Community Engagement Challenge: Getting Started with a Free-To-Play Splinterlands Account

Prelude
Hi all, good day to all of you. It's time again for Community Engagement Challenge. For today, the challenge a little different than usual and I think it is really timely for such a topic to be worked on so as to be able to have more players coming into the game. The recent town hall shared an amazing news for new players and now new players can enjoy the perks on gaining account bounded rewards and improve their card collection.

Lowering The Barrier of Entry
As with many people whom are not familiar with crypto and even play2earn games, to own a spellbook actually cost USD$10. For some this amount is not too big a figure, but to other it could mean alot and a potential sunken cost that might get you nothing back.

Kudos to the Splinterlands team, the new change that was announced during town hall actually help to get rid of this barrier, so that new players can experience the game sufficiently before deciding whether or not to invest further into the game by purchasing a spell book.

With more new players in the game, it will create market movement be it in buy and sell or even card rental. Also with more new players, we can see more fresh ideas in gameplay etc. So definitely, this is the right path to take and get new players to experience Splinterlands.

Other Free to Play New Player Experiences?
One of the biggest hurdle spell book is gone, what does does this free to play experience include?

• Ability to earn glint even without SPS staked after Novice league
• Base modifier for Glint is at 1x for 0 sps staked
• No more starter card penalty
• As long you met the requirements of a new league, you can earn league advancement rewards.

How I wish I had such a good support when I first started the game 3 years ago. But nevertheless, this change is much needed to inject fresh blood into the game. Not forgetting that, if we do not have sufficient card power during the time I joined the game, I will not be able to earn any DEC. So definitely alot of barriers for new players have been taken down. The Soul Bound reward cards are awesome, so being able to earn them is really a great move and players will feel the sense of ownership of their account.

This free to play account is capable of the following:

• Earn Glint
• Join Guild
• Purchase credits
• Purchase cards
• Receive packs or cards
• Receive card delegations
• Participate in brawl to earn merits
• Rent cards
• Combine cards
• Open packs
• Purchase items from Glint shop

With the list above, it is essentially a full fledge account and many aspects of the game can be experienced.

But something to note is that, if we want to do things that move assets out of the free to play account, it is not possible unless you purchase a spell book. Same goes with holding DEC or SPS, enter tournament, creating a guild or accessing Land and earning SPS rewards.

Starter cards from Chaos Legion is now made available to be selected in gameplay and remember that it does not come with a starter card penalty anymore.

Sign Up/Register
With so many things made to allow new players to enjoy the game without spending unless they want to, what are you waiting for? It's time to sign up!

To do so, first you go the following link: Link

A very simple interface to use. Key in your desired username or let the system generate one for you if you absolutely no idea what to use as your username. Then key in your email and confirm it by keying it a 2nd time. In the next box is the referral, you can either leave it blank or input my username, both works fine.

After which, click on create password and verify your email from a mail sent to email address to start your journey in Splinterlands.

Welcome to Splinterlands
Do not be surprised to see a word lite at the end of your username, this is to distinguish between accounts with and without spellbook. To get rid of the lite, you can purchase a spellbook. When you start, this will be the interface that you see:

There will be guides, so first go through the tutorial then start testing you what you've learned by clicking on battle. If everything suits you and you love the experience, you can purchase the spellbook at any time.

Next thing to explore is the glint shop, this is where your earned glint from your battles can be put to good use by purchasing new reward chest to get more rewards cards and other stuff available in the shop. Do also note that because it is a free to play account, big jackpot rewards that can be available in the reward chest is not eligible for you unless you already purchased the spell book.

Next is to pay attention to this bard of icons at the top left of your gaming interface. Let me share in brief on the icons.

Play - This is to return to the page where we can click on battle. For free to play accounts, only ranked play and guild brawl matter

Shop - The one you should focus on is the reward shop, which is essentially the glint shop as mentioned above.

Market - This is where we buy or rent assets to improve our gameplay.

Open - This is where we open various packs that we have in the game

Items - This showcase all the items such as reward cards you have and also if you need to combine cards, this is the place.

Guild - Last on the list is guild. This is where you join guilds to be able to compete in brawls and subsequently get more Gladius cards which are really strong. Brawls are a good way to accumulate merit and SPS (SPS only when you have a spell book).

One final call out from me is to be part of the Splinterlands community in discord where strategies, tips from more seasoned players, card delegation help etc can be found. So head on over and make friends in discord. Remember, no man is an island, get into the community and grow together.

Splinterlands discord: Link

Wrap Up
Whew, I've spoken a big handful of information. If there queries and doubts in the game, you can either comment on this post or reach out to me in Splinterands discord. I hope this simple introduction can help you assimilate into the game easier. See you on the battlefield!

I am currently part of PIZZA, an active gaming and creative arts crypto community on the HIVE blockchain and part of PIZZA guild. Popular cryto games such as SPLINTERLANDS, RISING STAR and HASHKINGS are actively discussed in this community.

Many events are being organized from time to time. Join the PIZZA DISCORD. This is a place filled with 💰🍕🎁GIVEAWAYS & AIRDROPS💰🍕🎁 and most definitely consisting of a friendly community to be in.

Till my next battle sharing, take care, stay safe and happy battling!

If you are keen on playing Splinterlands, feel free to join me via this link: https://splinterlands.com?ref=vaynard86