Shows
Sparks and RecreationPlaying with Principle 2.0Three and a half years ago the original crew of Jigmelingpa and agentc13 released the 10th episode of Sparks and Recreation with the aim of exploring some general guidelines of the game. Here we are all this time later and Dubz, Filtro, and Tuff are here to give you their take on this beginner friendly premise. Join them as they explore a wide range of topics regarding what’s important in the game and why. Be sure to check out the full list of links mentioned in the episode in the show notes and on the Realms Rising website!...
2026-01-271h 55Sparks and RecreationTeam Management, Meta Mash-up, and ELOThe crew is back, and this time we’re talking Tavern Brawl team management where we share some advice and lessons learned on how to help your squad run smoothly across a long season.Next up, it’s been quite a while since the last balance patch, and one upside of that fact is that we have substantial sample sizes to work with. So that means it’s time for a Meta Mashup!Speaking of data, Filtrophobe unveils a vibe-coded ELO system using Hero Helper stats, complete with four different ranking interpretations depending on which game ty...
2025-10-302h 15Sparks and RecreationTavern Brawl Team Composition Predictions and AnalysisThe crew kicks things off with a WWYD that spotlights a fundamental concept called deck halving – a crucial skill for success at the top tiers of play.Next up, they make good on their promise to predict the total number of each class represented in the Tavern Brawl. And since they can’t resist a little friendly competition, it’s a full-on contest to see who’s the most accurate! From there, Filtrophobe leads a discussion breaking down the key team archetypes as he sees them, with plenty of detours and debates along the way about overall composit...
2025-10-162h 00Sparks and RecreationTavern Brawl Draft Recap and Team Composition StratsThe standard crew of DblDubz, Filtrophobe, and Tuff set sail once again as the seventh Tavern Brawl gets underway! With the draft now complete, the gang breaks down some of the best value picks and surprise standouts from the draft board.Then they turn their sights to perhaps the most fascinating feature of this season: team composition. With up to two beta classes allowed per team, the permutations explode – enough to leave even the Daredevils’ heads spinning.All this plus signature segments like WWYD, Looking for Lethal, and the Community Roundup. Thanks for listening!WW...
2025-09-261h 57Sparks and RecreationArena Updates and Nut-Draw FinaleThe crew kicks off the episode with the signature WWYD segment, followed by a Looking for Lethal submission from long-time listener Logan.From there, we dive into the latest Arena updates and discuss the results of the experimental, community-driven balance testing from over the past few weeks.Next up, we finally wrap up our three-part answer to Aarkenell’s mailbag question, analyzing how to counter a class’s nut draw. This episode covers Bard, Necro, Druid, and Monk. As always, we close with the Community Roundup and our usual taps and scraps. Thanks for listening!
2025-09-131h 56Sparks and RecreationSamwise & Tuff Break ClericJohn "Tuff" Labella and Samwise embark on a half hour segment to figure out what expansion sets and build is best for cleric on ladder but go down a two hour rabbit hole.Start: 1:19Taps & Scraps: 1:51:00Sparks and Recreation Presents: a Legendary Contesthttps://challonge.com/34nulpfe Tavern Brawl 2025 (Now with Beta Classes)Signup: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeUS3Z2wXtO2WadsdPWYLrLN4x7H6aFuY5zeOY-SaaKL0iU8g/viewform?usp=headerRules: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nyp...
2025-08-282h 04Sparks and RecreationAlchemist & Barbarian Make Waves in a New MetaKicking off this episode, the crew of DblDubz, Filtrophobe, and Tuff announce that they will be hosting a tournament with a grand prize of a Hero Realms Digital Legends account! (Available to non-Legend account holders only! Check the link below for details and to sign-up.) After this the crew breaks down a Dungeons character showdown between a Necromancer and a Druid. The Meta Mashup takes center stage for the episode as Filtrophobe takes us through all the latest Hero Helper data with much more significant sample sizes than available in our previous episode. Things are c...
2025-08-162h 26Sparks and RecreationAncestral AscendancyThe 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...
2025-07-312h 15Sparks and RecreationSilentAl Speaks up on another Legends VictoryWe’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...
2025-07-121h 55Sparks and RecreationWise Wizard Games Round-up with Rob DoughertyDblDubz 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...
2025-06-281h 49Sparks and RecreationDungeons Promos Finale and Fighting the Nut DrawEP 80: Dungeons Promos Finale and Fighting the Nut DrawTuff, 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...
2025-06-161h 48Sparks and RecreationDungeon DelugeTuff, 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...
2025-05-252h 19Sparks and RecreationClass Upgrades & Card RevealsDblDubz 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...
2025-05-062h 30Sparks and RecreationAdvancing the MetaTuff 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...
2025-04-182h 21Sparks and RecreationGame DevelopmentJohn "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: 4:08Questions to the Discord: 19:04Chat about the Campaign: 50:17Game Designer chat with Carl: 1:00:30Draconis Ro...
2025-04-013h 13Sparks and RecreationArena Brawls & Tactical CallsJoin 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...
2025-03-261h 55Sparks and RecreationDraconis 8 Beginner TipsJoin 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 ...
2025-03-192h 17Sparks and RecreationJourneys Promo Pack PontificationsSet 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 ...
2025-03-092h 18Sparks and RecreationDraconis 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 - 0:34Interview with Carl - 10:22Strats - 1:36:51Community Roundup - 1:51:26Taps n Scraps - 1:52:46Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.
