# Nucleum: Energy Research Institute

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2025
- **BGG Rating**: 8.6
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 3, 4)
- **Duration**: 60-150 min
- **Weight**: 4.67 / 5
- **Designers**: Andrei Novac, Borys Bielaś, Dávid Turczi, Simone Luciani
- **Artists**: Andreas Resch, Guilherme Olivieri, Piotr Sokołowski, Zbigniew Umgelter
- **Publishers**: Board&Dice, Board Bound, CMON Global Limited, Giant Roc, Intrafin Games, Maldito Games, MTS Games, Old Dawg, Rebel Sp. z o.o.
- **Categories**: Economic, Expansion for Base-game, Industry / Manufacturing, Science Fiction
- **Mechanics**: Action Retrieval, Contracts, End Game Bonuses, Hand Management, Income, Market, Network and Route Building, Solo / Solitaire Game, Tech Trees / Tech Tracks, Variable Player Powers

## Verdict
If you're already a Nucleum fan looking for even more depth and strategic options, this expansion is a perfect fit!Exciting new experimentsPowerful Patron abilitiesIncreased replayabilityAdds strategic complexityCompatible with other expansionsRequires the base gameIncreases game lengthFor experienced playersHIGHLY RECOMMENDED

## Description
Welcome to the dawn of the Twentieth Century, a brand new era powered by the Uranium Revolution! The world is buzzing with unprecedented prosperity, and everyone – from the wealthy to the free-spirited – wants a slice of this new reality. Fortunately, the major energy consortiums, spread across the globe, are more than willing to sell some shares to attract new investments. With this seemingly inexhaustible influx of capital, more and more entrepreneurs are taking risks, setting up their own experiments, and striving to forge a bright, green path to success! But as we know, ambition alone won't get anyone to the top. That's where the Powerful Patrons come in, offering their wealth and knowledge to help you reach a new level and become the most respected entrepreneur of the era! Nucleum: Energy Research Institute is an expansion that supercharges the Nucleum base game. It introduces 8 exciting new Experiments and powerful Patron cards with game-changing abilities. And the best part: all these new Experiments are compatible with other expansions, such as Nucleum: Australia, Nucleum: Court of Progress, and Nucleum: Patrons Set. Get ready to dive even deeper into this universe of energy and strategy!

## How to Play
Objective of the Game  
In Nucleum: Energy Research Institute, players take on the roles of entrepreneurs during the Uranium Revolution, competing to build the most successful energy empire. The expansion introduces new Experiments and Patron cards with unique abilities, adding depth to the base game. Players aim to advance their technologies, fulfill contracts, and strategically expand their networks to earn the most Victory Points (VP) by the end of the game.  

Preparation (Setup)  
Base Game Adjustments  
  
  Add 1 extra Silver and Gold Contract to their respective stacks (7/10/13 Silver and 11/13/17 Gold for 2/3/4 players). If playing with Nucleum: Australia, add 2 extra Contracts per stack.  
  Place the Chaining Deal tile face down below the Experiment Board.  
  

New Experiments Setup  
  
  Reveal a number of Experiment boards equal to the number of players + 1. Players select boards in reverse player order (or use the Expert Variant auction).  
  Take the chosen Experiment board, its technology tiles, Turbine Effect tile, Starting Action tiles, and player aid.  
  If playing with Nucleum: Court of Progress, replace Starting Action tiles with Alternative Starting Action tiles.  
  For specific Experiments (e.g., Mistress of Espionage), follow unique setup steps (e.g., replacing Urban Buildings with Special Neutral Buildings).  
  

Flow of the Game  
The game progresses through turns where players perform actions to expand their networks, unlock technologies, and fulfill contracts. Key phases include:  
  
  Action Phase: Players take turns performing actions like Develop, Urbanize, or Energize.  
  Recharge: After resolving actions, players reset their Action tiles and advance income markers.  
  Endgame Trigger: The game ends when specific conditions are met (e.g., a player unlocks all technologies or reaches a VP threshold).  
  
Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção.  

Actions and How to Play  
Core Actions  
  
  Develop: Acquire new Action tiles to expand your options.  
  Urbanize: Construct buildings in cities to grow your network.  
  Energize: Power buildings using uranium to gain rewards.  
  

New Concepts  
  
  Chaining Tiles: Allow players to perform an action and immediately play another non-Chaining tile afterward.  
  Potential Tiles: Fill action spaces to optimize income during Recharge (temporary or constant).  
  Patron Abilities: Unique one-time abilities tied to each Experiment (e.g., Banker can spend 6VP to use unconnected uranium).  
  

End of Game and Scoring  
The game ends when:  
  
  At least one player unlocks all their technologies (8 for most, 16 for Genius).  
  A VP threshold is met (varies by player count).  
  
Final scoring includes:  
  
  VP from Contracts, Technologies, and energized buildings.  
  Bonus VP for specific achievements (e.g., Master Bookkeeper scores for Special VP tokens).  
  

Tips to Win  
  
  Prioritize Patron Abilities: Use your Experiment’s unique ability strategically—it’s a one-time boost!  
  Balance Income Tracks: Advancing multiple income markers (Thaler, Workers, VP) ensures steady resources.  
  Leverage Chaining Tiles: Combine actions for efficiency, but remember you can’t chain more than one per turn.

## FAQ
### What does Nucleum: Energy Research Institute add to the base game?
This expansion introduces 8 new Experiments and Patron cards with unique abilities, offering new strategies and paths to victory, deepening the base game experience.

### Do I need the Nucleum base game to play this expansion?
Yes, Nucleum: Energy Research Institute is an expansion and requires the Nucleum base game to be played. It complements and expands the original experience.

### Is this expansion compatible with other Nucleum expansions?
Absolutely! The new Experiments are fully compatible with Nucleum: Australia, Nucleum: Court of Progress, and Nucleum: Patrons Set, allowing you to mix and match elements to create unique experiences.

### What level of complexity does this expansion add?
The expansion slightly increases complexity by introducing more variables and strategic decisions. It's ideal for players who have already mastered the base game and are looking for a greater challenge.

### How many players can play with this expansion?
The expansion maintains the same player count as the base game, from 1 to 4 participants, including the solo option.

### What is the average game time with the expansion?
With the addition of new elements, the game duration may increase slightly, ranging between 60 and 150 minutes, depending on the number of players and familiarity with the rules.

### Who is this expansion most suitable for?
It is highly recommended for players who already love Nucleum and want to expand their strategic possibilities, or for those seeking a more complex and replayable experience within the game's universe.

## Price Comparison
### Best International Offers
- **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 29.97 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6722666&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
  - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/81357/nucleum-energy-research-institute?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com