Hello all you pilots out there, and welcome back to the Spider Tanks Showcase!
In this edition, we’re diving into a newer tank body in the arena, but one that offers some things no other body can. This mighty body forgoes the legs of most of its competition for a smooth ride over a more traditional tank drive system.
That’s right. This week, we’re talking about Tracks. Tracks is a retro special, sporting an antique track design that was popular on the Canadian subcontinent in the 15th century of Earth’s ancient past. This tank proves why such time-tested designs were popular, as it’s highly efficient and capable of amazing bursts of power when piloted by a skilled technician.
Tracks is big. Not Titan big, but pretty dang big. Usually, Energy is strictly a function of size – not in the case of Tracks. Tracks has the single highest Energy gain of any tank body out there, meaning you can use more abilities more often.
Like the Nomad, Santa’s Sleigh or Snoop’s Bumpin Lowrider, Tracks is a directional drive body. This means that it can move on impulse forward and backward but not side to side. You’ll have to adapt to this driving style if you’re not used to it, but the key is to stay in motion at all times if possible. It’ll take a while to accelerate from a stop, and you can’t turn while not moving. Keep agile and keep turning so that you can react quickly.
The Charger: Tracks/Carver
Remember how we said you get more energy than anyone else using Tracks? This combo takes full advantage of that. A Carver requires you to be up close… not a usual choice for a massive tank. With Tracks’ burst ability thanks to its energy though, you can cover a surprising amount of ground fast to chop down the competition.
Speed Boosters cost very little Energy, and with a high level Tracks you can theoretically use them pretty much whenever you need if you’re conservative with your Energy when you don’t need. Throw in a Repair Drone for another low-cost ability to keep you running smooth and you can use more abilities during the match than anyone else.
Opponents will think they’ve got your speed and reach down, then you kick on the afterburners. Make sure that you’re well repaired when you attack and choose your window well. Once you go sprinting after an enemy you’ll be a sitting duck if you turn around, so make sure they end as pieces and not you.
Mobile Triage: Tracks/Repair Artillery
While Tracks’ consistent Energy and toughness are huge assets, for many pilots the drive style of Tracks will often be a disadvantage. We can minimize that liability though by staying on the periphery of the fight when possible, and artillery makes that more possible.
With this, you’ll be playing support most often. You’ll still have the massive Energy gain to scramble and reposition if you need, but you can stay moving on the outside of the conflict, ensuring that your team stays healed and supported.
With Tracks large amount of Energy, Repair Zone could come into play as well here. Usually this ability is only useful in very few situations due to its high cost, but with Tracks you could lay down a repair zone every 20 seconds or so, allowing you to heal both team members at once.
The Burster: Tracks/Bouncer
This combo accepts that Tracks won’t be the fastest around, but it’s a much more traditional way to make a hard-hitting tank that has the chance to put out big bursts of damage when needed.
Bouncer can absolutely tear up an opposing team if you get them at the right time, and Tracks’ ability to utilize excessive amounts of Speed Boosters plays a key role here. With Tracks you can afford to be on full Energy most of the match, which means you can always be ready to make a sprint.
With this combo, you’ll want to get in and unleash your bouncies – then get out and bide your time until your next attack. Don’t boost as soon as you start your approach and give away your position. You want to save that booster until the last possible moment so that you can still use some of it to escape and prepare for your next pass. This opens up your allies to come in and clean up the mess or set you up for another run.
On Track to Victory
Tracks may be a blast from the past, but it has a lot of modern relevance in today’s arena. Don’t be turned off by the directional drive system without hopping in the pilot seat and giving this one a try… it can make big plays happen once you get used to its tendencies!
That’s all for us this week, but we’ll return next week for another Spider Tanks Showcase!
Have a body, weapon, abilities, map or game mode you’d like us to cover that we haven’t gotten to yet? Let us know on Discord and we’ll buckle up and get it ready!
In the context of web3 and blockchain technology, nodes are essentially points within a network where data is processed, stored and communicated. Think of a node as a server that contains a copy of the blockchain and participates in the process of validating and relaying transactions.
Each node in the network ensures that the blockchain remains accurate and secure by cross-checking data and maintaining a shared ledger.
Nowadays you’ll see more and more of the term DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network, which accurately labels the way that nodes contribute physical computing power to a decentralized network in web3.
Nodes are crucial to the functioning of decentralized networks. Unlike traditional centralized systems where a single entity controls data and operations, decentralized networks distribute these tasks across multiple nodes. This distribution enhances security, reduces the risk of data tampering, and increases the network’s robustness against failures.
In simple terms, if you imagine a network as a city, nodes are like independent businesses that all agree on the same rules and work together to keep the city’s economy running smoothly. Without the effectiveness of these companies, the city would not be able to operate smoothly and provide necessary services to its inhabitants. Additionally, the viability of the entire city does not have to rely on the viability of any one business, because all the others agree on the same rules and continue to hold up the city’s infrastructure.
Each business keeps its own records, but they all share and validate information to ensure everything is accurate and consistent. This is how blockchain nodes work together, even as their operators are most likely strangers to one another, spread throughout the world.
