Sparks and Recreation
A competitive community focused podcast about the deckbuilding game Hero Realms. Each episode covers multiple topics that can help improve your gameplay and get you involved with community events. When not bottom-decking Fire Bomb and Domination as an avid Hero Realms player, Jigmelingpa is a weapon of mass instruction otherwise known as Matthew Rooks. A university educator based in Japan, he spends his time enjoying linguistics, games, nature, basketball, movies, music, and eats. He also sometimes plays Hero Realms a little.Tim McKenzie (IGN agentc13) is a Hero Realms Legend (2021 Origins Game Fair) and an avid player of board/card ga...
Ancestral Ascendancy

The crew is back with their first post-Origins episode. The release cadence has been a bit slower but will hopefully settle back into our bi-weekly-ish schedule soon here.
Wise Wizard Games made big waves with the introduction of ancestries for alchemist and barbarian so the crew takes a deep dive on the implications including match-up strategies, play advice, and build decisions. Visit this episode's post on realmsrising.com to view the recommended builds!
This conversation sprawls beyond expectations (surprise surprise), bumping the much awaited second segment of Aarkenell's mailbag question to the next episode of t...
SilentAl Speaks up on another Legends Victory

We’re back with Part 2 of our Origins recap, featuring none other than Silent Al, fresh off his fifth Legends victory between the Realms. (Apologies in advance for the audio quality here, we recorded on phones in the hotel lobby. The content hopefully makes up for it!)
Up first though Dubz and Tuff reflect on the convention overall, then get into their respective runs in the Star Realms Legends event, including their head to head battle in the Swiss.
From there Tuff takes us through his blitz through the Hero Realms bracket, where he collides wit...
Wise Wizard Games Round-up with Rob Dougherty

DblDubz and Tuff sit down with Rob Dougherty, CEO of Wise Wizard Games, for a jam-packed conversation spanning the present and future of the Realms (and beyond).
The journey begins in Hero Realms Digital, where Rob discusses the current state of the app and what’s next. From there, the crew dives into the paper side of Hero Realms, touching on production challenges, and the tough business decisions behind the ongoing delays and shifting timelines. The crew also dives deep into the universe of Star Realms, with an extended discussion on the Conquest campaign running through Gamefound, as...
Dungeons Promos Finale and Fighting the Nut Draw

EP 80: Dungeons Promos Finale and Fighting the Nut Draw
Tuff, Filtrophobe, and DblDubz kick things off with a fresh WWYD to get the strategic soliloquies rolling. Then, at long last, they wrap up the Dungeons Promos with Tuff making a bold claim about the best $2 in the game!
Next, a mailbag question from Aarkenell sparks a full-blown main segment set to span multiple episodes: What do you do when your opponent opens with the best possible start for their class? We break down smart counterplay approaches for each of the five base classes, saving the...
Dungeon Deluge

Tuff, Filtrophobe, and DblDubz assemble once again to kick things off with a WWYD plucked from the recent season of Thandar Combat League.
Then it’s time to open the floodgates for another wave of Dungeons Promos, as the crew deep-dives into over 20 new cards from the set. Next podcast will (hopefully) see the conclusion of this set’s early analysis and first impressions. At the top of the Community Roundup is Tuff’s recap of PaxEast including yet another trip to the finals in the Star Realms Legends event. From there we dig into the usual event...
Class Upgrades & Card Reveals

DblDubz and Tuff welcome Filtrophobe back aboard the SS Sparks & Rec for another round of analysis on the latest headlines out of Thandar. While a deep dive into Level 18 for the beta classes and a hefty heap of Dungeon Promos was on the docket, the crew can’t help but veer off course for an impromptu segment unpacking WWG’s recent announcement on tariffs and the necro nonsense currently haunting the queue.
In another fun twist, this episode features not only a Hero Realms WWYD, but also a Cthulhu Realms WWYD that’s sure to fray your sanity...
Advancing the Meta

