About Me: The Creator Behind Shattered Fablesā¢
My name is Thomas, and for over 25 years, I’ve lived and breathed the world of gaming. From working in Magic: The Gathering retail and running events, to competitive play, strategy and storytelling have always been at the heart of what I love.
But now, my focus has shifted to something uniquely mineāthe creation of the Shattered Fables⢠multiverse and its companion Trading Card Game. Inspired by years of gaming, personal challenges, and a deep love for fantasy worlds, this project is my dream coming to life.
š From Inspiration to Creation
MTG and other games were where I started, but Shattered Fables⢠is where Iām going.
This world-building journey took on new meaning after a life-changing eventāwhen my best friend survived a serious accident, I realized how fleeting life can be. It pushed me to take my ideas seriously.
Alongside my own struggles with PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Bipolar 2, this project has become both a challenge and a form of healing. Creativity, storytelling, and gaming have grounded me when nothing else could.
š” The Vision Now
With support from my girlfriend (an artist in her own right), and guidance from Vocational Rehab and business mentors, Iām pushing forward to create something truly unique:
- A TCG with grid-based strategy, symbol-driven mechanics, and a deep lore that players can connect with.
- Expanding a world through Codex entries, graphic novel stories, and interactive content.
Recently, Iāve been:
- Developing and refining game mechanics with help from ChatGPT and AI tools.
- Creating narrated videos that explore my world and design process.
- Diving into an Adobe Certified Professional course, growing my skills in Photoshop and video editing to bring everything to life.
š Looking Ahead
While I still enjoy MTG content and sell through TCG Player, thatās no longer the centerpiece. Instead, itās part of a bigger tapestry, showing where Iāve beenānot where Iām going.
I’m focused on:
- Sharing more of Shattered Fables⢠through video, lore, and design updates.
- Building a community around the project, through Patreon and social platforms.
- Working toward a playable prototype and visual showcases for the game.
- Continuing to refine my custom Photoshop Card Creator, which allows me to efficiently produce and update card designs for testing and print. More about this process is detailed below.
This journey isnāt about overpromisingāitās about steadily building something real, something meaningful. And Iām excited to share each step along the way.
š Thank You for Being Here
Whether youāre into TCGs, fantasy storytelling, or just curious about creating something from the ground up, I hope youāll stick around. This is more than a gameāitās a world in the making.
Special Thanks to my Best Friend and longest supporter of almost 25 Years, Jason Bell.

Special Thanks to Jason Bell (details)
š¤ A Special Thanks to Jason
I met Jason when I started working at my first game store, and from day one, we clickedābonding over collectible card games and quickly becoming more like family than just friends.
Back when Shattered Fables⢠was just black-and-white text on printer paper, no images, just raw ideasāJason believed in it. Heās always been one of the most supportive, caring, and generous people Iāve ever known. Through the hardest times, Iāve often thought, āAt least I still got Jason,ā and thatās meant everything.
In late 2023, I almost lost him and his wife in a major car accident. Thankfully, theyāre both recovering, but that moment shook me. It reminded me how fragile life is and pushed me to stop waiting and start creating. His support, especially now, motivates me to keep moving forward and bring this world Iāve been building into reality.
Weāve even talked about opening a tabletop gaming and card shop together somedayāa dream I hope to make possible by turning Shattered Fables⢠into something truly successful.
Jasonās been there since the beginning, and Iām grateful every day that he still is. <3

My “Card Creator” base working file (details)
š¼ļø Evolving My Card Creator
Over the years, Iāve built my own custom Card Creator in Photoshopāoriginally in Elements, now expanding as my skills grow. My first working file had over 500 layers, packed with every border, element, and design variation I could think of.
Recently, I started a fresh version with larger graphics to prep for Print-on-Demand products and higher-resolution visuals. I designed it to be modularāletting me quickly swap borders, frame styles, art sizes, and elemental or faction icons, all in a single file. This setup makes it easy to tweak designs during testing without starting from scratch.
