A Bit of Soul Searching on Splinterlands

It is a Sunday Morning. I just returned home after a week in Colorado. It was a late flight last night, and in summer time if you fly out of Denver you probably know how notorious Denver is for late afternoon and evening thunderstorms. While the airport is situated in flat country, it is probably the worst run major airports in the US when in comes to inclement weather. It doesn't take much to create a flight delays in Denver. Anyways, I digress! I arrived home at 1:20 AM last night, and we had a 8am signing ceremony in-game :) So clearly I was grumpy.

Then I open discord and see bunch of complaints about:

Whale = BAD and common player = Good

They made more than me, must be evil people

So this required some ass whipping! I was happy to do it. I grew up at a time when there was a saying

spare the rod, spoil the child

I did get my fair share of spanking from my teachers when I was kid. Those days are long gone, teachers will now go to jail if they do that! That said, I had excellent teachers who helped me to become who I am today, and I am deeply thankful to them. I am in fact still in touch with a few over phone till date! How many of today's youngsters can say that about their teacher?! Anyways, I digress again. Enough drifting from todays topic!

After that drama in discord, I went to web and X profiles of a few complainers and made a list of their complains. I also made a list of positive things about Splinterlands. Mind you, these are not my opinions. I am simply listing what people have said positively and negatively amount Splinterlands.

I made this plot in Napkin with some edits in Slides. I am really beginning to like this tool to summarize text visually.

Summarized Positive Aspects of Splinterlands

• Strategic Gameplay: Deep, tactical card battles with varied rulesets and mana caps offer engaging, replayable gameplay akin to Magic: The Gathering.
• NFT Ownership: Hive blockchain enables true ownership of cards as NFTs, tradable on marketplaces like MonsterMarket and OpenSea.
• Play-to-Earn Model: Players earn DEC and SPS through battles and tournaments, appealing to those seeking crypto rewards.
• Supportive Community: Active Discord and X communities foster camaraderie, with veterans aiding newcomers and hosting events.
• Low Entry Cost: $10 Spellbook unlocks full features; free-to-play options make the game accessible.
• Frequent Updates: New card sets, modes, and guild features keep gameplay fresh and responsive to feedback.
• Mobile/Web Access: Lightweight mobile app and browser support enable quick, accessible battles.
• Card Renting: Renting cards allows affordable access to competitive decks without large purchases.
• Guild Benefits: Guilds offer merits, SPS rewards, and shop discounts, enhancing social and cooperative play.
• Quality Graphics: Vibrant, anime-style card designs and sleek UI enhance the visual experience.
• Fast Transactions: Hive blockchain ensures quick, gas-free transactions for smooth trading and gameplay.
• Diverse Modes: Modern/Wild formats, ranked battles, and quests cater to varied playstyles with rewarding opportunities.

Summarized Negative Aspects of Splinterlands

• Pay-to-Win Model: Heavy financial investment required for competitive play excludes casual gamers.
• Declining Card Values: Older cards (Alpha, Beta) lose value due to new releases and format changes.
• Profit-Driven Focus: Monetization prioritizes revenue over gameplay, alienating non-investor players.
• Technical Issues: Server lag, transaction errors, and mobile app bugs disrupt gameplay.
• Bot Activity: Bots in ranked battles reduce fairness and skew outcomes.
• Poor Support: Slow or unresponsive customer support frustrates players with unresolved issues.
• Steep Learning Curve: Complex mechanics overwhelm newcomers unfamiliar with blockchain or card games.
• Reward System Change: Updates to the reward system, like Glint and soulbound NFTs, devalue tradable rewards, frustrating players.
• High Competitive Costs: Expensive card rentals or purchases create barriers for budget players.
• Limited Non-Crypto Appeal: Blockchain focus alienates traditional gamers not interested in NFTs.
• Volatile Earnings: DEC and SPS value fluctuations reduce play-to-earn profitability.
• Delayed Roadmap: Slow progress on features like Land Expansion creates uncertainty for players.

My Personal View

The search and summary above is NOT my personal view, so it is only apt that I share my current personal view of the game. I have been a long term supporter of the game and I will continue to be. I have mentioned one thing multiple times publicly, if there is a requirement of a single person to turn off the lights, I will be that person. That is the downside. On the upside, if the game is successful, I will be successful beyond my own imagination, and that is all that I care for.

That said, if I want to make a bulleted list

• Gameplay Engagement: I love the strategic depth of Splinterlands’ card battles, enjoying how rulesets and land-based gameplay (which in still in infancy) allows many tactical and analytical challenges.
• Economic Interest: I am fascinated by the play-to-earn model. If this game can make even one person financially free, I think I have spent my time here wisely. The fact that this game can support numerous players in places of the world where there are limited financial opportunities swells my heart with pride.
• Lore Curiosity: I am drawn to the rich lore, particularly Praetoria and factions like the League of Verico (I do like a good Cabal!), appreciating how the narrative enhances the game’s immersive experience.
• Community Feedback: I actively explore player sentiment, valuing both the positive aspects, like strategic gameplay and NFT ownership, and negatives, such as pay-to-win issues and failed to slow roadmap issues, to form a balanced view.
• Visual and Creative Appeal: I enjoy envisioning Splinterlands’ world through custom imagery, like landscapes and characters, which fuels my appreciation for its aesthetic and creative potential.

I hope this helps the community and the team to explore the positives and negatives together to make a better game. I am here to help both with my time and money.