Stone Blade Entertainment’s latest release for the Ascension deck-building game is War of Shadows ($40, now). This set contain light and dark cards with day and night triggers. Day is when there are more light than dark cards in the center row. Night is when there are more dark than light.

Of a lighter theme, Stone Blade has coming up You Gotta Be Kitten Me! ($10, September). It’s a cute card game for 2-10 players with kittens and puppies wearing hats, ties, and glasses, and it plays a bit like Liar’s Dice. Around the table, players bid up a number of hats, ties, glasses, or certain color total in everyone’s hands. When challenged, if the actual count is equal to or greater than the number bid, the challenger loses and is dealt one fewer cards the next round. If the actual count is less than the number bid, the bidder loses a card. Play continues until only one player has cards left.

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Ascension has been around since 2010, and has secured its place as one of the most popular deck builders on the market. Over the years Ascension has seen many expansions, both large and small. Dreamscape is the former, and can be played on it’s own without any other set. In fact, that’s the way I think it should be played.

In my opinion, Dreamscape is one of the most beautiful, and overall best Ascension release to date. The game is solid on it’s own, and the Dreamscape and Dreamborn cards feel like a natural extension of the experience.

Dreamscape adds a new deck that can be drawn from when another card allows. This deck is face down, so you don’t know what you’re going to draw from it. Also, just because you draw from there doesn’t mean you get the card right away. You need to earn enough Insight to “purchase” the card and put it into your pile.

Insight is earned a few ways, like when a Dreamborn card enters the field, or when a player purchases a Dreamborn card. Dreamscape cards can be creatures or constructs, or a new type of card called Vision. These cards stay in play, and provide huge bonuses if you can meet their conditions.

If you’re an Ascension fan, Dreamscape is a must-buy. If you’re looking to get into Ascension, I’d ignore the other sets and jump right into this one. There’s no better Ascension experience in my mind.

A copy of Ascension: Dreamscape was provided free for review by Stone Blade Entertainment.

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The 9th standalone version of Ascension, titled Dreamscape, will be arriving in December. This version introduces the Insight resource which let players acquire Dream cards. These cards can be used for new Visions, Heroes, and Constructs. From what I’ve seen, the set looks beautiful.

As usual, even though it’s a standalone game, Dreamscape can be combined with any previous release. It’ll retail for $39.99 when it arrives.

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Dawn of Champions, the next game in the deck-building Ascension series, will be arriving this March for $39.99. It’s a stand alone game that can be played with all previous versions of Ascension, yet offers new game play such as Champions. Champions act as a faction’s leader, and allow you to unlock more powerful cards as their reputation grows. There are also new Multifaction cards, including Constructs and Monsters.

Ascension is one of my favorite deck-builders, and it’s always great to see new products continue to hit store shelves.

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