2025-02-232h 10Sparks and RecreationWise Wizard Games Developer Call RecapThe 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...
2025-02-182h 14Sparks and RecreationThe Fellowship of the OGsFor 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: 00:34A look back at 70 eps of Sparks & Rec: 08:05Discussion from--Samwise: 19:22Eindeloos: 27:59Horgle: 54:51
2025-01-282h 59Sparks and RecreationPaxU Retrospective with TuffIn 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...
2024-12-201h 02Sparks and RecreationPaxU Interview with Rob DoughertySam "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 DoughertyProducer: Matthew RooksHero Helper: https://hero-helper.com/Realms Rising: https://www.realmsrising.comYou can find the WWYD screenshots for this episode here: https://www.realmsrising.com/podcast/th...
2024-12-1554 minSparks and RecreationBuild Lab Double Dip with the Down Under DuoDraconis 8: 9:26WWYD: 16:49Getting to know Asawesomas: 32:56Bard Build Lab: 51:38 RangerBuild Lab: 2:00:16Community Round-up: 2:20:03Taps/Scraps and Goodbyes: 2:34:48Join 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...
2024-12-072h 44Sparks and RecreationTavern Brawl Season 6 RetrospectiveInterview with DaKatSesMeow: 1:39Audio submission by Filtrophobe: 1:29:48Audio submission by Romu: 1:38:16Taps/Scraps and Goodbyes: 1:51:29With 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...
2024-11-282h 05Sparks and RecreationBalancing the Scales: Game StatesTo 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...
2024-11-182h 06Sparks and RecreationInterview with newest HR Legend Series winner - StormShieldJoin 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!: 1:27:34Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Ga...
2024-10-271h 30Sparks and RecreationNecromancer Build LabOn 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...
2024-10-062h 22Sparks and RecreationLevel 16 Meta Mashup with DaKatSesMeowJoin 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
2024-09-122h 20Sparks and RecreationIndustrialization Insights with Designer UserkaffeThe 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...
2024-08-242h 34Sparks and RecreationThe Jam-packed Journeys JamboreeWith 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...
2024-08-011h 51Sparks and RecreationMax Level MayhemThe 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.
2024-07-162h 00Sparks and RecreationOrigins 2024 Winners InterviewHero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.Hosts: Chris "DblDubz" Walberg & Tim "agentc13" McKenzieProducer: Chris WalbergHero Helper: https://hero-helper.com/Realms Rising: https://www.realmsrising.comYou can find the WWYD screenshots for this episode here: NO WWYD THIS EPISODE!Patreon: https://patreon.com/sparksandrecHyperGeometric Calculator: https://aetherhub.com/Apps/HyperGeometricCommunity Tournaments & Events Primer (+ signup links): https://www.realmsrising.com/community-events/Realms Rising Discord: https://discord.gg/8...
2024-07-092h 03Sparks and RecreationConquesting with CCAAWith 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 ...
2024-07-011h 49Sparks and RecreationMailbag MadnessWith 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...
2024-06-131h 38Sparks and RecreationLevel 22 Arena: Into the ArmoryJoin 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 1:16:47Hero Re...
2024-05-271h 23Sparks and RecreationTavern Brawl: Review/Preview EditionThe 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.
2024-05-122h 03Sparks and RecreationBalance Changes and Expanded Level 20 TestingDblDubz 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...
2024-04-291h 52Sparks and RecreationA Legendary InterviewJoin 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/HomeInterview: 3:55Outro: 1:17:23He...
2024-04-201h 21Sparks and RecreationReserve 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 – 00:36WWYD – 4:55Reserve System/Treasures/Lvl 20 – 24:20Community Roundup – 1:18:30Taps n’ Scraps – 1:33:30Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed e...
2024-04-071h 48Sparks and RecreationThe Return of the RangerIn 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 - 0:34WWYD - 14:59Mailbag - 30:02Hero Helper Data Dump - 33:43
2024-03-141h 21Sparks and RecreationEindeloos, Nudeltulpe, and Echoes of ValorIn 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 - 0:34WWYD - 17:30Echoes of Valor - 34:00Community Roundup - 63:04Tap n’ Scrap - 71:21Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.Hosts: Matthew "jigmelingpa" Rooks, Mike "Nudeltulpe" Skimanksy, Robbert "Eindeloos"...
2024-02-251h 18Sparks and RecreationLevel 18 Arena and Current Meta Analysis with Horgle & DaKatSesMeowIn 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 - 0:34Level 18 Discussion - 7:15WWYD - 31:11Mailbag - 47:38MMM - 57:32Taps n' Scraps - 96:41Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.Hosts: Matthew "jigmelingpa" Rooks, Cooper "Filtrophobe" Fitzgerald, Larry "...
2024-02-091h 45Sparks and RecreationReal Life Tavern Brawlin' & Life as a Legend With BirdLawIn 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 - 0:34WWYD - 10:25Life as a Legend - 23:04Real Life Tavern Brawl - 56:05Taps n’ Scraps - 68:59Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.Hosts: Matthew "jigmelingpa" RooksSpecial Guest: David "BirdLaw" LogvinProducer: Ma...
2024-01-241h 16Sparks and RecreationWardenSlayer's Lua Lessons & Level 16 Reactions with DaKatSes MeowIn 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 - 0:34WWYD - 7:32Lua...
2024-01-101h 51Sparks and RecreationHeroic Holiday Special Part IIIn 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 - 00:56Hunters & Travelers - 11:34Community Roundup - 66:28Outro - 71:57H...
