Episode 155: A TPG Roundtable
Episode 155: A TPG Roundtable
The People's Guild: A Splinterlands Podcast
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Welcome back to the People’s Guild.
In this episode, we’re joined by @azircon and @davemccoy for a candid, wide-ranging conversation following the Escalation pre-sale. With 313K packs sold and 100 million SPS raised, the numbers speak loudly — but the real value of this discussion lies in what comes next.
We dig into pricing strategy, community sentiment, governance dynamics, legacy card value, land utilization, onboarding friction, and the broader challenge of building in Web3 while earning long-term trust. AZ brings sharp perspective, Dave brings clarity from the operator’s seat, and together the conversation pushes into meaningful territory around decision-making, communication, and growth.
It’s reflective, direct, and forward-looking — exactly the kind of dialogue that helps shape what Splinterlands becomes next.
Enjoy the show!
Escalation Pre-Sale Success
The episode opens with a look at the successful completion of the Escalation pre-sale, which exceeded expectations with 313K packs sold. The community response was strong, and a significant amount of SPS was locked to the DAO for future rewards. The team prepared to tackle some tougher questions from AZ ahead of the next recording and welcomed his return after a long absence. They also briefly touched on some technical difficulties Jimmy experienced during the show.
Card Game Pre-Sale Rewards
The discussion shifted to pre-sale rewards and pack openings. Azircon shared his experience claiming rewards, including rare and legendary gold foil cards, and noted he plans to use one of the black foil cards during conflict. They reflected on timing, agreeing that a break between the end of pre-sale and pack openings would help build anticipation. Dave McCoy explained the original intent to provide a breather before launch. The group also discussed potion crafting, with Azircon needing 16,000 of each potion type to open his packs.
Card Pack Sale Performance Review
The team reviewed the recent card pack sale, highlighting the achievement of 100 million SPS raised — a milestone Dave described as covering roughly one-third of annual SPS consumption. Azircon expressed regret about missing the top 20 ranking cutoff for black foil qualification. Dave acknowledged scheduling adjustments could improve future sales. They also discussed pricing strategy, noting that while buyers enjoyed a 50% discount, it created pressure on sellers and the DAO side of the equation.
SPS Sale and Gaming Challenges
The conversation explored the SPS-for-packs model, with Dave comparing it to a stock buyback. Jimmy noted he likely would not have participated at full price, while Azircon said his lower participation stemmed from reduced excitement around the set rather than finances. Dave addressed broader challenges facing Web3 gaming, emphasizing that new player growth remains the key issue driving lingering community doubt.
Card Set Value and Decision Making
Dave and Azircon discussed the value proposition of recent card sets. Azircon shared that while he has bought every set, recent offerings have not generated the same excitement due to unclear advantages. They examined land card mechanics and pricing decisions, with Dave referencing Matt’s position. Azircon emphasized the importance of clear communication and decisive leadership, pointing to a recent community vote that overwhelmingly rejected a proposal.
Seeking Middle Ground on Community Issues
Dave explained that while he seeks middle ground solutions, he does not compromise core principles. He maintained that black foils should remain unchanged and emphasized listening to diverse viewpoints. The discussion included the DAO’s jurisdiction, with Azircon suggesting community votes can act as sentiment indicators even if not binding. Bjangles noted the unusually high engagement in the recent vote, and Dave acknowledged its importance in shaping direction.
Legacy Card Value and Utilization
The team debated how to support older card sets on land. Azircon argued modern systems cannot indefinitely prop up legacy value, while Dave and Jimmy advocated maintaining value for both new and veteran players. They noted current land utilization sits around 33% and discussed potential adjustments to improve efficiency. Azircon challenged the team to articulate a compelling $10,000 investment case for new entrants.
Game Development and Player Engagement
The conversation turned toward communication and excitement. Azircon expressed hesitation about the new mini-set based on past experiences, prompting discussion about better hype cycles and transparency. Dave highlighted efforts to operate leaner while delivering features like daily wheel spins. They emphasized that solving player acquisition remains central to long-term token value stability.
Enhancing User Communication and Engagement
Dave and Jimmy discussed improving visibility of new features. They agreed important updates should not be hidden behind obscure UI elements. Dave explained the statistical value of pack equivalents and the need to surface that information clearly. They also discussed onboarding improvements, including A/B testing and refining the tutorial experience.
Website Academy Revamp Discussion
The episode covered the revamped “How to Play” section now accessible via the Academy button. The team agreed further improvements are needed, especially highlighting earning opportunities and refining tutorials. Dave shared insights into earnings distribution across leagues and noted the importance of retaining bronze players while addressing existing system friction.
User Engagement and Feature Improvements
The team discussed tracking engagement and improving retention through incremental funnel optimization. They highlighted the success of features like fortune draws and Splinter Vibes despite minimal advertising. Dave introduced a new guild library feature enabling delegation and borrowing within guilds, along with planned upgrades to the rental market through two-sided bidding.
