Your Story, Our Galaxy.
Your Story, Our Galaxy.
Embedded Files
Ascendancy is a Discord political simulator (PolSim) aimed at political, economic and sci-fi enthusiasts.
Our uniquely immersive experience has been crafted over six years for a dedicated community across the world. Join today to start your Ascendancy journey!
1. Craft your own unique character with beliefs and backstory
1. Craft your own unique character with beliefs and backstory
2. Join a world with elected leaders, an economy, laws, maps and news
2. Join a world with elected leaders, an economy, laws, maps and news
3. Pioneer your political career, and leave your mark on the galaxy
3. Pioneer your political career, and leave your mark on the galaxy
"So it’s like a political RPG where I can roleplay as an expert running a sci-fi nation, vote on laws, influence the economy, and shape an evolving story — all in Discord. Sounds like Stellaris meets DnD but for political nerds. I'm in — but where do I start?"
"So it’s like a political RPG where I can roleplay as an expert running a sci-fi nation, vote on laws, influence the economy, and shape an evolving story — all in Discord. Sounds like Stellaris meets DnD but for political nerds. I'm in — but where do I start?"
🧭Commonly Asked Questions
🧭Commonly Asked Questions
🪐 Getting Started
Q: What is Ascendancy?
Ascendancy is a political simulation roleplay game (PolSim) set in a sci-fi universe, hosted on Discord. You play as a character within a functioning parliamentary system, shaping laws, managing crises, and building the future of an entire planet.
Q: How do I join?
You'll be guided through creating a character and joining Parliament as an expert when you join the server.
Q: Is there an application process?
There is a simple onboarding process to help place your character into the world and ensure you understand the core systems. No prior experience is needed!
Q: Do I need to know politics or economics to play?
Its good to have very basic understanding of politics but a lot of players didn't know much before they arrived. You’ll learn as you go, and you can explore politics, media, science, defence, business, or law — whatever suits your character and play-style
🧑🚀 Roleplay and Character
Q: What kind of character can I be?
You’ll create a unique character with a backstory, values, and area of expertise. Characters are appointed to Parliament and can influence the nation in different ways.
Q: Do I have to play a politician?
All players start in Parliament as appointed experts, but their paths can vary — some focus on lawmaking, others on media, defence, economics, diplomacy, or civil reform. Eventually, you could even become Prime Minister.
Q: Is roleplay serious or casual?
It’s semi-realistic. While the world is sci-fi, the politics and decision-making are grounded in realism. You’re encouraged to explore new ideologies and experiment with different political styles.
Q: How many hours a week do I need to roleplay?
Everyone has busy schedules! Voting in Parliament is the bare minimum to take part in Ascendancy. The server has been built so that everyone works on a monthly structure. Budgets are required once a month, Parliament dissolves every two months, and a Prime Minister's term lasts four months. Some of our players jump into the server to vote once or twice a week and catch up on what has been happening, while our most active players spend 40-50 hours a week writing policy, debating, planning and holding meetings.
Q: What if I don’t want to write long posts?
That’s okay! Ascendancy supports both brief strategic interaction and more detailed roleplay. You’ll find your rhythm over time.
🏛️ Gameplay and Systems
Q: How does the Parliament work?
Parliament is made up of player characters appointed as experts. They vote on laws, debate policies, manage budgets, and elect the Prime Minister to lead the government for four-month terms.
Q: What is technocracy in this context?
Technocracy means that players are appointed to Parliament for their character’s skills, not elected by voters. It’s a twist that makes Ascendancy distinct — you’re there to govern, not campaign.
Q: What kind of decisions can I influence?
Everything from laws and taxes to space programs, infrastructure, defence responses, public health, trade, and more. Your vote matters — outcomes are tracked and have lasting effects.
Q: Is there an in-game economy?
Yes. There’s a fully dynamic economy simulated behind the scenes. Events, laws, and decisions affect key indicators like employment, inflation, and national debt.
Q: Are there maps or visual tools?
Yes! The planet Novum Domitros is fully mapped with interactive tools showing cities, infrastructure, regions, and features like forests or power plants. You can click on anything to learn more.
Q: Is there a story? Or is it player-only sandbox?
Ascendancy has a six-month story season designed by a staff team, but the players drive it forward. Events occur, and how you react determines what happens next. Every event has economic, political, or narrative consequences.
Q: Can my actions change the world?
Yes. Laws passed by Parliament, events triggered, and political moves made by players shape the world permanently. The AscendaWiki archives everything.
🤝 Community and Support
Q: Is this game competitive?
While there are rivalries and political maneuvering, Ascendancy is built around collaboration and storytelling. You can rise or fall, but it’s about the journey, not just “winning.”
Q: What kind of community is this?
