NiftySynth - Interactive NFT

Getting started with Ravencoin is pretty easy. But there are very few guides out there which are up to date and easy to follow for someone new to the technology.

Many people are now becoming interested in RVN due to the rise of the NFT market,this is because ultimately the Ravencoin chain offers the best solution for buyers and sellers.

That said, other chains do have certain advantages with which RVN still needs to catch up. Not least a proper NFT wallet, & more marketplaces. Letting one company have a monopoly on RVN’s NFTs like Opensea does with Eth would be undesirable.

In this post we’re going to go through the absolute basics of getting started on the Ravencoin chain.

Token types explained

There are several token types on RVN, in this article we’ll be focused on the fundamentals.

Main tokens 

• Required to mint other tokens, can be considered a license to mint on the Ravencoin chain. Can be considered as a conceptual company HQ, anything you want really.
• If you call your main token SHADOWDANCES, then all Sub tokens/Unique assets that you create under that main token, will be prefixed with that name. E.g BESTOKEN/VIDEOS . 
• You can use these tokens as coins as well, you can create quantities of up to 21 billion with up to 8 decimal places. 
• These tokens can be reissued if they run out, or need a design or detail updated.
• The cost of a Main token is set at 500 RVN

Sub tokens 

• Can be created under your Main Token
• Generally used when you need to distribute many of an identical item, costs less than a main asset which could also handle this use case.
• These tokens can also be reissued if they run out, or need a design or detail updated.
• As with the Main tokens these can also be used as coins, you can create quantities of up to 21 billion with up to 8 decimal places.

Unique assets

• Can be created under Main/Sub tokens, the naming format is MAIN#UNIQUE or MAIN/SUB#UNIQUE
• These should be used when you want to create a one of a kind asset.
• They cannot be re-issued or changed in any way once minted.

What do you want to do?

It’s really up to you what you would like to create on Ravencoin, the use cases are numerous, many still unthought of. At Synth we have gone with a structure which could be compared to a super-conglomerate or maybe a collection of guilds.

Our Main Token is SYNTH – this represents the main organization, and under this we have Sub Tokens like FACTORY, BAKERY, BANK, WORLDS and so on, each of these sub tokens  in turn represents a different faction of the main org – performing a specific function. For example, BAKERY produces Unique Assets which are primarily “Baking related” , things you might buy from a Bakery, but of course, fully virtual.

Why do the tokens have value?

But what makes these more than concepts with handy blockchain pointers? It’s the link with a file storage system which makes this more than just an idea.

IPFS (Interplanetary File System) is what the RVN chain uses for storing the data aspect of NFTs, the flexibility means that nearly anything can be added, there’s even support for projects coded in Golang and Javascript. So it goes way way beyond the typical Image based NFTs offered by other networks. The only other network/marketplace to get anywhere near this level of function/flex is Hen on Tezos. With RVN smart contract functionality is just a matter of it being coded – which is a great advantage once security concerns are alleviated.

How can I create my first main token?

We will take you through the process step by step, you will need 500 Ravencoin to complete the steps.

1. Download the web or mobile Ravencore wallet from https://ravencoin.org/wallet/
2. Install the wallet and wait for chain building to complete ( can take quite a long time )
3. Grab a receive address from the wallet by going to File -> Receiving Addresses
4. Send the 500 RVN to this receiving address so that is available in your Ravencoin wallet
5. Go to “Create Assets” in the main left menu of the menu
6. Select Main Asset in the Asset Type field
7. Set a name for the asset, ie SYNTH
8. Set a quantity of the asset, this is how many of the token will be received in your wallet upon creation, minimum is 1, maximum is 21000000000
9. Set a Units value, this is how many decimal places the token will have, i.e 1000.000000
10. Tick the box if this asset should be Reissuable in future
11. Add an IPFS hash if you want this asset to have a file associated with it.
12. Click the Check Availability button next to the asset name to ensure it’s not taken.
13. Click “Create Asset” at the bottom to complete, you will be asked to verify

And with that you have all you need to begin exploring further! If you would rather not create your own main token, and instead would rather mint a Unique asset (5 RVN) under an existing main token – the best place to check will be the Premium art house & Agency on RVN – https://rvnft.art/

Kind of switched direction again, had some fun producing 3D models with factory, and wanted to bring all aspects of that process in-house under a new idea.

This gave birth to the pokemon-esque “Synth Monsters” , or I guess – Synthmon

I wanted to steer away from for-sale NFT’s and I also wanted an excuse to check out a few other blockchains. I promptly sank the week’s budget on software, WAX and Tezos.

I decided to produce a series of original monsters. The tokens represent the rights to the characters, and I’ve chosen to base that conceptual system on RVN. There have been some experimental rollouts of these one other chains, but saturation is high meaning success is low – I wonder if RVN will have the same struggles when it comes to cosmetic NFT’s in future.