Tuff and DblDubz open with a fresh WWYD before diving into the latest patch notes from WWG. Then it’s time for a Tuff-powered Counterplay Corner, this time focusing on the Necromancer. From there, the crew breaks down the Level 18 upgrades—who got the glow-ups, who got the let-downs? Tune in to find out!
Next up is perhaps the most eagerly awaited segment: Dungeon Promos discussion. The duo shares first impressions and spicy takes on these exciting new additions.
As always, we wrap with a Community Roundup, featuring all the details on BirdLaw’s Beastmaster event...
Game Development

John "Tuff" Labella and his co-host, Lead Designer of Draconis 8 Carl "CVO" Van Ostrand take another stab at a WWYD, pose some fun questions to the community and then get into the nitty gritty of what it is to be a Game Designer. If that wasn't enough we go on a flurry of tangents so buckle up for this 3 hour extended edition-like episode where Tuff finally remembers we had a Shard Giveaway!
WWYD: 4:08
Questions to the Discord: 19:04
Chat about the Campaign: 50:17
Game Designer chat with Carl: 1:00:30
Draconis Ro...
Arena Brawls & Tactical Calls

Join Tuff, Filtrophobe, and DblDubz as the SS Sparks & Recreation steers back to Thandar to tackle some timely events! First up, we drop anchor in the Arena, where community balance changes are in full swing, and the latest announcement from WWG regarding the Dungeons Kickstarter makes waves. Then, the mailbag delivers hidden treasure—a brand-new segment: Counterplay Corner! From there, it’s time to step into the ring for some Featherweight Fight Club banter. Tuff unveils some spicy new tech that’s been holding up in playtesting—only for Filtrophobe to smash X to doubt. You don’t want to miss th...
Draconis 8 Beginner Tips

Join Tuff, Lead Developer CVO & special guest DanTheMeek navigate the first Draconis 8 WWYD and discuss Beginner Tips. We then get to know "Who is DanTheMeek"? followed by a Draconis Roadmap Update, talk of animated dragons and a tangent about possibly keeping your favorite beta packs? If that wasn't enough we wrap it all up with an update to the three community tournaments followed by our usual Taps & Scraps.
WWYD: 4:08
Basic tips to get you started in Draconis: 14:40
Interview with DanTheMeek: 55:42
Draconis Roadmap Update: 1:24:32
DanTheMeek Tap & Scrap: 1:57:25
...
Journeys Promo Pack Pontifications

Set sail with the crew of the SS Sparks & Rec as we navigate the Journeys Promo Pack, diving into the Wild and Guild factions to chart their impact. Before we hoist anchor, we break down WWYD #62, pondering the best plays. Then, we dig into the mailbag to tackle questions from Lgnkstwrt, Strahleo, and Aarkenell—keep those messages coming via Discord! Finally, we wrap things up with a community round-up before docking back at port. Thanks for joining us on this voyage!
WWYD: 5:55
Journeys Promo Analysis Wild Cards: 15:25
Journeys Promo Analysis Guild Cards: 47:11
...Draconis 8 Deep Dive!

Sparks & Recreations Episode 72 brings you a DEEP DIVE into Draconis 8! Jigmelingpa, Tuff, and Anvroser are joined by Draconis 8 creator Carl Van Ostrand, and the crew take the opportunity to interview the game designer with questions about the game design and history, future development directions, strategies, and more! Plus information on a Shard giveaway and community events.
Intro - 0:34
Interview with Carl - 10:22
Strats - 1:36:51
Community Roundup - 1:51:26
Taps n Scraps - 1:52:46
Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.
<...
Wise Wizard Games Developer Call Recap

The crew is back on track with your regularly scheduled episodes and to kick things off, they’re doing an immediate reaction to the live call with WWG teammates – Joel and Tan! The two hosted an event on the WWG discord to discuss the discrepancy between their data and the data of Hero Helper and experiences of the Realms Rising community. See links section below to find an uploaded recording of the discussion.
Lots of great info to dive into from that talk but the group doesn’t stop there! After saying goodbye to Scrapforce, we dive in...
The Fellowship of the OGs

