RE: Alternative Voucher Proposal - Transition from DEC Utility to Exclusive Voucher Items in the Glint Shop
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To me, this proposal kicks the problem down the road by mitigating the issue (rather than actually completely solving it). However, it's easy to vote "yes" for, since it's not really that upsetting to anyone, haha. What I like is that it offers a compromise while a more long-term solution can be properly planned and implemented.
The only tweak I would make is that maybe we would create a "Voucher" shop page, instead of cramming it into the (Glint) Reward shop page.
Something to consider: Producing new items to purchase will be a lot easier once Cosmetics are finally launched. Until then, creating items for a voucher shop might be challenging. After all, the example you give (reward card Draws) would steal some of the value from Glint. The point of the soul bound reward cards is that you could only get them by actually playing the game (via Glint). If you can get them with Vouchers, it sorta defeats the whole point.
Thus we're back to a solution that is dependent on a future update to the game (cosmetics) or it forces the team to do more work trying to come up with new products that could have been priced in DEC.
Having said all that, I think the overall idea is sound (until we come up with something better), so I'll vote "yes". Even if the proposal can't realistically be implemented until we release cosmetics, at least it's a plan that can be slotted in sometime this year.
Thanks for taking the time to offer some feedback, @nateaguila.
This felt like the best compromise that I, along with help from some others, could come up with. As with all DAO proposals and executive decisions, nothing is final and can always be amended later - and this solution felt like one that at least gets us moving in the right direction. Based on your comment, it feels like you're of the same mind.
Re: the voucher shop / glint shop - I'm indifferent and would leave all of the implementation / experience to the experts on the team.
I'm not sure the "example" provided in the prop is clear, but it suggests to simply remove 4 soulbound cards from the upcoming set and instead offer them via vouchers only (and NOT via chests and/or glint).
Cosmetics would be a huge plus in my mind and would be exactly the type of stuff I'd love to see available via a voucher shop (I seem to remember a pretty sweet Iziar skin being revealed at a TH many moons ago - I would definitely part ways with some vouchers for that!)
Some additional context around the voucher-exclusive items is the idea that they would not be soulbound, but, of course this would be at the team's discretion.
This thinking is at least partially with regards to Matt's pushback that vouchers are a hurdle in the NPE.
Vouchers, as proof of time staked, and, by extension the voucher shop, are going to naturally cater primarily to veterans of the ecosystem.
Therefore, desiring to participate in said exclusive sale(s) would require a deeper dive into Hive / Hive-Engine (cue the Academy for tips on navigating 3rd parties).
Offering non-soulbound items via the voucher shop would allow for these items to be listed & acquired via in-game (and external) markets AND protect the NPE from being unencumbered by vouchers.
At any rate, should this thing pass, will default to all best judgement from Nate & co.
Cheers
By creating a voucher shop, we ARE solving the problem, not kicking the can down the road! We are using vouchers to give unique access to exclusive items. That's the point!
I'm very curious as to the whole 'cosmetics release' comment. If I remember correctly, from listening to you on THs, there already exists multiple skins of every card in the CL set? Possibly even Rebellion? I understand your desire to make skins REALLY cool by giving them utility, but I would point out you guys are also missing a huge opportunity to generate much needed revenue or provide huge token sinks. Sometimes the simplest solution is best. The community has made it very clear over the years that they are hungry for cosmetic skins and will gladly buy them!! By not releasing the CL skins while CL is in modern, the team is missing a golden opportunity imho.
I think you guys are SO creative and have incredible visions for what SPL can be, but it's too easy to get caught up in wanting to make every project a huge and complex (albiet REALLY cool) thing. But this makes things move too slow since the resources are not available to do ALL of these things to the level you want! Releasing things in stages (as you mention you guys do) could be REALLY beneficial for things like skins/cosmetics. Have the CL skins just be cosmetic! Give us battle backgrounds that are just cosmetic! The community will be happy to consume them and you guys can release them however you want... sell some for company revenue, use some to BURN DEC, sell some for vouchers, put some in reward chests etc etc etc. When you have time to give cosmetics utility, THEN add utility to the next set!
I have heard you point to the fact that the Alpha/Beta skins did not sell well, but to be honest (and no offense to whomever created them) they do not have the appearance of a cohesive set, don't really match the SPL 'artwork branding' you have developed, and the skins are not really at the level of the original art on those cards. The CL skins are COOL, we've seen examples. Comparing the old set of skins and CL skins is comparing apples and oranges.