2023-12-061h 19Sparks and RecreationHeroic Holiday Special Part IIn 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 - 0:00WWYD - 12:34Rob Dougherty Interview Reaction - 27:48Using Character Abilities (continued) - 58:38Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.Hosts: Matthew "jigmelingpa" Rooks, Chris "DblDubz" W...
2023-12-061h 27Sparks and RecreationRob Dougherty: Arrival of Ancestries, Road to Level 24, and more!In this special emergency episode of Sparks & Rec, Hero Realms Legends Sam "scrapforce" Parsons & Larry "Horgle" Bogucki interview Rob Dougherty at Pax Unplugged about the impending release of Ancestries to the public app, the road to level 24, as well as updates on arena mode, digital legends tournaments, future releases, and more. Enjoy this amazing interview with lots of breaking news about the future of Hero Realms!Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.Hosts: Sam "scrapforce" Parsons, Larry "Horgle" BoguckiGuest: Rob DoughertyProducer...
2023-12-031h 10Sparks and RecreationTips from Hero Realms Legend HorgleIn Episode 44 of Sparks & Rec, Larry "Horgle" Bogucki and two time Legend Winner joins Matt & Chris to go over WWYD41 and answer some mailbag questions to kick things off. Next, Larry takes the reins and takes the podcast into "Loungin' with Larry Love," where he turns the tables on the hosts and sparks some great discussion with a variety of rapid fire questions and topics. Next, the trio delve into Larry's favorite segment, Card Warz, and rank 1~2 cost actions from all available sets. The episode rounds out with Lua Spotlight, Community Roundup, and Taps n' Scraps....
2023-11-222h 10Sparks and RecreationPart II: Monthly Meta MashupEpisode 43 continues in Part II with Monthly Meta Mashup, Community Roundup, and Taps n' Scraps.Ability Discussion Wrapup - 0:00Monthly Meta Mashup- 5:32Community Roundup - 57:05Taps n’ Scraps - 63:46Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.Hosts: Matthew "jigmelingpa" Rooks, Tim "agentc13" McKenzie, Sam "Scrapforce" Parsons, Chris "DblDubz" Walberg, Cooper "Filtrophobe" FitzgeraldProducer: Matthew RooksHero Helper: https://hero-helper.com/Realms Rising: https://www.realmsrising.comYou can find the MMM...
2023-11-081h 19Sparks and RecreationPart I: How & When to Use Your Character AbilitiesEpisode 43 of Sparks & Recreation is here, and we hope you're ready for the marathon! This one is so big, we had to break it in half. Part I starts with the induction of the newest member of the S&R cast -- Filtrophobe! With some excellent examples and discussions of decision-making strategies, the cast take a look at a prime example of high-level play with Nudelulpe's What Would You Do submission, followed by a fun Looking for Lethal. Next, the gang delve into the mailbag, before a deep dive into Part I of an insightful look into the heart...
2023-11-081h 36Sparks and RecreationStar Realms & Hero Realms Crossover with CoryBear88In Episode 42 of Sparks & Recreation, jigmelingpa, agentc13, dbldubz, and corybear88 convene to hold the first ever interstellar council -- a crossover discussion on Star Realms & Hero Realms! First, the crew walk through WWYD39 before taking a mailbag question on monk strategy. Then, the cast take a deep dive into Star Realms and Hero Realms intersections, differences, and how the two games complement each other. Next, the guys enter Card Talk to discuss self-sacrificing cards in Hero Realms, and strategies for when to sacrifice them. In HR101, the team look at calculating draw combinations, deck flips/reshuffles, when to reach...
2023-10-252h 21Sparks and RecreationEven More Monk Madness w/ Filtrophobe & DaKatSesMeowIn Episode 41 of Sparks & Rec, jigmelingpa, scrapforce, dbldubz, filtrophobe, and DaKatSesMeow join forces to answer mailbag questions, discuss the current state of the meta, and take a dive deep into Monk strategy and builds before finishing things up with Tap n' Scrap. See below for a link to a Monk beta card gallery!Intro - 0:34WWYD - 7:56Mailbag - 18:29Monthly Meta Mashup - 30:50Monk E Madness- 77:56Tap it or Scrap it - 118:36Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard...
2023-10-112h 12Sparks and RecreationMonk Madness with NudeltulpeIn Episode 40 of Sparks & Rec, jigmelingpa, agentc13, DblDubz, and Nudeltulpe join forces to bring you a JUMBO-SIZED helping of your favorite Hero Realms podcast! First, the cast announce the Digital Legend Contest Winners before heading into WWYD37. Then Nudel takes us on a journey that spans from the inception of Tavern Brawl to its current iteration in Season 5, along with the climactic results of the finals, before finally offering a glimpse of what is to come in future seasons. Next, the cast hold a special session of Card WarZ and rank ALL of the 2 and 3 cost champions that have...
2023-10-042h 36
Sparks and RecreationRob Dougherty's Digital App Road MapIn Episode 39, Matt, Chris, Larry, and Barry join forces for a special "emergency" episode! After introducing the latest S&R Giveaway Contest (scroll down for details) and the customary stroll through WWYD Lane, the cast listen and react to Larry "Horgle" Bogucki's recent interview with Rob Dougherty, where the Wise Wizard Games CEO and Hero Realms mastermind outlines a fairly specific roadmap for the development of the digital app. Players of the digital app have a lot of fun things in store! The cast also covers the recently released Beta Bard, and also discuss ranger and cleric ancestries before...