For the 70th Extravaganza Episode of Sparks & Recreation, Jigmelingpa, DblDubz, Filtrophobe, Tuff, and DaKatSesMeow call upon the Fellowship of the OGs to critically discuss the current state of Hero Realms. With guest spots from Samwise, Nudeltulpe, Eindeloos, Horgle, Asawesomas, WardenSlayer, Aarkenell, Scorium, lgnkstwrt, and others, the OGs give their honest opinions about the Digital App, game balancing, and more after a quick retrospective look at 70 episodes of Sparks & Rec.
Intro: 00:34
A look back at 70 eps of Sparks & Rec: 08:05
Discussion from--
Samwise: 19:22
Eindeloos: 27:59
Horgle: 54:51
<...PaxU Retrospective with Tuff

In what is essentially part 2 of the PaxU experience, this episode features Tuff taking center stage to share his experiences at the con, where he participated in both the Star Realms and Hero Realms Legends tournaments. The crew first dives into the Star Realms event, where a controversial ruling against Tuff created some unexpected turbulence. This sparks a larger conversation about shuffling techniques and the nuances of playing in paper. But the story doesn’t end there! The Hero Realms tournament the following day offered a shot at redemption. With immaculate shuffling and sharp gameplay, Tuff fought his way to...
PaxU Interview with Rob Dougherty

Sam "scrapforce" Parsons and Jeff "Tuff" Labella sit down with Hero Realms designer Rob Dougherty at PaxU to discuss the balancing process for the game, future digital game developments, and more!
Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.
Hosts: Sam "Scrapforce" Parsons, John "Tuff" Labella, and special guest Rob Dougherty
Producer: Matthew Rooks
Hero Helper: https://hero-helper.com/
Realms Rising: https://www.realmsrising.com
You can find the WWYD screenshots for this episode here: https://www.realmsrising.com/podcast/th...
Build Lab Double Dip with the Down Under Duo

Draconis 8: 9:26
WWYD: 16:49
Getting to know Asawesomas: 32:56
Bard Build Lab: 51:38 Ranger
Build Lab: 2:00:16
Community Round-up: 2:20:03
Taps/Scraps and Goodbyes: 2:34:48
Join DblDubz, Tuff, and Filtrophobe as they welcome special guest Asawesomas aboard the SS Sparks & Rec! After briefly touching on Draconis 8, the episode kicks off with the always-entertaining WWYD segment before diving into an interview to learn more about Asawesomas and his history with the game. Then it’s time for a double helping of Build Lab goodness! First up: Bard at level 16—tactics, build choices, and...
Tavern Brawl Season 6 Retrospective

Interview with DaKatSesMeow: 1:39
Audio submission by Filtrophobe: 1:29:48
Audio submission by Romu: 1:38:16
Taps/Scraps and Goodbyes: 1:51:29
With the sixth season of the Tavern Brawl concluded, it’s time to take a look back at what happened. Tuff and DblDubz welcome the Daredevil of the winning team – DaKatSesMeow – onto the show. He dives deep into the event, sharing the behind-the-scenes strategy that made his team’s run one for the history books! From team composition to match-up strategies, the crew breaks down the tough decisions on class and ancestry choices, as well as the w...
Balancing the Scales: Game States

To kick off the episode, Tuff is welcomed into the fold as a Sparks & Recreation crew member! Happy to have him onboard, he and Dubz sail forward into a pair of in-game situations with a WWYD and an LFL. Then an initiate of the Damage goes Brrr! clan stops by to say hello. Up next is a conversation covering Tuff’s most recent article where he proposes one balance change per class to balance the meta. What if this were brought to reality by the Lords of Lua to form the first ever Lua League?? Let us know on th...
Interview with newest HR Legend Series winner - StormShield

