“Ascension: A Deck-Building Game of Heroes and Monsters” is an in-depth article that provides a comprehensive overview of the popular board game Ascension. The article begins by explaining the objective of the game, which is to collect honor points by recruiting powerful heroes and battling fearsome monsters. It then goes on to detail the materials needed to play, the number of players, and the setup of the game board. The article further delves into the gameplay mechanics, including the use of runes and strength to acquire cards and defeat monsters, as well as the various resources and important rules. Additionally, the article explores the factions and synergies within the game and provides guidelines for the end of the game. Overall, this article serves as a valuable resource for both beginners and experienced players of Ascension.
Title
Ascension: A Deck-Building Game of Heroes and Monsters
Objective
Objective of Ascension
The objective of Ascension is to collect as many honour points as possible by recruiting powerful heroes and facing fearsome monsters.
Number of Players
2 to 4
Materials
1 game board
50 crystals (25 whites of value 1 and 25 reds of value 5)
200 cards
4 starter decks each consisting of 8 Apprentices and 2 Militias
60 base cards (1 Cultist, 30 Mystics, 29 Heavy infantry)
100 other cards forming the deck
Type of Game
Heroic deck building game
Audience
Teenagers
Adults
Overview
Overview of Ascension
In Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer, players take on the roles of warlords fighting to unite the Vigil kingdom against evil forces. The game revolves around playing cards to gain runes, strength, and other effects to battle monsters and acquire new cards. The constantly changing cards in the game require players to carefully consider their choices in order to save Vigil and earn the most honour points.
Setup
Game board setup
The game board is set up with the base cards, consisting of Heavy Infantry, Mystic, and Cultist, stacked to the side. These cards are always available for purchase or fighting. The centre line is created using 6 cards drawn from the draw pile. The draw pile is located on the opposite side of the board, with the discard pile, known as “The Void,” placed underneath it. The remaining space on the board can be used to store honour crystals, with each player using a total of crystals equivalent to 30 points.
Starting deck setup
Each player receives a starting deck of 10 cards, consisting of 2 Militias and 8 Apprentices. The deck is shuffled, and players draw 5 cards.
Gameplay
Game turn
During a player’s turn in Ascension, they will do the following:
- Play cards from their hand to gain runes, strength, and honour.
- Place all the cards played and the rest of their hand into their discard pile.
- Draw 5 new cards from their deck to form their new hand.
Resources
Runes and strength are the main resources in Ascension. Runes, represented by grey triangles, are used to recruit heroes and acquire constructs. The number of runes needed to acquire a card is shown in the top right corner of the card. Strength, represented by red swords, is used to fight monster cards. The number of strength points needed to defeat a monster is also shown in the top right corner of its card.
Playing cards
Playing a card in Ascension usually does not cost anything, and players can play as many cards as they like during their turn. Cards played during a turn are placed in front of the player and will be discarded at the end of their turn unless specified otherwise. Purchased cards are placed directly into the player’s discard pile.
The centre line
The centre line in Ascension consists of 6 cards drawn from the draw pile. When a card is bought or fought, it is replaced immediately with a new card from the draw pile. The centre line must always contain 6 cards, and if the draw pile is empty, the discard pile is shuffled to form a new draw pile.
Banishment and destruction
Players have the ability to banish or destroy cards in Ascension. Banishing a card means sending it to The Void, either from the player’s hand or the centre line. Banished cards do not count as being played and are not discarded at the end of the turn.
Destroying a card means putting it into the owner’s discard pile. This action is typically used against constructs played by opponents.
Turn example
To illustrate a turn in Ascension, let’s consider an example. The player starts by playing an Avatar Golem card, which grants them two swords and one honour crystal. They also have The Grand Design card in play, which provides an additional honour crystal. They then play a Heavy Infantry card, giving them two more swords. With enough strength, they decide to defeat the Mistake of Creation monster, earning four more honour crystals and the ability to ban a card from their discard pile and/or the centre line. After banning an Apprentice and a Wind Tyrant, they use their remaining cards in hand to purchase two Heavy Infantries.
Factions and synergy
Hero and Construct cards in Ascension are divided into four factions, each with different tactical orientations. Void cards focus on strength and banishment, Mechana cards are often constructs that provide a lot of honour, Lifebound cards combine with each other to bring more runes and honour, and Enlightened cards allow players to draw more cards per turn and ban cards from the centre line. Taking advantage of faction synergies can be a key strategy in winning the game.
End of Game
End of game conditions
The game of Ascension ends when the supply of honour crystals is exhausted. At this point, the round is over and players proceed to determine the winner.
Determining the winner
To determine the winner of Ascension, players add up the honour points from their deck cards, including cards in their discard pile and hand. The player with the highest total honour points wins the game. Players can also earn additional honour points from defeated monsters, constructs, and other bonuses throughout the game.
In conclusion, Ascension is a heroic deck-building game that challenges players to recruit powerful heroes, fight fearsome monsters, and collect honour points. With its easy-to-learn rules and strategic gameplay, Ascension is a popular choice for teenagers and adults looking for an immersive gaming experience. Whether you’re a deck-building enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, Ascension offers a thrilling adventure that will keep you engaged and entertained until the very end.
