Episode 124: A Mondroid Conversation

Episode 124: A Mondroid Conversation

The People's Guild: A Splinterlands Podcast

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Welcome back to the People's Guild. In this episode, we welcome back our good buddy, @mondroid, for his second appearance at TPG.

We reflect a bit on 2024, including Rebellion, the promo & rewards cards, overall development as well as discuss a bit around the recently announced Survival Mode.

Lotta fun hanging out with Mondroid, as usual.

To everyone out there traveling & celebrating Thanksgiving this week, be safe and have a wonderful time with your loved ones!

Enjoy the show!

Mondroid's Return and Splinterlands

In the episode, Bjangles and Hepthorn discussed Mondroid's return to the People's Guild after a week's absence. Mondroid shared his experience of playing Splinter Lands, initially playing two accounts, but later focusing on one. He explained how the rating system change affected the game's pace and his decision to take a break. Mondroid also mentioned his current approach to the game, playing casually and enjoying it more. The conversation then shifted to the topic of match liquidity and the impact of a lack of new players on the game. Mondroid shared his experience of frequently encountering the same player, Scholar, in his battles. The conversation ended with a discussion about the advancements in the game's UX/UI experience and the upcoming changes.

Improving Mobile Gaming Experience

Bjangles discussed the improvements in the mobile gaming experience, noting that it has significantly improved over the past year. However, he pointed out some areas that could be optimized, such as better use of screen space and more efficient navigation. Hepthorn agreed, sharing his own experiences with the mobile app, particularly the difficulty in finding the battle button and the tactics feature. Both agreed that the mobile experience could be more streamlined and user-friendly.

Gold-Level Opponents and Nidhoggr Tactics

Hepthorn shares his experience of facing mostly gold-level opponents in recent seasons, which has made the game more enjoyable for him. Bjangles suggests this could be due to the end of airdrops making Rebellion cards more accessible on rental markets, allowing players to progress further. Mondroid notes the leaderboard has become more competitive. They discuss the Nidhoggr card, agreeing its execute tactic is more useful than blast, especially in low mana rulesets where it can devastate low health monsters.

Gameplay Balance and New Card Impact

In the episode, Mondroid discussed the impact of speed on gameplay, particularly in enrage matches. Bjangles brought up a persistent bug in the enrage system and expressed hope for improvements in future updates. The team discussed the balance of cards and the introduction of new abilities, such as the echo ability in the next legendary card. They also discussed the potential of the new promo cards, including Delia and Moss Mender, and the impact of the Venari Syndicate card on gameplay. The team also discussed the effectiveness of the Rune Arcanist card and the potential of Commander Slade with the arcanist.

Addressing Reward Set and Card Issues

The team discussed the issue of players quickly maxing out their reward sets in the game, which has led to frustration. They considered the possibility of introducing new reward sets every six months, but were concerned about the impact on card values and the game's competitiveness. The team also discussed the idea of introducing more options to spend glint on, such as glamour, to mitigate the stacking problem. They also touched on the issue of gold foil cards and their appeal to players. The conversation ended with no clear decisions or next steps, but with a sense of ongoing discussion on these issues.

Discussing Splinterlands Survival Mode

In the episode, the participants discuss the new "survival mode" game mode announced for Splinterlands. Bjangles explains that survival mode will be a ranked mode similar to Wild's, where players can continue playing as long as they keep winning, but each card goes into a cooldown period after a loss. The group acknowledges that the announcement has generated significant discussion and polarized opinions within the Splinterlands community over the past week, with both positive and negative feedback. Bjangles asks Mondroid for his thoughts on survival mode and its potential impact. Hepthorn also briefly mentions his interest in the Dune book series and asks Mondroid about potential Dune-themed card abilities.

Survival Mode Concerns and Impact

In the episode, Mondroid, Bjangles, and Hepthorn discussed the new game mode, Survival Mode. They expressed concerns about its limited appeal and potential impact on the game's ecosystem. Hepthorn suggested that the mode might be targeted towards large bot farms, which could attract new players. However, Mondroid and Bjangles questioned the timing and the potential impact on the game's resources. They also discussed the potential for card market manipulation and the need for further clarification on the mode's target audience and expected outcomes.

Survival Mode and Game Balance Discussion

The team discussed the potential of a new game mode, Survival Mode, which is expected to go live in January. They debated the sustainability and viability of the mode, considering factors such as the distribution of SPS and the potential impact on the game's balance. The team also discussed the possibility of removing bots from Wild Mode, which could be a double-edged sword. They agreed that the mode would be more appealing if it didn't lock cards to every mode and allowed for participation in all existing modes. The team also mentioned the idea of incorporating lands and monsters in Survival Mode.

Survival Mode's Impact and Development

The team discussed the timing and impact of the new survival mode in the game. They expressed concerns about the mode's potential to deter new players and the need for more focus on improving the game's social interaction and communication features. The team also discussed the allocation of development resources and the need for more polish in certain areas of the game. They agreed that the timing of the survival mode's introduction was not ideal, given the current state of the game and player base. The team also discussed potential benefits of the mode, such as the introduction of in-house bots and the potential for a more streamlined experience for players.

Survival Mode and Revenue Discussion
The team discussed the upcoming survival mode in the game, which will be developed without significant changes to the existing game mode. They discussed the potential for bots to dominate the mode due to their ability to process information quickly. The team also discussed the potential revenue model for the mode, which may include the sale of revival potions. However, they acknowledged that the mode may not be very enjoyable for human players due to the tedious process of manually selecting cards. The team also discussed the possibility of bots being able to handle the additional calculations required for the mode.

Survival Mode, Communication, and Dune
In the episode, the team discussed the survival mode and potential issues that need to be addressed. They also talked about the need for better communication and transparency around potential repercussions and benefits to the ecosystem. The team expressed gratitude for the hard work and dedication of the team members, despite setbacks and challenges. They also discussed the concept of personal shields in the Dune universe and how it could be implemented in the game. The team agreed to revisit the topic in a future episode. The conversation ended with a discussion about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday and the team's plans for the next few days.

YGGSPL