Right now, this is a self-taught systemābut once I complete my Adobe Certified Professional course, I plan to rebuild it from the ground up using everything Iāve learned. My goal is to make it even more streamlined and powerful for producing Shattered Fables⢠cards efficiently.
My website, much like my original card files, is a work-in-progressāall built from scratch without formal training (yet!). Thanks for sticking with me on this journey!
My Collectible Card Game Development
š Creating Shattered Fablesā¢: A TCG Journey
Shattered Fables⢠has been a long time in the making, and Iām finally at a point where Iām ready to start showing more and inviting others to be part of its creation.
While Iām still keeping some mechanics and deeper gameplay details under wraps until testing and feedback expand, Iām excited to share the evolution of this world and game. Inspired by my love of TCGs, tabletop RPGs, and strategy games, this project blends the best elements of each into something truly unique.
This is more than just a gameāitās a world. One that features:
- Grid-based tactical gameplay, where spacing, range, and unit placement matter.
- Customizable, collectible cards with symbols for fast, intuitive play.
- Dice-based mechanics that bring unpredictability and excitement to every battle.
- A strong focus on lore and storytelling, with characters and factions that players can connect with.
As seen in my recent videos and design previews, my goal is to create a game that feels familiar yet freshāsomething that TCG fans, RPG lovers, and strategy enthusiasts can all enjoy.
Iāve spent years building the foundation, and now, Iām looking to bring others along as I refine, test, and develop Shattered Fables⢠further. If youāre into worldbuilding, game design, or just love the idea of shaping a fantasy multiverse, I hope youāll join me on this journey.
More details will come as development continuesābut for now, Iām thrilled to finally start revealing what Iāve been working on.
How I Create & Source my Graphics / Art
šØ How I Create & Source My Art
Art has always been part of my lifeāI took it through high school, and while Iāve got decent traditional skills (colored pencil was my favorite), Iāve found that digital tools let me bring my visions to life in ways that feel more natural.
Most of the symbols and images in Shattered Fables⢠start as layered designs I build like puzzles. Some come from original sketches that I scan and edit, others are purely digital from the start, crafted in Photoshop (originally Elements, now being rebuilt with everything Iām learning in my Adobe Certified Professional course).
Past Contributions & Current Approach
- Iāve purchased some art in the past from a friend, though due to a falling out, I no longer rely on that work. What remains from those contributions is minimal, often reworked into new symbols or concepts.
- Elena, my partner, is a big creative influence too. As an aspiring tattoo artist, sheās helped me design several conceptsāsome inspired by tattoos sheās made just for me.
Adapting & Evolving with AI Tools
One of the hardest parts of this journey has been sourcing art for playtesting and potential final productsāmainly due to cost. Early on, I used royalty-free images from sites like Pixabay, which Iād edit or use as inspiration.
Now, Iāve embraced AI-assisted tools to fill the gap. While I know AI art is still a hot topic, for me, itās about bringing my ideas to life in ways I otherwise couldnāt afford. I often start with something original when I can āa sketch, an outline, or a design(I have made)āand use AI to help shape and enhance it. Every image is heavily edited in Photoshop, often combining pieces from multiple sources. For more information on How I use AI to build my fantasy IP.
My Take on AI Art
People often think AI art is just āclick and done.ā Itās not. Especially in fantasy settings, getting exactly what you envision can take hours of refinement. Iāve spent days on some images, layering, adjusting, and blending elements until they match my world. AI is a tool, not a replacementāand I believe when artists and designers work with it creatively, it can open up incredible possibilities.
My goal is to continue improving my own skills, and eventually, work with other artists to bring even more personal, high-quality visuals into Shattered Fablesā¢. For now, Iām proud of what Iāve builtāand grateful for the tools that let me make it real.
The Development Journey “Concept Art” Throwbacks
More Details in Blog with comments enabled. (and Gallery View)
McMinnville, OR 97128 USA