It’s a welcoming group of political, sci-fi, and roleplay enthusiasts from around the world. New players are always supported, and creative ideas are encouraged.
Q: Is it safe to explore different political views?
Yes. Ascendancy is a safe space to try out different ideologies and political styles in character. You are encouraged to explore beliefs you might not hold in real life.
Q: What happens if I take a break?
That’s okay! You can step away and return later — the simulation continues, but the world is always ready for returning players to step back in.
📚 Lore and World-Building
Q: What is Novum Domitros?
It’s a terrestrial planet with one large continent and two islands. It’s home to the Union, a technocratic parliamentary nation where players operate as state experts and help govern.
Q: How is world-building done?
Players contribute to the lore through collaborative writing in the AscendaWiki — including history, factions, legends, laws, and more.
Q: Can I add to the wiki or change canon?
Yes! The AscendaWiki is a player-powered archive. If you contribute stories, legislation, or lore through roleplay, it can become part of the official world.
🚀 Final Thoughts
Q: How do I know if this is right for me?
If you enjoy collaborative roleplay, political storytelling, world-building, and big ideas — Ascendancy is a perfect fit.
How does Ascendancy work?
How does Ascendancy work?
Engagement and Collaboration:
Every player brings something special to our simulation.
Our community is most engaged and our world is the most alive when all players collaborate on the nation's issues and focus on a path forward.
All players bring the potential of huge political change. National reform, political parties, committees and governments can rise and fall on one vote. Soon you will hold one vote, and wield it strategically in Discord's premier polsim experience.
Your Story:
In Ascendancy, all players are responsible for the nation's future including its infrastructure, economy, laws and politics.
Take your seat on our functioning Parliament where you will attempt to elect the right people, debate the right issues and draft the right laws - we call this political will.
We want to empower you to bring your best and to feel comfortable working with others to innovate, reform and set the nation on the path that you and your allies are ready to support.
Whether or not your roleplay views match those you have in real-life, Ascendancy is a safe space to try out different styles of politics and put it to the test in our vast world of intrigue, debate, and consequence.
Every decision shapes the future and your Ascendancy story.
"A political server with a unique setting where decisions have a noticeable, recordable impact on everyone and everything is really refreshing..."Player Testimonial, 2024.
"A political server with a unique setting where decisions have a noticeable, recordable impact on everyone and everything is really refreshing..."Player Testimonial, 2024.
Ascendancy: The Guide
Ascendancy: The Guide
This upcoming guide to Ascendancy will be our best resource to help you start your journey. It will introduce you to roleplay in our server, the tools that you need to succeed and helps to create low-barrier entry for players who are interested in the server but worried about understanding everything before diving in - we promise, every single step you take prepares you for your future political career in the Novum Domitros Union.
Our living archive.
Our living archive.
In a Discord forum, players help shape the past, present, and future of our galaxy through collaborative world-building. From ancient legends and founding myths to legislation, faction histories, and major characters, the wiki captures every thread of our collective storytelling.
Ascendawiki is your platform to contribute meaningfully to the canon.
This isn’t just a wiki - it’s a collaborative space powered by players. Every contribution shapes the world we share.
The Union - Our Home
The Union - Our Home
Ascendancy takes place on the planet of Novum Domitros, the homeworld of the Union. It is a technocratic parliamentary democracy where players are appointed to Parliament to provide expert opinions on the strategy of the nation.
The planet of Novum Domitros is terrestrial and home to one large continent with two smaller islands. Players can experience all that the homeworld has to offer through our interactive map which allows features to be toggled on and off and every part of the map can be selected for more information.
The capital city of Novum Centrum stands out as a beacon of hope and prosperity for the Union and is home to Parliament, Government and other national institutions. City and Regional Councils look after local affairs, but central government resources must be looked after by the player-led Government and Parliament.
You can read more about our home in the archives...
Technocracy
Technocracy
Players join Ascendancy by being appointed to Parliament. A new ideology has been rising in strength, technocracy. This means, players are not elected officials, but instead appointed to Parliament by elected officials to manage the matters of state as experts in a particular field.
This Parliament of experts design and take ownership of the nation's long-term plan and then elect a Prime Minister from within their ranks to establish a Government and implement the plan for a term of four months.
The Constitution is the founding document of the Union and has changed over many generations. It sets the highest level direction of how to manage matters of state and secure political stability as the Novum Domitros Union expands.
Story, World-Building & Events
Story, World-Building & Events
Story in Ascendancy is co-designed with players. Our story team design a six-month narrative and players drive story in their reaction and response to the events that come their way.
World-building is a joint experience. Our AscendaWiki is our living archives where all players can contribute to the world, build lore and bring our world to life. Every event has consequences either on the statistics in our highly dynamic economy or on the key relationships our players maintain in roleplay.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse