Like other people, I was in search of a blockchain game a month ago. I've started from the most mainstream and trending blockchain games to the ones unheard of but none of them provided me with the satisfaction that I'm looking for in a game. I thought maybe because it's a new platform and games in the blockchain are not as enjoyable as the ones we usually play. Then I came across a familiar game, a card game which has a play to earn feature which is Gods Unchained and from that I learned that it's just like the one I was playing before, MTG and Hearthstone. So apparently TCG's are also in the blockchain.
After some searches I found Splinterlands and I'm quickly intrigued by its semi automatic battle description. I was also surprised that it has an app in google playstore and that it has been around for 3 years or so.
So I got into the game read through the FAQ's and then practiced for a few games. It was confusing at first but I managed it after a while. I decided that I should buy the spellbook to see if I can get some good cards but after doing that I did not get any cards.
(To be honest I took Splinterlands as a normal game not a play to earn or any other blockchain games. For me and again just for me I don't consider $10 as an investment but just a wall, like other games ie WoW, Guild Wars etc. A pay to play but the difference is it's not a subscription but just a one time fee to enjoy the benefits of the game for a lifetime)
I learned that buying the spellbook gives you the ability to open daily quest which gives us chests that has a random reward in it. It also let you use the basic cards to do rank battles from the novice rank to the bronze rank. The spellbook also opens the rewards for winning every rank battle in which you can receive Dark Energy Crystals or DEC, it is the main currency of the game. You can spend it by renting cards or buy cards and you can also sell them in the market like other tokens/coins.
After learning all of that I finished my first quest and received a chests which luckily provided me with 2000 Dark Energy Crystals. At first I thought that 2000 DEC is normally given to all the new players which bought the spellbook as a way to start. So they can rent some cards in the market and compete in the higher ranks. Oh I forgot to mention that there is a market for players, players who own assets in the game sell or rent them here like the cards I've mentioned earlier.
(There are also several markets outside which sell other game assets of Splinterlands in exchange for different currencies like Hive and Wax. These assets are normally sold on a higher price just because it is not being sold in the Splinterlands Shop anymore ie packs of different kinds and land plots)
As days passed I lost track of my initial goal which is to find "The Game" in the blockchain. I didn't notice that my inner competitiveness already surfaced and is battling out in the ladder already. I rented cards and fought through the ranks.
(The rank battles are divided in 5 tiers namely Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond and Champion each tier has 3 different levels starting at the lowest which is Bronze 3 to the highest that is Champion 1)
I read through all the skills and got through all the cards in the market just to be familiar with every card there is in the game. Imagined every scenario and predicted every possibilities that my opponent could think off to ensure that I will always be choosing the right cards for the right battles.
While doing all of it. I always make sure to share the information I've gathered through out my experience. We have a simple group in Facebook which I post all things helpful for the new players. We promote the game for it's fun and healthy community. When I came in the group, there were only 50+ members in it. Now there's over 20k+ and it's still growing.
This is one of my latest post pertaining to the recent update about the credits.
I noticed that my interest in the game grew even more and even when I'm not playing I'm still thinking of ways to continue to improve. Then came the end of last season, It's fun and all but I suddenly thought of calculating my expenses and earnings through the game to see if I was right that the game is the one I've been looking for.
So I've been playing the whole season from August 1st - 15th that's 2 whole weeks.
I've sold several legendary cards and normal cards that I got from the daily quest together with a number of DEC's after finalizing everything. I came up with a total of $412 worth of assets in game sold. That's what I accrued for 2 weeks and now I must deduct my expenses in the game too. After calculating my total expenses I realized that the only thing I've spent on is the spellbook. So this made it easy for me. I earned $402 in playing for 2 weeks.(all smiles)
I mean it's not like a salary from a job, but I just started and I'm barely scratching the surface of Splinterlands full potential. I can guarantee that people who started 3 years ago can just sit back and watch their game assets appreciate in value and that's where I want to be, all of it while enjoying the competitive nature of the game.
Oh yes, I ended the season at Champion 2 quite a let down to be honest but I'm still renting and I can only construct 3 teams while renting so that's that. But my collection is growing day by day and I believe that It won't be long till I get to where I really want to be.
This is just the beginning of my journey in Splinterlands and I wish to post more as I go deeper in this realm. I hope it somehow ignite your curiosity and start the flame in you to conquer the lands of Splinters with me.
(I apologize but for some reasons I can't insert the other photos I've prepared)