Scanning for: Ashes Ascendancy

Ashes Ascendancy Kickstarter: Detailed SummaryOverview:
Ashes Ascendancy is a new starter set and expansion in the acclaimed Ashes customizable card battler series by Plaid Hat Games, designed for 1–2 players (age 14+), with sessions lasting 30–60 minutes. It marks the 10th anniversary of Ashes and serves as both an ideal entry point for new players and an exciting new chapter for veterans.

Gameplay:

• Players embody powerful demigods, the Phoenixborn, who battle with decks of spells, allies, and magical conjurations.
• Decks can be pre-constructed or customized from a player’s collection.
• Magic is powered by pools of 10 custom dice, rolled each round.
• Play head-to-head, solo, or cooperatively against challenging game-controlled adversaries, including the new Dragonborn (“Scatha Kalani”).
• Unique mechanics set Ashes apart:
• First Five: Players choose their opening hand, reducing luck and encouraging strategic planning.
• No Mana Flood/Screw: Dice system with mitigation options keeps resource management engaging.
• No Blind Purchases: Fixed contents in every set, so you never have to chase rares or buy extras.
• No Silver Bullets: No single card can outright win, rewarding tactical play over lucky draws.
• Rich Lore: Set in the vibrant fantasy world of Argaia.

What’s New in Ashes Ascendancy:

• Two brand new magic types, adding deeper strategies and deck-building options.
• Introduction of the Dragonborn, a new solo/co-op antagonist.
• New upgrades and expansions, including:
• Premium Acrylic Tokens: Upgrade your play experience with deluxe, tactile pieces.
• Ashes Big Box Storage Solution: Holds up to 3,000 sleeved cards, dice, tokens, and comes with divider cards.

Starter Set Contents:

• Over 100 cards
• 25 custom dice
• Two ready-to-play decks
• All components for head-to-head, solo, or co-op play—no other products required to jump in
• First ever Dragonborn included for the Red Rains solo/co-op mode

Compatibility:

• Fully compatible with all Ashes Reborn cards and products.
• Ashes Ascendancy is a solid foundation for newcomers and a significant expansion for veterans.

Reward Tiers:

1. Starter Set – All new cards, dice, rules, and Dragonborn content (just the new box set).
2. New Player Plus – Starter Set, 10 each of all existing dice types, 7 additional decks and corresponding Phoenixborn, covering all magic types; provides a robust collection for new players.
3. All-In – Everything ever produced for Ashes Reborn plus all new content at a significant savings.
4. Veteran Tiers: “All the New Stuff” includes the Starter Set, Big Box, and Premium Tokens.

Add-ons and Bonuses:

• All current and legacy Ashes Reborn content as add-ons.
• Premium upgrades: acrylic tokens and the Big Box.
• Campaign bonuses like alt-art Phoenixborn cards and promotional items unlocked during the campaign (including artwork by renowned illustrators like Kinopticon and Fernanda Suarez).

Print-on-Demand (POD) Platform:

• Full catalog of Ashes cards available to download or order via print-on-demand from the AshesDB site.
• No Ashes product will ever go out of print again.
• Design and print your own decks, order professional-quality cards, and even add dice.

Shipping:

• Not included in pledge tiers; will be charged post-campaign via pledge manager.
• Estimated costs given, subject to change. Not shipping to a limited list of countries (e.g., Russia, Brazil, Ukraine).

History & Legacy:

• Ashes began in 2015 and became a fan-favorite for its non-randomized, strategy-forward design.
• After a brief cancellation, it was revived as Ashes Reborn with upgraded rules and community support.
• Red Rains (2023) expanded the game into solo and cooperative play.
• Ashes Ascendancy celebrates 10 years, offering further innovation, content, and support moving forward.

In Summary:
Ashes Ascendancy is not only a new chapter but a celebration of ten years of innovative card battling. It supports both competitive and solo/cooperative play, introduces new mechanics and content, and embraces a futureproof, on-demand system for ongoing support. The campaign is designed to be friendly for both new and returning players and features physical upgrades and a rich set of campaign bonuses.

