Ascension Tactics: Miniatures Deckbuilding Game Review - with Tom Vasel

[@Sutherlord]

I give this review my Seal of Excellence. As someone who's been watching your reviews for over a decade now, I love how much you love the game! Thanks for the glowing review Tom!

[@Justin_Gary]

I give your design work a Seal of Excellence!

[@Muhd_Akmal]

So happy Tom enjoyed this one!! It is truly something different among the deckbuilding genre.

[@rogerstone9353]

This has been one of my most anticipated games since the kickstarter was announced and I've been surprised that there was so little buzz about it on gaming KZbin channels. Happy to see Tom enjoys it this much. My one knock on the game is that it's a bit fiddly using the gems to score when the game is a race to a set amount. I've replaced them with life trackers in my copy.

[@tempestfury8324]

Wow! I haven't seen Tom this excited about a game for a while! I didn't hear one negative about this one.👍

[@SideGameLLC]

Totally agree! The solo mode and coop are so good too! I love the progression of your characters through the sigil cards, the shorter campaign length, and the replay ability overall. Solo and Coop AI are also incredible!

[@shaneannigans]

Thank you for discussing the solo mode! 😊👍

[@SideGameLLC]

@@shaneannigans if you’re looking for more solo thoughts, check out or “What we’ve been playing,” videos and our “50-41 top solo board game,” video.

[@shaneannigans]

@@SideGameLLC Will do!

[@paintballinrn]

So glad to hear. I purely kickstarted this because i love ascension. Cant wait to actually get this to the table.

[@Pookiebear]

I enjoy when Tom gets excited :]

[@TabletopHaven]

Curse you Vasel! Excitement is contagious you know. Happy for the standee retail version since I have about 200 unpainted minis at the moment.

[@joshuatabak95]

Finally got my Kickstarter order, and I thought I was excited to play it before. Then I watched your review and am beyond pumped up to play it NOW! Thank you for your review and for the hype train. This game looks massively cool and I can't wait to get into it.

[@shawnallenlott]

As someone who doesn't generally like deck-building games such as ascension: rise of the godslayer, but does like the ascension lore (I also really liked the art, though a lot of people, Tom included apparently, didn't), and also likes tactics games, including summoner wars, I'm very interested in checking this one out

[@EvanHalbertDC]

Great review, as always!

[@frankmumann8624]

I got it with miniatures - unpainted they were not that cool, but I was able to paint them all and now the fun is even more on the table. I really can't choose which mode I like the most... Had some games 1:1 and some coop games. Everything works fine. And as we know Ascension - I bet there will be upgrades.

[@nshaw1299]

Ah the 'into my collection' judgement days... I miss them :-)

[@mrbastos]

I was so close to backing this one. Definitely sounds like I should have. Will look into it more.

[@bangazboom9925]

Wow! I thought it would be good but man! Now I have to get it asap.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

11:14 Thank you for explaining the game, Tom! I tried watching some gameplay videos, but I just couldn’t understand what the heck was going on (and it didn’t help that I couldn’t see what the abilities are on the cards, in the playthroughs).

[@johnnovotny5074]

At 5:43 I noticed the cards sleeved and I knew it was going into the collection.

[@robertwright7317]

... And I'd only just got over the idea of wanting this game. WANT.

[@ProppaT]

This is joining Tyrants of the Underdark for favorite deck building miniature games.

[@delgar89]

Tyrants are amazing

[@DeepCDiva]

I'm sad that they moved past their original art style. It gave the game a very unique, rustic look, that enhanced the mystical tone of the setting. It really did feel like you were going through fables and findings of another world put together by commoners trying to tell a story and picture a divinity they couldn't completely comprehend. The more clean generic look makes it a lot blander. I'm glad to see that the game is fairly simple and easy to teach, might pick up when i can, Ascension has a world that i love to revisit

[@shawnallenlott]

Totally agree. The original art received some criticism, but I thought it was right up there with some of the best art I'd ever seen in any game, ever

[@godofzombi]

2:05. Calling it now: He sleeved the cards so he must really like it.