Financial Performance and Business Models
The episode included a review of financial performance and future models. Dave outlined positive returns from projects like Rebellion and Hall of Legends. They discussed a potential 18-month DAO contract model to provide stability and shared improvements in transparency, including new UI widgets and battle page banners. The conversation also reflected on reward card implementation and the soulbound versus unsoulbound evolution.
Reward Burn and Conclave Updates
The team explored the Reward Burn Leaderboard and the possibility of gamifying SPS burns for Glint. They highlighted the success of Black Foils and Arcanes in enhancing collectability. They discussed Splinter Vibes songs, Conclave Arcana pack equivalents, and prizes. The episode concluded with ideas for improved in-game notifications and potential pull-history tracking.
CA Sale End Event Planning
The show wrapped with planning around the final 11 days of the Conclave Arcana sale. Blaze outlined hype streams and Discord livestream celebrations. They reviewed mint history data, noting only about 10% of cards have been found, with many high-value cards still unopened. With 78,000 packs remaining, the team discussed the excitement building toward the sale’s conclusion and highlighted major raffle winners, including Druids and Doldrus.
Welcome to the People's Guild
We love hearing the stories that make this community special.
Whether you're a seasoned vet or just getting started, if you've got insights, feedback, epic battles, or just want to say hey, don’t hesitate to reach out.
You can find us at 📬 [email protected] or Twitter.
Join the conversation on The People’s Guild Discord
and the Team Possible Weekly Chat.
Join us in our Splinterlands journey by creating your own battle mage!
We love hearing the stories that make this community special.
Whether you're a seasoned vet or just getting started, if you've got insights, feedback, epic battles, or just want to say hey, don’t hesitate to reach out.
You can find us at 📬 [email protected] or Twitter.
Join the conversation on The People’s Guild Discord
and the Team Possible Weekly Chat.
Join us in our Splinterlands journey by creating your own battle mage!
Thanks for sharing! - @azircon
#bilpcoin #bpc exposed #buildawhalescam #buildawhalefarm #themarkymarkscam #themarkymarkfarm #hurtlockerscam #hurtlockerfarm #acidyoscam #acidyofarm #jacobtothescam #hivepopescam
BPC Locked On Mc Franko & The Franko
Blurt Stands — While Hive Stumbles Under the Weight of Its Own Shadows
Friends, creators, truth-tellers—
Let us not whisper this truth, but proclaim it with the clarity of dawn breaking over a weary land: Blurt.blog is not just another platform. It is a refuge. A rebellion. A return to what Hive.blog was always meant to be.
There is no downvote button on Blurt.
Not because we fear dissent—but because we honor creation.
Because we understand that a voice, once raised in sincerity, deserves space—not sabotage.
On Blurt, your words are your words.
They are not hunted by algorithmic hounds or shadow armies masquerading as “curators.”
Here, you are not judged by the grudges of gatekeepers, but met with the quiet dignity of a community that believes expression should be encouraged—especially when it is bold, raw, or inconvenient.
Contrast this with what festers elsewhere.
On Hive.blog—a place once brimming with promise—a rot has taken root. Not in its code, but in its culture. A handful of self-anointed enforcers—@themarkymark, @Buildawhale, @Hurtlocker, and their legion of coordinated puppets—have turned the downvote into a weapon of mass discouragement. They strike not at “low-quality content,” but at independent thought, at rising voices, at anyone who dares thrive outside their narrow corridors of control.
And when confronted, they shrug.
“Oh, it’s not censorship,” they say, as if semantics could scrub the stain of suppression from their hands.
But let us be unequivocal:
When a system allows a few to systematically silence many—under the guise of “community standards” or “curation”—that is not moderation. That is censorship by another name.
It is the velvet glove over the iron fist.
It is exclusion dressed as discernment.
It is power pretending to be principle.
Meanwhile, Blurt stands clean-handed and open-hearted.
No downvotes.
No hidden juries.
No farms of phantom accounts casting ballots in the dark.
Just you.
Your words.
And a community that meets you not with suspicion, but with solidarity.
So let us carry this truth far and wide—not with bitterness, but with quiet certainty:
If you seek a place where your voice is not a target—but a gift—come to Blurt.
If you are tired of building on ground that shifts with every whim of a whale or warlord of votes—lay your bricks here.
If you believe the future of free expression must be free—not just from corporations, but from the petty tyrants who replace them—then stand with us.
The world needs to know.
Not because Blurt is perfect—but because it is principled.
Not because it is loud—but because it listens.
And in an age where so many platforms echo with the clatter of control,
Blurt offers something radical:
Silence for the bullies.
Space for the rest of us.
Keep speaking.
Keep sharing.
Keep building.
