FAM Newsletter #22 9/9/2024 - Ape of Wall St

Greetings, FAM members and Web3 Community!

Welcome to this week’s edition of the FAM newsletter! This week, we delve into the vital role of fuels in Illuvium, offering a comprehensive guide to understanding and utilizing these crucial resources to optimize your gameplay. We'll break down the types, uses, and strategic importance of fuels to give you the competitive edge. In our spotlight section, we're excited to feature Ape of Wall St, a steadfast member always ready to assist and share knowledge, enriching our community with his dedication. As always, we’ll bring you the latest updates in our FAM Guild Activities section, keeping you informed on all the new and ongoing developments within our vibrant community. Get ready for a week filled with in-depth analysis, community highlights, and exciting guild news!

Ready to Dive into Illuvium?
If you're new to Illuvium and eager to start your adventure, we'd love to help! Use this referral link to get started: https://illuvium.io/open-beta?alliance=MRS369FAMTV and experience the excitement of this groundbreaking Web3 game. See you in the Overworld!

Let’s Talk Illuvium: Understanding Fuel Types

In Illuvium, there are three primary resources, or "fuel types," that players must gather to power various in-game activities: Hyperion, Solon, and Crypton. These fuels are essential for key gameplay functions such as capturing Illuvials, crafting equipment, and managing land. Hyperion is crucial for exploration and Illuvial capturing in the Overworld, Solon is used primarily for land management and building infrastructure, and Crypton fuels crafting and advanced constructions. Efficient use of these resources is key to progressing and maximizing gameplay potential.

For those participating in Illuvium: Zero, the land management mini-game, obtaining fuel is done by constructing and upgrading extraction buildings on player-owned land plots. Buildings such as Hyperion Extractors, Solon Extractors, and Crypton Extractors generate these resources over time. The rate of extraction and the efficiency of fuel production are based on how well these buildings are upgraded. However, for players who do not wish to invest in land, there is an alternative: purchasing fuel directly from other players. The Illuvium marketplace allows landowners to sell their excess resources, enabling other players to buy Hyperion, Solon, and Crypton without the need for land ownership.

Hyperion plays a key role in Overworld exploration and the process of capturing Illuvials. It is consumed when players venture into new biomes, activate Obelisks for fast travel, or attempt to catch Illuvials. Without Hyperion, players would be unable to perform many of the crucial actions in the Overworld, making it one of the most important fuels in the game. Managing your Hyperion reserves ensures that you can explore efficiently and capitalize on opportunities to capture rare Illuvials.

Solon, on the other hand, is the cornerstone resource in Illuvium: Zero. It is primarily used for building and upgrading infrastructure on your land, such as extractors and storage units. Solon is essential for ensuring smooth land development, allowing players to extract more resources like Hyperion and Crypton. In addition to building new structures, Solon is used to upgrade existing ones, improving fuel output and production efficiency, making it a critical resource for long-term success in land management.

Crypton serves a dual purpose, mainly powering the crafting system and more advanced building upgrades. In the core Illuvium game, Crypton is used to craft weapons, armor, and tools that players need for combat and exploration. In Illuvium: Zero, Crypton helps players build advanced infrastructure, enhancing land productivity and resource gathering. Without Crypton, players would be unable to create the gear needed for high-level gameplay or unlock the full potential of their land-based buildings.

For players looking to maximize their fuel efficiency, several strategies can help. One key approach is to carefully plan your in-game activities to avoid wasting fuel on unnecessary tasks. For example, only enter the Overworld when you have specific goals in mind, such as capturing rare Illuvials or gathering valuable resources. Additionally, purchasing fuel on the marketplace when prices are low or buying in bulk can be a more cost-effective approach than relying on your land’s production, especially if you don’t own high-tier land. Lastly, upgrading your land strategically ensures a balanced fuel output, allowing you to sustain your resource needs efficiently over time.

Pro tip: Buying fuel now gives substantially more fuel during this initial launch phase; load up on bonus fuel while the offer is still available!!

FAM Guild Activities Update

FAM RENTALS ARE BACK! Headed up by our Community Manager, ExoticMTG, FAM is back to offering rentals to our members! While marketplace discounts are currently deactivated, we will be offering up to 10% discount on initial postings for all inventory (while supplies last). Please be mindful of the rules — you can read all the rules for rentals in the #fam-guild-rentals channel. Take advantage of these low market prices with an additional 10% off while the opportunity is still here!

The FAM Stream Team continues to offer 24/7 content for all Web3 games! If you're interested in learning more about BigTime, Illuvium, BossFighters or any of the other FAM favorites, visit a FAM streamer live; you can find who is streaming now at https://famguild.com. They are ready to answer your questions and share in the journey providing you with immediate access to play, quality insights, and shared experiences in all aspects of Web3 gaming.