2023-09-191h 49Sparks and RecreationBreaking BardIn Episode 38 of Sparks & Rec, Matt, Tim, and Chris reflect upon another WWYD before answering some listener mailbag questions. Next, the crew takes a first look at the recently announced development road map for the digital app, and the newly released Bard character class, looking at the starting cards, skills, and abilities. In this episode's Lua Spotlight, we have Aarkenell's Pyromancer class! This episode finishes off with Community Roundup and Tap It or Scrap It.Intro - 0:34WWYD - 5:01WWJD - 18:45Mailbag - 15:22NostraDblDamus (Digital App Road Map & Ba...
2023-09-131h 39Sparks and RecreationNecromantastic!In Episode 37 of Sparks & Rec, Matt, Sam, and Chris wade into another WWYD before answering a heavy hitting mailbag question. Then, it's off to the races as the crew take a first look at the Necromancer character class, discussing some early builds and strategy for the new character. We have a special visit from NostraDblDamus as he spoils some of the upcoming level 16 upgrade cards. In this episode's Lua Spotlight, we have Aarkenell's Apothecary class! Episode 37 rounds out with Community Roundup and Tap It or Scrap It.Intro - 0:34WWYD - 9:09WWJD...
2023-08-211h 50Sparks and RecreationAge of AncestriesIn episode 36 of Sparks & Recreation Matt & Chris break a 3 week drought of new content with a mega dose of S&R. What Would You Do? What Would Jig Do? and Looking for Lethal are all up on deck before the main course, a large helping of ancestry discussion, including an overview and quick tutorial of how it all works, some initial strategy discussions and impressions, and an expose from Filtrophobe on the current beta iteration of Elf Wizard, which he has piloted to ridiculous win percentages. The episode rounds out with some Lua highlights on new community character creations...
2023-07-312h 20Sparks and RecreationFree Digital Legend Account Giveaway!In Episode 35 of Sparks & Recreation, Matt, Tim, Sam, and Chris announce the Hero Realms Digital Legend Account Giveaway! Listen to the podcast for details, and enter here. The Sparks & Rec crew wade through another WWYD scenario and listener mailbag before discussing Lua, Arena Assault, Card Talk, and Community Roundup.Intro - 0:34WWYD - 17:43Mailbag - 26:46Lua - 40:42Arena Assault - 53:39Card Talk - 68:07Community Roundup - 73:05Outro 83:23Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.
2023-07-101h 27Sparks and RecreationAncestries, Arenas, and Origins Recap. OH MY!In this special Sparks & Recreation episode Tim, Chris, and Sam record from Origins Game Fair in Columbus, OH. The guys interview Joel "Ooryl" Hoornbeek about the Hero Realms app, and what his job entails at WWG. Then Sam and Chris recap the HR Legends tournament with zembu and Meowgan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-06-2847 minSparks and RecreationAarkenell Asks Rob Dougherty About Arenas & AncestryIn Part 2 of Episode 33 of Sparks & Recreation, UK correspondent Aarkenell delivers some amazing content from the UK Games Expo, where he entered and won the Hero Realms Legends Tournament! Aarkenell walks us through his experience in the Swiss and Final Cut rounds of the tournament, and also gives a comprehensive review of the game Kapow! which he played at the Expo. Finally, Aarkenell gives a Legendary shout out to the Hero Realms community.Rob Dougherty Interview with News on Arena Mode and Ancestry - 00:15UKGE Day 1 - Kapow! Gameplay & Review - 25:07Swiss...
2023-06-1459 minSparks and RecreationDown Under with Dailey & DaKatSesMeowIn Episode 33 of Sparks & Recreation, Matt "Jigmelingpa" Rooks, Sam "Scrapforce" Parsons, and special guests Dylan "Dailey23" Bailey and Alex "DaKatSesMeow" Rogers join forces to discuss this episode's WWYD scenario and DaKatSes latest Looking For Lethal puzzle before reacting to some big news out of the UKGE: In his interview with Rob Dougherty, UK correspondent Aarkenell learns about the impending (beta then public) release of Ancestry and/or Arena mode, which are both currently under development. If that wasn't enough, the cast members also check in with Aarkenell as he recounts his days at the 2023 UKGE and his anointment as...
2023-06-142h 09Sparks and RecreationThe Gem Store is Open for Business!In episode 32 of Sparks & Recreation the Matt, Tim, Sam, and Chris jump in for another round of WWYD before a new special debut segment from Lgnkstwrt: Pitfall Perils! Next, NostraDblDamus returns to spend more time looking at all of the recent changes both to the meta and the game/app UI itself, before taking some more mailbag questions. This episode rounds out with another Card Duel, this time featuring Domination vs. Minstrel's Melody, and the latest community happenings in the Roundup.Intro - 0:34WWYD - 10:50Pitfall Perils - 24:17 NostraDblDamus -29:21
2023-05-311h 40Sparks and RecreationDruid Drop PartyAin't no party like a Druid Drop Party because a Druid Drop Party don't stop!Join us in Episode 31 of Sparks & Recreation as Matt, Tim, Sam, and Chris go through the latest WWYD scenario and a new Looking for Lethal game before tackling the release of the newest beta class, the Druid! Next, the cast go through some more mailbag questions before looking at the next Clash of the Cards matchup: Deception vs. Command! The hosts finally walk us through the latest in the community in the Roundup before saying their farewells for this episode.