Centralized networks are limited by things like land, real estate, energy and human resources. The larger a company gets, the more resources it must consume in an organized manner to maintain effectiveness. Decentralized systems are more scalable because they create the opportunity for remote node operators to shoulder much of this burden.
Gala Founder’s Nodes: A Specialized Role
Gala Founder’s Nodes are a specialized type of node within the Gala ecosystem. While they do not validate blockchain transactions—a task managed by the Hyperledger Fabric protocol on which GalaChain is built—they play several critical roles in supporting the network’s infrastructure.
Functions of Gala Founder’s Nodes
Decentralized Storage and Computing Power: Founder’s Nodes provide much of the necessary storage and computing power for the Gala ecosystem. This ensures that various applications, especially in gaming and entertainment, run efficiently without relying on centralized servers.
IPFS Distributed Hash Table Routing: Founder’s Nodes are instrumental in the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), a protocol designed for decentralized file storage. They account for a large portion of the IPFS routing footprint, making decentralized internet performance significantly more robust throughout the world.
A Huge Piece of The Decentralized Web is Powered by Gala’s Node Network
Gala Founder’s Nodes account for nearly 30% of IPFS servers and Gala is leading the charge in decentralizing the internet.https://t.co/kg4CMUVr9O
Supporting Future Workloads: The scope of responsibilities for Founder’s Nodes is expected to grow. They will soon handle additional tasks such as bridge transactions and chain security, further enhancing the network’s efficiency and capabilities.
Token Distribution and Governance
Founder’s Nodes are also integral to the Gala token ($GALA) distribution process. New $GALA enters circulation by emission to Gala Founder’s Node operators as a reward for powering the network. The total amount of distribution is determined by the difference between the token’s current total supply (in circulation) and its max total supply, allowing dynamic variation of distribution based on how much $GALA is being used and burned throughout the world.
In simpler terms, Gala Founder’s Node operators are essentially licensing their computers as employees of GalaChain, putting them to work in the background and receiving $GALA regularly in exchange for that work. This method of decentralization reduces Gala’s costs for hosting and storing content through centralized providers such as Amazon Web Services.
Moreover, operators of Founder’s Nodes participate in governance decisions through consensus voting. This democratic process allows node operators to influence significant ecosystem decisions, including the distribution of tokens and other critical changes.
Why Gala Founder’s Nodes Matter
Gala Founder’s Nodes are the backbone of the Gala ecosystem, providing decentralized infrastructure support without involving themselves in transaction validation. This specialization allows them to focus on enhancing the network’s overall functionality and security, making GalaChain a more efficient and resilient blockchain solution.
Nodes are fundamental to the web3 world, enabling the decentralized systems that underpin blockchain technology. They ensure data integrity, enhance security, and support the network’s resilience. Gala Founder’s Nodes, in particular, exemplify how specialized nodes can provide critical infrastructure support, contributing to a robust and scalable decentralized network.
But what about when you don’t have the cards you want to build a deck with? 🤔
As you start feeling comfortable at the tables, you’ll notice a lot of cards that your deck needs in it. Sure you can grab your daily packs and wait for the right card… or you can take matters into your own hands and craft excatly what you need!
Cardsmithing
In the world of Tolkheim, skilled artisans use powerful magics to create each card. You may not have the years of experience it takes to become a master cardsmith, but you can still leverage some of the leftover magic in your unused cards to craft a new card here and there!
In your card menu, you can see all the cards you own. If you remove the filter on unowned cards, you could see every available card and how your deck stacks up.
Now even the best player has a few cards sitting around that they don’t use, and we can dismantle those cards to harvest their residual magic!
Dismantling Cards
In your Deck Editor, you can click any card and then click “Deconstruct” to gain Parchment, Black Ink, Blue Ink, or Red Ink based on the card you’re destroying.
NOTE: This will permanently destroy the card you select! Use with caution!
Once you’ve accumulated enough of Ink and Parchment, you can take those resources to craft entirely new cards.
Crafting New Cards
There are a ton of options for cards to craft, so don’t hurry into any decision! Choose how to use your resources wisely. Over time, you’ll get more and more cards… you don’t have to have them all right away!
Once you’ve selected the card you want to craft, double check that you know what the Ink cost is. Different rarities of cards have different costs to craft, and you don’t want to run out before you’ve crafted everything you need.
Click the craft button, and you’re ready to go!
Don’t go overboard all at once. When you craft some cards, see how they work in your deck before you craft a bunch more. You never know when you’ll spot a strategy you didn’t see and your deck-crafting plans may change.
Build Out Your Deck!
Even just making a few cards strategically can open up your deck to using entirely new tactics. The right Action Card at the right time can turn the tides of battle, and crafting the right cards to complement your existing deck can enhance your other cards and open up new combos!
You’re bound to make a miscalculation here and there… don’t sweat it! You can always keep grabbing daily packs or packs from the market for fresh crafting fodder. The best decks weren’t made overnight, but crafted diligently and thoughtfully!