Join Tuff and DblDubz for a conversation with StormShield that spans tabletop gaming, in-depth tournament coverage, and even some retro console gaming. It wouldn’t be an episode of Sparks and Rec without a WWYD as well as the community round-up so be sure to check those out. Our giveaway was also announced on this episode. Contest details found here.
Giveaway announcement: 3:07
WWYD: 7:33
Getting to know StormShield: 17:00
Tournament Recap: 31:09
Community Round-up: 1:20:49
Goodbyes!: 1:27:34
Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Ga...
Necromancer Build Lab

On this episode of Sparks & Rec, join DblDubz and Filtrophobe with special guest Tuff as we take a dive into the first level 16 build lab for one of the Dungeons classes – necromancer! Tuff’s recent article on the class provides the framework for the discussion and Filtrophobe’s new article on getting into level 16 PvP is also a point of conversation. Both will be linked below. Listeners will get a chance to analyze some board states with the crew during a WWYD and a LFL. And of course, we touch on community events before scrapping, tapping, and saying goodbye. We hop...
Level 16 Meta Mashup with DaKatSesMeow

Join the Sparks & Rec crew as Filtrophobe presents the first ever level 16 Meta Mashup. DaKatSesMeow is on hand to give his reactions to the stats while also breaking down his level 16 Boots Thief later on in the Build Lab. Fear not Shadow Mask players as this playstyle is covered in the episode as well. Listeners will of course have a chance to analyze some in-game board states with both a WWYD and a Looking for Lethal.
WWYD: 10:20
Looking for Lethal: 19:30
Mailbag: 28:17
Meta-mashup, OG classes: 34:37
Meta-mashup, beta classes: 1:21:16
<...Industrialization Insights with Designer Userkaffe

The Hero Realms digital app offers players the chance to design and code their own custom scripts. One player went so far as to design their own set from the ground up. That player is Userkaffe and he is here to tell us all about his experience in designing and developing this fantastically flavorful and interactive set, filled with synergies– some subtle and some bold! There are some extra links that are super important this week. First is how to actually play these sort of games yourself within the app:
WWYD (Industrialization Edition): 3:49
Getting to...
The Jam-packed Journeys Jamboree

With the recent retail release of the Journeys expansion, a swath of segments make their return in this episode as the crew of Filtrophobe and DblDubz take the SS Sparks & Rec out to the high seas. Killer combos? We’ve got ‘em. Build Lab on Wizard? Check. Build Lab on Fighter? Also check. The Journeys content doesn’t stop there as the Mailbag contains questions about favorite cards from the set as well as which of the 11 classes feature two viable, distinct builds. There’s also quite a bit to catch up on in the community before bringing the ship to...
Max Level Mayhem

The two man crew of Filtrophobe and DblDubz welcome a brand new guest for the third consecutive episode -- none other than Aarkenell. With the level 24 testing running for a few weeks now, he is on hand to share his experience thanks to the hundreds of arena games under his belt. We start off examining the original 5 classes before blitzing through the beta ones as well. WWYD makes its triumphant return and we also get to know a bit about Aarkenell. Echoes of Valor sign-ups and the announcement of an upcoming level 16 tournament are featured in the community round-up.<...
Origins 2024 Winners Interview

Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.
Hosts: Chris "DblDubz" Walberg & Tim "agentc13" McKenzie
Producer: Chris Walberg
Hero Helper: https://hero-helper.com/
Realms Rising: https://www.realmsrising.com
You can find the WWYD screenshots for this episode here: NO WWYD THIS EPISODE!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/sparksandrec
HyperGeometric Calculator: https://aetherhub.com/Apps/HyperGeometric
Community Tournaments & Events Primer (+ signup links): https://www.realmsrising.com/community-events/
Realms Rising Discord: https://discord.gg/8...
Conquesting with CCAA

With an impressive podium showing across so many recent community events, CCAA joins the podcast with DblDubz and Filtrophobe so that we can get to know him and how he plays Hero Realms. You won’t want to miss this interview where we discuss his methodical approach and strategies for improving at the game. Looking for Lethal makes an appearance for the second podcast in a row, while we of course also break down a WWYD, quickly dip into the mailbag, and take a spin through the current community events.
WWYD: 4:11
Looking for Lethal: 15:29
...Mailbag Madness