2023-05-171h 51Sparks and RecreationLevel 14 Balance Change Spoilers!In Part 2 of Episode 30, we have a special guest Card Talk segment from Logan K Stewart, who gives his take on Crime Spree. the BIG REVEAL comes in a special installment of NostraDblDamus, where the Diamond One reveals upcoming spoilers for the imminent release of Call to Arms and Level 14 balance changes! See show notes for links to screenshots of the card changes! NostraDaKatSes also joins the cast to give his predictions for the upcoming Level 14 meta. The Episode 30 Extravaganza continues with a wondrous Who Let The Pod Out, featuring specially prepared Hero Realms trivia by our own Scrapforce, f...
2023-05-011h 02Sparks and RecreationHappy SparkiversarySparks & Recreation turns 1 year old, and is celebrating with a 2-part Episode #30!Join us as Matt, Tim, Sam, and Chris hear from listeners, community members, and friends of the pod in a fun intro to get the party started. Next, the crew look at WWYD#28 before taking a stroll down memory lane and looking back at a year of Sparks & Recreation. Next, the cast go through listener mailbag questions, complete with audio questions and takes from listeners and top players! The results of the recent Top Player Survey are also revealed (see show note link for...
2023-05-011h 24Sparks and RecreationHero Hunting with HorgleIn Episode 29 of Sparks & Recreation, Larry "Horgle" Bogucki, AKA Larry Legend, one of Hero Realms' rare DoubleLegends, joins the crew to talk about his background in gaming and game design, his fascination with Hero Realms, and some discussion points about Hero Realms that interest him today. The crew then joins NostraDblDamus to take a look into some of the future news just released by Wise Wizard Games, before analyzing the Snake Pet vs. Unending Quiver upgrade choice for the Ranger.Intro - 0:34WWYD - 8:38Main Focus: Hangin' with Horgle - 21:46N...
2023-04-191h 52Sparks and RecreationRunning the Gauntlet with ZembuIn Episode 28 of Sparks & Recreation, Matt and Chris host special guest Zembu to discuss how he got involved with Hero Realms, his epic quest to achieve 100 Diamond Prestige with his thief Kachiko, thief strategy, and other topics. Sam "Scrapforce" Parsons makes a surprise appearance after forgetting to appear for the first part of the show, and joins the cast to talk with Zembu about his build layout for Master Thief Kachiko before wrapping up the episode with a healthy dose of Community Roundup.Intro - 0:34WWYD - 4:14Main Focus: Prestigious guest Barry "...
2023-04-032h 07Sparks and RecreationBarbaric AlchemyIn Episode 27 of Sparks & Rec, Tim, Sam, and Chris walk through WWYD25 before taking a closer look at the Barbarian and Alchemist character classes, with some discussion on the continuing balance testing they are going through. Then, the gang talk about the various upgrades for these two characters in Card Talk. Finally, the cast gives an update on all of the current Community Events.Intro - 0:34WWYD - 9:07Main Focus: Alchemist and Barbarian discussion - 24:47Card Talk: Alchemist and Barbarian upgrades - 79:54Community Roundup - 115:16Outro...
2023-03-202h 04Sparks and Recreation14 Ways to Level Your HeroIn Episode 26 of Sparks & Rec, Matt, Tim, and Chris give their insight on WWYD24 before discussing the best ways to build the original characters up to Level 14. The crew also take a look at the Wizard's Serpentine Staff vs. Blazing Staff before finally going into this episode's Community Roundup.Intro - 0:34WWYD - 6:33Main Focus - The OGs @ 14 - 20:46Build Lab: Serpentine Staff vs. Blazing Staff - 89:50Community Roundup - 101:38Outro - 105:41Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard...
2023-03-061h 59Sparks and RecreationCampaign Strategy with ZabuzaIn Episode 25 of Sparks & Recreation, Matt, Tim, Sam, and Chris welcome special guest Zabuza to talk about his activity with the game and community, development of the Realms Rising website, and Campaign Strategies!Intro - 0:34WWYD - 7:18MF - Zabuza background - 22:34Campaign Strategy - 46:07Community Roundup - 84:15Outro - 90:43Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.Hosts: Matthew "Jigmelingpa" Rooks, Tim "agentc13" McKenzie, Sam "scrapforce" Parsons, Chris "DblDubz" WalbergProducer: Matthew Rooks
2023-02-201h 35Sparks and RecreationSpark to the FutureIn Episode 24 of Sparks & Recreation, Matt, Tim, Sam, and Chris react to the treasure trove of information discussed by Rob Dougherty in Episode 23: playtesting & balancing, level 24 implications, digital app development, release schedules, and errata. The cast also circle back to their initial impressions of the Dungeons cards to discuss any surprises and standouts in the cards so far in the beta testing. Sam also gives an update on the development progress of Hero Helper, which has undergone some massive UI improvements. Finally, the S&R squad go over recent results of community events.0:34- Intro
2023-02-061h 58Sparks and RecreationRob Dougherty Discusses DungeonsIn Episode 23 of Sparks & Recreation, Wise Wizard Games CEO Rob Dougherty joins the pod to discuss details about the Dungeons Kickstarter, as well as what's in store for Hero Realms future in terms of game design and development, the digital app content, and more!Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.Hosts: Matthew "Jigmelingpa" Rooks, Tim "agentc13" McKenzie, Sam "scrapforce" Parsons, Chris "DblDubz" WalbergGuest: Wise Wizard Games CEO Rob DoughertyProducer: Matthew RooksDungeons Kickstarter Campaign Page: https://www...
