# Nucleum: Patrons Set ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2024 - **BGG Rating**: 7.6 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 4) - **Duration**: 60-150 min - **Weight**: 2.00 / 5 - **Designers**: Dávid Turczi, Simone Luciani - **Artists**: Andreas Resch, Guilherme Olivieri, Zbigniew Umgelter - **Publishers**: Board&Dice, Board Bound, CMON Global Limited, Giant Roc, Intrafin Games, Maldito Games, Mosaico Jogos, Old Dawg, Rebel Sp. z o.o. - **Categories**: Economic, Expansion for Base-game, Industry / Manufacturing, Science Fiction - **Mechanics**: Solo / Solitaire Game, Variable Player Powers ## Verdict If you already love Nucleum, you’ll enjoy putting faces on the experiments with these patrons.Well‑illustrated cardsHelps memorySolo support includedDoesn’t change core rulesLimited thematic impactRECOMMENDED ## Description Nucleum: Patrons Set arrives as a tiny expansion that breathes life into the base game's experiments. Each experiment, previously identified only by a letter (A, B, C, …), now has a patron with a name, occupation, description and illustration. Thus Experiment A becomes the "Banker", B the "Captain of Industry", C the "Mistress Inventor", D the "Junior Minister", E the "Councilor" and F the "Madame Engineer". These patron cards are placed on their matching experiment boards, adding a narrative and visual touch that makes it easier to remember each area’s role. The expansion does not change Nucleum's core rules, but it introduces a bit of Variable Player Powers flavor, as each patron brings subtle quirks that can sway strategic choices. It also includes full support for solo play, keeping the same level of challenge for those who prefer to run the factory alone. With a light weight (2/5) and a playtime ranging from 60 to 150 minutes, it works well for both small groups and solo sessions without bogging down the game. High‑quality components – well‑illustrated cards and clear text – make Patrons Set perfect for fans of Nucleum’s industrial universe who want more personality on the board. If you enjoy sci‑fi themes, the Industrial Revolution, and economic management, these patrons add a nice flavor to resource handling. The modest price (R$ 20.00) and easy integration make it almost a must‑have for anyone who owns the base game. In short, this mini‑expansion adds flavor, clarity and a hint of personalization without complicating the learning curve. It’s a great way to refresh the Nucleum experience without overhauling the beloved mechanics. ## How to Play Objective of the Game Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção. Preparation (Setup) Components 6 Patron cards (1 for each Experiment) 6 Baron’s Patron cards (1 for each Experiment) Each Patron card belongs to a specific Experiment board. The Experiments are now referred to using the names of their Patrons: Experiment A -> Banker Experiment B -> Captain of Industry Experiment C -> Mistress Inventor Experiment D -> Junior Minister Experiment E -> Councilor (Requires the Nucleum: Court of Progress board) Experiment F -> Madame Engineer Setup Change During setup, players need to agree whether they want to use the Patron abilities. If players do not play with the Nucleum: Court of Progress expansion, return the Councilor’s card back to the box (and the Madame Engineer’s card if they do not have Experiment F). Players must also agree on how they want to choose their Experiment boards: Following the rules from the base game: When a player takes everything that belongs to an Experiment board of their choosing, they also take an appropriate Patron card. Following the Expert Variant: A player also takes an appropriate Patron card. You may also incorporate the following rule: shuffle and deal a number of Patron cards equal to the number of players (if playing without Experiments from the Nucleum: Court of Progress expansion, deal all base game Patrons in case of a 4 player game). Then proceed with the bidding as described in the Expert Variant. Only Experiments associated with revealed Patron cards may be chosen. Deal everyone a random Patron card which determines their Experiment board. Take everything that belongs to that Experiment and continue with the setup as usual. Solo Mode - Baron Abilities Setup When setting up a game against the Baron (or multiple Barons) von Automat, after taking your own Patron card, deal (each) Baron a random Patron card (if playing without the Nucleum: Court of Progress expansion: exclude Councilor and Madame Engineer cards). Make sure it uses the corresponding starting tiles, resolve its setup instructions (if any), then place it face down in the Baron’s play area. After the Baron’s first Recharge, flip it face up. Its ongoing ability is in effect for the rest of the game. To increase the difficulty, have the Baron’s Patron card face up from the beginning of the game. Baron's Patron Card Specific Setup Instructions: Banker: During step 2B, place the Government building tiles on the top of the stacks. (From the bottom to the top: III, II, I, IV.) Captain of Industry: During step 2C, place the two Special Action tiles for Experiment B at the end of the queue, behind the stopblock face down (instead of returning it to the box in step 2A). Mistress Inventor: After setup, the Baron flips the Neutral Building with the highest requirement and receives 1 Worker (for Residential), or 1 Thaler (for Factory), or 3 VP (for Lab/Government). Councilor: After setup, add one of the Baron’s Worker meeples (from the supply) to the Dominant Party. Madame Engineer: During step 2C, mix the three Special Action tiles for Experiment F with the other tiles when creating the queue (in