The Industry’s Challenge
Overcoming high gas prices has been a challenge for blockchain gaming developers for several years and as such is nothing new. They can present in-game play-ability issues as well as high cost transactions for players. The result: unhappy players. Over the last few days, The Ethermon Team have observed gas prices shoot up to 50 Gwei! This in turn has made transaction costs in Ethermon sky-rocket upto 50X.
In addition to high-gas prices, our community members, as well as new players, have indicated a desire for the Ethermon team to reduce playing costs in order to reduce barriers for entrance.
To tackle the challenges presented by our community members’ and allow for a more seamless on boarding experience for non-crypto users, we are presenting some additional short-term solutions to expand the Ethermon stack. Meanwhile, our long term approach will be to explore the integration of innovative plasma-chain solutions such as those offered by MATIC Network, in order to present viable on-chain solutions to these challenges.
Ethermon’s Adaptation (Recap)
As an interim solution to high gas prices, Ethermon main battles modes have been optimised to employ an Energy based system (Energy being an on-chain state variable). This means users still have to claim or re-charge energy (with EMONT or ETH), as a result, this will allow for multiple battles to take place with only a single meta-transaction (signing only / no actual TX or gas required).
By moving battles off-chain, battles will be processed almost immediately, as well as reduce the number of encounters with scalability issues or gas price fluctuations. Simultaneously, experience gains and rewards (EMONT) will continue to occur on the Ethereum network via traditional transactions.
In-game assets will remain on-chain and fully owned by users.
Ethermon’s Mass Adoption Proposals
We know that the number of transaction requirements is still a major bottle neck for on-boarding main stream adaptations, so we are also exploring additional game modes which will allow users to play without the need to claim on-chain energy. The trade-off for this will be that the percentage chance for quest rewards will be drastically reduced. This adaptation is intended to allow for ecosystem fluidity between on-boarding blockchain gaming novices more readily, whilst protecting and maintaining the scarcity and value of EMONT.
Future On Chain Solutions
As a long-term solution, The Ethermon Team are evaluating MATIC Network’s plasma-chain solutions as a solution for scalability in Ethermon. We believe this will allow for:
- High visibility transactions: stored on-chain (such as battle results of high value cash prize tournaments).
- Cost effective storage contract upgrades: small value item creation and similar asset use-cases (micro-transactions).
- Reduced gas prices and increased speeds: transactions at a fraction of the cost with increased speeds whilst retaining the ability to synchronise with Ethereum’s main chain.
Game-Play Changes and Interface Changes
Energy System
Battles: no longer require a per battle TX fee. We have introduced an energy system that works for battles, including Practice and Ranked mode.
Energy consumption: each Practice and Ranked match costs 2 energy.
Energy supply: Free claim: 1 free energy is supplied per hour. You can claim up to 10 free energy each time.
Energy packs: are available to top up energy with ETH and EMONT.
Ranked Mode reward
For every win in Ranked Mode you can claim 0.2 EMONT.
On-chain data syncing
Interacting with smart contracts is required to sync data on-chain. This is needed when players need to transform Mons, upgrade their token on chain with Shards, Level Stones (and other adventure loots); as well as claiming their experience level on chain so it’s forever stored on the blockchain!
Battle page
We are calling on our community members to provide further detail and discussion to drive further improvements as part of the Battle Page. Jump onto our Discord Server and have chat with us!
Kind Regards,
The Ethermon team
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