Just a quick update about the experiment in which I start playing Steemmonsters with only a starter deck because I want to experience first hand what it is like to join the game at the start of season 6.
Image Source - Edited with The Logo Creator 7
## Time
How I wish a day would have 72 hours...
I had planned to write a clear update about my account and its progress, but I just spent 2 hours writing answers to questions for an interview. As a result, this post won't be as detailed as I wanted it to be. A shame, because I could use some advice.
I'll try to keep it short and straight to the point. (I'll try... as you should know by now, short and straight to the point is not one of the things I do best, lol).
![divider2.png]()
## Daily Quests And Rewards
I managed to reach Silver 2, and this has a very clear effect on my stats. I get matched with level 2 or 3 decks most of the time, so it takes more time to complete my DQs.
Yesterday, it took me 9 attempts to win 5 battles, which was still okay.
![battles yesterday.jpg]()
Today, however, I had to play no less than 13 before I could claim my reward cards. It was not all my fault... my opponent fled the battlefield 3 times, and I haven't had a chance to level up my Death splinter yet. It's not easy to win from a level 2/3 Life team with only level 1 cards.
![battles today.jpg]()
The reward cards I received these last two days weren't that bad. I assume you can understand that after the pull that contained the Black Dragon and the Brownie, everything is a little disappointing, but still, I can't really complain.
These were the reward cards I received for completing the last 2 DQs:
![reward cards.png]()
I love the Manticore, but since I don't have a dragon summoner yet, I decided I had to let go of it. I guess I don't have to tell you it was sold almost instantly.
I still need to list the Divine Sorceress for sale. I think it is the most useless card of the entire deck. I have never played it, not even with my higher level decks. So there is no doubt about selling it.
I already have a level 3 Sea Genie, so that one will go out too. I'll use the Wood Nymps to level up the card, but more on leveling up later.
![divider2.png]()
## Cards Sales
I still haven't had a lot of time to check the market place and buy some cards to level up. I find it difficult to decide which way to go from here.
At this moment, I have 19.142 Steem in my wallet.
Most of it I earned from selling cards. Remember, I sold the Black Dragon 2 days ago for more than 8 Steem.
In the meantime, I sold a couple more cards:
Cerberus: 0.356 STEEM (I bought a level 2, so I could sell my level 1)
Manticore: 1.317 STEEM
Vampire (lvl 3): 0.278 STEEM
Grumpy Dwarf: 0.076 SBD (Thanks, @abh12345)
As a result, I could add another 2.227 Steem to my balance.
![divider2.png]()
## Other Earnings
I already told you I was joining every giveaway I could find.
I had already won a Wood Nymph and an SBI share in a giveaway hosted by @cryptictruth, and a Cocatrice in one of @stiant's giveaways.
Yesterday, I was mentioned in a post by @mmrich. When I visited the post, it said that I had won a card. Unfortunately, I still haven't received it yet.
I left him a message... I'm no stranger to forgetting things, so I know these things can happen.
[Last time](https://steemit.com/steemmonsters/@itisjustme/steemmonsters-experiment-se6-ep5-luck-is-still-on-my-side), I told you that I was joining other, easy contests too. If they wouldn't take up too much of my time and could bring in some extra money, it would be worth a try, I figured.
So far, no extra income from that side, but I did come up with another idea to earn some extra money. I don't know why I didn't think of this before, but one of the best ways to earn a little extra is by **commenting on @steem-bounty posts**.
So I headed over to the [Steem-Bounty](https://steem-bounty.com/), looking for posts I could leave a good comment on. There were a couple that were right up my alley.
Of course, I will have to wait until the posts reach payout before I get my share. 1 did pay out already:
[![steem-bounty.jpg]()]()
Click to enarge
It's not much, but if there's one thing I learned from this challenge is that lots of small amounts do add up....
### Post Payouts
The post payouts I received these last two days weren't that bad either.
0.006 SBD, 2.271 STEEM
0.003 SBD, 1.216 STEEM
0.002 SBD, 0.971 STEEM
I was happy to see all my hard worked paid off, and another 4.458 Steem was added to my wallet.
![divider2.png]()
## Leveling Up... Easier Said Than Done
What I shared above was the easy part.
So I have 19 Steem in my wallet... but I can't decide what to do with it.
Earlier this week, I received a level 2 Alric Stormbringer from @rentmoney. With the cards I had and the cards I received from @bashadow and @stiant, it was a no-brainer to turn the Sea Monster and the Sea genie into level 2 cards too.
Thanks to @bashadow, I also had a level 2 highland Archer, and a level 2 Goblin Mech.
By combining the cards I received from @stiant and @bashadow with the ones I received for completing my DQ, I could also level up my Wood Nymph.
![level2 cards.jpg]()
I've been keeping a close eye on the market to make sure I won't miss out on good deals.
And I did find some...
I was able to buy:
* a level 2 Water Elemental for 0.286 Steem ($0.08 - the same price you pay for a level 1 card)
* a level 2 Cerberus with 225Xp for 1.5 Steem ($0.42)
* a level 2 Maric Inferno for 1.214 Steem ($0.43 - again, the same price you pay for a level 1 cards)
![level 2 cards 2.jpg]()
Now I'm in doubt... should I level up the Water splinter? The Fire splinter? Or maybe the neutrals, since they can be used in every battle?
I really don't know yet.
I guess I'll hold on to my Steem and keep watching the market to see which cards will become available for a good price...
