A Peek at the Upcoming Ashes Ascendancy Kickstarter Campaign!
What’s Coming with Ashes Ascendancy?
We previously announced huge news for Ashes Ascendancy, telling players they would be able to access our entire back catalog of Ashes cards via a sweet new online system. Whether they choose print and play or print on demand, players will have greater access to cards than ever before! But what about the Ashes Ascendancy Starter Set itself, and why use Kickstarter to launch this new product?
The New Starter Set
The Ashes Ascendancy Starter Set will offer everything new players need to begin playing Ashes. It will offer two new decks of player cards along with two new Phoenixborn, the characters who represent the players wielding them. Each of these Phoenixborn will introduce a new magic type to the game, along with the dice needed. Both decks are playable out of the box, but also compatible with our existing library of Ashes cards.
Also included will be a brand new type of boss for players to fight: the Dragonborn! In 2023, Ashes Reborn introduced a new format for Ashes play called Red Rains. These sets allowed players to transform the game from player vs. player to solo or cooperative. This was such a hit with fans, we are continuing it with the Ashes Ascendancy Starter Set, allowing players to play whatever way most appeals to them. The new Dragonborn enemy will feel familiar to existing players, but offer a more refined experience.
Existing players can pick up this new starter set and incorporate it into their collection. Even better? We’ll be offering it at the kind of competitive price point you would expect for an introductory product!
New Ashes Accessories!
We have some new products we will offer during the Kickstarter campaign, and of course later in our web-store. For a long time now, players have been asking for premium tokens to replace the cardboard variety that come standard in Ashes sets. We will be offering premium acrylic tokens, sure to appeal to dedicated players and those who appreciate the upgraded tactile experience.
Have a lot of Ashes cards? We’ll be offering a ginormous collector’s box that will hold your entire (sleeved) collection of cards, with some room to spare. We don’t have pics yet, as our team of gnome engineers are still putting the finishing touches on the design.
There might be one or two other surprises when the campaign launches, but we don’t want to mention them just yet.
I Still Need Some Older Products for My Collection!
During our Kickstarter campaign we will be offering all backers the chance to purchase any Ashes Reborn product, and we will be printing off enough to meet customer demands. This will be the last time we offer these products in this format. While all of these products will be available through our print on demand service (POD), this final offering will be at a lower price point, and of course we’re planning to discount the really big purchases.
Why Crowdfund?
Why use crowdfunding for the new Ashes Ascendancy Starter Set? Excellent question! First and foremost, crowdfunding will allow us to build the new infrastructure we need to make POD a reality. This is a complex process and one we want to get just right.
Second, this final offering of the original Ashes Reborn products will be expensive to produce, and using Kickstarter allows us to more accurately gauge what products are needed from the printer. Finally, crowdfunding campaigns generate a lot of excitement, and this campaign is a fantastic way to introduce new players to a game that is still going strong after a decade of development!
Don’t like crowdfunding? No problem! Anything we offer for sale in the Kickstarter campaign will also be offered through the usual retail channels. You will be able to purchase Ashes Ascendancy products in the way that feels best for you. No FOMO! Backing us on Kickstarter will help Plaid Hat Games attain our lofty goals for this beloved card game. and will let players acquire Ashes products with a nifty discount.
Look to the Skies!
What does the Ashes Ascendancy Starter Set mean for the future of the game? We plan on releasing new Ashes content at the same rate we currently do for Ashes Reborn, which is about 3 new products a year. These new sets will introduce new Phoenixborn who use the new magic types combined with the old, dice for those who need them, and a new boss to fight: the fearsome Dragonborn. If you like Ashes Reborn: Red Rains (and the sales gnomes assure us you do), you’re gonna love what we have in store!
Want to Know More? Of Course You Do!
We will be dropping more new content on the future of Ashes in the days to come. Our Kickstarter campaign will be launching April 2nd. Click here to sign up and be notified!
