wide fjord
Just a feedback from a normal and casual gameplay, not a hardcore grinder (yet, maybe on mainnet lol), and not using extra test eth from sepolia. I've gone lazy to learn how to use it, lol. Only using the test eth supply from Illuvium from the very beginning.
I played free-to-play game structure in Illuvium: Overworld, which showcase Tier 0 in Stage 0 Region. And played it realistically with a Tier 0 budget in mind, but 100% pure gameplay & feelings towards the game.
I dunno, maybe it's just me.. But playing Illuvium: Overworld should have been played realistically. Forging the equipment and armaments first before you ever capture an illuvial should have been the priority, giving more power factor in Overworld, and not the Illuvials. Though it makes sense in Illuvium: Arena game when all things are on deck. Only the equipment in the Overworld have made sense. Armaments that are equipped on the ranger however, have no use, like the sword and armor. Except the armor and weapon you use on deck when capturing the Illuvial in the battle board.
I love how Illuvium incentivize the players, playtesting their game. But due to the called, juicey Airdrop points and added value events in-game, with a given timeframe, players have gone drastically motivated and somehow ignore levelling up their equipment and armaments for the goal of capturing higher tier Illuvials fast by using/borrowing/trading top tier Illuvials. As if no one uses armaments in the battle arena anymore, they kinda rely on the Illuvials and consumables. Although, this is a smart strategy. Or merely outsmarting the testnet system.
If only the supply of test eth was equally distributed to every players during the early testnet phase, there could have been a realistic and fair events and activities. It feels like, a one year game of hunting and capturing have squeezed to a 2-month playtest, which many players have already completed the capturing. Will you blame them when the rewards are too juicy.