# Cuba Libre: Calixto Bot Update Pack ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2026 - **BGG Rating**: 7.8 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 1) - **Duration**: 180 min - **Weight**: 4.00 / 5 - **Designers**: Kevin Crooks - **Publishers**: GMT Games - **Categories**: Economic, Expansion for Base-game, Modern Warfare, Political, Wargame - **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Area Movement, Dice Rolling, Solo / Solitaire Game, Variable Player Powers ## Verdict If you love Cuba Libre and want to play solo or with fewer players, the Calixto Bot is a fantastic addition that brings a clever AI opponent to the table!Simulates a human opponentQuick to set up and playChallenging and unpredictableGreat for solo playRequires English readingExpansion for base gameHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Hey folks! If you're already into the political tension and twists of Cuba Libre, get ready for an upgrade! The Calixto Bot Update Pack brings the Jacquard AI system, which has already made waves in other COIN series games, to bring order (or chaos!) to your table, even when you don't have a full crew. Forget those robotic and bland bots. Calixto was designed to simulate a real human opponent: it's quick to set up and play, but don't be fooled, it challenges you from start to finish. Actions are decided by cards drawn from a faction-specific deck, which take a look at the current game state and go for it. A single table helps define where operations, events, and special activities will take place, saving you that precious time spent flipping through rulebooks. Playing against Calixto is quite an experience! It's unpredictable yet smart, knows how to defend, attack, and even make moves only a human would think of, like using a Limited Operation to mess with an opponent's plan. It can take on the role of any faction, so you can set up any combination of players and bots. If you enjoy the COIN series and want more solo options or to fill out your player count, this little pack is for you. Just remember that, like most games in this line, it requires good English reading skills to avoid mistakes. ## How to Play 1. Game Objective Calixto is an update system for non-player (NP) factions in the game Cuba Libre. The goal of the NP factions is to compete for control of Cuba by following the base game rules, but using a system of cards and priority tables instead of flowcharts. Victory conditions follow the standard game rules: NP factions can win during the Victory Phase of any Propaganda Round, while human players can only win during the final Propaganda Round (or according to the 2-3 player rules). 2. Setup Calixto Deck: Separate the six Calixto cards for each NP faction being used. Shuffle all these cards together into a single deck, face up. Resources: The NP Government, NP 26J, and NP Directorio factions do not track Resources; set aside their resource cylinders. Only the NP Syndicate tracks and spends Resources normally. Player Aids: Keep the Priorities tables (Space Selection, Move, and Pieces), the Eligibility table, and the Propaganda Round instructions handy. 3. Game Flow NP factions follow the base game's Sequence of Play: Eligibility: Eligible NP factions determine their action using the Eligibility table and the Event Cards table. Actions: If the faction chooses Operation + Special Activity, Operation Only, or Limited Operation, use the Calixto cards and the Priorities tables to execute the action. Events: If the faction chooses an Event, execute it by consulting the Effective Events and Event Instructions tables. Pass: If the faction passes, there is no additional effect (except for the NP Syndicate, which gains 1 Resource). Note: If a faction possesses a Cash marker and performs an Operation Only or Limited Operation, it will remove the Cash to perform an additional free Limited Operation, drawing a new Calixto card. 4. Actions and How to Play Calixto cards dictate actions. When reading a card: Conditionals: Follow the green arrow if the condition in the blue box is true, or the red one if it is false. Execution: Execute the numbered instructions in order. If an instruction cannot be performed legally, skip it. Space Selection: Use the faction-specific Space Selection Priorities table to choose where to act. Activation Number (AN): After executing an Operation, roll 1d6. If the result is greater than the AN (indicated on the card), the faction selects another space. If it is less than or equal, the operation ends. Limited Operations do not require an AN roll. Special Activities: Execute the first possible activity from the list on the card. If it is not possible, skip to the next one. Do not execute Special Activities during a Limited Operation. 5. End of Game and Scoring The game ends according to the base game rules (Propaganda Round triggers). Solitaire: The human player can only win in the final Propaganda Round. NP factions can win in the Victory Phase of any Propaganda Round. 2 or 3 Players: Any faction can win in any Propaganda Round. Consult the manual for details on this section. 6. Tips for Winning Prioritize Efficiency: NP factions always execute operations up to the maximum limit allowed by their resources and available pieces. Plan your moves anticipating that the AI will always try to maximize the impact of each action. Cash Management: Remember that NP factions (except Syndicate) will use Cash markers to perform free operations whenever possible. If you are playing against them, try to remove the Cash before they have a chance to activate it. Controlled Randomness: When priority instructions are exhaustive and there are still multiple options, the manual suggests randomizing. Use dice to ensure the AI is not too predictable in tie situations. ## FAQ ### Do I need the base game Cuba Libre to use this pack? Yes, this is an update pack that adds a bot to the base game Cuba Libre. It cannot be played on its own. ### How many players can play with the Calixto Bot? The Calixto Bot is designed to replace one or more factions, allowing for solo play (1 player) or with fewer players (2 or 3 players), and can also be used alongside human players. ### Is the Calixto Bot difficult to learn and play? No, the Jacquard system is known for being quick to implement and easy to use, while still providing a considerable challenge for players. ### Does the bot make intelligent decisions? Yes, the bot is designed to respond to the strategic needs of the game, pursue enemies, look after allies, and even make tactical moves that simulate a human player. ### Do I need to understand English to play with the Calixto Bot? Yes, the content of the bot's cards and reference tables are in English. A good reading level in the language is recommended. ### Does this pack add new mechanics to Cuba Libre? No, it focuses on enhancing the solo or lower-player-count experience by implementing an AI system to control non-player factions, without introducing new core mechanics.