Episode 81: A BreakingBenjamin Conversation
Welcome back to the People's Guild.
We make a return trip to Florida in part two of this week's doubleheader as we bring to you our thoroughly enjoyable conversation with the lord of lore over at team Splinterlands, Joey (@breakingbenjamin).
We hear Joey tell us all about both the creation of the immersive lore within Splinterlands and what's to come with the next era in our beloved universe - including more on Conflicts, some alpha around upcoming Rewards cards and the future Rebellion Expansion set.
Enjoy the show!
Family, Work, Books and Future Plans
The meeting was a casual conversation among Bjangles, Joey, and Hepthorn.
The conversation also touched on work changes at Splinterlands and some life at home updates.
Joey recommended the Red Rising series to Hepthorn and they discussed the books, with Joey revealing they had reread them and was waiting for the fourth. Joey shared that they were working on the second book of their series, “Democracy, Inc.”, and talked about their upcoming books, "Democracy, Inc." and "The Outlands". They also mentioned their first book's success and the positive reception of the second. Joey discussed the creation of character narratives for a rebellion project, emphasizing the importance of each character's role. They also mentioned a potential contest to explore character interactions. Joey and Hepthorn then discussed their project, with Joey indicating that the outcome depends largely on Matt. They also discussed the process of world building and character creation, with Joey describing it as a massive undertaking. Finally, the potential for future audio books was discussed, with Joey suggesting the idea of hiring a narrator from Praetoria.
Mav Server Game Progression and Creative Process
Joey discussed the progression of the story in the Mav Server game, emphasizing the role of conflicts in driving the narrative forward. They revealed that a rebellion would rise up in the central fire in the north, specifically in the port city of Solace, following the defeat of the initial "Rage" and interdiction of the Chaos Legion's supply lines. Joey also mentioned that the next conflict would involve a character from the "Tome of Chaos" story, designed by the winner of a tournament at Splinterfest. The conversation also focused on the creative process for their project, particularly the character development of a squirrel character named Dark Squirrel. Future plans for the project, including the creation of subsequent sets and the development of new characters, were also discussed.
Card Game Strategies and Lore Discussion
Hepthorn shared their strategy to reach the gold level in the game by bidding on certain cards. Joey and Bjangles also shared their experiences and the relative prices of different card types, mentioning the high cost of certain cards and the potential value of buying packs. They also discussed their personal card collections and strategies for play. The conversation then shifted to a game where players collect cars and build land. Joey revealed their strategy of buying land using NFTs and planning when to build different things using a spreadsheet. The discussion also touched upon the game's lore, which is influenced by historical references. Hepthorn, a lawyer who works nights and sometimes takes off to play the game, contributed their experiences as well.
Splinterlands Characters and Storyline Evolution
Joey, Bjangles, and Hepthorn discussed the development and evolution of characters and the story in Splinterlands. Joey shared that the characters they created were passed on to the character doves, with Tim now leading this aspect. They also noted that many cards, while not mentioned in the lore, will make their way into the menus set and reward cards. The team also discussed the development of a new mini set and reward cards. They also touched upon the 'deep', a cavern system underneath the game's world, and its potential for future storylines.
Dark Forge App Development and Lore Prioritization
Joey discussed the development of the Dark Forge app, with a focus on the world of the deep and the next card set. Joey also mentioned a collaboration with a movie studio. The team discussed various priority projects, including the approval of a lure for magic, the completion of the lore for the planes of existence, and the creation of artwork for the gods and goddesses. Joey clarified that currencies for different empires won't be actual crypto currencies but will be part of the lore. They also responded to concerns about players neglecting the lore, emphasizing the importance of the backstory or 'rebellion lore' of each card. Joey also mentioned the upcoming release of a feature called 'conflict' which would explain how the game works. Hepthorn proposed the idea of a story mode to help onboard new players, which Joey agreed could be a useful addition.
Integrating Coding and Blockchain in Harry Potter Game
Joey presented their vision for a new player experience in the game, inspired by the Harry Potter series, where players learn through a narrative. The team discussed the challenges and solutions for integrating coding development with blockchain, with Hepthorn suggesting initially building the game as a web 2 game before introducing it fully. Bjangles emphasized the importance of improving the user experience, particularly for new users, and suggested incorporating emotional investment. Joey agreed on the need for time and resources, and Hepthorn proposed creating comic books or graphic novels to share the game's stories, a possibility Joey agreed could be explored in the future.
Splinterlands Project Development and Inclusivity Concerns
Bjangles, Hepthorn, and Joey discussed a book related to their project, with Joey expressing concerns about its lack of inclusivity. They agreed on the need for a more nuanced and inclusive approach in their project's development. Bjangles highlighted the significance of physical merchandise in connecting fans to the digital world of Splinterlands and outlined various projects in progress, including updates to the new user experience, new rewards cards, and addressing gaps in criteria of the land. They expressed hope that 2024 would bring more excitement and momentum across the entire Splinterlands universe. Joey emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to the success of a project, including tokenomics, gameplay, and lore. They also shared personal stories about two friends who inspired characters in the game, highlighting the importance of community and giving back.
Splinterlands Feature Proposal and Discussion
Joey proposed a personal card feature in Splinterlands that allows players to honor their friends, sparking a discussion about artwork and remembering loved ones. They also emphasized the importance of rebellion conflicts in the game and the integral role of the characters within the storyline. Joey mentioned the possibility of reputation, which could be earned through battles and story mode, unlocking new skins, player avatars, or bonuses. The team discussed potential new gaming features, as well as recent game changes, and acknowledged the ongoing value these changes bring to the game.
Podcast, Game, and Future Plans
Joey and Bjangles discussed their podcast experiences and welcomed listener feedback. They considered allowing in-game trash talk during matches and briefly discussed creating a Patreon account for extra content. They also talked about the next mini-set, which Joey suggested should be called "The Battle for Criteria". Joey proposed a story mode in their game, where players take on the role of a battle mage, and suggested sub-races for each card. They also discussed the idea of influencing battle outcomes through strategic decisions. Future steps, including the potential mini-set, were left open. They also discussed enhancing the value of the game's lore and Joey outlined plans for upcoming content. They also reflected on the game's evolution over the past 18 months and its projected transformation in the future.
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