Stone Blade Entertainment, publishers of the Ascension Deckbuilding Game, has announced a new incentive program for hobby retailers.  The company will now offer exclusive monthly promo card kits to participating retailers, which replace the company’s “Game Day” program.

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The change was to make the company’s retailer support program more timely and efficient, Stone Blade’s Director of Operations Ian Estrin told ICv2. “There were a few challenges with the Game Day program in its previous incarnation that made it untenable to maintain, including shipping, ensuring that stores were using all the promos they were being sent and simply managing the program on a day to day basis,” Estrin said.  “With our large network of distribution partners, we are able to leverage their infrastructures to make sure that stores are getting the promos in a timely fashion, and are getting the exact right amount of cards they need to support their local play groups.”

The promo card kits will be sold through Stone Blade’s distribution partners at a $2 net price per kit.  Each kit will include 10 promo cards that are not available elsewhere, with different cards offered each month.  The intent is that these cards will be used by the stores to create their own organize play and in-store events. Participating retailers are prohibited from selling the promo cards.

The new program is scheduled to begin in June.  The promo card for that month will be the Mechana Hero “Archival Expert”.  In July, the Lifebound Hero “Lunar Matriarch” will be available through the program.

Stone Blade recently released the Dawn of Champions standalone product (see “'Ascension: Dawn of Champions'”).