Proposal: Reinstate Card Level Caps Through Silver, Uncap at Gold and Above

Background

Splinterlands has experimented with different approaches to leveling rules in its ranked leagues. Originally, each league enforced specific card level ceilings, but these were removed to allow unrestricted card usage. While uncapped play encourages investment in higher-level cards, it also creates a situation where newer or more casual players can be overwhelmed, especially in the lower leagues.

Proposal Summary

• Bronze & Silver Leagues: Reintroduce strict card level caps as historically defined by Splinterlands.
• Gold League & Above: Remove all card level caps, allowing max-level cards to be fully utilized.

Rationale

1. New Player Retention
   • Bronze and Silver are often where players get their first real taste of the game. Enforcing level caps in these leagues helps newcomers avoid feeling overpowered, making it less likely they’ll drop off early.
2. Clear Progression Path
   • With caps at lower leagues, players see a logical path: build decks to compete effectively in Bronze and Silver, then move to uncapped Gold and beyond as they upgrade.
3. Balanced Incentives
   • A fully uncapped system in Gold and above still rewards players who invest in leveling up their cards, while lower leagues remain fair competition spaces.

Potential Benefits

• Increased Player Growth
  More fair matchups at lower leagues retain new and casual players.
• Healthy Economy
  A broader player base translates to more transactions, rentals, and card sales, strengthening the in-game economy.
• Smoother Onboarding
  By keeping Bronze and Silver distinctly approachable, the learning curve and initial experience improve, encouraging word-of-mouth promotion.

Concerns and Considerations

• Reward Pool Adjustments
  With caps in the lower leagues, reward pools might need adjustments to maintain a fair ratio of risk vs. reward.
• Transition to Higher Leagues
  Players should feel a natural ramp-up of difficulty so the jump to Gold is both challenging and exciting.

Conclusion

Reinstating card level caps in Bronze and Silver, while keeping Gold and above uncapped, addresses the challenge of balancing fair competition with incentivizing card progression. This hybrid approach aims to keep new players engaged, maintain a healthy economy, and still reward those who’ve invested in max-level decks.