[@rogerstone9353]

It looks like Ultra Pro sent him the sleeves that were part of the kickstarter

[@bullno1]

@@rogerstone9353 Then why did they send him the standee version?

[@rogerstone9353]

@@bullno1 he says in the video that he has the miniature version at home

[@ClaraMBarker]

Hmm. I was really interested in this when it was announced - great to see Tom really enjoyed it though the Smmoner Wars similarities make me peraonally a little wary. I do wanna try it though - the enthusiasm is contaigious

[@severngamingnetwork]

8:36 Little did Tom realise how close he was to death as the assassin's red dot laser sight played across the scene.....

[@Polskimg]

Excited about this one. Not a big miniatures fan, but I really like Ascension. Glad it's still around.

[@wishmeheaven]

It has a standees version, doesn't it so..?

[@huuuze]

@@wishmeheaven It does!

[@Muhd_Akmal]

get the standees version minis are really not needed honestly

[@Polskimg]

Good to know, thanks guys

[@SeanUCF]

Wasn't expecting such a glowing review after the negative review of Ignite. I think a head2head comparison video should be made.

[@rogerstone9353]

a rough comparison is to say that Ignite is to Ascension Tactics as Dominion is to Ascension. Ignite has a fixed market and takes more thoughtful planning, while AT has a river and is more reactionary.

[@thereal4579]

@@rogerstone9353 according to tom, ignite has no strategy, which is a terrible take. I own and played AT, I like it, but prefer the moment to moment of ignite, AT feels a little too swingy at times and hard to catch up if behind. But both still awesome. I also recommend Edge dawnfall for much more robust version of this genre.

[@SeanUCF]

@@thereal4579 I got Edge Dawnfall a little while back on the 2nd hand market for a price only an idiot would pay. I need to finally get it to the table. Glad to hear its good.

[@thereal4579]

@@SeanUCF allows for team building, deck construction and a variable board based on shrin and miniature placements of player choice during set up. Gameplay is simple and Intuitive and can have some big moments. Definitely get it to the table.

[@JM32JM32]

Does the kickstarter version also have standees if you prefer them?

[@Sutherlord]

Yes, we included standees in the Kickstarter version as well as miniatures.

[@satyanpatel6403]

@@Sutherlord Hey, great game! Looking forward to expansions.

[@rainingtalent]

I have both Ascension Tactics and Ignite. Both are Kickstarter editions. Ignite feels more like a "tactics" game, where strategy and the position on the map/objects are very important to play. You're also trying to build up cards which act like an arsenal, which include bows, arrows, magic spells, mounts to increase movement, etc. to use against the opponent. Each unit has "hitpoints" and don't respawn, so attack and defense are key. You really feel like you're battling in a tactics game. Ascension Tactics feels like two separate games each turn. The first half feels just like playing the original ascension. You spend a lot of time trying to build a synergy of cards from the same faction that work well with the chosen heroes. The second half is a king of a hill game, where there's constant back and forth fighting for position and chokepoints. Units don't have hitpoints so units are destroyed as soon as the attacker's damage meets/exceeds the defender's defense, which happens frequently so they are constantly respawning. The cards act as power to activate the units, so they have fixed attacks and abilities (which can be augmented by things like constructs). I will say Ignite Scales better with higher player counts. There are less decisions to be made as the game goes on because you already have the cards you need and are attacking. You only buy cards when at the bazaar, so not every turn. The cards don't change and fixed for each game (like dominion), so you eventually get to know what's in the market. You also have fewer opponents and units later in the game. Ascension Tactics is the opposite as it gives you more decisions as the game goes on, which makes it drag towards the end as people are managing huge hands and a lot of decisions. You're also buying cards each turn, and the cards are constantly changing Ilike Ascension), so you're always learning about what's available. Ignite suffers from the modular board. It adds variability, but setup can take a long time. Ascension Tactics is modular as well, but has a reverse side with a fixed map for quickplay. Ignite is way more expensive, but has miniatures for each character. For Ascension, unless you backed on Kickstarter you will receive standees for the rest. Both are very good games that seem similar at first since they are deckbuilder/tactics games, but have a very different feel. If you're looking for a wargame then I'd say Ignite is the way to go. If you love Ascension or deckbuilders in general but want to dip your toes in tactics games then Ascension Tactics is a good choice.