The current list of FAM discord channels dedicated to supporting our favorite Web3 projects* includes BigTime, BOSSFIGHTERS, Illuvium, Off The Grid, Lumiterra, MetalCore, XOCIETY, World Shards, UNIOVERSE, Shrapnel, Hunters On Chain, Nyan Heroes, Guild of Guardians, Seraph, Night Crows, Entropia, RavenQuest, and Earth From Another Sun.
*Note: We have game leaders within each of these spaces; if you would like to know more information about any of these games, start the conversation in any of the dedicated channels!

Always stay up to date by visiting our continuously improving website (https://famguild.com), watching the FAM Stream Team (broadcasting 24/7 on Twitch), and being a part of the FAM discord.

Spotlight FAM Community Member: Ape of Wall St

Ape of Wall St, also known as Derek and a seasoned participant in Web3 gaming, began his crypto journey in 2015, long before the space gained widespread attention. His first encounters with Web3 involved gambling and dapps, starting with Tronbet and eventually playing games like Tron Village, a Ponzi-style game marketed as an "economical simulator." "My biggest regret was probably getting into Chibifighter," Ape of Wall St shares, recalling how the game, once popular on Ethereum and later expanded to Tron, ended with the founder disappearing. Despite setbacks, he continued to explore the Web3 space and found his footing with Splinterlands, a game he describes as "a real play-to-earn game." This marked a major shift in his approach, as he recognized the potential to be a pioneer in the emerging world of Web3 gaming.

What has always drawn Ape of Wall St to Web3 gaming is the unique blend of ownership, earning potential, and social connection. "Splinterlands had many different ways to play: liquidity pools, staking, playing, buying, selling, and even renting out cards," he explains, highlighting the variety of gameplay experiences that captivated him. For him, the ability to engage in multiple facets of the game, including finding scholars to play his account, added layers of depth that traditional gaming lacked. It wasn’t just about making money—it was about the friendships and community bonds he formed, making Web3 gaming a social and economic experience all at once.

In terms of learning, Ape of Wall St took a hands-on approach, experimenting and learning through trial and error. "Making friends and doing things with trial and error was initially how I got started," he explains. Rather than relying heavily on formal guides, he immersed himself in different projects, and the friendships he made became a crucial part of his learning process. He advises newcomers to adopt a similar mindset, encouraging them to read blockchain websites, make friends, and ask questions. For Ape of Wall St, learning by doing and being willing to make mistakes along the way were key to navigating the complex world of Web3 gaming.

As his involvement in Web3 gaming has evolved, Ape of Wall St has remained committed to exploring new projects, even though he faces the challenge of getting his friends to join him. "It’s really hard to captivate my friends in person to try crypto gaming," he admits, pointing out that many of them are still drawn to AAA titles in the traditional gaming space. However, he hasn’t let that deter him. His Web3 journey is ongoing, and by constantly playing, testing, and exploring new games, Ape of Wall St continues to navigate the shifting tides of both bull and bear markets. He sees the process of trial and error as essential to his growth within the space.

Though his day job demands over 12 hours of his time daily, Ape of Wall St still manages to stay involved in the Web3 community. "I do try my best to visit Discord of projects that I am in or interested in and spend some of my time there," he explains. While he can't engage in Twitter spaces or long conversations as frequently as he would like, he prioritizes staying connected to the projects that interest him. This selective engagement has allowed him to remain an active part of the community despite his busy schedule, proving that even with limited time, meaningful contributions can still be made.

One of the most significant projects for Ape of Wall St has been Splinterlands, but more recently, Big Time has had a profound impact on him. Through Splinterlands, he formed a close friendship with someone he’d never met in real life, and together they transitioned to Big Time, playing nearly every night. "Because of Big Time, I was able to make a lot of new friends," he notes, reflecting on how the game has not only deepened his social connections but also introduced him to one of the best guilds in the game. He sees Big Time as having great potential, positioning itself at the forefront of Web3 and AAA crypto gaming. For Ape of Wall St, the game’s promise lies not just in its current state but in its potential to become a leader in the Web3 space as it continues to evolve.

Balancing Web3 gaming with his other interests, Ape of Wall St makes time for family, friends, and hobbies outside of crypto. "Besides gaming, I love to spend time with my family and friends," he shares, explaining how he also enjoys playing traditional games like League of Legends and Runescape. Collecting One Piece trading cards, playing chess, and listening to audiobooks are among his favorite pastimes. Typically, he sets aside one to four hours of gaming at night, depending on what his schedule looks like for the next day. This approach allows Ape of Wall St to balance his passion for both Web3 and Web2 gaming, while still nurturing his personal relationships and interests outside the gaming world.

This interview was not recorded but you can find out more about Ape of Wall St by joining his social medias here:
X - https://x.com/TTVApeOfWallSt
Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/apeofwallst

Thank you for being a part of our vibrant community. Your passion and engagement are what make the FAM Guild truly extraordinary. Let's keep building, exploring, and achieving together in the exciting world of Web3 Gaming.

Until next time, game on, FAM!

The FAM Guild Team