 138,000+ members. Could there really be that many players? Quite possibly even more, considering not every player has a discord account or is even a member of that server.
Splinterlands had gained massive traction and popularity over the years and is quite possibly the flagship game of our wonderful Hive blockchain. It's easy to talk generally about the game but within the game is a unique and interesting story behind every individual player. What's your story? Here's mine.
It all started back before the fork, on old Steemit. Back then, this new up and coming game being developed launched as Steem Monsters. This was the first time I dabbled in play-to-earn games. I was just a garden blogger back then. Anyways, I signed up and I think I got a free set of alpha cards to play with. I guess you can call me an early adopter. My favorite card was the legendary Frost Giant. I remember back then, matchmaking took quite a while since there were barely any players.
My Relationship with the Game
From the beginning, I've always been a casual player. I occasionally tune in now and then and even today I probably play half the days out of the season at most.
Even today, I only occasionally post about the game. It's not that I lack interest. It's just that I feel there are many more dedicated, invested, and creative players out there.
Once, I took a hiatus, not just from the game but from blockchain in general. Sometimes, life just happens. By the time I returned, the game was rebranded into what we now know as Splinterlands!
When I got back to playing, I remembered how much I loved the water splinter. I loved it even from the start before many magic cards existed and before I decided magic is king.
I've never really been involved in the community, which is why I can myself a "hermit". Sure I'm in a guild but my activity there and in brawls has declined.
Learning Curve
I remember learning the different card abilities and rulesets was difficult. That's advice I have for new players: learn the symbols! I used to have my own little names for them all such as "health up" for the equalizer ruleset or "all snipe" and so on and so forth.
For a while I didn't know that there was an almost identical set to the alpha set. Yes, I'm talking about beta. A few times I bought beta copies of alpha cards I had and couldn't figure out why I couldn't level them up. Eventually, I figured out the difference and ditched my alpha Alric Stormbringer for the cheaper beta version (how stupid of me). I still own an alpha and beta version of the crustacean king.
It also took me a while to realize that monster levels are capped by summoner level. The hints and tips that are displayed during the loading screen really would have been a boon back then. Don't take them for granted, new players!
I guess being clueless is the cost of living under a rock.
Memories
Here are a few historic screenshots from my playing of Splinterlands.
This was back when you could still use potions in the daily rewards! Ah, memories. I still use about half of these cards. (I avoid the death splinter at all costs! And water...well that calls for magic, not arrows!)
Remember when this card was released? I'm lucky to have gotten one. I'm not very lucky when it comes to Splinterlands airdrops. Then again it's all mathematical. I remember only having one summoner for each splinter. Slowly my collection grew over the years as I reinvested my earnings, buying modest amounts of packs from the different sets as they were released and spot picking getting the market. Rebellion one of the only sales I, unfortunately, was not able to take part in. Today I'm surprised at the diversity of my collection. Yet I still use most of the same cards.
Look, this was even before the Obsidian summoner existed yet I still use a very similar setup. As the game grows and different sets come out my strategies and favorites only get tweaked slightly. The game is ever growing and every changing. What used to work before will not work today but some habits never change like putting creeping ooze at the back end!
Farewell
When Modern playing came out, I tried but was never very good. (Bronze is hard!) Like I said, my collection is more and more limited in the newer sets. Wild is where it's at. I get to use the full power and synergy of my collection.
I've already doubly achieved one of my goals in the game, to pull a gold foil legendary card. Can't believe they both happened so close to each other! My other goal is to beat my own win streak. That streak is way old and I haven't been able to reach or beat it since who knows when!
I can't wait to see what the be game brings to the table next. The land updates have been very interesting. I'm glad I invested $10 in land way back when. Maybe eventually I'll get involved in Soulkeep, when it's released.
Writing all this brought back some fond memories. It's crazy, not only to see how far I've come but everyone else and the game as well! Here's to many more years and memories to come!
If you haven't already joined the fun, you should try it!