Well here I am again with another instalment of Steven's trials and tribulations in Rising Star.

What's Rising Star, I hear you cry?

You'd think I would have updated that appalling attempt at a RS graphic by now, but I'm utterly shameless.

Hush that mouth, it's the most mag-bloody-nificent NFT based game on that there blockchain.

If you're not aware or only vaguely aware, you may have heard about the many, many new users coming to Hive thanks to the online publicity surrounding this awesome blockchain based game.

The game works like a card collecting and trading game but here's the real magic, each collectable card is an NFT with a specific number of copies available.

As with most games of this ilk, some cards are incredibly common, some are rare and some are BLOODY LEGENDARY!!!

Playing the game rewards you with the in-game currency of STARBITS which can be used to buy individual cards, packs of cards or indeed to swap for Hive, how awesome is that?

Cards can also be purchased 47 million ways, well... almost...

If you are not already a Rising Star aficionado, I absolutely insist that you stop being an omicron particle and immediately become one using this handy dandy, oh-so-convenient affiliate link that also acts as a shield against the tyranny of global government.

*Warning - Using my particular affiliate link may have unexpected side effects, including but not limited to becoming awesome beyond belief and the ability to leap over tall buildings in a single bound.

please click carefully...*

So in recent weeks I have revised my strategy toward the game as I was nudged out of the top 100 players and I do so love to receive my daily reward for staying at the pinnacleish of the game. Let's face it, who could resists free Hive and the bragging rights of being close to the top of the pile of an exponentially increasing number of players, right?

I'm just a man, flawed and imperfect, please forgive my unabashed vanity!!!

So my new plan is rather than buying 12 packs with 100k STARBITS, I am concentrating more on filling out my collection and saving for the cards I do not have, this has the added bonus of helping my unique card score which is the major metric of calculating the scores that determine the top 100 players.

I'm not sure how typing such a long, run-on sentence left me out of breath but it did, so there!

As well as spending the STARBITS I had saved, I also spent some HBD I had in savings to really give my deck a boost.

How else will I rise from a lowly busker to a global megastar, huh?

Above you can see the main categories for the types of card you can collect.

Today, I am going to be concentrating on people and instruments.

After all what would my band be without either?

So upon perusing my collection, I realised I have all of the common cards for both categories in my collection. So I began my shopping spree in the rares section. I love the opportunity to fill in some of the blank spaces of my collection.

I started with a set of congas because, well let's face it, who wouldn't?

My jungle beats will now be second to none.

For 3 years in a row, I have asked my family for an 808 drum machine for Christmas.

Well today is the day I take care of myself because I deserve it!

A diamond mic, I always say only the very best for me!

I'm sure this will make a hard cutting sound... Appalling, I know!

What self-respecting, weird, almost 50 year old English dude doesn't have an oboe???

Not this guy, not anymore, anyway.

When I checked my collection, I noticed I had almost an entire row of blank spaces in my collection.

Time to rectify this embarrassing state of affairs. Starting with my new friend James.

Rachael was also missing from the Stevenwood talent management agency and was happy to sign on to the with the best manager in Hivetown.

Rosetta was jealous of Rachaels new place in 'the biz', so she literally begged me to let her come along for the ride of a lifetime.

I won't put up with Rosetta being stoned... Trust me there 'was' a joke in there but don't feel bad if ya missed it, it just means your normal!

If you're from the UK I don't want you to confuse the Desmond I just bought with the old barber guy from the 80's / 90's sitcom on channel 4!

I wouldn't recommend taking the scissors near those drum skins!!!

Silent X, well with a name like that, he's gotta be a cool dude, right?

So why's he carrying a ukulele, who is this guy, George Formby???

Gameboy Ali is my penultimate rare addition to my collection, what's that name about?

So many jokes, so little time!

So rounding out today's 'rares' shopping spree is Bladesong, I'm sure he will be happy with all of the other acts in the stevenwood stable of artists.

I'm pleased to say that fills an entire row of rare cards in my collection. That will do my more obsessive compulsive tendencies no end of good!

Row complete! Check ✔

The thing I am really excited about of course, is buying some epic cards as my collection is woefully short on epics. It's time to Bobby remedy that!

Starting with... Aaaaamyyy.

More accurately and more commonly referred to as Amy...

At just 33k STARBITS I felt she was a bargain, As the first Epic card I have purchased, I was pleased with the price.

I've had my eye on the Slither card for some time. Now it is mine, all mine.

With 750 fans and $10m, I'm pleased to now have this one.

I purchased Ziggy with STARBITS not stardust and I consider them well spent as he adds some decent and very welcome stats to my collection.

I just hope he left those spiders from Mars at home!

Jackson is the drummer for the best sounding band you ever did hear, The Rising Stars.

How could I NOT add him to my collection?

Well time to pickup a couple of quite literally EPIC instruments to add to my collection.

I'm kicking things off with a shiny, brand new RSV Synth and hoping for not 'too much' reverb

With a luck score of 125 I'm very pleased to now own one of these.

Well after purchasing what is essentially the most hi-tech, modern day take on the good old fashioned piano, I can only possibly buy one card next...

A piano!!! More specifically an 'upright' piano uhm... As opposed to those ones that lay down in the grass drunk, I guess!

This one looks just like the one your music teacher used to play in morning assembly!

I gotta be honest with you. Everybody loves the classic piano sound right, but it felt a little 20th century buying it.

I need something cool, colourful and different.

What better then an aqua mariune cello?

The very best part is that those 3 epic instruments come with a combined luck score of 400!!! Awesome-bloody-tastical!!!

All that remains is for me to shill you unashamedly with my affiliate link in the almost inconceivable scenario you haven't joined already, then DO!

Also, If you do join make sure to share your own link too, it may help you earn a whole lot more STARBITS.

IM A RISING STAAAAR... I'LL GO FAR...

Thank YOU for taking the time to read my post and if you're one of those amazing people who like to hit the comments section... Then I doubly thank YOU!

Either way I want you to know that you are appreciated!

Keep taking the time to connect with each-other both here and in the 'so-called' real world and try and look after each-other, because as you already know...

I am an incredibly proud member of #TeamUK I love the global community immensely, but it is nice to have a home-team banner to add to my posts. The banner was made by the inimitable RoastMaster General himself @c0ff33a If you are an active UK member and would like to be added to the teamUK community on Discord, just let me know 😎