With both Realms Rising and Thandar itself abuzz with activity, the crew turns it over to the community to see what’s on their minds in this mailbag centric episode. Answering your questions in the main segment of the show is a grizzled group of veterans – DblDubz, Filtrophobe, and DaKatSesMeow! Everyone’s favorite game show will have you Looking for Lethal, and with the Tavern Brawl in the books, Filtrophobe puts the crew on the spot asking for hot takes regarding the draft.
WWYD: 3:00
Looking for Lethal: 11:18
Mailbag: 15:57
TB Draft Hot Ta...
Level 22 Arena: Into the Armory

Join the two man crew of DblDubz and Filtrophobe as they take the SS Sparks and Rec to port so they can delve into the Armory of Thandar! Level 22 Arena testing features two new armor choices for each class. They’ll discuss each one and highlight their favorites. The Realm is ever changing so v234 Patch Notes are also reviewed before giving an update on community events and closing out the show.
WWYD: 2:39
Into the Armory 13:30
Patch Notes 54:53
Community Round-up 1:10:36
Taps/Scraps and Outro 1:16:47
Hero Re...
Tavern Brawl: Review/Preview Edition

The premier community event in all of Realms Rising is the Tavern Brawl and in this episode of Sparks and Recreation, the crew reviews a recent IRL Tavern Brawl event while also previewing the upcoming digital Tavern Brawl. Filtrophobe and DblDubz are joined by Tuff and BirdLaw to break it all down including the lore, formats, and even strategy surrounding team composition under the new rules. They also give some early thoughts on level 22 Arena testing and the most recent Alchemist changes. Be sure to stick around for the Community Round-up where Across the Realms is discussed.
Balance Changes and Expanded Level 20 Testing

DblDubz and Filtrophobe dive deep into the most recent round of balance changes before running through a class by class breakdown of all the beta characters at level 20 – highlighting key cards and strategies! You won’t want to miss the tidbits of ancestry discussion either.
Numerous exciting events are bubbling up in Thandar so be sure to stick around for the Community Round-up. Among these events is an IRL Tavern Brawl on Sunday May 5th, 2024, hosted by BirdLaw and the “Pop Cultured Card Store”.
Link to the event here: https://discord.gg/H95qn8gk?ev...
A Legendary Interview

Join DblDubz and Scrapforce for the second part of our chat with Tuff! This is where we learn a bit about him and get into all the details of his THREE Legends victories in the Realms. We hope you enjoy this fun conversation with insights into what it takes to be successful in paper play. And if you missed it, please be sure to check out Scorium’s dashboard containing wonderful data from the Echoes of Valor Swiss Tournament: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/scorium/viz/HREchoesofvalorinsights/Home
Interview: 3:55
Outro: 1:17:23
He...
Reserve System revealed and level 20 returns!

In Episode 52 of Sparks & Rec, DblDubz, Scrapforce, and Tuff chat about the latest in Hero Realms – Level 20 Arena testing, new treasures, the introduction of the reserve system, and more. (An interview discussing Tuff’s three Legends victories was cut for time and will be featured in the next episode.) The show also includes an extended Community Roundup featuring some commentary by Scorium. The crew takes it home with Taps n’ Scraps.
Intro – 00:36
WWYD – 4:55
Reserve System/Treasures/Lvl 20 – 24:20
Community Roundup – 1:18:30
Taps n’ Scraps – 1:33:30
Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed e...
The Return of the Ranger

In Episode 51 of Sparks & Rec, Jigmelingpa, Filtrophobe, and DaKatSesMeow speculate a bit on the mysterious "Quest System" spoiler before moving into WWYD. The cast responds to a mailbag segment idea, before launching into Filtro's Hero Helper Data Dump, which show lots of strong evidence for the return of the ranger to the top of the meta (especially elf ranger). Filter & DaKat give their takes on ranger strategy, before the episode finishes off with Community Roundup, and Taps n' Scraps.
Intro - 0:34
WWYD - 14:59
Mailbag - 30:02
Hero Helper Data Dump - 33:43<...
Eindeloos, Nudeltulpe, and Echoes of Valor

