# Star Trek: Ascendancy – Borg Assimilation ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2017 - **BGG Rating**: 7.7 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-5 (Best with: 3) - **Duration**: — - **Weight**: 3.57 / 5 - **Designers**: Aaron Dill, John Kovaleski, Sean Sweigart - **Artists**: Charles Woods, Katie Dillon - **Publishers**: Gale Force Nine, LLC - **Categories**: Civilization, Expansion for Base-game, Exploration, Movies / TV / Radio theme, Negotiation, Science Fiction, Space Exploration, Territory Building, Wargame - **Mechanics**: Action Points, Dice Rolling, Modular Board, Trading, Variable Phase Order, Variable Player Powers ## Verdict A tense expansion that turns the game into a desperate struggle for galactic survival.Constant and exciting threatAmazing diplomatic dilemmasTotal thematic fidelityElevated game pacingRequires base gameIncreases complexityHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Brace your shields and recalibrate your sensors, because the most terrifying threat in the galaxy has just arrived! Star Trek: Ascendancy – Borg Assimilation isn't just another content pack; it's a game-changer that introduces the Borg as an unstoppable force of nature on the board. If you thought the rivalry between the great civilizations was your biggest headache, think again. Now, there is a common enemy that doesn't want to negotiate or trade territory—it simply wants to assimilate everything in its path. In this expansion, danger manifests in two intense ways. You might have the misfortune of stumbling upon a Borg Cube while exploring a new system, or the chaos might kick off right from the setup, with the Borg invading the Alpha Quadrant via a Transwarp Hub. From there, it's a race against time: every turn, new Cubes can emerge, attempting to turn your worlds into part of the Collective. This creates a moral and strategic dilemma worthy of a Star Trek episode: will you join forces with your rivals to contain this technological plague, or will you attempt to hunt the Borg individually to seize their tech and secure your own supremacy? The tension is relentless. The game shifts from being purely about who dominates the galaxy to being about who can survive assimilation. It's the kind of expansion that cranks up the risk management and diplomacy, turning standard sessions into epic battles for the survival of intelligent life. If you already love the base game, get ready for a layer of tension that will make your heart race at warp speed! ## How to Play 1. Game Objective The Borg represent a constant threat to the galaxy, focused on assimilating civilizations and absorbing technologies. They are not controlled by a player, but rather by their own mechanics that challenge all participants. The players' goal is to achieve an Ascendancy Victory or Supremacy Victory while keeping the Borg threat under control. If a player has their Home System assimilated, they become "one" with the Collective and take control of the Borg turns. 2. Setup System Discs: Separate the new System Discs (Phenomena, Planetary Systems, and the Transwarp Hub). If using the Delta Quadrant Connection, place the Transwarp Hub in the center of the table. Exploration Deck: Shuffle the standard Exploration cards and set aside a number of cards equal to twice the number of players, placing them on top of the deck. Then, mix the Borg Exploration Cards with the remaining cards and place the reserved stack on top. Borg Components: Position the Borg Console and Command, the Cube Card, the Borg Cubes, Spikes, Assimilation Nodes, and Resource Nodes in a visible location. Cards: Shuffle the Command Card and Borg Technology Card decks. 3. Game Flow The Borg receive a random Turn Order Card, like any other race, and never participate in auctions. The Borg turn follows this sequence: Borg Construction Phase: The Borg do not use tokens. They add Borg Nodes around Spikes to generate new Borg Cubes. If the Transwarp Hub is in play, roll to check for the creation of a new cube. Each world with a Spike performs a construction action. Borg Command Phase: Each Cube is activated individually. The Cube attacks enemy ships in Space Combat and then executes the action described on a drawn Borg Command Card. After activation, place a Borg Activation Token. 4. Actions and How to Play Space Combat: Players always have initiative in the first round. Borg Cubes possess Adaptive Shields: the shield modifier starts at 0 and increases by 1 at the end of each combat round (maximum of 4). System Assimilation: After the command, a Cube attempts to assimilate developed systems (Planetary Invasion). If all structures are destroyed, a Borg Spike is placed. With three Assimilation Nodes, the system is fully assimilated and a new Cube is built. World Recovery: Players can invade Borg Worlds to eradicate their presence. If successful, all Borg structures are removed and the player draws a Borg Technology Card. Movement: Cubes use Movement Cards to travel via Warp. They cannot pass through player ships and stop if the sector is already occupied. 5. End of Game and Scoring The game ends catastrophically for the players if, at any moment, there are five Spikes in play and a sixth must be placed; in this case, the Borg win and all players lose. To win, a player must meet the criteria for an Ascendancy or Supremacy Victory before being assimilated. If a player is assimilated, they begin playing in favor of the Collective, attempting to assimilate the remaining players. 6. Tips for Winning Rapid Attack: Since Borg shields regenerate each combat round, it is vital to destroy Cubes quickly. Try to defeat them before they become invulnerable. Prioritize Recovery: Borg Worlds are easier to destroy than Cubes, but they are dangerous because they generate new Cubes. Recover them quickly in the first or second round of combat. Collective Strategy: Sometimes, defending a rival against the Borg is the best solution for the survival of your own civilization, preventing the Collective from growing too large. ## FAQ ### Can I play this expansion without the base game? No, this is an expansion and requires the Star Trek: Ascendancy base game to play. ### Does the game get much harder with the Borg? Yes, they add a layer of constant pressure that requires more attention and strategy from players. ### How many players can play with this expansion? It follows the base game's limits, supporting 1 to 5 players. ### Does the expansion change the playtime significantly? It might increase it slightly due to the new threat, but the sense of urgency usually keeps the pace dynamic. ### Do I need to know English to play? Yes, the game has a significant language dependency for cards and rules. ### Do the Borg play by themselves? Yes, they act as an autonomous force that reacts to the board and the players. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 23.16 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1198117&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 31.57 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1665624&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 31.57 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1665625&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 35.08 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1665623&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 35.66 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=969072&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 36.39 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6077922&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 39.63 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=848350&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 40.76 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6916820&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 44.85 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6790433&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 44.85 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3439284&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/21508/star-trek-ascendancy-borg-assimilation?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com