UPLAND TOTEMS
Dive into Totem Traits and Discover the Rarity Index. What is the Rarity Index and How Does it Work?
A Comprehensive Guide to Upland’s Totem Traits and Rarity Metrics
In the lead-up to introducing Life to its metaverse, Upland unveiled in August 2023 the launch of Totems — a captivating collection of 5,555 NFT “map assets”.
More than just an NFT collection, Totems act as the central piece of an intriguing mini-game designed to simulate and test the initial Life mechanisms within Upland.
Alongside the Totems, there’s another essential component called Protem — a substitute currency used to nurture the Totems throughout their 30-day life cycles.
As Totems are nurtured, they yield Protem rewards. The right Protem spending strategy is crucial — too much or too little can impact your rewards.
In the future, Protem will be exchangeable at a 1:1 ratio with Stem, a definitive currency set to play a pivotal role in supporting all living entities, such as trees, animals, and plants, within the Upland metaverse.
For further details about Totems, I recommend visiting the links below:
- Totem landing page: https://www.upland.me/totems
- Totem Wiki: https://guides.upland.me/v/totem-wiki
Diving into Totem Traits
However, simply nurturing your Totems isn’t enough — strategy is key!
Each Totem is a unique NFT, boasting 5 distinct traits. No two Totems are identical, and each trait has its own specific attributes and variations.
To maximize your Protem rewards, it’s crucial to understand how these traits work and strategize accordingly. Overlooking this might lead to penalties.
To help you navigate this, we’ve provided a detailed summary below, diving into each of the 5 Totem traits:
As an example, see the image below showcasing the Dragonfly Totem #1D8D:
Hint: Each Totem has a unique code determining its traits. The code #1D8D, for instance, signifies the following traits:
- 1: Fluid Style
- D: Green Color
- 8: Small Scale
- D: Hexagonal Base
Keep these details in mind as you nurture your Totems!
The Trait Combination Puzzle
Having familiarized ourselves with the traits, if you’re serious about investing in or collecting Upland Totems might be wondering: “Which Totem is the best for me? Which one should I invest in?”
Evaluating all the possible combinations of Totem traits and their numerous variations can seem like a daunting task.
If every possible combination were produced, we would have a total of 1,764 Totems for each Life Form.
7 Styles × 7 Colors × 9 Scales × 4 Bases = 1,764 TotemsConsidering we have 10 common Life Forms (not counting the rare Llama Life Form, of which there is only one), this would result in 17,640 Totems (1,764 × 10). And, if we include the Llama Totem, a total of 17,641 Totems!
(1,764 × 10) + 1 = 17,641 Totems
However, adding a twist to the mix, not all combinations truly exist. In reality, we have only about 31% of the total possible combinations, bringing us to 5,555 Totems.
17,641 × 31% ≈ 5,555 TotemsIf you’re a visual learner, I’ve developed a 3D visualization tool showcasing all the existing combinations for each Life Form. Give it a look!
- Totem Traits 3D: https://sunnylab.xyz/totems/3d/
Very nice tool, but it doesn’t answer my main question: Which is the best Totem for me? Which one should I invest in?
Don’t worry! To address this and solve the Totem combination puzzle, I’m pleased to introduce the Rarity Index.
Introducing the Rarity Index
In simple terms, the Rarity Index is an indicator I developed to calculate how rare a Totem’s trait combination is compared to all other existing Totems in Upland.
This means that Totems with rarer trait combinations will have a higher Rarity Index (close to 100), while those with common traits will have a lower Rarity Index (nearing 0).
Though calculating the Rarity Index is relatively straightforward, obtaining some of the data for its computation can be a bit tricky for the average user.
Therefore, I’ve created this tool to allow any Upland player to look up the Rarity Index of any Totem:
- Totem Stats: https://sunnylab.xyz/totems/stats/
Starting from version 0.2 of Totem Stats, we’ve introduced an option for users to assign different importance to each trait. Keep reading to learn how to use this tool.
Notes:
- If there is a change in the total number of Totems, the value of the Totems’ Rarity Index may also change.
