WorldShards is a fantasy sandbox MMORPG set in Murrlandia, a world dominated by cats. The game features a level-less progression system and an open-ended experience where players can explore, craft, and engage in a dynamic in-game economy. The economic structure is designed to allow players to trade, craft, and create meaningful value within the game while ensuring fairness and transparency. This is the second article in a series of four deep dives looking at the unique WorldShards economy, so much sure to keep your eyes out for the remaining ones!

WorldShards Economy Deep Dive Series:

Part 1: Overview of the MMORPG

Part 2: Collectible Items Explained

Part 3: Comprehensive Guide to Artifacts

Part 4: Tokenomics and $SHARD Token 

WorldShards Key Art for Collectible Items 1

About WorldShards

Players enter the world of Murrlandia after picking up a fragment of a Mana Stone, which transports them from their modern world. Once in the game, they can explore various regions filled with hidden secrets, gather resources for crafting and construction, battle enemies, hunt wild animals, and solve intricate puzzles.

Players also have the opportunity to build and customize their home islands, develop a production base, refine resources, and craft equipment for personal use or trade. As they progress, players can specialize in crafting, resource gathering, or other economic activities, reinforcing their role in the in-game market. An auction system will be launched in Q2 2025 to further facilitate trade, allowing players to buy and sell resources and crafted items as they refine their economic strategies.

Types of Collectible Items in WorldShards

One of the main pillars of WorldShards’ unique economy is collectible items, fully owned by players. They allow the adventurers to participate in the crypto market by obtaining $SHARDS via in-game drops. So before you dive into the game it’s crucial to get all the obtainable information on them.

There are several types of collectible items:

• Founders and Additional Islands 
• Crafting Artifacts 
• Collectible gear
• Decoration items

Collectible gear items include weapons, armor, and tools, which can be crafted and used in combat and resource gathering. Their effectiveness depends on their characteristics and upgrade levels. Artifacts are special items that enhance workbenches, enabling players to create, upgrade, and charge collectible gear items. They play a crucial role in item progression and rarity enhancement.

Islands serve as digital "land plots" where players can build, develop, manufacture, and craft various items (including collectible gear items). They act as hubs for personal customization and resource production. Collectible decorative items can be placed on islands to enhance aesthetics and increase the island's comfort level, facilitating building, crafting, and manufacturing processes. 

WorldShards Key Art for Collectible Items 2

Crafting and Upgrading Items

Craftable collectibles are made with recipes and workbenches, while non-craftable ones come from rewards and lootboxes. Collectible items differ from common ones in that they do not get destroyed when durability hits zero, but can be repaired. They also can be upgraded in level, tier, and sometimes rarity. Collectible gear items have a unique "Luck" parameter, affecting token drop rates, and can also be separately upgraded. Upgrading items involves using a workbench connected to Crafting Artifact of equal or higher level and resources like tokens, Gems, and Ancient Rifts.

Charging and Repairing Items

In order to gain $SHARDS players need to charge their Collectible gear items. Charging requires an artifact-equipped workbench and Gems, with the option to speed up the process using Gems and previously obtained $SHARDS tokens. Charged collectible items activate "Fortune’s Favor," a temporary effect that enables token drops during adventures. 

Unlike common items that break permanently, collectible gear items remain in the player’s inventory when their durability reaches zero. However, they become unusable until repaired. Repairs can be performed at corresponding workbenches using in-game currency. The workbench level must be equal to or higher than the item's level for the repair process to take place.

WorldShards Decorative Items

Obtaining and Using Items

Since there are several types of collectibles, there are several ways to obtain them. Let’s break it down. As of right now, Additional and Founders Islands are not obtainable in-game. Instead, players can get them on the Open Loot market, be it from other users or during sales held by developers. The same goes for Founders Gear which has unique visuals and higher rarity that provides a headstart in $SHARDS gathering. However, said items are not upgradable via workbenches.

Every other type of collectible item like weapons, tools and armor are obtained from crafting and can be upgraded by gathering resources and investing Gems and tokens towards their progress. Items crafted by other players can also be traded on the Open Loot platform, creating a balanced ecosystem.

To use collectible items effectively, players must repair and upgrade them as needed. Charging collectible equipment is necessary to activate the "Luck" parameter and enable token drops during adventures. The strength of the effect, called "Attraction Force," is calculated based on the Luck and Luck Multiplier of the equipped items. Removing an activated item from the equipment slot will reduce the effect, while re-equipping an activated item will restore it.

WorldShards Weapons Workbench

Final Thoughts

WorldShards' collectible items add depth to the game’s economy by enabling crafting, trading, and strategic resource management. Whether upgrading gear, enhancing the "Luck" parameter, or decorating islands, these collectibles provide players with a variety of gameplay opportunities within the web3 gaming ecosystem. As the game evolves, additional mechanics and updates will further refine the collectible item experience. Make sure to keep your eyes out for the rest of the articles in this deep dive series.