After spending most of my Tezos on failed transactions (seriously wtf Tezos network), and not being able to spend anywhere near all of my WAX, I came back to RVN to produce some digital/physical tokens – mainly because I wanted to try to make a transparent box.

I’ve been really bad at keeping up with the blog posts, but since I originally started, 15 monsters have been produced, 11 were released, and 5 were printed as physical in 2 colour variants

The first of 5 collectible trading card NFTs is now available, we’ll only mint a new copy when the previous copy is transferred to a new wallet. Each of the 5 starter decks in this series will have 7 1st edition copies available for ravencoin.

The first card series we will label: Series I, and the first deck will be: Undead

We wanted to ensure maximum interactivity to keep to the synth theme, and it’s our intention if we see interest to create “Arenas” within the blockchain where players will be able to use these cards. For now though we’ve achieved a level of interactivity with the 3D variants of the cards, and the various locked files detailed below.

The starter deck contains 7 cards, and there are 6 “fighter” cards and 1 “support” card included. We’ll release detailed rules at a later date, but the game revolves around turn based combat and regenerating action points, with a team of 6 fighters and up to 3 supports.

This NFT features:

– Set of 7 2D NFT Cards

– Same 7 cards as fully interactive 3D NFTs

– Locked file containing card printouts for front and back graphics so you can print the cards on to card paper

– Locked file containing import files for TableTop Simulator

All the files are stored within a single NFT, and each individual card/file has it’s own dedicated IPFS link.

FACTORY smelted some more collectible 3d Models into NFT format and we’ve seen some good results with 2 items.

We minted several normal, rare and epic rarity items, as well as the first legendary item to be released by synth, the “Golden Detail Raven Ring”

In addition to the ring we also have a Raven themed charm currently available in three rarities, we’ll definitely look to add a few more variants of these in future, but each variant will be fully unique.

RVNFT is SYNTH’s choice for art related minting, gallery and agent type services. We hold very limited quantities of private not-for-sale art under the SYNTH token, and so far all of it has been purchased from RVNFT artists.

Here’s one of our favourite pieces! :

The image is compressed over 4x on this page, you can see it in it’s full glory here

RVNFT are a not for profit and only charge you the standard minting fees (but make sure you tip them if you can), they can help your NFTs sell at auction or at one of the first frontiers of Ravencoin NFT marketplaces found on their website/gallery.

With one of the best online NFT galleries with many unique offerings, as well as a large booth & display area within the Braveland Virtual Campus – RVNFT is the minting service you should be using for your NFT needs.

If you are looking to mint an NFT, check out RVNFT today, you might also find the owner at the Ravencoin community discord.

CHECK IT OUT

P.S If you are coming from ETH and feel super confused, this is definitely the service for you!

Working with some excellent people to run promotions and collaborations for SYNTH FACTORY items. You can check them out on twitter below.

Also be sure to grab the Humble Miner game asap to be in with a chance to win.

Tweets by Humble_Miner

Tweets by revolt_tyranny

Please give these profiles a follow if you can, they are both doing great work. The promos can be found on the following tweets:

Promo from The_UnderDoge

https://t.co/usdyi0bGYc@NiftySynth has given me an amount of his #RVN treasures and you could have a chance to win this awesomeness by entering below.#NFTcollectibles #NFTs #RvnCoin #RVN #giveaways #GiveawayAlert https://t.co/Njsdujgx65 pic.twitter.com/qmXiXlUpbg

— The_UnderDoge♦️ (@revolt_tyranny) May 5, 2021

Collaboration with The Humble Miner

Wallets w/ ≥ 50 $PKBIT will receive 10 Copper Bars
Wallets w/ ≥100 $PKBIT will receive 5 Silver Bars
Wallets w/ ≥ 200 $PKBIT will receive 1 Gold Bar
Download game @ https://t.co/tOKy4Van8V
Interested in a game collaboration🎮? DM us
Learn more about Synth Factory 👇

— TheHumbleMiner ⛏ (@Humble_Miner) May 5, 2021

You can grab the game HERE

A massive shout out to these two great entities for all the work they are doing with RVN/Crypto/Gaming/Music.

NIFTY – CASKS

I’ve been neglecting the blogs again but it’s been a busy few days. I considered that the cask idea was out of Beta so I produced 3 caskings for May. Scotch, Bourbon and Vodka being the choices. Vodka does not age as well or in the same way as darker spirit, but the darker more aged variants are becoming popular over the least few years. As it’s been a few days since then the Casks have registered their first bit of age.

I’m hoping to Cask some fine Sherry and Brandy later in the month. And no I’m not completely insane, these will definitely be popular!….. and if not I’m happy to keep them forever. They will loop into the virtual economy work of something later on this list when fully aged to 6/9/12/15/21 years.

