Episode 88: A Wascalwabbits Conversation

Episode 88: A Wascalwabbits Conversation

Welcome back to the People's Guild. In this one, the bus makes a stop much closer to home as we park just across town here in Tainan, Taiwan to sit down with an old friend, @wascalwabbits.

Having been the better part of the last year since we'd had a chance to meet on the mics here at TPG, we had plenty to catch up on.

All around, a great time was had by all. Always a good time catching up with Wascal.

Enjoy the show!

Accents, Travel, Work Culture, Family Ties

Wascal, Hepthorn, and Bjangles had a varied discussion. They began by discussing accents, with Wascal preferring the American accent and Hepthorn noting the British accent's perception as high-brow. The conversation then shifted to New Year's Eve traditions and holiday season challenges in Taiwan, with Wascal highlighting travel difficulties and the tradition of working Saturdays. The trio also discussed changing work culture, work-life balance, and the impact of younger generations in business, with Hepthorn noting the influence of Western business culture. The conversation concluded with Hepthorn sharing about his family's ties to Italy and their plans to visit annually.

Tour De France and Splinterlands Discussion

Hepthorn revealed his intention to attend the Tour de France, which coincides with his family's region in Italy. The group discussed the tour's popularity and the possibility of Hepthorn participating by renting a road bike. They also shared personal experiences and strategies regarding Splinterlands, a card game they're involved in. Hepthorn shared his positive experience with the game, highlighting the renewed energy around the new set and the focused teamwork. Wascal explained his decision to sell some of his land and invest in Salana, while Bjangles didn't share his views on the game during the discussion.

Game Improvements and New Player Focus

Bjangles discussed the future direction of the game, focusing on improving user experience. He mentioned introducing a new battle royale challenge strategy and an overhaul that includes removing lead caps and leagues. Bjangles also highlighted the potential of Arcade Colony to benefit from Steam Monsters' offerings. A new player entering Splinterland was discussed, with Bjangles, Wascal, and Hepthorn agreeing that the game was currently set up for new players with affordable cards and rewarding gameplay. They also discussed an upcoming overhaul of the ranked play to make it easier for newcomers to advance quickly, but noted challenges in the higher tiers, particularly with match liquidity and difficulty in moving up levels.

Platform Improvements, Land Costs, and Crypto Market Volatility

Bjangles highlighted improvements to the user experience on the platform, with a focus on the Academy's benefits for new and existing users. Wascal raised concerns about the cost and complexity of land buying and staking, questioning its accessibility to users from third world countries. Bjangles suggested the introduction of land surfing could make it more accessible. The team also discussed the development of the ancient ruins project, its potential rewards, and the need to balance new players with generating returns. The conversation further touched on the volatility of the crypto market, meme coins, and the project's potential for attracting new users. The discussion concluded without any clear action items or decisions.

Game Economics and Player Retention

The team discussed the potential impact of new players on the game, with a focus on the game's economics and player retention. Bjangles noted the current minting percentage and the decreasing distribution each month. The team also discussed the impact of the Chaos Legion era on the value of their game cards and the issues with overestimating the demand for the Chaos Legion packs. Hepthorn emphasized a more measured approach to game improvements and enhancing player experience. The team also touched upon the cyclical nature of economies and life, with Hepthorn referencing the book "The Fourth Turning". The discussion concluded with the team agreeing on the need to balance new additions to the game with maintaining player interest and engagement.

Vintage League and Game Economics Discussion

Bjangles proposed a vintage league that would include cards not available in the modern league, aiming to maintain their value. However, Wascal and Hepthorn raised concerns about its potential impact on the SPS distribution and player experience. Bjangles suggested adjusting the reward pools in chests to create greater equality between modern and wild rewards. The team also discussed the early days of the gaming system, SPS, and the thrill of pulling significant jackpots. Bjangles mentioned that they have sold more than half of the projected 1.5 million rebellion packs, extending the runway for the business. They also discussed the relevance of Dr. Blight in the game and the competitiveness of Chaos Legion and Riftwatcher cards. Towards the end, Wascal expressed demotivation due to his frequent losses.

Gaming League Rewards and Evolution Discussion

The team discussed the rewards and gameplay in different leagues of a game, with Wascal considering playing more in the Modern Gold league due to higher rewards. They also reflected on the evolution of the game, with differing opinions on the shift from manual play to staking cards. Bjangles proposed hosting regular gaming-related discussions, which could also be simulcasted on YouTube and X-Now. The team also shared their experiences and results within a game or competition. Towards the end, Bjangles acknowledged the efforts of TeamPH, Damour and Mango.

Tournament Planning and Execution

Bjangles discussed a sealed tournament involving 8 players with rare summoners and an equal number of cards, using a draft system for 50 additional Chaos Legion cards. A tool was mentioned that allows for random selection of cards from the rental market. Bjangles highlighted the fun and strategic aspects of the tournament and mentioned plans for more such events. The team discussed the organization and execution of a live online tournament, with suggestions for improvements such as offline draft picks and improved live streaming. Wascal inquired about the maximum number of players, but the transcript does not provide a clear answer.

Aggy's Crypto and Gaming Ventures

The team discussed Aggy's involvement in the "Killer Whales" TV show, a crypto-related show where Aggie might pitch "Splinterlands" and "In Venium". They also talked about Aggy's work with "Moon Carts", a game developed on the Unity platform. The team expressed interest in playing and earning from the "Moon Karts" Alpha version. The conversation also touched on the Arcade Colony airdrop, with Bjangles mentioning a 20-year airdrop and a large number of tokens.

Gaming Strategies and Financial Aspects

The team discussed various games and strategies. Bjangles suggested the best way to collect on an airdrop through GLX, while Hepthorn emphasized the importance of card values. They also discussed a new game, with Hepthorn suggesting to extract value while it still holds value. The team also explored the potential of the game going down in the future. They also discussed the process of listing and trading on various platforms, especially in relation to the Splinterlands' assets. They also explored the concept of extracting and repetitive tasks, with Wascal expressing that these activities had lost their fun factor. The conversation also touched on the financial aspects and accessibility of these games. They also discussed various video games, including a game built on the Unreal engine and another game in Alpha. The conversation concluded with a mention of anti-crypto and anti-Web 3 sentiments within the gaming community.

Gaming Discussions and Reflections on Podcast Milestone

The participants discussed various gaming topics, including a World War 2 trading card game and the potential challenges of getting involved. They also talked about the longevity of a game, the importance of investing in games before the FOMO (fear of missing out) hits, and the potential implications of changes to a virtual platform on smaller market caps. They shared their experiences with an online game, focusing on their investments and interactions within it. They also discussed their strategies and experiences in a game they were playing. Towards the end, they reflected on reaching the two-year mark of their podcast, "The People's Guild," and agreed to keep the invitation open for Wascal to join future sessions.

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