2023-01-231h 19Sparks and RecreationA Legendary Wiz-OffIn Part 2 of Episode 22, the Sparks & Recreation crew interview Sam "Scrapforce" Parsons after his anointment as a Hero Realms Legend, and triumphant return to the podcast. Sam and the crew give some insight and tips for preparing for and playing in Legends tournaments, and the scene before and after the event. Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.Hosts: Matthew "Jigmelingpa" Rooks, Tim "agentc13" McKenzie, Sam "scrapforce" Parsons, Chris "DblDubz" WalbergProducer: Matthew RooksSeason 4 Tavern Brawl Rules & Signup: https://docs.google...
2022-12-1444 minSparks and RecreationDungeons Necros Faction Previews!In Part 1 of Episode 22 of Sparks & Recreation, Matt, Tim, Sam, and Chris give the final faction of the Dungeons set a proper preview: the Necros. Each of the crew review and rate the cards, before rounding off Part 1 with a long-awaited return to Community Roundup.0:35 - Intro10:05 - Dungeons Necros Faction Previews117:319 - Community RoundupHero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.Hosts: Matthew "Jigmelingpa" Rooks, Tim "agentc13" McKenzie, Sam "scrapforce" Parsons, Chris "DblDubz" WalbergProducer: Matthew Rooks
2022-12-142h 10Sparks and RecreationDungeons Imperial Faction Previews!In Part 2 of Episode 21 of Sparks & Recreation, Matt, Tim, and Chris go over all of the currently released Imperial Faction cards for the Dungeons beta testing. The cast give their impressions and ranking for each of the cards.Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.Hosts: Matthew "Jigmelingpa" Rooks, Tim "agentc13" McKenzie, Chris "DblDubz" WalbergProducer: Matthew RooksYou can view images of the cards previewed in this episode here: https://www.realmsrising.com/podcast/sparks-recreation-special-episode-dungeons-imperial-faction-previewCommunity Tournaments & Events Primer (+ signup...
2022-12-071h 16Sparks and RecreationBirdLaw & Pax UnpluggedIn Part 1 of Episode 21 of Sparks & Recreation, Matt, Tim, and Chris first go over a quick WWYD, before newly-crowned Hero Realms Legend Sam "scrapforce" Parsons gives some on-the-scene updates from Pax Unplugged, where he participated in the most recent Legends Tournament. Finally, we round out the first part of this episode with an interview from Hero Realms Legend and fan favorite, David "BirdLaw" Logvin.0:37 - Intro5:22 - WWYD17:37 - Pax Unplugged reporting from Sam Parsons27:05 - BirdLaw interviewHero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from...
2022-12-0757 minSparks and RecreationDungeons Wild Faction Previews!In Part 2 of Episode 19 of Sparks & Recreation, Matt, Tim, Sam, and Chris go over all of the currently released Wild Faction cards for the Dungeons beta testing. The cast give their impressions and ranking for each of the cards.0:33 - Intro3:39 - WWYD15:52 - NostraDblDamus Previews Dungeons Wild FactionHero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.Hosts: Matthew "Jigmelingpa" Rooks, Tim "agentc13" McKenzie, Chris "DblDubz" WalbergProducer: Matthew RooksYou can view images of the cards...
2022-12-021h 27Sparks and RecreationDungeons Guild Faction Previews!In Part 2 of Episode 19 of Sparks & Recreation, Matt, Tim, Sam, and Chris go over all of the currently released Guild Faction cards for the Dungeons beta testing. The cast give their impressions and ranking for each of the cards.Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.Hosts: Matthew "Jigmelingpa" Rooks, Tim "agentc13" McKenzie, Sam "scrapforce" Parsons, Chris "DblDubz" WalbergProducer: Matthew RooksYou can view images of the cards previewed in this episode here: https://www.realmsrising.com/podcast/sparks-recreation-emergency-episode-dungeons-guild-faction-previews...
2022-11-301h 14Sparks and RecreationA Call to Arms Expansion Previews!In Part 1 of Episode 19 of Sparks & Recreation, Matt, Tim, Sam, and Chris first go over a quick WWYD, before jumping into the main focus and special edition of NostraDblDamus' Glimpse into the future: Previews for the Dungeons & The Call to Arms beta expansions for Hero Realms digital!!0:37 - Intro11:38 - WWYD21:03 - Quick reactions to Dungeons and ACtA content39:26 - Preview of new Level 13 upgrade cards for each class67:40 - Preview of remaining A Call to Arms expansion cards (beta)Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed...
2022-11-301h 41Sparks and RecreationDaKatSaysWhat?!In Episode 18 of Sparks & Recreation, Matt, Tim, and Chris are joined by Special Guest Alex "DaKatSesMeow" Rogers to discuss thief play, how to experiment with different builds, and more with one of the most esteemed players in the game. The cast also covers podcast favorites WWYD, a special Build Lab featuring the Boots Thief, and a Glimpse into the future with "NostraDblDamus," who introduces some upcoming promo card releases for the digital game, before the episode wraps up with Community Roundup.0:30 - Intro8:36 - WWYD22:16 - Getting to know Mr. Rogers (DaKatSesMeow)
2022-11-152h 21Sparks and RecreationOpen SeasonIn Episode 17 of Sparks & Recreation, Matt, Tim, Sam, and Chris discuss "the opening," or how to think about starting off your games in Hero Realms. The cast gives a framework for defining what exactly the opening is, then goes into details about how to best go about it. Next, "NostraDblDamus" introduces some upcoming promo card releases for the digital game, before the episode wraps up with Community Roundup.0:38 - Intro12:04 - WWYD38:06 - Main Focus: The Opening90:24 - NostraDblDamus: Preview of upcoming promo card additions to the game118:33...