Good luck with your crafting – and good fortune at the tables!
We hope you’re enjoying the latter half of this Hot Gala Summer, where the hits keep on coming, along with awesome updates, new artists and cool vibes. 😎
Today we’re announcing a new feature that will revolutionize the way you engage with your favorite tracks on the Gala Music platform: Track Chat. Each track now boasts its own dedicated chat interface, allowing fans to dive deep into discussions about the music, share comments and even post GIFs. This interactive feature is available to all Gala Music account holders, turning each and every song into a community of its own.
Exclusive Chat for Track Owners
For those who own specific tracks, we’ve added an “Exclusive Chat” area. Only owners of a track can access this chat, ensuring a unique and intimate space for deeper conversations and insights. What’s more, only track owners can view the chat history in this exclusive section, making it a truly special perk.
Reminders
While you enjoy this new feature, don’t forget these other exciting opportunities!
Collect $MUSIC Rewards: Even if you don’t own NFT music yet, by listening to unique tracks every day, you can collect $MUSIC rewards through our reward point system. For more details, visit our rewards page.
NextUp Community Governance: Every week, you get to vote on the newest tracks and artists to be added to the platform through our NextUp feature. Each user receives a free vote weekly, but you can unlock additional votes by burning $MUSIC. Cast your vote HERE.
Music Miner on Telegram: Start playing Music Miner, our new free-to-play mini-app game on Telegram, to collect $TREZ tokens. These tokens will be essential for the upcoming minting event. Begin your journey here: Music Miner.
The $MUSIC Box: Your newest chance to win awesome prizes is available now in the Gala Music store. In each $4.99 $MUSIC Box you’ll find 3 unique prizes, from piles of $MUSIC to sold out NFT tracks, or even a Gala Music Jukebox Node, valued at $2000! Get yours HERE.
Start chatting about your favorite Gala Music tracks today and we’ll see you soon!
A new week is underway for Gala Music, where we’re hard at work to revolutionize the music industry, empowering artists and fans with ownership and rewards.
If you haven’t started discovering new music on Gala yet, you’re missing out. Listen free as much as you like to directly support our fabulous lineup of artists, but that’s only scratching the surface.
As usual, let’s explore some of the most exciting drops and artist debuts happening throughout the week. Then we’ll get into the numerous ways that you can collect rewards for supporting the future of decentralized music. Get ready to go beyond the stream.
Featured Drops
“1992” by Nyku
Making his NFT debut, we’re pleased to welcome Los Angeles based Hip-hop and Jazz artist Nyku to the Gala Music platform. “1992” (prod. By SEVENDI) is dropping on Thursday, August 15th at 1pm PT, “a track created to give perspective and understanding where the stars align.”
Following a sellout of her debut Gala Music NFT with “What You Like” (Gala Edition), alt-pop artist YUNICE is back with a new one that really hits home with her characteristic “sad girl” vibes. Listen to the “sad girl” edit of “Chasing Magic now and get the NFT track while supplies last starting at 1pm PT on Friday, August 16th.
On Wednesday, Gala Music fan favorite Emily Faye is dropping another one to join her growing collection of captivating pop originals – Check them out now Emily Faye’s Gala Music artist page. The new track drops at 1pm PT on Wednesday, August 14th, but Loyalty Pool $MUSIC supporters can unlock early access to the sale at 12pm PT!
Fans love our Gala Music Mystery Boxes, and the latest $4.99 $MUSIC Box is available now. Each box has three chances to win $GALA, $MUSIC, NFT tracks (while supplies last) or even a Gala Music Jukebox Node (valued at $2000) so you can actually power the music yourself!
Get as many $MUSIC Boxes as you want for $4.99 each, then open them when you like through your Collection page.
We recently launched a new way to collect music rewards! Play Music Miner in Telegram to complete tasks, upgrade experiences and build a superstar stack of rewards that will later be minted as $TREZ on both GalaChain and TON.
All you need is a free Telegram account to get started tapping and collecting rewards. Experience what it’s like to rise through the ranks from street corners to packed worldwide venues. Do you have what it takes to reach the top?
Are you an artist ready for a refresh? Looking for a platform that works with you instead of against you? At Gala Music, we’re giving musicians what they deserve, with numerous revenue opportunities to explore and lots of ways to build a dedicated fan base.
With the power of the $MUSIC token, Gala Music has already paid out millions of dollars to both emerging and established artists. Artists on our decentralized platform typically make more than double per stream than on Spotify, and we’re just getting started.
NFT track ownership is the most effective way to collect rewards for your support of decentralized music. By owning tracks from limited run NFT sales, you can collect daily $MUSIC rewards as long as you own the track. And because it’s an NFT, you can always list it for sale on secondary market platforms like OpenSea – It’s actually yours.
For those looking to collect daily $MUSIC for multiple tracks without building a track collection of their own, becoming a Jukebox Node operator is a perfect option. Each upgradeable Jukebox Node comes with space for 10 hosted NFT tracks, allowing the operator to share in all the rewards.