**Feel free to share your ideas, because I'm in the dark here.**
![level2 cards.jpg]()
![divider2.png]()
## Current Stats
I'll leave you for today with a screenshot of the current stats of my deck:
![stats.jpg]()
Source 1 - Source 2 - Source 3
DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links.
All screenshots are taken from th Steemmosters website.
All other images were created with The Logo Creator 7.
I know in the lower levels, green splinter is pretty much a loser, I did prefer the death splinter over the water splinter in the early stages. Fire was my go to deck to climb the challenge ladder early on.
The green splinter is actually looking pretty good with some of the newer cards they have been given, so for later games at higher levels, they seem to win more than the water element and even can handle the death splinter. Mind you thats level 6 commons and 4 and 5 rares for the green splinter. But I am beginning to use the green splinter a bit more.
I completely agree. I find myself using the Earth spinter more and more when playing my higher level decks.
But I remember I used to play the Water splinter a lot when I first started. And since @rentmoney was so generous to donate me a level 2 Alric, it's a logical step to build the watdr splinter first.
I also leveled up my Fire summoner, simply because it was cheaper than the others.
It's really an entirely different experience than what I'm used to, lol
Posted using Partiko Android
Also, check out dclick, you will be able to earn a little more.
https://discord.gg/DhBQcH
Good idea.i wonder why I didn't think of that. Thanks for the tip!
My Pleasure.
Congratulations @itisjustme! You have completed the following achievement on the Steem blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
Click here to view your Board
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOP
To support your work, I also upvoted your post!
Fire can be great - but I went with Water because I got lucky with my Ruler of the seas. Nothing better than having it and Sea Genie against those level 3 life bots!! Water has also been pretty good for me trying to just use range attacks - without the magic boost. They seem to have one of the best low level archer decks.
Either way good luck. Let me know if you want to challenge starter deck vs starter deck!
I like the Water splinter at the lower levels too. It was the one I used to play all the time when I first started out. Back in the days (lol), medusa and the mermaid were an invincible team. I think they have made some adjustments along the way, because they are not as strong as they used to be. But the new reward cards are definitely an asset - they have made the splinter a lot stronger
have you thought about actifit? it's a dapp that rewards you for physical activity. every time you do 5,000 steps or more you get an upvote. so you get actifit tokens plus an upvote, and then when your post pays out you can buy something from steemmonsters
plus you keep fit of course
I do know Actifit, and I've used it before. But since I'm still recovdring from 2 back surgeries I had last year I'm not able to rreach 5000 steps a day yet. Once i've fully recovered, I'll probably start using it again
Posted using Partiko Android
sorry to hear that. i wish you speedy recovery.
I just get 1 card when I complete my DQ. How do you get multiple ?
I'm 2 days old Steemit Monsters player.
Your post was a good guide for me.
you get more when you advance up in league
This post shows how many reward cards you get for the league you are in:
https://steemit.com/steemmonsters/@steemmonsters/season-6-updates-and-balance-changes
OK great. I'm not able to move past bronze 2. Getting difficult for me to move up.
I'm new, so have very few cards.
I understand. So I sent you a few reward cards. Hope it makes is a bit easier for you. Also join giveaways to try to get cards.
I have 5 running. winners will be picked on monday Feb 11
https://steemit.com/steemmonsters/@stiant/time-for-friday-giveaway
That's very kind of you. I enrolled to all your giveaways.
Yes I saw, good luck to you, hope your climb gets a bit easier
Your gifts are precious. Trying my hand on them.
@stiant, I don't think I have ever come across someone as generous as you. So nice to see people who are always prepared to help out others!
Posted using Partiko Android
It is a difficult choice, on what to upgrade. If were to start from scratch with limited resources today It would be a choice to make. Think it is wise to see what the market can offer. At high mana cap games I think the naga firewizard is a good card at lower levels ( not good at higher)
I have a deck with only lv1 cards that I play, If high manacap I use it in the back.
I actually lost a semi-final in a tournament about a week ago because of the divine healer. I don
t use it much either, but it has it
s use case .There are different ways to play, and the game changes frequently.
I am terrible at giving advise, but I wish you luck. I enjoy reading your posts
Thanks @stiant.
I completely unxerstand it is difficult to give advice. I do own a complete level 1 alpha deck, I also play a level 4 deck, and my main deck is level 6, and I had never expected that it would be so difficult to make these kinds of decisions. It's so much easier if you can just buy what you need/want, lol.
This experiment really forces me to evaluate how useful, and how important every card is, so I csn decide which ones I can do without, and which ones I really need to be able to progress
Posted using Partiko Android
Congratulations! This post has been upvoted from the communal account, @minnowsupport, by itisjustme from the Minnow Support Project. It's a witness project run by aggroed, ausbitbank, teamsteem, someguy123, neoxian, followbtcnews, and netuoso. The goal is to help Steemit grow by supporting Minnows. Please find us at the Peace, Abundance, and Liberty Network (PALnet) Discord Channel. It's a completely public and open space to all members of the Steemit community who voluntarily choose to be there.
If you would like to delegate to the Minnow Support Project you can do so by clicking on the following links: 50SP, 100SP, 250SP, 500SP, 1000SP, 5000SP.
Be sure to leave at least 50SP undelegated on your account.
Good work, you are already $2 to the good.
Which isn't easy to do considering the value of the cards in a starter pack.