Justin Gary Discusses Ascension Tactics as RDTN Reviews Cosmic Encounter Duel and More

Justin Gary’s conversation about Ascension Tactics gives this episode of Roll Dice Take Names its center of gravity, with a wide tour of recent tabletop releases around it. The hosts discuss Gary’s career and Stone Blade Entertainment’s new Kickstarter project, then turn to Cosmic Encounter Duel, Imperial Settlers: Rise of the Empire, family games, co-op play and more.

Justin Gary and Ascension Tactics

The interview starts at 32:45 and ranges across Gary’s career before taking a closer look at Ascension Tactics around the 55:00 mark. Host Tony brings plenty of enthusiasm to the conversation: he says he has played Ascension more than 1,000 times. That familiarity gives the discussion a useful anchor as the group considers how the new project relates to the game that built its audience.

The episode description points listeners toward details about the ideas and elements that led to Ascension Tactics, as well as less familiar stories from Gary’s career. That makes the interview worthwhile beyond a quick look at a new release. Players who already know Ascension can listen for how the team’s experience with that game informs the new design; those arriving through the new project get a longer account of the designer behind it.

The episode was published on the day the Kickstarter opened. The hosts encouraged interested listeners to back in the first 24 hours to have their names included in the book. That timing is specific to the episode’s original release, so listeners should check the campaign page for current details rather than assume the early-backer window is still available.

Cosmic Encounter Duel makes a strong impression

Among the tabletop reviews, Cosmic Encounter Duel is the surprise hit for Marty. He expected less from the two-player game and came away impressed enough to put it in direct competition with Undaunted for future sessions with just two players. That is a practical endorsement from the table: the game earned a place in the hosts’ small-group rotation, where it will have to justify another play against a familiar alternative.

The discussion also includes a Cosmic Encounter contest. The episode’s timestamp list places the contest at 1:53:37, after the game discussion. Listeners looking for the entry form can use the linked page, though its availability and terms may have changed since the recording.

Returning to Imperial Settlers

Rise of the Empire, an add-on for Portal Games’ Imperial Settlers, gets a preview near the end of the episode. The hosts are candid about their limits: they had not played the base game recently enough to recall its strategies, faction nuances and strongest approaches with confidence. Their verdict is therefore provisional. For players who already enjoyed Imperial Settlers, they see the add-on as one to consider, while a fuller assessment would benefit from a refreshed game of the original.

That caveat is useful context for anyone weighing an expansion. Familiarity with the base game can change how new options feel, and time away from a game makes it harder to judge whether an add-on creates fresh decisions or simply benefits from remembered affection. Here, the hosts offer an early impression, not a final evaluation.

Family turns, co-op pressure and familiar worlds

Ravensburger’s Jungle Cruise is described as a very light family game built around rolling and moving, with set collection. The hosts’ summary suggests a straightforward choice for a table seeking an accessible experience, rather than a game centered on deep tactical planning.

Back to the Future: Dice Through Time lands at the other end of the difficulty scale in their discussion. The hosts call it a challenging cooperative game and compare its appeal for fans of the film series to Elder Sign. That comparison gives prospective players a useful sense of the experience: expect a group challenge built around coordination, with the familiar setting providing an added draw for those who enjoy the source material.

The episode also covers Unmatched: Cobble & Fog, whose roster brings Sherlock Holmes together with Universal Monsters, and a Dice Masters Avengers campaign box. The hosts describe Dice Masters as quick and fun, and say the campaign box brought back fond memories of playing it. They also regret that the game encountered problems around its release, without going into detail in the episode summary.

What else is on the episode list

The timestamp guide includes a short discussion of Stick’em, D&D Online, and a ranking segment with Justin Gary. It also points to Portal Games, an online Portal Con, and other tabletop coverage. The full recording runs for more than two hours, so listeners can jump directly to the subject they want or follow the conversations in sequence.

For a first stop, the 55:00 mark begins the deeper Ascension Tactics conversation. The later reviews offer a broad snapshot of what was reaching the hosts’ table: a promising two-player discovery, a cautious expansion preview and games that range from easy family play to demanding cooperative sessions.