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.

Further colour is added to the world in the form of four factions, which also serve the mechanical function of broadening the game's strategic depth. The factions are as follows: 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! It is up to the Champions of Vigil, alongside a few rebellious monsters, to bring peace to the twisted lands, and set Deofol on a path to redemption in Ascension Tactics: Inferno! The recurring characters of the game tend to be powerful heroes from each faction: Kor, the great Ferromancer of the Mechana; Master Dhartha, the Enlightened One; Emri – unmatched in battle; Cetra, the star-spirit guardian of Ogo; and more characters that emerge as time passes in Vigil’s endless wars. These characters build the lore of the game and tie expansions together, but they’re also represented on powerful, expensive cards that feel fantastic to acquire and wield. 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!

About This 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… If you hadn’t guessed already, I really, really like this game. But, for a balanced view, a few minor critiques:

Mechana – Engineers hailing from the realm of Hedron with vast stores of mechanical knowledge. The Mechana create powerful machines that work together to achieve even greater feats. The Void - Half-monstrous guardians watch over the seething mass of the Void - the depthless ocean of death and rebirth. These powerful warriors walk side by side with death as they protect Vigil from the monstrosities that crawl from the Void on a daily basis. The Lifebound – The denizens of Ogo are wild and powerful, controlling natural magic that gives them unmatched prowess in runecraft. The people and beasts of Ogo can also fight hard, teasing out power in all its natural forms.The games do an excellent job of conveying the plot through the cards’ art (which is consistently gorgeous across every expansion) and flavour text. Unlike many board games, Ascension actually succeeds in bringing recurring characters to life across multiple expansions: the great heroes of Vigil and their recurring foes. Ascension was my introduction to the wider world of modern gaming – what if it was terrible? There’s a new Ascension module released every year, pretty much – what if this one kills the goose that lays the tired idioms? Enlightened - The ascetics and warrior monks of Arha are bent on acquiring hidden knowledge. Their spiritual powers manipulate the heroes and monsters of Vigil in unique ways. In Ascension Tactics’ final battle for Deofol, the Champions defeated both Samael and Xeron. With Samael destroyed and Xeron now in hiding, the arch-devil Kythis has taken control of the infernal realm, forcing its people to submit to his might.