Gale Force 9 Games (GF9), a subdivision of Battlefront Miniatures, produced an amazing 4X game in 2016, Star Trek Ascendancy. This game is massive. During the few years the game was in production, GF9 released a lot of content for it.
The basic game is designed for 2-3 players. Though 2 players is not particularly fun, as a large part of the game involves politics and treachery. 7 expansion packs that introduced 6 factions and 2 galaxy-wide scenarios were released to support the game, along with a slew of ancillary products.
The term 4x game is a bit of a misnomer. It is a general gaming term for strategy games that include: Exploration of the game board, Expansion of your power base, Exploitation of resources, and Extermination of the other players. thus the 4x reference.
I have been a huge fan of this game since I accidentally found it and bought the Ferengi to use in my Star Trek Catan game. At some point, I will do an article on that.
In 2025, 3 years after the game ceased distribution, GF9 and Gamefound initiated a new printing of the game as a public-supported campaign. The new edition appears to be a complete overhaul of the rules system and factions, along with new game mechanics.
Originally, all the rules for the base game and expansions were released for free on the GF9 website. Startrek.gf9games.com, the home page of the game, has ceased to exist. Now it redirects to the home page of Battlefrontgroup.com. A search of their site fails to produce any references to the original rules for Star Trek Ascendancy, its expansions, or the ancillary parts.
With the pending release of Star Trek Ascendancy: The Final Frontier, I felt it would be helpful to provide access to the original rule and faction books.
Star Trek Ascendancy
42 oversized pages. The basic rules of the game. This is the 2020 rulebook update. It includes many of the corrections and clarifications brought to light by the player base.
Cardassian Union
4, 1/2 sized pages. The first expansion, sometimes referred to as “Klingons Light” by people who don’t really understand how nasty they really are and how sneaky they can be.
Ferengi Alliance
6, 1/2 sized pages. My favorite of the factions. War and peace are both good for business. Who needs culture when you have Latinum?
Borg Assimilation 2017
20, 1/2 sized pages. My favorite expansion. The Borg are implacable and force players to either work together or die. As soon as one cube is on the board, every player must be prepared to lose. This is the original 2017 release.
Borg Assimilation 2020
12 oversized pages. Don’t be fooled, just because there appear to be fewer pages belies the fact that these pages are more than twice the size of the original rule book. This is the 2020 revamp of the Borg.
Andorian Empire
4, 1/2 sized pages. Aggressive and sneaky with an nifty ability to develop culture from having better weapons and shields than their adversaries. Not good for beginner players, but experienced players may enjoy them.
Vulcan High Command
4, 1/2 sized pages. The choice of the Vulcan High Command rather than the Vulcan High Council is telling. High Command is more aggressive and warlike, whereas the High Council is more manipulative and passive.
The Dominion War
4, 1/2 sized pages. This is the second scenario expansion. It introduced the Dominion and the Delta Quadrant. The Dominion player can play without the Delta Quadrant, but they are at a severe disadvantage when they do.
The Breen Confederacy
4, 1/2 sized pages. Masters of the turtle style of war. The Breen are not for the hot-headed player or the player who likes to take risks. They are for the methodical and calculating player.
While I am looking forward to the new Star Trek Ascendancy: The Final Frontier release, there are aspects of this version of the game that I enjoy. Of course its a game, so all the rules are really only guidelines.
– Dru
Dru's Den of Ill Repute 