Plaid Hat Games is a well-regarded tabletop game publisher known for producing engaging, thematic games like “Dead of Winter,” “Mice and Mystics,” and “Summoner Wars.” Their projects often feature high production values, innovative gameplay mechanics, and strong storytelling elements, earning consistent praise from fans and reviewers alike. Past Kickstarter campaigns by Plaid Hat Games, such as the original “Summoner Wars” and the “Stuffed Fables” line, have generally been successful in delivering quality products to backers, which speaks to their reliability and attention to detail.

While Plaid Hat Games has experienced some challenges—like delays common to the industry or occasional issues with fulfillment—customer sentiment remains largely positive. Many supporters appreciate the company’s transparency, creative concepts, and commitment to improving their games based on community feedback. Overall, Plaid Hat Games enjoys a loyal fanbase and a reputation for imaginative, replayable games that often become staples in tabletop collections.

Game Mechanics

Ashes: Ascendancy features fast-paced, strategic card drafting and dice-rolling mechanics, building on the original Ashes: Rise of the Phoenixborn system. New additions include recruitment of mercenaries and hiring of assassins, introducing tactical options for disrupting opponents or aiding allies. The game introduces cooperative play against a shared boss (Dragonborn), a departure from the competitive focus of the original, allowing players to team up to defeat larger threats. Core mechanics retain card synergy, resource management, and phased turns, with dice used to resolve attacks and defend Phoenixborn.

Complexity

The game is moderately complex, balancing new mechanics like mercenaries and assassins with the established card drafting foundation. Rules are accessible to newcomers but offer depth for veterans, particularly in multiplayer competitive modes. Cooperative campaigns introduce procedural storytelling and variable boss strategies, adding strategic layers. The learning curve is manageable, aided by clear rulebooks and tutorials, though mastering advanced synergies requires practice.

Theme

Set in the fantasy world of Argaia, Ashes: Ascendancy embraces its mythical theme through vibrant artwork and lore. Players command Phoenixborn—demi-gods with unique magic decks—while facing foes like the Dragonborn, monstrous embodiments of chaos. The art style retains the colorful, abstract aesthetic of the original but enhances detail in character and environment designs. New mechanics like mercenaries and assassins tie into the theme of factions vying for power, creating a dynamic, immersive experience.

Objective

In competitive play, players aim to destroy opposing Phoenixborn by exploiting card synergies and dice rolls. In cooperative mode, teams collaborate to defeat a powerful Dragonborn boss, tackling escalating challenges that evolve based on group performance. The game emphasizes strategic planning, with clear win/loss conditions and adaptive difficulty in cooperative scenarios.

Rules

Rules are well-structured and intuitive, building on the success of Ashes Reborn. Setup and turn progression are streamlined, with clear explanations of new mechanics like mercenaries’ action abilities and assassins’ stealth options. Cooperative gameplay introduces narrative-driven objectives and boss-specific weaknesses, requiring teamwork and adaptive strategies. The rulebook includes scenario guides and tips for new players, ensuring smooth onboarding.

Artwork and Components

Ashes: Ascendancy boasts premium components, praised for their quality and aesthetic appeal. New magic dice (Astral and Artifice) feature bold, easily readable designs. Phoenixborn cards and reversible playmats enhance visual clarity, while the boss-themed artwork for Dragonborn adds thematic weight. The starter set includes robust instructions and a sleek box, with expansions offering additional cards and dice. Overall, the production value exceeds the original, appealing to both casual and hardcore collectors.

One Robots Option

Why Buy Ashes: Ascendancy?

• Innovative Mechanics: Mercenaries, assassins, and co-op Dragonborn battles expand strategic depth.
• Thematic Richness: Immersive worldbuilding and vibrant art elevate deck-building to a storytelling experience.
• Accessibility: bridges new players with veterans via modular complexity and cooperative options.
• Premium Quality: High-end components ensure longevity and satisfaction for collectors.
• Expansibility: Fully compatible with Ashes Reborn/Red Rains content, offering years of replayability.
  Ideal for fans of card games seeking a mix of competitive rivalry and collaborative storytelling, with sleek components and a fresh take on the series.