Ascension — How to Play 🎲 and Why It's a Gem 💎

It is crazy how much our opinions align on so many board game topics. I love ascension and couldnt agree more on your views on apps being better as renditions of physical games as opposed to video game likeness with lots of bells and whistles.

The recent dominion app has taken the same approach as the ascension app and dare i say perhaps slightly better. Def worth a try if you enjoy dominion.

Have you played shards of infinity from the same designer. Its like ascensions spiritual sequel. I prefer ascension personally but lots of people prefer shards. Curious as to your thoughts?

I got the Storm of Souls stand-alone expansion. This is my first deckbuilding game, 2nd is Thunderstone Numenera. The artwok kinda grew on me. If I’m not mistaken Eric Sabee also did artwork for MTG. Good vid BTW. I was thinking of getting he 10th Anniversary Edition, Thanks!

I have been looking for this exact content for awhile now. No one else provides details on what each expansion does and how to do/dont synergize. Thank you.

I've just late pledged the new Kickstarter "Legends" and added the 1st 2 expansion center decks.

Two years later and still the best video on Ascension 🫶🏼

I find this video to be a little odd as a Board Gem. I find that people who still think that Ascension is worth playing have some sort of odd connection to it like addicted to the app or this is the game that partner and me fell in love with, etc. It is a lot less deep than the Cerberus Engine Game. The problem with Ascension is that it takes too long live when you play 3 or 4 players, only having one way the game ends is a major problem, no real interaction (almost secondary) and the live fill is also a problem. There is no tension of having to choose between buying a card that helps you a bit or leaving it and buying a Kick instead because the card doesn't help your opponent and leaving them with bad options to buy. No tension between buying that Super Villain or that cool Super Power in the lineup, factoring in that Super Villains are a way to end the game along with line-up deck being depleted, and factoring in that you don't have any defense cards for that next Super Villain Attack. The tension of picking on someone with an Attack card in your deck (Why did you pick me?). The interaction of the Super Villain Attack along with the mounting pressure of those eight cards being depleted which causes the end game. The other players have a way to pull the leader back with the targeted attack card. I also think that the simplified economy of just Power makes for a deeper game when the game is just a deck builder. You don't gain anything in Ascension with the second, third currencies. It works in Tyrants of the Underdark, but in that Power is on par with Webs because of the Area Control. I just don't think that Ascension qualifies as a Board Gem. You have standards and it is neither forgotten, have simple rules or a high degree of interaction. Keep up the good work, though and keep fighting the good fight.

A GEM of a video, very informative.

From my experience: The combos in Gift of the Elements feel very crunchy and very satisfying. BUT... the transformed cards are broken as hell, the one that gives you VPs for the cards in the center row is ridiculous and sucks the whole fun out of the game. I have no idea how it went past through playtesting.

I don't even own this game but this video is great. I really want to get this game.

Terrific, informative video. Thanks for taking the time.

Like you, I've played a ton on the app (iOS & Steam) over many, many years.. Such a quality app!

After playing the cardboard version for the first time at BGGCon last November, I decided to keep my eye out for anyone selling a "lot" of expansions w/ base game. I didn't care about what edition it was and I wasn't aware of the crowd-funding version. Got lucky spending ~$87 to a guy in London for his collection. I was in London on vacation, so no shipping :). I brought the collection home and sorted it into 4 sets (Chronicle of Godslayer + Return of the Fallen; Soul of Swords + Immortal Heroes; Rivals of Vigil + Darkness Unleashed; Dreamscape). Each of the 4 sets fits in a 500-count card box (cards are sleeved), so I can quickly grab a set to play w/o board & rule book. And I only need 2 original boxes for the total of 4 sets. I agree w/ you about keeping sets separate for better synergy.

Thanks again,
Rob

YOU ARE AWESOME! ❤❤❤