The Ascendant Universe is a transmedia franchise featuring graphic novels and a tabletop roleplaying game promoting an "Iridium Age" of comics that combines the aesthetic of heavy metal with the iconic mythology of superheroes.
The Ascendant Universe is a new comic and tabletop RPG universe both literally and figuratively, with superpowers just emerging right now in the present day. A key element of the setting is the reconstruction of the tropes around superheroes.
The RPG is known for its very detailed character building system, the (weirdly easy to understand) logarithmic growth and the Ascendant Universe which this page is named for. It is published by Autarch and is available on Drivethru RPG.
The comic books are written by Alexander Macris and are drawn by a full team of female BIPOC artists. They have a huge amount of latex wearing, barely and completely unclad characters, all of whom are ridiculously ripped.
Works in the Ascendant Universe
- Ascendant RPG (Tabletop RPG, 2021-Present)
- Ascendant 2022 (Comics, 2022-Present)
Comics in the Ascendant Universe
- Ascendant Star Spangled Squadron (2022-Present)
RPG Supplements in the Ascendant Universe
- Ascendant RPG (2021)
- Ascendant Rogues Gallery (2023)
- Acid Attack: Toxicant uses acid to fight with.
- Anti-Hero: Stiletto is a rare female anti-hero who fights in an amazingly brutal and bloody way.
- Atomic Superpower: Free Radical is an anti-nuclear activist who, ironically, has powers revolving around the control of radiation.
- Battle Aura: Lots of characters use auras to fight with, including Fireball, Karma Fire, Toxicant and Aurora.
- Nails on a Blackboard: Stiletto uses this to great effect in her comic intro, scraping gouges down the side of a car using only her nails.
- Guns Are Worthless: Nearly everything is worthless against Manticore. Hell, they drop a missile on him and it just knocks him out for an hour.
- Acid Attack: Players can use this through applying the Corrosive damage type on their attacks.
- Atomic Superpower: Players can become this trope through the use of the Radiation Control power or applying the Ionizing damage type on their attacks.
- Battle Aura: The Aura attack power offers a full set of potential auras for fighting, including different types of damage, whether they apply extra effects or if they are permanently on (a very bad thing).
- Guns Are Worthless: Stack a moderate amount of damage reduction and you'll be unable to be touched by anything other than fellow Ascendants.
- Point Build System:
- How characters are made, which can be a bit overwhelming for new players but the community has made automated character creation sheets.
- There are several different example "levels" of points, which allow game masters and players to choose how gritty or fantastic their game is going to be.
- This includes attributes, skills, powers, drawbacks and perks.
