Nucleum: Energy Research Institute — 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

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