front of the stopblock). Fluxo do Jogo Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção. Ações e Como Jogar Patron Abilities Each Patron card has an ability that requires a player to spend a certain number of VP. These abilities may be used at any point during a player’s turn, but they may only be used once per game. Players may flip their Patron card to remember that they have already used the ability. Banker: Spend 3VP while fulfilling a Contract to gain all non VP and non Technology rewards on the fulfilled Contract again. Captain of Industry: Spend 3VP while performing an Urbanize or Industrialize action to do it without network requirements. Mistress Inventor: Spend 2 VP to get 1 Uranium if you have 1 Uranium Mine or 4 VP to get 2 Uranium if you have at least 2 Uranium Mines. Junior Minister: Spend 1VP while Energizing to reset 2 Coal Import spaces to 1 Thaler. Councilor: Spend a number of VP of your choice to get that number of Thaler minus 1. You can spend a maximum of 10VP. Madame Engineer: Either spend 2VP to get 1 Worker or 4VP to get 2 Workers. Solo Mode - Baron Abilities These abilities are used exclusively in a Solo game against the Baron (or multiple Barons) von Automat. After the Baron’s first Recharge, its Patron card is flipped face up, and its ongoing ability is in effect for the rest of the game. Baron's Patron Card Specific Ongoing Abilities: Banker: The Baron does not pay Thaler for the Urbanize action. The Baron can Urbanize outside of its network. Captain of Industry: Flip the two Special Action tiles in the queue face up. Mistress Inventor: The Baron does not pay Thaler for the Energize action. The Baron can Energize regardless of its network. Thus, the Baron always scores for its Turbines and Mines, regardless of their connections. Junior Minister: All of the Baron’s tiles are wild (for both you and the Baron) for Railway purposes. After performing an Industrialize action, it also performs a Contract action. The Baron is not limited to resolving 3 Contracts between Recharges. Councilor: After performing a Court action, it performs another Court action (once per turn). Madame Engineer: After Recharging (including when this card is flipped), the Baron takes the cheapest Action tile from the market, then shuffles the order of all of its queued tiles (placing the stopblock at the end). Special Action tiles (Baron Solo Mode) If the Baron selects a Special Action tile, it performs the shown action and additionally resolves the tile directly after it (the next one to the right), as if the die roll selected that tile. If the next tile is another Special Action tile, it skips that and resolves the next non-special tile. If the next tile is the stopblock, the Baron forfeits this additional action. After resolving both the Special Action tile and the additional tile, move both tiles (or just the Special Action tile if the other tile was used as a railway or the action was forfeit due to reaching the stopblock) to the end of the queue, preserving their order. A Special Action tile can never be placed on the board as a railway, so resolving it is always a regular turn. Fim de Jogo e Pontuação Some Patron cards also contain a Scoring ability, which applies during the final scoring. Baron's Patron Card Specific Scoring Abilities: Captain of Industry: Score +1 VP each time the Baron meets any of the Milestones. (Essentially scoring 3/5/7/9 VP instead of 2/4/6/8 VP respectively.) Madame Engineer: Score 1 VP per Action tile left in the Baron’s queue (before or after the stopblock, excluding the stopblock). Dicas para Vencer Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção. ## FAQ ### How many players can use the expansion? Patrons Set works for 1‑4 players, just like the base game. ### Do I need the base game to use the expansion? Yes, the mini‑expansion only supplements Nucleum. ### How long does a game last with the expansion? Playtime stays between 60 and 150 minutes, depending on player count. ### Does the expansion change any rules? No, it just adds patron cards that provide thematic flavor and minor variations. ### Is there solo support? Yes, the expansion retains the solo rules already in the base game. ### What’s the complexity level? It keeps the light weight (2/5), easy for newcomers. ### What components are included? Six patron cards, each linked to an experiment, with artwork and descriptive text. ## Price Comparison ### Best Offers in Brazil - **Bravo Jogos**: R$ 27,81 (https://bravojogos.com.br/jogos-de-tabuleiro-e-cardgames/expansoes/expansao-nucleum-patronos-p?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Leão Livros**: R$ 40,82 (https://www.leaolivros.com.br/nucleum-patronos?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Caixinha Boardgames**: R$ 45,57 (https://www.caixinhaboardgames.com.br/produtos/patronos-expansao-nucleum/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Mosaico Jogos**: R$ 46,00 (https://www.mosaicoloja.com.br/jogos/expansoes/patronos-nucleum?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Cangaia Jogos**: R$ 46,49 (https://www.cangaiajogos.com.br/todos-os-jogos/jogos-estrategicos/nucleum-patronos?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Livtoys**: R$ 46,50 (https://www.livtoys.com.br/boardgames/expansoes/nucleum-patronos-expansao?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on Compara Jogos: https://www.comparajogos.com.br/item/nucleum-patrons-set ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 8.18 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5701340&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/74686/nucleum-patrons-set?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com