In Episode 50 of Sparks & Rec, Jigmelingpa, Nudeltulpe, and Eindeloos give their thoughts on current production and beta play before jumping into WWYD, then discussing Eindeloos' community event Echoes of Valor. The cast then give a Community Roundup before finishing off the episode with Taps n' Scraps.
Intro - 0:34
WWYD - 17:30
Echoes of Valor - 34:00
Community Roundup - 63:04
Tap n’ Scrap - 71:21
Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.
Hosts: Matthew "jigmelingpa" Rooks, Mike "Nudeltulpe" Skimanksy, Robbert "Eindeloos"
...Level 18 Arena and Current Meta Analysis with Horgle & DaKatSesMeow

In Episode 49 of S&R, Matt, Cooper, Larry, and Alex discuss the Level 18 Arena Playtesting, WWYD, mailbag, before diving into the Monthly Meta Mashup with Filtrophobe. The cast round out the episode with another dose of Taps n' Scraps. **Updated with audio correction at 23:00 mark**
Intro - 0:34
Level 18 Discussion - 7:15
WWYD - 31:11
Mailbag - 47:38
MMM - 57:32
Taps n' Scraps - 96:41
Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.
Hosts: Matthew "jigmelingpa" Rooks, Cooper "Filtrophobe" Fitzgerald, Larry "...
Real Life Tavern Brawlin' & Life as a Legend With BirdLaw

In Episode 48 of Sparks & Recreation, special guest Realms Walker and Triple Hero Realms Legend BirdLaw joins the cast to talk a bit about Level 16 Arena Play, Living Life as a Legend, and his new irl event: TAVERN BRAWL.
Intro - 0:34
WWYD - 10:25
Life as a Legend - 23:04
Real Life Tavern Brawl - 56:05
Taps n’ Scraps - 68:59
Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.
Hosts: Matthew "jigmelingpa" Rooks
Special Guest: David "BirdLaw" Logvin
Producer: Ma...
WardenSlayer's Lua Lessons & Level 16 Reactions with DaKatSes Meow

In the first episode of 2024, Matt, Tim, Cooper, and Alex welcome special guest Ben "WardenSlayer" as he takes us on a tour of Lua Lessons, aimed at helping beginners at trying their hand at custom coding in Hero Realms. The cast then take some time to discuss data from recent Level 16 Arena testing, as well as how the cleric and fighter ancestries have affected the retail game meta. Community Roundup covers some recent event results and announcements before the cast wrap things up with Taps n' Scraps.
Intro - 0:34
WWYD - 7:32
Lua...
Heroic Holiday Special Part II

In this marathon holiday special TWO PART episode of Sparks and Recreation, Matt, Chris, and Cooper cover the Monthly Meta Mashup from filtrophobe! The fun continues when the crew preview and rank the Hunters & Travelers sets that will soon be adding 16 market cards to the digital beta (and retail app soon after). The weary podcasters finally bring the holiday special to a crescendo with community roundup and taps and scraps.
PART II:
Monthly Meta Mashup - 00:56
Hunters & Travelers - 11:34
Community Roundup - 66:28
Outro - 71:57
H...
Heroic Holiday Special Part I

In this marathon holiday special TWO PART episode of Sparks and Recreation, Matt, Chris, and Cooper tackle the latest WWYD before reacting to the plethora of news from Rob Dougherty's recent S&R interview and finishing off their discussion on when and how to use character abilities.
PART I:
Intro - 0:00
WWYD - 12:34
Rob Dougherty Interview Reaction - 27:48
Using Character Abilities (continued) - 58:38
Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.
Hosts: Matthew "jigmelingpa" Rooks, Chris "DblDubz" W...