Assets created:
https://ravencoin.asset-explorer.net/a/SYNTH%2FNIFTY%23CASK_SCOTCH_05%2C21
https://ravencoin.asset-explorer.net/a/SYNTH%2FNIFTY%23CASK_BOURBON_05%2C21
https://ravencoin.asset-explorer.net/a/SYNTH%2FNIFTY%23CASK_VODKA_05%2C21

Nifty RVNPET #12

Harold is the first Frog variant RVNPET, of which 3-5 different pets will be produced under NIFTY.

The frog is a little more exciteable in it’s animations, and we’ve had some great feedback on the graphical improvements in comparison to the initial pets.

New token – SYNTH/FACTORY

It was time to create a conceptual factory within the rvn blockchain, and then slowly make it more and more real. I burn 100 RVN to create the FACTORY token, and it begins again.

The first few items were produced by FACTORY on the same day:

50,000 Copper bar

View Asset- https://ravencoin.asset-explorer.net/a/SYNTH%2FFACTORY%2FCOPPER_BAR

20,000 Silver bar

View Asset – https://ravencoin.asset-explorer.net/a/SYNTH%2FFACTORY%2FSILVER_BAR

10,000 Gold bar

View Asset – https://ravencoin.asset-explorer.net/a/SYNTH%2FFACTORY%2FGOLD_BAR

10,000 Blue Diamond

View Asset – https://ravencoin.asset-explorer.net/a/SYNTH%2FFACTORY%2FBLUE_DIAMOND

350 Ravenium Bar

View Asset – https://ravencoin.asset-explorer.net/a/SYNTH%2FFACTORY%2FRAVENIUM_BAR

Some exciting additional items and use cases coming for this soon.

First SYNTH/ARCADE Release – CryptoEater

SYNTH/ARCADE released the first fully within the chain Arcade game on the 3rd of May 2021, it was released on the RVN discord & Reddit as a limited-credit free to play experience -https://www.reddit.com/r/Ravencoin/comments/n40ntx/arcade_game_on_rvn_blockchain_crypto_eater/

Some interesting functionality here which we will build upon and adjust for future titles, a few of which are already in production.

This represents the first in an initial 11 entries to the SYNTH/ARCADE numbered core series – focused on the older retro titles we all know and love – with a crypto-twist.

As you would expect releasing this publicly revealed a ton of bugs. Luckily the ID for this asset was 000, so 001 will effectively be a directors cut of this original with the bugs squashed and perhaps an extra level/final boss.

Watch this space. That’s a figure of speech, news will be in a different future blog post.

CASK is an attempt to devolve the level of interactivity within the NFT, and focus more on subjective worth.

The prototype is out in the wild and it’s a fine Irish whiskey which will age up to 21 years, changing colour and increasing in quality as it goes.

The NFT displays the seal date for the cask, the cask ID, as well as a counter in years for how much the whiskey has matured.

Pretty subjective right? Think I’ve nailed it on that front.

Assets created:

https://ravencoin.asset-explorer.net/a/SYNTH%2FNIFTY%23CASK_IRISH_04%2C21

The NIFTY SP_ series is reserved for things that are just a bit odd and can’t be fit into another category or token.

Consequently the first asset was minted yesterday, and it’s got to contain some of the best pixels I’ve ever done by hand, as well as a fair share of stock filler when you step into the forest area. Using backgrounds in platformers isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.

It almost seems a waste that this is a strange and purposefully buggy tribute to the creepy pasta of old. In the spirit of that, I’ll say no more.

There’s some handy instructions for playing below the game area. It’s a bit of an odd asset, and it’s physics based which is a first for the SYNTH token.

Assets created:

https://ravencoin.asset-explorer.net/a/SYNTH%2FNIFTY%23SP01_CREEPYPASTA

Prototyping….. pic.twitter.com/0JWV974SO7

— SYNTH (@NiftySynth) April 27, 2021

The first prototype RVNPET was very simple – it had basic interactivity actions and it aged as time passed in a persistent sense.

After the release of this Beta cat I started looking at how I could make these a little more interesting, I’m heavily inspired by cyber pets/tamagotchis when making these so I wanted to give the pets persistent levels of hunger, tiredness and boredness first off – which would stay the same between visits from the owner.

Once that was achieved I gave each of the 9 cats that followed a different personality, ranging from “Lazy” to “Pooper”. I also gave the cats a set lifespan, different for each one.

The ageing of the cats was given a new element as they could now transition from kitten form to adult cat. And we added some interactivity when petting the cat.

Not visible to the owner are some variables in the background representing general happiness, and these will effect how fast the cat’s bars lower, along with it’s personality.