Ascension: Card game for iPhone/iPad/paper

Yeah some good games lately! With Chumpy too, he keeps me on my toes.

LeapingGnome wrote:

The guys that did Ascension have a kickstarter for their new digital card game. It looks pretty awesome, but only 6 days left and I never heard of it before so I figure a bunch of you guys haven't either. In the updates they are including a bunch of bonus cards in the reward tiers through Wednesday for PAX.

Just a heads-up, this ends in less than 48 hours and they've added some more reward tiers. I am hoping the stretch goal of animated cards is reached, I think that would be pretty cool.

LeapingGnome wrote:

Yeah some good games lately! With Chumpy too, he keeps me on my toes.

*preens*

I'm always up for moar games! ChumpyMcChump on Gamecenter.

The spammers, they are learning patience.

Message sent.

And Certis is scary quick on the button.

I finally got around to buying this game for the iPad and it's great! I don't know if there is enough depth for me like Summoner Wars and Hero Academy to try async long term but I'll give it a try. I haven't bought the expansions but do they add a lot to the game in terms of depth? It's still a very cool game!

Also, this game also makes me furious that Playdek isn't making the Dominion app. Rio Grande Games really f!@$% that up by licensing to a horrible dev judging by what I've seen on the HTML5 version and heard about the ipad app. That goes with Thunderstone too. That app is just horrible!

Crockpot wrote:

I haven't bought the expansions but do they add a lot to the game in terms of depth?

I'd say that each expansion is better than the last; the RotF expansion works quite well with CoG (the base game). The newest expansion, SoS, I feel is best on it's own and adds a bit more depth via the event mechanic (and that's how the GWJ tourney is run, just SoS), though I do use it with RotF on occasion. The only thing I'm not sure was worth it is the $1 for the promo cards but I find the green promo a bit overpowered so I rarely play with them anyway, I might be biased because of that stupid Pathwarden. I do like the monster promos though, and there is a bit more randomness; SoS doesn't feel all that random to me.

Also, the games get tighter with the expansions. If you just play the first couple sets, a score like 125-60 isn't all that uncommon as it can snowball rather quickly, whereas in SoS the games rarely have greater than a 20 point differential between opponents, and many games come down to the final turn. I really think the SoS expansion is the best way to play, but I'd recommend RotF as well. The base game without RotF I don't actually enjoy all that much.

Crockpot wrote:

I finally got around to buying this game for the iPad and it's great! I don't know if there is enough depth for me like Summoner Wars and Hero Academy to try async long term but I'll give it a try. I haven't bought the expansions but do they add a lot to the game in terms of depth? It's still a very cool game!

Also, this game also makes me furious that Playdek isn't making the Dominion app. Rio Grande Games really f!@$% that up by licensing to a horrible dev judging by what I've seen on the HTML5 version and heard about the ipad app. That goes with Thunderstone too. That app is just horrible!

Feel free to send a friend invite through Gamecenter if you're looking for someone else to play the game with (farktopia). I really enjoy the games, and the only thing I'd add to what Outlandish said that I personally find the best depth in mixing two of the iterations rather than just as a standalone (though the standalones are great, and SOS is well contained to play it by itself).

If you get super into it consider joining the GWJ Ascension tournament- it's a lot of fun.

Just a quick note to people I'm playing at the moment: I'm having router issues so I may end up forfeiting and being unable to rematch. It never used to take me this long to figure out computer problems. I had an interesting moment of understanding for how my father feels about these technological thingamajings.

Last night to sign up for the new tournament!

http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/1...

cyrax wrote:

Time to hold hands.

http://pockettactics.com/2013/02/12/...

Not sure if want.

On the one hand, if F2P means they're putting out CotG (or a subset of it) for free and you only have to pay for the expansions/promos that's a good thing as that smashes the barrier to entry (similar to how they structured Summoner Wars). Also, more platforms is good too.

On the other hand, Playdek is freaking amazing and it would be really painful if Stone Blade's internal team can't provide the same level of quality. However, an internal team might shorten the turnaround time on bug fixes.

Depending on the pitch, this might be the first KS I've wanted to see fail (assuming failure doesn't mean we lose Ascension iOS in the process). Really need more information to get a sense of what they're planning. Hopefully HTML5 isn't involved.

EDIT:

Some more details at BGG:

The Kickstarter will feature:
· Ascension Android app (Free-to-play)
· Ascension Online (Free-to-play)
· Online Tournaments
· Single player campaign mode
· Broader Ascension multiple player and cross-platform play
· Quicker digital expansions

Someone in the comments thread there mentioned they plan on keeping Playdek for the iOS version.

Wonder if that's cross-buy, as well. That's my main point of contention.

cyrax wrote:

Wonder if that's cross-buy, as well. That's my main point of contention.

If they can stick to the Hero Academy model that would be awesome.

I'm very curious to see how their F2P model works. The worst case scenario I can think of is something like Iron Helmet's games, where you pay to host custom games and can fiddle with the parameters of the game. I honestly can't see them burning their goodwill with something as nefarious as pay per game, or adding an experience system with in-game perks, or an "energy" model.

Really crossing my fingers that the F2P game is offline for free players, and buying something in the store gets you online access like in Summoner Wars.

As pointed out in the tournament thread, there appears to be a mis-communication and Playdek will continue to handle the iOS version. The PocketTactics article linked above has a number of updates since it was linked.

And they confirmed that F2P means CotG (the base game) will be free (except on iOS because presumably Playdek has to be paid), everything else is staying the same. Oh, and Immortal Heroes is coming.

So good news all around?

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...

It's not clear on alot of things I'd like to know, specifically iOS compatibility. Sounds like they haven't even begun talks with Playdek.

