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Whilst the season hasn't ended, I finished playing Modern format yesterday after making it into Champion 1 in the Modern format. This means that I will be full to start next season, but it also meant that I would have some extra Energy to have a crack at the Wild format. After neglecting it for *many, many* months, because I didn't have the tokens to play both, I have been trying to work my way up again from silver, just using the leftover energy. 

Last season, I finished mid-Diamond 1, after the season before finishing in Diamond 3 (if I remember correctly). It has taken me a few seasons to work my way up, then kicked back for the start of the next, then work my way a little higher next round. But *finally,* I have made it into Champion 3 for the first time in what must be since the Energy system was introduced.  

>And I did it with the best efficiency I have ever got.

![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/tarazkp/23wqbmAapM43EFcqXVFEmGoEK5QNn3PC9ezHojWT1r2DQ4Mhk1D7LXDdJq3fkbqy5utXB.jpg)


![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/tarazkp/23wqbxeSuHdTHburambxtjURVpzQ761N9K9zeCH3PNM9RxXZ6rDpTdpERatK3zMin4q6S.png)

Now, this isn't *overly representative* of my skills (which are mid-range), because this is playing at the end of the season. This means that who I am playing against is likely to be above me in the rankings, but not necessarily above me in ability. So, after playing a few rounds at the start of the season somewhere, yesterday and this morning I have played the rest.

My first win of the 13-Streak was yesterday when I had 3,327 points, and my last got me to 3,726, which is a run of 399 points in a row - which I am *pretty sure* is the best I have ever performed. This isn't a lot for some people of course who get these crazy streaks, but for me, I feel it was good, and means that I made it through Diamond 1, in 9 matches. 

>That makes me happy.

Because, while I like playing, I  don't like playing against bots and as Wild allows bots, a lot of these might just be automated accounts. It is far less enjoyable for me to think that, even if it isn't true. I have much preferred playing in Modern where *most* (I have some suspicions) of the accounts are manually played. I like when I play against my [KOG] guild mates and can drop a gg into the Trash Talk channel, or "lightly tease" when getting a good win over them. It is a lot of fun and I believe it build a better guild when we are talking about the games, asking questions about lineups and not focusing on ROI. 

>Automations and Battle Helpers to maximize win rates, is all about ROI. 

I have never been a good maximizer at anything on Splinterlands, or in Hive in general. I perhaps unfortunately have my own code to the way I do things and it tends to be one that puts a moral position on effort. I have the sense that very little that is actually worth it, *should* come easily and then, if it is "easy" or doesn't take too much time to get okay results, the effort can be put in to get excellent results instead. But, the "results" are not the only aspect to be considered, because the journey matters too.

Originally, I bought some packs in Splinterlands to benefit from investing, not to play at all. This was just before summer in 2021. However, a few weeks later, I had a stroke and then decided that it might be good for my brain to learn how to play. It became part of my recovery, as it is systematic and repetitive, but has a fair amount of complexity for me to understand. And without close to a full set (only DICE and a few delegations from friends), I was playing against people with vastly different setups. This set me plenty of challenge and opportunity to improve.

While I have talked about it a fair amount, I don't think many people can fully appreciate what kinds of challenges I face daily, but at that point back then, it was even worse. However, Splinterlands gave me a chance to have a structured approach to practice and testing *my own brain* a couple hours a day. Looking back, it was an important part of my rehabilitation process.

And I think that my poor approach to maximization and the reason I get other value out of playing, is why I am so against the automation. Automation takes away our ability to improve at a task, or a group of tasks, and whilst in one area we might get benefit, we don't necessarily see the costs of degrading that skill to improve, especially over time. Automation can make us mentally lazy, because the convenience is so compelling. 

>Use a calculator enough, and our simple math skills decline - but what does that mean for our ability to problem solve in general?

Anyway, just wanted to "brag" a little (I rarely do) about making it into Champion League in Wild again, after so many months avoiding even playing it. It was fun and hopefully, I can now hold onto getting into C3 at least each season, so I can get practice playing against the older cards too, since I Brawl in Wild. Though, I Brawl in Gold, so it isn't quite as useful. Like I said - I am not a very good maximizer. 

Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]



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