2022-10-312h 13Sparks and RecreationSilent But DeadlyIn Episode 16 of Sparks & Recreation, Matt, Tim, Sam, and Chris welcome special guest Silent Al, who shares sage advice about playing in live tournaments, tips for improving your game at level 3, and general strategies to keep in mind when playing irl. The cast then talk about the ins and outs of Factioning in Card Talk, before wrapping up the episode with Community Roundup.0:30 - Intro7:23 - WWYD24:57 - Main Focus: IRL Tournaments and playing at Level 383:05 - Card Talk: Faction Abilities106:35 - Community Roundup113:37 - Outro
2022-10-171h 58Sparks and RecreationMatchup MashupIn the 15th episode of Sparks & Recreation, Matt, Tim, Sam, and Chris give their opinions on the latest installment of WWYD, then discuss matchup considerations and counterplay for each of the 5 classes in the Hero Realms base set. Next, the crew give their thoughts on how the various classes may suit different play styles in War Room, before finishing things off with Community Roundup.Episode Content:Intro - 0:32WWYD -15:58 Main Focus: Matchup Mashup -- Matchups and Counterplay - 25:46 War Room: Fin...
2022-10-031h 53Sparks and RecreationRisky BusinessIn the fourteenth episode of Sparks and Recreation, Matt, Tim, and Chris talk about this episode's WWYD scenario, then sit down at the table for a full course steak dinner with their discussion on how to calculate and make decisions based on risk assessment. Afterwards, the gang transition into Build Lab, where they discuss the different builds associated around Shoulder Pauldrons vs. Helm of Fury. Finally, the results for the most recent edition of Community Roundup are summarized before wrapping things up in the Outro.Episode Content:Intro - 0:32WWYD - 15:17
2022-09-192h 02Sparks and RecreationShop S-MartIn the thirteenth episode of Sparks and Recreation, we once again have a full crew as Matt, Tim, Sam, and Chris take us on another voyage aboard the SS Sparks & Rec. This episode, our hosts discuss this episode's WWYD scenario, then talk about buy priority lists for each class. Next in Card Talk, the gang talk about how they evaluate low-cost/tier cards in the game. To finish off the episode, Sam brings the rain with another segment of Who Let the Pod Out before the latest results are summarized in the Community Roundup.Episode Content:
2022-08-312h 21Sparks and RecreationMirror MadnessIn the twelfth episode of Sparks and Recreation, it's all hands on deck and Matt, Tim, Sam, and Chris all report for duty onboard the SS Sparks & Rec. The crew discuss this episode's WWYD scenario, before diving in to a discussion about the various mirror matchups currently found in the game. Next, Hero Realms 101 takes a look at how to play from behind, with Sam offering a unique perspective as a player who often finds himself... playing from behind. To round off the episode, Sam delivers another can't miss Who Let the Pod Out before a covid-stricken Matt gives...
2022-08-151h 56Sparks and RecreationNudeltacticsIn the eleventh episode of Sparks and Recreation, Tim & Matt are joined by Nudeltulpe, resident Hero Realms assassin and Brawlmaster of the Tavern Brawls. The trio take time to discuss a WWYD scenario,learn more about Nudeltulpe, his gaming background, and history with Hero Realms before delving into a primer of all of the current community events and tournaments available for the digital game. To round off the episode, our special guest gives his take on the Cleric Mirror Matchup, before the crew give the latest info in the Community Roundup.Episode Content:
2022-08-011h 52Sparks and RecreationPlaying With PrincipleIn the TENTH episode of Sparks & Recreation, Matt and Tim discuss the concept of "playing with principle," or how to follow some general guidelines and strategies when playing certain character classes and builds. These principles will help players hone their character-specific strategies, and also learn how to deviate from those strategies when necessary.Episode Content:Intro - 0:31WWYD - 06:09Main Focus - 10 Ways to Improve Your Play - 16:55Card Talk - 74:39Killer Combos - 88:07Community Roundup - 99:24Closing - 112:02...
2022-07-181h 55Sparks and Recreation10 Heroic HintsIn Episode 09 of Sparks & Recreation, Matt & Tim give 10 suggestions for how to improve your play and win more in Hero Realms. Beginners, intermediate players, and hardened veterans alike could all benefit from a (re)visit to these fundamentals aimed at giving yourself the best chance to win.Episode Content:Intro - 0:33WWYD - 09:34Main Focus - 10 Ways to Improve Your Play - 19:51State of the Meta - 50:24HR 101: Fire Gems - 59:07Community Roundup - 71:19Closing - 84:15Hero Realms is...
2022-07-041h 27Sparks and RecreationHeroes Helping HeroesIn Episode 08 of Sparks & Recreation, Matt & Tim welcome Sam "Scrapforce" Parsons to the family, as S&R unveils it's recent project: Hero Helper, a stat tracker for Hero Realms digital. Learn about how this free app was made, and how players of Hero Realms can use it to improve at the game. The S&R team also goes through a fun combination of rotating segments including WWYD, Card Talk, Build Lab, Community Roundup, and a "special mystery" segment from Sam.Episode Content:Intro - 0:33WWYD - 09:28Main Focus - Hero...
2022-06-271h 43Sparks and RecreationOrigins Extravaganza! Part 2In Part II of the Origins Extravaganza episode, Tim (agentc13) and Chris (DblDubz) give daily reports from their time spent at the 2022 Origins Game Fair, as well as a several short game reviews.Part II Introduction and overview - 00:10Origins Day One Report - 00:54Robot Quest Arena game review - 05:52Origins Day Two Report - 20:28Thieves Guild game review - 22:02Kapow! game review - 25:50Part II wrap-up - 47:46Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.
2022-06-1350 minSparks and RecreationOrigins Extravaganza! Part 1Welcome to the 2022 Origins Extravaganza! This two part epic podcast reports from the Origins Game Fair 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. In this episode, Sparks & Rec's own Tim McKenzie sits down with Wise Wizard Games CEO and Hero Realms designer Rob Dougherty at the Origins Convention, and also provides a breakdown of the Hero Realms Legend Tournament held at the event.Introduction and episode overview - 00:32Interview with Rob Dougherty - 02:40Tournament Roundup Part 1 - 36:56Tournament Roundup Part 2 - 49:20Conclusion to first part of Episode 7 - 55:19Hero...
2022-06-1356 minSparks and RecreationAdvanced Arrow DynamicsIn this episode Tim, Matt, and special guest Chris "DblDubz" Walberg discuss the Ranger, based on Chris' recently released article on Realms Rising: Advanced Arrow Dynamics. Episode 06 features the following segments:Intro & welcome to DblDubz - 0:32WWYD - 11:28 (Screenshot link below)Main Topic - Advanced Arrow Dynamics 23:28The Build Lab - Ranger builds 73:43Skillz to Pay the Billz - Tracking with the ranger 80:45Community Roundup - 94:20Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.Hero Helper: https://he...
2022-06-061h 42Sparks and RecreationA Delicate Balancing ActIn this episode Tim and Matt discuss game features and balancing as beta testing enters the final stretch and we head into the public release of the game. Episode 05 features a jaw-dropping 7 segments, covering the following:Intro + housekeeping 0:34WWYD 4:22 (Screenshots below)Main Topic: A Delicate Balancing Act 15:19War Room - fighter counterplay 87:39HR 101 - using the replay function 94:45Killer Combos - thief hi jinks 102:57Community Roundup 107:35WWYD Screenshots can be found here: https://www.realmsrising.com/podcast/sparks-and-recreation-episode-05-a-delicate-balancing-act
2022-05-231h 58Sparks and RecreationEpisode IV: A New TropeIn this episode Tim and Matt discuss Deck Archetypes, which are powerful themes that create synergies between the cards in your deck.Episode IV Content:Intro + Discussion of current game (im)balance - 0:34WWYD - 14:33Deck Archetypes - 24:07Card Talk: Starting Hands - 68:14Skillz to Pay the Billz: Snapshot - 83:54Build Lab: Aggro/Speed Ranger - 89:24Community Roundup - 92:24Check out Tim's Deck Archetypes article for an even deeper look into the topics discussed in this episode: https://www.tw...
2022-05-091h 38
Sparks and RecreationDeckbuilding DarwinismIn this episode we have a very special guest interview with Darwin Kastle!Matt and Tim talk with Darwin Kastle, the lead game designer for Hero Realms. Darwin is a game designer and the Creative Director for Wise Wizard Games. He has designed Star Realms, Hero Realms, The Battle for Hill 218, The Battle for Sector 219, and Space Station Assault. He has also worked on Epic Card Game, the VS Trading Card game, Battleground Fantasy Warfare, EpicTCG, and Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer.Hero Helper: https://hero-helper.com/Realms Rising Discord: https://di...
2022-04-251h 32
Sparks and RecreationIndian Swinging Clubs"Good leaders have vision and inspire others to help them turn vision into reality. Great leaders have vision, share vision, and inspire others to create their own.” Adam "Anvroser" Charboneau of Realms Rising is our guest!We talk with Adam about Realms Rising, some personal history, and his future plans. Episode segments include "What Would You Do?" "State of the Meta" and "Explosive Fireball"Episode ContentWWYD 1:24Main Topic 8:13State of the Meta 42:04Skill/Ability 62:05Roundup 69:08Hero Helper: https://hero-helper.com/Real...
2022-04-181h 18
Sparks and RecreationIt All Starts with a Spark"The best thing about fandom is the friendships made along the way with people who share your passions."Matthew Rooks and Tim McKenzie are members of the Hero Realms community, they are known for their high level competitive play and analysis of the game. They have played thousands of games, authored articles, organized tournaments, and are active members of the Discord community. In the first ever episode of Sparks and Recreation, your hosts talk about their friendship and involvement in an online community. They discuss the steps that led them t...
2022-04-1150 minSparks and RecreationSparks & Recreation TeaserIntroducing a new podcast about Hero Realms, Sparks & Recreation!In this teaser we introduce the podcast, as well as your hosts Matt and Tim. They talk about the format of the show and share a little teaser of what you can expect from Sparks & Recreation.Hero Helper: https://hero-helper.com/Realms Rising Discord: https://discord.gg/8pTxKqzFDcWebsite: https://www.realmsrising.com/sparks-and-recreation/Tim's Twitch channel: Twitch.tv/agentc13.Hero Realms is a fantasy-themed expandable deckbuilding game from Wise Wizard Games.Sp...
2022-04-0409 min