The Player Vs. The Investor

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When I started in @splinterlands, my goal was pretty simple...

I understood there were a limited amount of these cards that were printed, so the 'collector' in me started buying cards off the market.

As for the game? I didn't understand it at all. When I first started playing, I just tried to stick as much mana as I could into a line up and hope for the best. I didn't even know what a 'rule set' meant.

But I was o.k. with that...

I started accumulating cards as a collector because I saw how limited there were PLUS the community seemed to love the game. This was way before SPS and all the craziness that is Splinterlands now.

However as time went on, I started playing the game!

And while I'm hardly what you would call a pro at this, I understand a lot more about how to set up my line ups, what cards do what and different strategies that I've learned over the past year.

A year ago, it was VERY simple for me...

This card has low circulation, buy it!

Now I seem to go back and forth between actual use case for gameplay and being an investor in the NFTs.

Take for example my latest purchase....

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I have a VERY limited amount of Legendary cards from the Alpha deck. In fact, I'm pretty sure I own none...Until today!

I knew this was one of the most popular Legendary Monsters from Alpha and Beta, and looking at the supply, it was time for me to pull the trigger on it...

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Yeah, it was pricey but to me it's a long term hold. And I'll explain my reasoning for that in a second. Regardless of the use within the game, this card is SUPER rare and I thought it would be a good idea to grab one now.

Because...

And players of the game will understand, there is a new 'Lord of Darkness' in the game for the Death Splinter and that's this guy...

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Comparing the price alone, Harklaw is peanuts compared to Lord of Darkness and for good reason...

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And there's only like 15% or something of this card minted so you can see...Alpha from a collecting and investing perspective is a much more attractive option.

Still...Harklaw is a beast of a card!

And it's become a must have for Death.

So here's my approach going forward in Splinterlands...

I need to basically separate my approaches to the game. I have to think on one hand as an investor and another as a player. I think when you do that you make much better decisions rather than just throwing crypto at different cards in Splinterlands.

I have my deck that I'm building to rent out but also a deck that I need to be able to compete with...And as good a card as Lord of Darkness is, I'll end up renting him and focus on playing with Harklaw. And while not identical cards, they are similar.

This is just one example of how I'm approaching the game...How about you?

Do you tend to think more of a player of #Splinterlands ? Or an investor?



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24 comments
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I've always been more of a player than an investor. I wish I had thought more like an investor and maybe I would have bought more Alpha cards three years ago when they were pennies a card.

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Yeah I hear you. I was right there too, for the launch of the game and had every opportunity to go in large...

But what's unique I think, is that you can be either or, or even both and still prosper in Splinterlands!

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Awesome post my friend! I try to focus on abit of both, but more importantly to get competitive first! When I see an undervalued card in the lower price range I try to pick them up now. I've been in the game since August now, I watch the streams on twitch, all the youtube videos and stream on twitch myself, so I see alot of gameplay and which cards are being used the most :D This game is the best wooooo. Keep up the good work Jonny!

upvoted by gameboyali.png

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Great point, yeah I've learned a lot about the game play from watching the amazing creators on the game!

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I prefer more to be a player and I don't really use Harklaw. I did buy one to rent out for income but I felt that there was better options out there. Then again my dark tank in a high mana match tends to be either a dragon, chain golem or dark ha'on.

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I've been using him a lot on Death. But thought having the OG of the splinter would be a good idea :)

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The Lord of darkness is one of my favourite cards. It's one of the few legendary cards that I have maxed out. I have it as beta however :-)

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I was sitting there for a few minutes yesterday deciding which route to take. Figured Alpha was a better bet long term.

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I see myself now leaning towards the collector one... but without much reference to its rarity or perhaps I do - I try to focus on Epics and Legendary (in Chaos Legion) coz that's what I can afford. Lol. I have accepted that I am not really cut for gaming (at least competitively) so I just enjoy the game the way I know without stressing too much. :D

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Yeah this game isn't the easiest to pick up for sure.

But collecting to me, is a no brainer lol

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I guess, we all have the same problem. NOT ENOUGH MONEY :). I'm weighing my options every day in buying (or renting) cards for the gameplay and actually progressing in the rating and buying cards for renting out and collecting. My last purchases were 6 Djinn Oshannus' to rent out and that was not a bad idea. All six of them are rented out for 30DEC at the moment, although they expire today. But half of those prices are pretty decent as well. But for that money (300$), I could have bought my first level 2 summoner to get higher in the silver leagues. It is a constant assessment of priorities but one thing is certain. I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY!!!

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I really screwed up when it comes to leveling up my summoners. I had no idea what i was doing and sold a lot of copies I used to have...A very expensive lesson LOL

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I've started using my SPS drop to buy legendaries. On one hand, I want to stake it so that I can keep getting vouchers after that starts again and keep buying CL packs, but on the other hand, the value of these legendaries is only going to go up. haha but even with my SPS drop, I can't even hope to afford a Lord of Darkness. Congrats on that buy! But I will be maxing out the legendaries from the new reward set.

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I saw him super cheap this week compared to what he was, like 50% off what he normally sells for. I had to grab it lol

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Good article and I sort of stumbled onto this whole card collecting thing. Only collected basketball cards when I was a lot younger. If the budget is unlimited, you can be both a player & investor, but in the end it does depend on how much time you want to put into being either.

For me, I bought a few Oshannus for the sake of renting them out so I feel less guilty about renting the more expensive cards I want to play with. My goal is to get to a point whereby my rentals out = rentals in so anything I earn in game is a testament to my skill (or lack of).

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Your approach reminds me of how my father would flip cars, although Splinterlands is different there are more similarities.
Although 1 thing confuses me, would not a card that would be good for gameplay, also make it an ideal card for rental as well?

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Lord of Darkness was one of my favorite cards too and I still play it quite often (I have a beta one maxed out). But there are quite a few counters for lineups using him these days, so I try to diversify my strategies as well.

About the player versus investor strategy, I am a player first currently. I don't like buying/upgrading a card that I'm not going to use just for the ROI purpose. Same goes for the land I bought. I intend to use it, at least partially, and rent out the rest. That can change at some point. We have such examples. Revisesociology became an investor first for his top deck and plays with lower league cards without pressure. I can go this way at any time if I feel like it. Or go full-investor and stop playing, totally or for a while. At least I believe I can, because I'm consistently playing every day. I could do without Splinterlands on vacations without even thinking about it, but that's a while ago already my last longer vacation.

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We still can be both player and investor of this game :)
I play the game, and use the reward to buy the rare cards as an investor

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Currently I am thinking more like a player but need to also take the investing aspect into consideration. I will be looking at the Beta cards which will be next to take off if the games adds them to the 10% match bonus. That would be a great investment if they do.

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The switching on how you look at the game is gold..And a key way to make sure you are not getting burnt out just playing and getting beaten in the game as player keep getting better..The investor strategy is more important as it will help you 1.play a better game not to loose the DEC and also Enjoy the game economy itself and how amazing the game is

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I do the same thing. I am much more of an investor than a player. I started as a player back in March but really only because I saw something coming in games and wanted to understand it more.

Now I play to collect my rewards and to understand where the trends in play are going so I can take advantage of them. I still like the game and I have the cards I need to play at the level I want to play at but I'll drop a team I like if the rental prices go high enough on them.

RIP my Mylor team lol

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