How to Play Star Trek: Ascendancy – Borg Assimilation

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Borg Components: Position the Borg Console and Command, the Cube Card, the Borg Cubes, Spikes, Assimilation Nodes, and Resource Nodes in a visible location.
4. 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.