When I first started playing Splinterlands several years ago, players were able to earn both cryptocurrency and tradable, unlocked, non-soulbound cards for winning matches and competing daily quests. I thought it was an absolutely revolutionary concept, and it was one of the reasons that I liked playing the game so much. Unfortunately, soulbound cards were introduced several years ago, and I personally felt that that decreased a lot of the incentive to play the game. However, Splinterlands isn't a game that stands still. The team has shown that they are willing to try new ideas, listen to feedback, and adjust things when needed.
That brings us to the topic of today's post: the re-introduction of trabeable card reward cards. I'll put the bottom line upfront. I think the reintroduction of tradeable rewards cards is a massive step in the right direction that helps brings Splinterlands back to its roots and gives players a reason to be excited about the game again.
Rewards Cards Will Be Tradeable - Sort Of????
As much as I like this plan, I think it's important to take a step back and explore the details. I think the most important thing for players to know is that, although some cards will be immediately tradable, there are some caveats. Black and Gold foils will be immedeately tradeable, but regular foils will not.
You Mean 98% of The Cards Are Still Soulbound ?!?!
When I first read the press release, I have to be honest, I was a little bit disappointed. I was excited about the prospect of having a fully tradable reward set just like the old days of Splinterlands. However, I think it's important to be honest and admit that the vast majority of the cards in the game are regular foil, and therefore the vast majority of the cards in this reward set will still be soulbound.
Although I definitely understand the frustration of players who were expecting the entire set to be immediately tradable cards. I do think it's important to take a step back and understand some of the technicalities. The important thing to note is that even the soulbound cards will become unlockable through a new mechanism that the team has created: unbinding scrolls.
Unbinding Scrolls....What Are Those?? 📜
Unbinding Scrolls are the new system that the team is introducing to unlock soulbound reward cards and make them tradable. Unbinding Scrolls use a simple formula. One scroll unlocks a soulbound card of the same rarity. For example, a rare scroll unlocks a rare card, whereas a legendary scroll unlocks a legendary card.
According to this post, there are four different ways of procuring unbinding scrolls.
How to Get Unbinding Scrolls:
- Purchase them directly with DEC at 5x Collection Power.
- Find them as a new reward in Loot Chests.
- Craft them using resources on Land in the Artisan Quarter.
- Buy them from the NCM or trade with other players directly.
So What Does All of This Actually Mean For Players??
I give credit to the team for including a lot of information in their official post. However, many players out there simply want a basic take-a-home message, so I'll do my best to simplify everything here. The way I see it, there are a few key points to understand. The first is that any gold and black foil cards will be immediately tradable.
The second key point is that there is an accessible pathway to unlock regular foil cards and make them tradable.There are four different options for purchasing unbinding scrolls, and I think this gives players a lot of different options to find the way of unlocking their cards that works best for them.
Do I Like It??
I was initially hoping that every single card in the Conclave Arcana Rewards set would be instantly tradable without having to pay any additional fees or buy any additional items. However, I realized that I don't have access to all of the data the team has, and I'm not as connected to the various stakeholders in the game. I also realized that compromises in balancing different competing priorities are important.
As a whole, I think the new direction Splinterlands is taking with the rewards set is definitely a step in the right direction. True, it doesn't give me everything I wanted, and every card isn't going to be instantly tradable like it was in the old days of Splinterlands. At the same time, the old system was problematic for a number of reasons. At the end of the day, I think this is a rational way of slowly reintroducing tradable reward cards back in the game. Making the Gold and Black Foils instantly tradable adds additional utility and desirability to these chase cards while the unbinding scrolls provide plenty of opportunities for players to unlock their normal foil cards. As I mentioned at the start of my post, the team is constantly innovating, and I expect that this system will be continue to be revised in the future as the team sees what works, what didn't, and how to keep making the game better.
How Will It Change The Game??
As a whole, I think this new reward card system will motivate players to chase after the Gold and Black Foil cards since they will instantly be tradable. I also suspect that more players will spend their Glint on rewards chests, hoping for the possibility of securing one of the unbinding scrolls. Since unbinding scrolls are created with land resources, I also think there is a possibility that this new system could benefit land owners by making the resources they produce more desirable.
Join Me In Splinterlands
I know that most of my posts focus on the action-packed gameplay of Splinterlands and the ability to earn tradable NFTs and cryptocurrency for winning matches. However, I think it's just important to recognize the team's commitment to continually improving the game and balancing the sustainability of the game with the player's desires. I think this level of dedication shows why Splinterlands is one of the longest running NFT games in existence. If you're interested in being part of a vibrant NFT gaming project that is constantly innovating and evolving, I'd invite you to join me in Splinterlands using my referral link.
Disclaimer
As a US resident, I am required to disclose that I might receive a benefit, such as reward or incentive, if you join using my affiliate link. All image credits belong to Splinterlands. Nothing is financial advice. Also note that there was a LOT of info in the official post. I've done my best to summarize here, but the best source of info is the official post.
Thanks for sharing! - @mango-juice
