Company History: An Interview with Trey Chastain
Let’s start at the beginning. What was that initial spark that set you on the path to creating Riftblade and founding The Gambit Foundry?
It began with a frustration I’ve had playing deckbuilders. They’re one of my favorite types of games, but I had gotten bored with how tightly grouped the genre felt; I was reading different cards, and looking at different art, but the gameplay always took me down a well-trodden path. Then, as I started to look at my gaming group, I realized most deckbuilders also have a high barrier to entry that makes it difficult for a new and experienced player to sit across the table and both enjoy themselves. Riftblade was born of a desire to address these challenges in the genre, and after seeing how much people liked it even in a very raw and unfinished prototype stage, I founded The Gambit Foundry to bring it to market.
What makes Riftblade stand out from other deckbuilders or Trading Card Games (TCGs)?
Riftblade’s base game is designed to be immediately welcoming, even if you're new to deckbuilders. We stripped away intimidating walls of text on cards; the base game has no mechanics text, relying on intuitive iconography. But don't mistake approachability for simplicity—strategic depth unfolds as you play, and even with just the base game, players are constantly discovering new strategies over their first dozen sessions. And beyond that, we’ll be launching with two mini-expansions to expand options even further for our players, and we have quarterly content on the roadmap to keep this game dynamic and engaging for years to come.
Riftstones (dice) in Riftblade are anything but a randomizer; they are a strategic resource that enhances and extends player agency.
Could you describe the core gameplay loop or a unique mechanic that players won't find anywhere else?
The element that often surprises people is how we’ve integrated custom dice, our Riftstones, into a deckbuilder. Deckbuilders usually prize predictability and control, so dice can seem counterintuitive. I get it—I love that sense of control, too! But we’ve carefully designed Riftstones not to dictate your fate or punish ‘bad’ rolls. Instead, they are there to enhance and extend your strategic options each turn, leading to incredibly dynamic and engaging gameplay without sacrificing player agency.
Tell us a bit more about the world of Riftblade. What themes or inspirations shaped its setting and narrative? What kind of atmosphere are you hoping players immerse themselves in?
Everything at The Gambit Foundry is built around creating premium, distinct experiences. That extends deeply into our world-building—no generic elves or scruffy dwarves here. We designed Riftblade's world to feel unique and compelling, and we give players multiple points of engagement: for lore enthusiasts, there's a rich world unfolding through unique characters and regular content updates on our website. For those drawn to the magic itself, we've poured immense effort into creating stunning, evocative spell art.
Typically, years go by before we see a digital version of a new tabletop game, if it ever happens at all. You’re crowdfunding the digital and physical games in the same campaign. Why did you choose this approach?
My wife might say it’s because I’m crazy, and she might not be wrong. But strategically, the tabletop market is incredibly crowded; just look at Kickstarter right now. You can, of course, fight for attention by pouring more money into ads, but that doesn’t add value to our players. I asked ‘how can we offer more,’ and a digital version of the game quickly rose to the top of my list. Now, has this simple idea been ten times more complex than I had initially anticipated? Absolutely. But, in spite of these challenges, I’m incredibly excited to be able to bring both these experiences to our players at launch.
What’s an unexpected challenge you’ve faced during this unique parallel development process, and how did you navigate it?
The sheer breadth of decisions that need to be made! Designing a tabletop game versus a digital game engages entirely different skill sets and creative muscles. Suddenly, I wasn't just providing art direction for cards and worrying about our logistics chain; I was weighing in on 3D board design, background music, UI flow, advertising models, and more—countless elements far beyond traditional tabletop design. Honestly, the only way I’ve managed to keep my sanity is by building an exceptionally talented team, empowering them with a deep understanding of Riftblade’s core vision, and trusting them to excel in their fields.
You're launching Riftblade on Kickstarter this summer. Why is crowdfunding the right path for this project? What can backers look forward to during the campaign?
Riftblade is 100% complete and ready to be turned over to the printer – and it will be, regardless of how the campaign does (which is also why we can promise such a fast turnaround for our backers!). But we have big plans for this game – years of expansions, a thriving competitive tournament scene, cross-platform user profiles for the digital version, and more – and crowdfunding is the best way to make those larger dreams happen, particularly for a new publisher like The Gambit Foundry. It not only offers the chance to make a big splash out of the gate, which is so important for those plans, it’s also a way to offer the kinds of upgrades, access, and community input that are only really possible through crowdfunding. If you’re not into Kickstarter, the game will be here for you when it hits retail next year, but if you are, we think you’ll find a lot to get excited about before, during, and after the campaign.
Who do you see as your ideal player? And how do you keep them coming back to the table?
It’s been amazing seeing the diversity of players enjoying Riftblade already! But two groups seem to connect most deeply. First, the TCG player looking for a fresh, accessible experience. Riftblade doesn’t demand a huge financial investment with every set—our quarterly expansions are planned around $10 – nor does it require exhaustive study to be competitive. It's an easy game to bring to the table or play on the go, even with friends not into TCGs. Second is the 'casual strategist' – someone who loves strategy games and wants to be clever and competitive every turn of every game. We've focused intensely on balance, ensuring games feel tight and rewarding, even if you lose. Make no mistake, skill prevails, but we've worked hard to ensure everyone has a great time casting spells.
Riftblade will launch with two mini-expansions — Weavings and Voidspawn — and quaterly content releases are planned for both the physical and digital game beginning in 2026.
Once Riftblade is in backers' hands, what's the longer term plan? How does The Gambit Foundry intend to support players, gather feedback, and foster a community around the game? Any expansions in mind?
We have huge plans, and our community will be central in shaping them! Our earliest supporters are already gathering in The Founders Club on our Discord, which is a great place to get involved and hear more behind-the-scenes updates. Post-campaign, we'll ramp up efforts around competitive play — think mobile tournaments, convention events, maybe even local game store support. Our first two expansions launch with the game, and then in early 2026, our quarterly release cadence begins, continually expanding options for our players. That's just scratching the surface, though, and I’m excited to unveil our next big step into the Riftblade universe to our Founders, tentatively planned for the back half of 2026.
Beyond Riftblade, what's the overarching vision for The Gambit Foundry? What kind of impact do you hope to make on the gaming world, and what principles guide your company?
The Gambit Foundry exists for one reason: to deliver unique and compelling experiences you simply can't get elsewhere. You might love our games, you might not, but you’ll never call them generic. We understand we can't make games for everyone. But for the gamers who resonate with our approach? We promise to keep delivering new, exciting, and genuinely different games for years to come.
For someone on the fence, what is the most compelling reason to back Riftblade during the Kickstarter campaign, beyond just getting the game? What unique value or opportunity does backing now offer?
We’re going to release a major update at our Kickstarter launch which we think will revolutionize what is possible in the deckbuilding genre. Our backers get a direct line of input on exactly how and where this evolves, and they’ll have the opportunity to shape how top quality deckbuilders come to life for many years to come. Sounds bold? Follow the campaign here and you can judge for yourself.
