“If we go to war, let us be sure it is for the right reason."
-- Commander Tebok

In Star Trek: Ascendancy yours is the guiding voice of the Romulan Senate, leading your people to their rightful place in the Galaxy. As Praetor, will you demonstrate your superiority and dominate your foes through Galactic Supremacy, invading and controlling the other players’ Home Systems? Or will the natural preeminence of Romulus guide you to victory through Cultural Ascendancy, dedicating your society to Romulan principles?

Romulans are cautious and calculating, often shunning the greater Galaxy in favor of their own culture. These attitudes influence the Romulan player’s game in the form of two Special Rules displayed on the player’s Control Console.

Star Trek: Ascendancy

Many of the cards found in the Romulans’ Advancement Deck picture a Culture Token. When a player successfully commits enough Research to bring the Advancement to fruition, the civilization gains a Culture Token. The uniqueness of the Romulan Advancement Deck is highlighted by their Cultural Superiority rule. The judicious Romulans do not enter into diplomatic negotiations lightly. When the Romulans receive a Tread Agreement from any source it is exhausted immediately; meaning that the Romulans will not be able to collect the resources the Agreement generates during that turn’s Recharge Stage due to their Suspicious Special Rule.

Star Trek: Ascendancy

All factions possess a unique Advancement Deck. The Romulans focus on perfecting their superior technology and manipulating their rivals; espionage and subterfuge are the primary weapons of the Romulan arsenal. The most infamous Romulan technology is the Romulan Cloaking Device. With this Starting Advancement, the Romulans gain First Strike in Space Combat during their turn, forcing their opponents to remove casualties before making an attack.  Other Advancements improve upon this deadly advantage. With an Advanced Romulan Cloaking Device, the Romulans can actually pass through and occupy the same Sectors containing rival Starships; they may also utilize these cloaks to fade from an attack, escaping to Warp before their opponents can inflict damage. The Senate may also elect to commit resources to form the shadowy Tal Shiar; this insidious organization allows the Romulan player to Exhaust another player’s Espionage or Military Advancement via cleaver spy craft, denying them that advantage for the game turn. 

Star Trek: Ascendancy

While larger Romulan Fleets are often formed to engage in military actions, smaller formations are focused on other missions and goals. The Romulan civilization has always been adept at extracting vital resources to fuel the Empire. The Romulan Mining Fleet allows the player to take two Production Tokens when the Fleet occupies a System during the Command Stage of their turn for the cost a Command Token. Harvesting and storing these valuable materials gives the Romulans an advantage in the next round of Building.



Star Trek: Ascendancy
Star Trek: Ascendancy

The Federation, Klingons and Romulans are the three civilizations included in the game, but they are not the only ones in the Galaxy! Future player expansions will add new civilizations for players to choose from as well as adding more players to the game! Meanwhile, next week we’ll focus our sensors on the Planetary Systems and Interstellar Phenomena your Starships will discover. Jolan Tru.