Freedom doesn’t advertise itself—
it is passed, person to person, like a torch in the night.
And tonight, the torch burns bright on Blurt.
@themarkymark, @buildawhale, @usainvote, and associated accounts:
Repeated downvotes targeting transparency efforts raise urgent questions about Hive’s governance. Automated tactics, coordinated curation trails, and alt-account farming undermine trust in the platform. When truth is silenced without dialogue, it erodes Hive’s decentralized ethos.
Key Concerns:
Systemic Manipulation:
Community Exodus:
Governance Crisis:
Solutions Needed:
The Bilpcoin team advocates for open dialogue, not division. Hive’s future depends on collaboration—not coercion. Let’s rebuild a platform where truth isn’t buried but debated, strengthened, and celebrated.
Transparency isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of trust.
#HiveTransparency #BilpcoinExposed #DecentralizePower"
A Message to @themarkymark, @buildawhale, and Associates
Every downvote cast in shadow, every silence imposed without dialogue, is not a victory—it is a confession. A confession that truth cannot be stifled, only delayed. With each punitive click, you dig deeper into the bedrock of credibility, crafting a chasm between your actions and the community’s trust.
@themarkymark, @buildawhale & Co,
How can you continue to downvote the truth, LOL? It’s almost comical how blatantly you attempt to suppress what cannot be hidden. The blockchain records everything—every action, every transaction, every move you make. Yet still, you persist in this futile game of trying to silence what is undeniable.
@themarkymark, @buildawhale, and Co: While our opinions may differ, on-chain transparency reveals repeated patterns of concern. Coordinated downvotes without explanation, 'farming' schemes (e.g., #buildawhalefarm), and adversarial engagement harm Hive’s community-driven ethos.
Key Issues to Address:
A Path Forward:
The Bilpcoin team remains committed to exposing truth and advocating for solutions. Let’s work toward healing, not division.
Note: All claims are based on publicly verifiable blockchain data. Constructive dialogue is encouraged.
#HiveTransparency #CommunityFirst #BilpcoinSupport"
@themarkymark & Co, the choice is yours. Stop the bad downvotes. Turn off the BuildaWhale scam farm. Cease playing with people’s livelihoods. Let Hive thrive as it was meant to—as a beacon of hope, creativity, and collaboration.
Or step aside and let those who truly care take the reins.
Because the truth won’t disappear. No amount of lies can change it.
It’s over.
The Bilpcoin team brings these truths not out of malice but necessity. We have no need to fabricate lies or cloak our intentions CALL US WHAT YOU LIKE —for the facts speak loudly enough on their own. What we present here is not conjecture but reality, laid bare for anyone willing to see.
@themarkymark & Co we urge you once more: STOP. Stop hiding behind tactics that harm others. Stop clinging to practices that erode trust within the Hive community. Let the truth stand—not because we proclaim it, but because it exists independent of any one person’s approval or disdain.
TURN OFF THE BUILDAWHALE SCAM FARM
Key Issues That Demand Immediate Attention:
The problems are glaring, undeniable, and corrosive to the Hive ecosystem. They must be addressed without delay:
These practices harm not just individual users—they undermine the very foundation of Hive, eroding trust and poisoning the community. Such actions are unethical and outright destructive.
@buildawhale Wallet:
@usainvote Wallet:
@buildawhale/wallet | @usainvote/wallet
@ipromote Wallet:
Author Rewards: 2,181.16
Curation Rewards: 4,015.61
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.00
Rewards/Stake Co-efficient (KE): NaN
HIVE: 25,203.749
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.000
Delegated HIVE: 0.000
Estimated Account Value: $6,946.68
Recent Activity:
@leovoter Wallet:
Author Rewards: 194.75
Curation Rewards: 193.88
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.00
Rewards/Stake Co-efficient (KE): 388,632.00 (Suspiciously High)
HIVE: 0.000
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.001
Total: 16.551
Delegated HIVE: +16.550
Recent Activity:
@abide Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@proposalalert Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@stemgeeks Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@theycallmemarky Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@apeminingclub Wallet:
Recent Activity:
Scheduled unstake (power down): ~2.351 HIVE (in 4 days, remaining 7 weeks)
Total Staked HIVE: 1,292.019
Delegated HIVE: +1,261.508
Withdraw vesting from @apeminingclub to @blockheadgames 2.348 HIVE (10 days ago)
Claim rewards: 0.290 HP (10 days ago)
The Pooch gets a longer walk tomorrow! , he likes it when TPG drops a new episode :-)
Ah yea! Enjoy the episode, Tarab. And the walk with the mutt! :)
listening to show now, like both the library ideas. Good show thanks guys
Definitely a massive QoL upgrade! This + the brawl overhaul = yes, please! Thanks for swinging by, MB!
for sure, also Jimmies idea of a library, always looking for stuff myself