[@SeanUCF]

Great comparison. Exactly what I was looking for👍

[@iangreig6753]

The retail version of Ascension Tactics has standees only (no miniatures at all), the Kickstarter version both standees and miniatures for all Champions.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

Any thoughts on the new Inferno stand-alone expansion?

[@jjcc8379]

Some of the miniatures have a tendency to fall over because of poor balancing (i'm talking about Dhartha riding the dragon, for example). And yes, they can be a bit hard to distinguish unpainted ... but a weight and a paint job and they might be quite awesome. I think someone at BGG already posted painted examples and oh my, are they gorgeous.

[@tennesseedogpack]

I gut the kickstarter edition and it’s sweet

[@LeeroyPorkins]

Now we need Star Realms to get in on the board game versions.

[@johnnovotny5074]

The hex board reminds me of Battlelore.

[@preymantisss]

0:55 Tom mentions a similar type of game that didn't inspire confidence. Is anyone aware of which game that is? As it's a genre that I'm getting interested in, I'm always on the lookout for games to avoid. Not saying I'd avoid it right away, but I'd at least do more homework than usual before considering it for purchase. Thanks

[@saito6415]

I believe it's ignite. Check his video out.

[@DarrenTerpstra]

Designer of Ignite here, definitely check out alternate reviews. Tom played it very wrong and seemed to just want an angry review…

[@charliekauffman1790]

I can’t seem to find very many places to buy this game. I saw the Kickstarter ended like 2 years ago. Did it not go to retail? Why is it so scarce?

[@rogerstone9353]

It only started delivering to backers within the last month. I'd expect the retail version to be available soon.

[@lAmTheFish]

Saw one at my local shop, maybe their online store can send ya one

[@timcowley2391]

I have only played the first scenario by myself 2 handed to get a feel for it and I was a little worried it would get repetitive so it is good to hear that is not the case.

[@vonwoolf9963]

What other deckbuilding miniatures games did you play?

[@rogerstone9353]

Ignite

[@vonwoolf9963]

@@rogerstone9353 Didn't know about that one, I'll check it out, thanks.

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

Cool!

[@Skorrigan]

Well, I am a great fan of Ascension with 2000+ games behind my belt, but this one is a shadow of the original game.

[@xCriticalStrikex]

20 victory points on that first scenario is not enough. That is my only criticism. Great game!

[@ethanhoward9327]

This is an amazing game, but I believe one of the cards is greatly overpowered. The hero named "Kor" allows a player to move their portal one hex as a slay ability, only costs five runes to buy, gives a treasure as an ambush ability, has 9 attack and 9 defense, and only costs 3 swords to command. Other heroes that cost four swords to command only have 6 attack and 8 defense or 7 and 7. They also do not seem to have nearly as strong of an ability. Am I missing something here or was this card just not play tested enough? We have played the game ten times now and every time a player buys Kor, they win the game.

[@m-jay6137]

Punching the air because I didn't back this.

[@utahman06]

Are there miniatures in this miniatures game?

[@gatorchomp9607]

I wish this had a more palatable theme. I’d be interested regardless, and the theme doesn’t bother me, but I would be much more likely to get this to the table with something like a Marvel theme or anything other than weird fantasy.

[@lastburning]

Please no.

[@ramonosuke]

I disagree, we don’t need Marvel in everything. This theme works

[@seanh6681]

marvel is stale!

[@lystic9392]

I'm not sure, I think he likes it.

[@onimartinez8646]

Honestly, they should have just named it Ascension Tactics w/o Miniature Deckbuilding, since you have the option to go either mini or standees, but it's just me being nitpicky.

[@Muhd_Akmal]

but the minis are cool though

[@technicianscott9245]

I don’t even like pickles