But these are minor quibbles in the face of what is a really, really satisfying game. It feels like a better analog-based version of Overwatch (I’m horrible at Overwatch) – it has flow, it has action, it has strategy and, thanks to the now equal importance of the fighting resource, it has balance. This allows players only to control two champions and still have plenty of strategic options on each turn, making for a fun experience with up to 4 players on the same team. This has proven to be a really fun way to play, and I can’t wait for players to experience it and to be able to bring even more friends into Ascension Tactics Inferno. Impressively, the scenarios use the simple ruleset to create a dynamic and interesting experience that elevates the limited tactical scope of the card play. The decision space is often tense and vibrant. The structure and setup of many scenarios achieves a MOBA-like feel, pushing champions down lanes and creating direct engagements. It’s just a very crafty overall suite on offer. The structure and setup of many scenarios achieves a MOBA-like feel. Introducing a new faction to Ascension created a lot of interesting design challenges. First, we had to determine which mechanisms would set the Fallen apart from other factions. It is important to make sure each faction has its own mechanical feel and flavor, so usually it's a good idea to plan ahead for any new factions you might want to introduce into a game and reserve some mechanisms for them. We didn't have much simple design space left for the Fallen, so we relied on another useful approach: introduce new mechanisms that then become the primary domain of the new faction. We did this with many of the new mechanisms introduced below, including Quests, Rats, and interactions with new token types. I hope you are as excited as we are about the mechanics and new worlds to explore in Inferno, but honestly, what we shared above only scratches the surface. Every new card and every new champion brings with it its own strategic choices and abilities. With dozens of new champions and hundreds of new cards, there is a limitless array of gameplay to explore. You can come to join us on our Stone Blade Discord to learn more or chat with our team about the game.

Yes, the Cultists aren’t just there for beating up anymore – you can actually recruit them to fight for you! I mean, they’re pretty weak sauce but don’t overlook the chip-chip-chip effect of the little guys… The Arch-devil Kythis has taken control of the infernal realm, forcing its people to submit to his might and twisting a once peaceful land and its inhabitants. It is up to the champions of Vigil, alongside a few rebellious monsters, to bring peace to the twisted lands, and set the hellscape called Deoful on a path to redemption. Quests! Each player will be given a Quest to complete during the game. Once completed, it transforms into a powerful Construct that can be equipped to your Champions! This article will talk a bit about what is new in Ascension Tactics Inferno and will conclude by letting you know how you can play it today for free!

Contributors

The universe of Ascension Tactics is expanding once again with Ascension Tactics Inferno, which promises to bring more than 50 new miniatures, new gameplay mechanics and rules, a new faction called The Fallen and new dual faction champions. Transforming Champions! If you complete the requirements to transform a Champion during the game, both its card and miniature will be replaced with a stronger version and new abilities! In Ascension Tactics, players still acquire cards from a central row to gradually build up and customise their desk, but the cards are used to control champion miniatures on a hex-grid map board. The champions - which include a number of characters from the card game - compete to control the board by equipping items, using boosts and defeating monsters.

Here’s an example of some of the new treasure varieties that grant additional keywords like Range and Double Strike. Introducing a new Faction to Ascension created a lot of interesting design challenges. First, we had to determine what mechanics would set the Fallen apart from other factions. It is important to make sure each faction has its own mechanical feel and flavor, so usually, it’s a good idea to plan ahead for any new factions you might want to introduce into a game and reserve some mechanics for them. We didn’t have much simple design space left for the Fallen, so we relied on another useful approach: introduce new mechanics that then become the primary domain of the new faction. We did this with many of the new mechanics introduced below, including Quests, Rats, and interactions with new token types. Four player co-op! In addition to solo, campaign, a team-based play, Inferno includes the ability for you and three friends to take on the game in the new four player co-op mode! Secondly, there are a lot of rules and sometimes they feel a bit… uncertain, especially when it comes to treasure token modifiers and what you can or can’t do with your Cultists. Personally, I hate having to disrupt the flow of the game to query a player’s use of the Cultists, so I have probably inadvertently created house rules every time I play it. It’s been over 13 years since I began working on the first version of Ascension. At that time, I had no idea what a huge impact the game would have and the community that would develop around it. With over 16 standalone expansions and a million units sold, including an app and a VR version, Ascension is the game I am most well-known for. When it came time to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Ascension, my team and I wanted to do something special, so we set out to create Ascension Tactics.It was an epiphany of mechanics! The art was a bit wobbly, but the way things escalated and flowed… I’d never played anything like it before. I needed more. And more. And more. Ascension Tactics: Inferno is a stand-alone expansion to the hit game, Ascension Tactics. Ascension Tactics: Inferno includes all of your favorite gameplay mechanics found in the original game and introduces some new features to take gameplay to a whole new level: Ascension Tactics Inferno introduces you to the hellscape called Deofol, the long-corrupted realm where the god of love once dwelled. The stand-alone sequel includes a new map, themed tiles, scenarios, and a campaign that bring the infernal realm to life. Some of the most fun parts of Ascension Tactics are collecting treasures and using them to enhance your champions. By providing a secret one-time bonus, treasure help to disrupt the predictability of gameplay and create some exciting and tense moments. Furthermore, they give players an alternative objective in the game, often sacrificing an opportunity to score points to collect these strategic resources. We wanted to expand on that fun by adding more variety of treasures and more ways to interact with them. If you hadn’t guessed already, I really, really like this game. But, for a balanced view, a few minor critiques:

Building the co-operative campaign in Ascension Tactics was the hardest and most time-consuming part of the entire project. In essence, each scenario is a game in itself, and all of these scenarios needed to connect together in a way that allowed for player progression and a cohesive story. I am incredibly excited to be partnered again with Playdek on the Ascension app,” said Justin Gary, CEO of Stone Blade and lead designer of Ascension, “We know fans have been asking for new content and features for a long time and we can’t wait to bring this all to life for our community.” I did indeed, because as well as a rule book, you get a scenario book, the board doesn’t just come with one map set up, it has a blank side too. With plenty of terrain tiles to create one of the many maps and scenarios in the scenario book. Or you can make up your own. Or if you have a regular set of players, you can go for a co-operative campaign.

Ascension: Tactics can be played by one to four players and the way to win is by gaining a certain amount of Honor points first (pleasingingly, these are still the lovely translucent clear and red crystals – mmmm, tactile tactics). These can be gained in different ways depending on what scenario you are playing, but the most common method is to control ‘beacons’ on the battlefield (stand on next to them) – yes, battlefield. This is not just about the cards any more. Things just got standee.