- A higher Rarity Index doesn’t necessarily indicate that a Totem is better or more valuable than another.
- The Rarity Index isn’t a Totem trait.
- The Rarity Index isn’t officially recognized by Upland.
- Whether you’re a collector or an investor, any decision you make based on the Rarity Index is entirely up to you.
Having addressed these preliminary considerations, I will now explain how to calculate the Rarity Index…
How to Calculate the Rarity Index?
The Rarity Index is the weighted average of the frequencies for each trait variation, with an added normalization rule to keep the index within a range of 0 to 100.
To calculate it, follow these steps:
Step 1 — Obtain the frequency of each trait variation
Example: Given 5,555 Totems, if 1,111 have a Square Base, its frequency is 20%. Meanwhile, if 2,222 have a Hexagonal Base, its frequency is 40%. So, in this example, a Square Base is rarer than a Hexagonal Base.
Note that there are a total of 38 trait variations and 5,555 Totems. Obtaining this data manually for all Totems is unfeasible. You will probably need some programming skills to obtain this data.
Fortunately, we’ve already done the hard work for you! :)
Step 2 — Calculate the weighted average of all the trait variations
By default, the Rarity Index assumes that all traits have the same importance. When all traits have the same importance, we can use the arithmetic mean formula:
Style + Color + Scale + Base + Life Form
————————————————————————————————————————
5 To assign different importance (or weight, w) to each trait, we use the weighted average formula:
w₁×St + w₂×C + w₃×Sc + w₄×B + w₅×LF
———————————————————————————————————
w₁ + w₂ + w₃ + w₄ + w₅ Step 3 — Apply a normalization rule
Since we want the Rarity Index to range between 0 and 100, we now simply take the number 100 and subtract it from the weighted average of the trait frequencies.
Rarity Index = 100 - Weighted Average Kudos! You’ve completed the Rarity Index calculation.
How to Use the Totem Stats Tool?
Oh, glad you asked!
You can use the Totem Stats tool in two ways:
- To calculate the Default Rarity Index where all traits have the same importance.
- To calculate the Custom Rarity Index where the traits have different importance.
1. Default Rarity Index
Simply select one or more traits you wish and leave the “Importance” field untouched.
Additionally, you have the option to search for a Totem using its unique code. Just tick the “Totem Code” checkbox and enter the code in the following format: digit + letter + digit + letter.
2. Custom Rarity Index
Starting from version 0.2 of Totem Stats, we introduced an option for users to assign different importance (weight) to each trait:
- High: weight 3
- Default: weight 2
- Low: weight 1
- None: weight 0
Example: If the Life Form trait is of utmost importance to you, assign it an importance of 3 (“High”). If you consider it of lesser importance, you can choose 2 (“Default”) or 1 (“Low”).
Tip: Make sure you fully understand the behavior of each trait. By doing so, you’ll be better informed to determine the importance of each trait for you.
Notes:
- If no importance is selected for a trait, a default importance of 2 will be automatically applied to it.
- Choosing “None” for a trait means that particular trait won’t factor into the final computation of the Rarity Index.
Wrapping It Up
The Rarity Index offers valuable insights and serves as a robust metric in the Upland Totem universe. However, it’s just one facet of a multi-dimensional decision-making process.
While the Rarity index provides a foundation, players should always complement its insights with their own research.
Every Upland player brings a unique perspective and judgement to the table, qualities that no tool can truly replicate.
As we look ahead, the potential impact of Totems and Life on Upland’s landscapes, economies, and narratives is thrilling.
So, as you navigate this expansive universe, remember to blend the objective insights of the Rarity Index with your personal touch.
Embrace the adventure, refine your strategies, and revel in the rich tapestry of the Upland journey.
Best of luck on your Totem journey and happy exploring! 🚀
Thank you for exploring the Upland metaverse with me. For more insights, visit my website or follow me on Twitter. Considering Upland? Use my referral link (https://r.upland.me/6Hnw) to get a bonus on your first purchase.
