ASCEND Forge
Where Ideas Become Worlds.
About ASCEND Forge
Bringing Independent Ideas Into the World
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Publishing is more than releasing a product. It is about helping creators transform ideas into experiences that can be developed, produced, shared, and discovered.
ASCEND Forge works with independent creators and creative teams across tabletop games, card games, RPGs, books, and other original projects.
Our goal is simple:
Help creators bring great ideas to their audience while building partnerships that respect the creator, the work, the contribution, and the people who experience it.
ASCEND Forge evaluates intellectual property ownership and publishing rights on a project-by-project basis. The project's origin, development stage, contributions, funding, responsibilities, and level of Forge involvement may all influence the structure of the final agreement.
Publishing Paths
Every Great Project Has Its Own Journey
Not every project needs the same kind of support. ASCEND Forge offers several pathways depending on where a project is in development and what the creator needs.
Forge Originals
Projects created through ASCEND Forge.
Forge Originals are projects originated, developed, and published as part of the ASCEND Forge creative portfolio.
These may include original tabletop games, card games, RPGs, books, settings, and other creative works developed by Forge.
IP Ownership: ASCEND Forge.
Production & Distribution
You have the game. Forge helps produce it and reach new markets.
This pathway is designed for creators who already have a physical or production-ready project but need assistance turning their files into physical products or reaching a new market.
ASCEND Forge may assist with:
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Manufacturer sourcing
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Production coordination
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Prototype and sample production
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Card and component manufacturing
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Packaging
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Quality control
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Production management
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Shipping coordination
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Local or regional distribution
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Retail placement
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Preorders and limited releases
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Local fulfillment
ASCEND Forge is exploring Thailand-based production and distribution as a potential production hub for physical tabletop and card-game projects.
Depending on the project, creators may work with Forge for production only, or expand the relationship into distribution, marketing, retail, or broader publishing support.
Production and distribution arrangements may use a service fee, product margin, royalty, revenue share, or other mutually agreed structure.
IP Ownership: Generally creator-owned, with defined production and/or distribution rights granted to Forge.
Publishing
Your project is substantially complete. Forge helps bring it to market.
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The Publishing pathway is designed for creators who have a substantially completed project and are looking for publication, production, distribution, marketing, and release support.
Depending on the project, ASCEND Forge may assist with:
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Publication
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Production
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Distribution
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Marketing
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Release planning
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Digital or physical sales
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Retail opportunities
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Project management
The creator may retain ownership of their intellectual property while ASCEND Forge receives defined rights to publish, produce, market, and distribute the project according to the agreed terms.
IP Ownership: Generally creator-owned, unless otherwise agreed.
Forge Partnership
Creator and Forge work together to take the project further.
A Forge Partnership is intended for projects where ASCEND Forge will take a substantial role in the development, production, publishing, marketing, or distribution of a project.
Depending on the needs of the project, Forge may provide:
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Development support
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Game design
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Editing
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Graphic design
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Worldbuilding and writing
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Playtesting
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Art direction
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Production planning
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Manufacturing coordination
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Branding
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Marketing
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Distribution
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Community development
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Release management
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Financial or production investment
Because Forge may contribute substantial creative, financial, developmental, or operational resources, IP ownership and rights are negotiated according to the overall contributions and responsibilities of both parties. This may include creator ownership, Forge ownership, shared ownership, or defined licensing rights.
IP Ownership: Determined by the project's contributions, responsibilities, and agreement between the parties.
​From Production to Partnership
A project does not necessarily need to enter a full publishing partnership immediately.
A creator may begin with a limited production or distribution arrangement and expand the relationship as the project demonstrates potential.
A typical progression may look like:
Evaluate → Test → Produce → Release → Measure → Expand
If a project requires increasingly substantial involvement from ASCEND Forge, the relationship can be reevaluated and expanded accordingly.
This allows both sides to evaluate the opportunity before committing to a larger arrangement.
Ownership & Rights
ASCEND Forge believes that the origin of an idea is important, but so are the contributions required to turn that idea into a finished product.
Ownership is determined by the project's origin, development, contributions, funding, responsibilities, and the terms agreed upon by the parties.
When evaluating a project, Forge may consider:
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Who originated the project
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How developed the project already is
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Creative contributions
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Development work
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Artwork and design
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Production work
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Financial investment
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Marketing and distribution
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Ongoing responsibilities
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Overall risk assumed by each party
Depending on the project, agreements may involve:
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Creator ownership
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Forge ownership
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Shared ownership
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Exclusive or non-exclusive licensing
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Production rights
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Publishing rights
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Distribution rights
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Marketing rights
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Territory
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Duration
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Revenue or royalty arrangements
All major terms are established before a project enters a formal agreement.
How We Work
Every publication follows the same professional publishing journey.
1. Discover
We review your project, goals, and publishing needs to determine the best publishing path.
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2. Develop
Where appropriate, we collaborate to strengthen the project through planning, editing, design, and production support.
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3. Refine
We prepare the publication for release through professional editing, layout, branding, quality assurance, and final
production.
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4. Publish
The finished work is released through ASCEND Forge and approved distribution platforms.
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5. Grow
We continue supporting the publication through updates, promotion, community engagement, and long-term publishing opportunities.
Revenue & Creator Ownership
ASCEND Forge believes creators should retain ownership of their original intellectual property whenever possible. Publishing agreements are tailored to the scope of each project, with revenue-sharing based on the level of development, production, publishing services, and ongoing support provided by ASCEND Forge.
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Revenue-sharing is tailored to each project based on the level of collaboration and publishing support provided.
Our goal is simple:
Build lasting partnerships that are fair, transparent, and focused on creating exceptional publications.
Our Publishing Philosophy
Every Story Matters
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Every publication released under the ASCEND Forge name reflects six guiding principles.
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Professional Quality
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Creative Excellence
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Thoughtful Design
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Clear Communication
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Respect for Creators
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Lasting Value
These principles define our publishing standards and guide every project entrusted to the Forge.
Why Publish with ASCEND Forge?
Publishing is more than releasing a product.
It is about building a lasting creative work.
Creators who publish with ASCEND Forge benefit from:
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Professional publishing standards
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Transparent communication
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Collaborative development
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Multi-platform digital distribution
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Long-term publishing support
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Respect for creator ownership
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The organizational foundation of ASCEND Pro Systems
Working With ASCEND Forge
Every project begins with an application.
The application helps us understand:
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What you've created
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Where the project is in development
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What support you need
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Which publishing path may be appropriate
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Where you want to publish or distribute
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What role you want Forge to play
If you're unsure which path is right for your project, that's okay. We can evaluate the project and determine which approach makes the most sense.
Have a project ready for the Forge?
ASCEND Forge
Where Ideas Become Worlds.
Creative Publishing Studio
A Division of ASCEND Pro Systems