“Let’s put the GAME back in TCG.”
“Let’s put the GAME back in TCG.”
Spar Tactics® was created by me, Blayne Dickerson, as a company to showcase every tabletop game idea I have ever had and will ever imagine. As the quote at the top states, the goal is to bring the focus of the industry back to playing games instead of simply collecting them. The thrill of opening packs, discovering new cards, theory-crafting concepts, experiencing deckbuilding, and understanding strategies is a core element of tabletop gaming that has been diminished in recent years by the growing emphasis on graded products and sealed items that will never be played.
While the joy of playing games (top-decking lucky draws, witnessing critical dice rolls, and genuinely enjoying the camaraderie of fellow players) may be diminishing elsewhere, Spar Tactics® aims to bring those moments back to the forefront. Some exclusive items could have gradeability and become sought after as collectibles, but this will always remain a personal choice in the secondary market. Collecting will never be a requirement for entry, nor will there be gatekept items that prevent new players from becoming relevant and respected members of the community.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of reputable creators taking similar strides to ensure players everywhere can enjoy their finished products and create meaningful memories at the table, with friends and strangers alike. I encourage you to explore the tabletop industry beyond the surface and not view any single group as the be-all, end-all of the hobby. While I still enjoy playing and collecting the titans that started it all, I’ve come to appreciate the depth and originality found throughout the indie community—and I hope you will as well.
I was born in 1988 and grew up outside the small town of Newark (” N’rk “), Ohio. Much of my childhood was spent doing extracurriculars – track & field, jazz band, pep band, symphonic band, concert band (…a lot of bands), student council, every type of sportsball, quiz bowl, computer gaming, and of course tabletop gaming. My friends and I would collect playing cards and play games all the time. The extent to which we would build decks and theory-craft “game-breaking” ideas was borderline unhealthy haha. At one point, we decided to start designing our own games and came up with cool unique ideas, but none of it ever stuck. It wasn’t until my later years, in my early 20s, that I really started to take it seriously and fuel my passion.
I vividly remember the exact moment when my fleeting hobby of creating games became a focused reality.
There was a small comic shop I used to visit and played tournaments every Friday. Being a small town, it was the main spot for all tabletop gaming needs and it often had a good mix of newcomers and regulars. One night, I was playing with my favorite deck and did well in the first round, but I hit a snag in round two – I was drawing none of the cards that I needed and subsequently “scooped” both games. I was bummed but still respectful and reached out to shake the hand of my opponent to congratulate him on the wins. Instead of shaking my hand and saying something like, “Oof. That was rough,” “I hate winning that way,” or “Better luck next time, man,” he scoffed at me and said, “If you don’t like it, make your own game.” Those cold words still resonate with me to this day, and unbeknownst to him, he provided the drive that I needed to make it all happen.
There are dozens of games (and more to come) that still need to be conceptualized, designed, go through trial runs of extensive playtesting, etc., but I hit Mana Source: Evolved© HARD. It was my first baby, and I play tested it for years after that moment in the comic shop. It went through different names (including Spar Tactics, which eventually had become the name of my company), many different templates, innumerable game play adjustments, and so many proxy prototypes that I feel ashamed for the amount of trees lost to my ambition. There have also been multiple “teams” in my company, all of them friends. Unfortunately, it always came back to me doing the heavy-lifting, and I am now a solo-creator. I juggle all of the marketing, the designing, the playtesting, every game idea, the social medias, the site creation, sketches, digital art, and networking.
I don’t say all of this to impress or earn any sympathy. Just understand that when you see a fellow indie creator pop up in your feed, they likely are doing multiple jobs and are very stretched on time, trying to keep their dreams afloat. While the titans of the industry may have unlimited resources, funding, manpower, networking, and time – we only have ourselves. Please go easy on us haha 🙏
Anyway, while life continued on, adulting eventually took over, and so many plans and projects are still waiting on the backburners. In all of this time, I met my awesome wife, we are raising an amazing child together, and we maintain our day jobs, along with all of the normal chaos of adult living. I thoroughly enjoy what I do and am always open to inquiries and collabs. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding available games, upcoming events, or anything else relevant to what I’m doing here.
I thank everyone for any and all support that you have given me throughout the years. It truly is living a dream – at times, an EXHAUSTING dream – but a dream, nonetheless. I appreciate you all and hope to keep bringing new and fun products to the scene.