I'm planning to jump in on the kickstarter just because I feel like stone blade have earnt the right to burn me at least once based on the 700ish games of ascension I have played. I assume this game will be separate from the iOS version which is a huge shame but PC and tournament support could be very dangerous for my productivity at work.

I've already backed it since, even if they decide to fork the iOS support into two clients, I'm confident their internal team can build a quality app just based on how they're handing the Solforge demo app (it's on par with Playdek's quality). I really hope that doesn't happen, but if we're looking at Immortal Heroes iOS in freaking June, then it's completely understandable why Stoneblade wants to bring stuff in-house. The way it's looking, I think Stoneblade really wants to treat their digital games as peers to physical games (similar to WotC with M:tG Online), and having the iOS version lagging behind by at least two expansions (and numerous promos) really dampens that plan. Playdek simply has too many pies in the oven for them to deliver on what Stoneblade is currently aiming for. It's not just Ascension either, Summoner Wars hasn't seen an update in 8 months and they don't even have all the factions available. That's not great considering Plaid Hat is finally adding additional summoners to each faction later this year,

I like what I saw in Solforge, and I think $10 for the first two blocks is a freaking steal when they finally get this off the ground. Playdek did an amazing job with Ascension, but I think the game has outgrown their stable and a dedicated development team needs to take over.

Mental note to self:

Before you banish all of your valor-giving cards, make sure you have other ways of getting additional cards.

Good synopsis, shoptroll. While I do expect AO to become the lead platform for digital Ascension, I can't shake the feeling that I'll never use that version. There's almost never a time when I don't have my iOS device on me. It lays on the bed beside me, and is within arms reach whenever I'm at the computer. Plus, the experience in itself is bite-sized. A turn never takes more than a couple minutes. So, some pros I see, are catch-up sessions that take 10-20mins to go through all my games, and expansion releases before iOS (tough call whether that would happen). One feature that would make me pay up, is chat. Give me chat in my asynchronous games. Look at the calendar devs, 2013. Chat, please!

Damn, I already forgot they're doing some solo play stuff. It's hard to keep this money in my pocket. :\

Don't forget they are planning for AO on iOS, and they are looking to work with Playdek (and will release a separate app if they can't) to see if they can plug that into their backend. I'm also really hoping that asynch play is still supported in AO (at least in a non-competitive environment). Chat would be nice, but I don't see anything obvious in the UI mockup (which is very close to the Playdek UI) they flash during the pitch video. However, you should go ask them in the KS project to see if they respond

An interview with Stone Blade's Justin Gary about the future of Ascension here.

athros wrote:

An interview with Stone Blade's Justin Gary about the future of Ascension here.

Thanks -- that's interesting stuff and gives me a bit more sympathy for Stone Blade's position in all this. I figure I'll go in on the Kickstarter for $10 or $25. With upwards of 1400 matches played online, I've definitely gotten plenty of value for the money I've already spent.

Dixie_Flatline wrote:

Thanks -- that's interesting stuff and gives me a bit more sympathy for Stone Blade's position in all this. I figure I'll go in on the Kickstarter for $10 or $25. With upwards of 1400 matches played online, I've definitely gotten plenty of value for the money I've already spent.

That was a good interview. I'm really hoping they'll prioritize an iOS client now that they've confirmed they can't get the Playdek app to communicate with their backend once it goes live. It really sounds like both sides have outgrown their relationship and this is ultimately for the best. I'm backing at the $50 level because I want to play with the new set which won't be available in digital format for at least 6 months.

PSA: less than 12 hours remain in the Kickstarter. It's funded and it's looking like they might hit the stretch goal for a digital-only expansion.

Good thing all these kickstarters nowadays take paypal after the fact, I hadn't been checking the Ascension threads with my wireless still dead and the quick 10 day went by without me ever hearing about it. Get it on pc and I can avoid buying a new router for awhile longer, yay. Now I just have to hope the implementation on pc is at least as good as playdek's for iOS, all this screen real estate to play with.

I believe Rise of the Vigil is out now, has anybody had a chance to try it yet? As a digital only player it looks like it will be awhile till I get my hands on it but I am very excited to hear impressions.

Cronox wrote:

I believe Rise of the Vigil is out now, has anybody had a chance to try it yet? As a digital only player it looks like it will be awhile till I get my hands on it but I am very excited to hear impressions.

It's not supposed to be in retail until April I think, but they were selling it at PAX. Demyx and I played it three times over the course of the weekend. The energy and treasure mechanics are interested, but there's some really broken cards at the high end (and in the middle-tier if you can satisfy the energy requirements) which really feel like they should've been made as promo cards. Seriously, they make PRIME and Cetra from Storm of Souls look balanced. But it's still a fun set.

At least that's my current impression. Hoping to play a bit more over the weekend.

And so the "Watch Cronox and Mudbunny play the game wrong" match begins. I will do my best at each turn to take screenshots of what I am doing and my thought process (or lack thereof) as I take my turn.

I will post the picture of my starting state and any intermediate states, including cards that get banished and such.

And Cronox is up with the first hand.

The centre deck has 3 minotaurs, 2 personal wormholes and an Arha Sensei.

Here is Cronox's first turn.

My hand was 4 Apprentices and a Militia (I hate getting a first hand with one malitia, 2 or 0 is so much better).

I picked up the Arha Sensei as I love banishing cards early in the game. In a nice stroke of luck a Aiyana's Messenger same out so I have grabbed that too. It's the only 1 cost card I ever pick as I find it very useful. In a hero heavy deck it's essentially the same as a mystic and also fires off and lifebound unite effects. A black watch elite comes onto the board leaving the following in the center row:

3 x Minotaur's, 2 x Personal Wormholes and a black watch elite.