We know SPS stake would replace the Collection Power (CP) requirement for ranked games in Splinterlands since January or February, maybe even before.
But it was certainly put into the roadmap for Q2 this year. So it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.
It wasn't a surprise to me. In fact, before the surveying phase for land, I did sell my only 2 Untamed GFLs (1 BCX each) based on the logic that their main reason for being rented out (their 50k CP) will evaporate once this change happens. I wasn't wrong about that, and the few hundred dollars worth of DEC helped with my goals, but it's true now the two cards gained some usefulness for land (the whitepaper wasn't out when I sold them). Overall, I think I did a good deal by selling them at that time.
So, during this week's town hall, Matt revealed some details about how the SPS stake will replace CP as a requirement.
Matt shared this table, and I heard people aren't very happy with the thresholds there:
The important thing to keep in mind is these thresholds are not gateways for access to leagues, as CP was (and still is, until the new system is added). It is also not based on leagues, but on rating points, so it fluctuates even within the same league.
What those levels represent - Matt explained - was the amount of SPS one would need to have staked to have the same amount of SPS rewards as in present, in the league where they are playing.
If one has less SPS staked (or delegated to his/her account), the rewards will be diminished on the same principle as rshares and using lower level cards, but can still earn rewards at any league he or she wants to play and is able to reach.
Personally, I usually play in Champions II lately. Have reached as high as Champion I. Do I have the staked SPS for that? Not even close!
Will I buy more SPS to close the gap between what I have and what I'd need to optimize my SPS rewards from ranked battles? Unlikely!
I have a different goal and I am far from it. It is far more likely that I will (continue to) sell SPS to achieve my DEC land goal. It would help if others would buy SPS to optimize their ranked battles rewards. I'd have to sell less SPS rewards.
In a way, I feel I'll be giving away the sure rewards from ranked play for the hypothetical ones in land. I hope I didn't take the wrong decision at the beginning of the year, when I decided to focus on land.
In the end, this game means a series of choices.