Episode 113: A Clayboyn Conversation

Episode 113: A Clayboyn Conversation

The People's Guild: A Splinterlands Podcast

Welcome back to the People's Guild. In this one, we welcome back to TPG the recently re-elected project manager over at the Splinterlands DAO for a bit of a catch up. A very well-deserved to @clayboyn for his re-election and welcome back to the show!

We look back at the first year of Clay's tenure, discuss a bunch of the current goings-on & take a bit of a look into what's next for the DAO.

Enjoy the episode!

Balancing Work and Personal Life Challenges

Bjangles welcomed Clayboyn back to the People's Guild after a successful year as the DAO Project Manager. Clayboyn expressed his gratitude for the support and his passion for the role. Hepthorn also welcomed Clayboyn back, appreciating his work and the challenges he faced. The conversation then shifted to the challenges of balancing work and personal life, particularly in the context of managing a global community. Clayboyn shared his struggle to disconnect from work even during time off, and Hepthorn expressed the difficulty of stepping away from work due to constant demands and engagements. They also discussed the challenges and costs associated with exchanges in the crypto industry, with Clayboyn highlighting the difficulties of getting listings and updates. He also touched on the need to manage community expectations and the challenges of negotiating from a position of limited power.

Web 3 Gaming Projects and Viability Discussion

Clayboyn expressed concerns about the oversaturation of web 3 gaming projects and questioned their viability. He suggested an MMO blockchain economy as a logical use case. Clayboyn praised Splinterlands' sustainable model and discussed potential web 3 adaptations like Flappy Bird. He shared frustrations with continuity issues in games like World of Warcraft. Bjangles and Hepthorn agreed on Splinterlands' success and the appeal of web 3 versions of popular games. Clayboyn reflected on the origins of Wax blockchain and integrating web 3 with existing platforms.

Gaming Industry Shifts and Splinterlands' Approach

Clayboyn expressed his dissatisfaction with the gaming industry's shift towards extensive monetization, reminiscing about the past when players could buy a game and enjoy it without additional costs. He criticized the industry's current predatory approach and contrasted it with Splinterlands' approach of allowing players to own and sell their assets. Clayboyn also discussed the market's stabilization, attributing it to the departure of wild speculators and the involvement of more experienced players. He mentioned the company's growth from past mistakes, such as the unlimited card supply during the Chaos Legion era, and the more controlled approach with the Rebellion course.

Bulk Discounts, Incentives, and Business Practices

Clayboyn proposed a flat 5% discount for purchases over 100 packs and suggested using other incentives to encourage bulk purchases without devaluing packs. He criticized the practice of buying packs in bulk to resell them at a discount, advocating for smarter business practices. Clayboyn expressed his passion for the company's growth and learning from past mistakes, and highlighted the company's willingness to acknowledge and learn from its errors. He also discussed the company's business decisions, stating that they lead to more value in the game economy. Hepthorn and Bjangles agreed with Clayboyn's observations, noting the rarity of certain cards and the resulting high value. They discussed the removal of bulk discounts and its impact on the voucher system, with both Clayboyn and Bjangles expressing surprise but acknowledging it as a necessary change. However, they both highlighted the lack of transparency in the communication about this change, particularly the absence of an alternative to compensate for the loss of bulk discounts.

Proposal Writing, Detail, and Community Involvement

Clayboyn and Bjangles discussed the importance of detail and thoroughness in proposal writing, emphasizing the need to consider all angles and potential consequences. Clayboyn shared his experience of facing criticism for not prioritizing the interests of the community's largest stakeholders and highlighted the importance of acknowledging one's own lack of knowledge and seeking input from others. Clayboyn also discussed the guild's progress in reducing costs and increasing sustainability, expressing his desire to cover his salary through liquidity trading fees. Bjangles acknowledged the community's role in decision-making and the potential for unintended consequences, expressing support for Clayboyn's work and acknowledging the ongoing recognition for his efforts.

Effective Communication and Splinterlands Economy Challenges

Bjangles and Clayboyn discussed the challenges of effective communication and the complexities of the Splinterlands economy. Clayboyn shared his perspective on the rewards plateau in the game and the interconnectedness of changes. They also discussed the issue of the DAO's proposals often reaching beyond the scope of the DAO's governance. Bjangles questioned how to better gauge customer sentiment and move forward from past overreach. Clayboyn expressed his frustration with the situation, emphasizing the need to consider the precedent set by proposals.

DAO's Role in Game Design and Management

Clayboyn expressed concerns about the DAO dictating game design due to potential unmanageable situations and a backlog of proposals. He suggested the DAO contract companies to develop game aspects instead. Clayboyn emphasized the DAO's role in managing the game, with the ultimate vision being a decentralized game and economy. He highlighted the complexity of game design changes, citing a recent brawls system change that required significant rework. Clayboyn also mentioned a previous brawls proposal that required non-trivial work to implement.

Promo Cards Pricing and Team Involvement Discussion

Hepthorn expressed concerns about the lack of input from the team on promo cards, particularly regarding pricing and promotion strategies. Clayboyn clarified the team's role in sales and the need for more involvement from the DAO. The team agreed on the need for more input in future proposals and discussed the pricing of promotional sales, with Clayboyn suggesting reconsideration to make sales more affordable. Bjangles emphasized the importance of considering the sale's success on two levels: the overall expectation of getting back a substantial chunk of the 600 million DEC, and the distribution of the sale. The discussion ended with the need to define the goal for the promotional cards.

Accessible Promo Cards and Trading Costs

Bjangles and Hepthorn discussed the importance of accessible promotional cards in their game, arguing that the scarcity of these cards should not be driven by retail pricing. They suggested that limiting the number of cards produced could make them more affordable, and expressed dissatisfaction with the high cost of trading cards. Clayboyn agreed, noting that he too has spent a significant amount on promo cards and is tapped out. The group also discussed the potential impact of whales buying large quantities of cards, with Bjangles viewing it as a win for the DAO but a loss for the community. They concluded that a balance between exclusivity and affordability is necessary.

Discussing Game Abilities and Promo Card Pricing

Bjangles and Clayboyn discussed the potential impact of new abilities in the game, particularly the synergy between Eleanor and other cards. They expressed concerns about the potential for these abilities to become meta and the need for the team to create additional fiend cards to retain their value. They also discussed the pricing of promo cards, with Clayboyn suggesting that the cards are overpriced and that the team should continue providing feedback to Matt. The team agreed to continue providing feedback to Matt, acknowledging past instances where the community's input shaped decisions.

Expanding to New Chains and Future Plans

Clayboyn expressed concerns about expanding to new chains, citing challenges with coin tracking sites, high update costs, and potential issues with validators. He discussed the need for careful planning to avoid unintended consequences. Bjangles acknowledged the slow progress while Clayboyn remained optimistic about long-term opportunities, particularly in DeFi. Clayboyn hinted at a potential expansion of the foundation and agreed to a follow-up discussion on future plans.

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