Mindbug: First Contact

2022

Summon bizarre creatures and use Mindbugs to control your opponent's moves in Mindbug. With unique cards and no resource gathering, every decision counts.

25
minutes

2 - 2
player(s)

Medium Light

About the game

Welcome to ‘Mindbug: First Contact’, an immersive and engaging board game that takes you to another level of strategic gameplay and interstellar intrigue. This game is set against the grandeur of the cosmos, where alien civilizations vie for supremacy and first contact with new species can determine the fate of entire worlds.

The theme of ‘Mindbug: First Contact’ is one of exploration and diplomacy with a dash of subterfuge. Players represent different alien species, each with their own unique abilities and motivations. As representatives of your species, you must explore the cosmos, establish contact with other species, negotiate alliances, and navigate the treacherous waters of alien diplomacy.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Mindbug: First Contact is a captivating board game that requires strategic thinking and a keen sense of intuition. The game comes with numerous components, each playing a significant role in the gameplay. Below is a description of each component and its role in the game:

1. Game Board

The game board is the main platform where the game unfolds. It is a map of an alien planet with various zones and paths. Players move their tokens along these paths to navigate around the board.

2. Player Tokens

These are different colored markers representing each player on the board. The tokens move around the game board, allowing players to establish contact with different alien species.

3. Species Cards

Species Cards represent the different alien species present on the planet. These cards provide information about each species’ strengths, weaknesses, and special abilities.
Players can collect these cards to gain advantages in the game or form alliances with the represented species.

4. Event Cards

Event Cards introduce unexpected twists and turns into the game. When drawn, they can alter the game’s circumstances, potentially benefiting or hindering the players’ progress.
These cards may prompt a change in the environment, a sudden attack, or the appearance of new species.

5. Mindbug Tokens

Mindbug Tokens represent the psychic energy players use to communicate with alien species. Players spend these tokens to use the abilities on their Species Cards.

6. Dice

A set of dice is used to determine the players’ movements on the board. The roll of the dice can also influence the outcome of certain Event Cards.

7. Score Track

The Score Track is a numerical scale on the side of the game board. It is used to keep track of each player’s progress and points. The player with the highest score at the end of the game is declared the winner.

8. Rulebook

The Rulebook provides a comprehensive guide to the game’s rules, gameplay mechanics, and objectives. It is essential for understanding how to play and win the game.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Mindbug: First Contact is a thrilling board game of strategy and cunning. Setting up the game properly is crucial to ensure a balanced and enjoyable experience for all players. Follow these step-by-step instructions to get started:

Assign Player Roles: In ‘Mindbug: First Contact’, each player takes on the role of a commanding officer in one of two opposing factions. Assign these roles randomly. One player becomes the Mindbug Commander while the other becomes the Human Commander.
Set Up the Game Board: Place the game board in the center of the playing area. Ensure all players can easily access it. The board represents the battleground where the two factions will clash.
Place the Resource Counters: Each player starts with a predetermined number of resource counters. The Human Commander starts with 10 Energy Counters and 5 Science Counters. The Mindbug Commander starts with 10 Biomass Counters and 5 Mutation Counters. Place these counters beside each player’s respective area of the board.
Place the Units: Each player places their starting units on the board. The Human Commander places their initial units onto the Human Base area, while the Mindbug Commander places their units onto the Mindbug Hive area.
Shuffle the Deck: Shuffle the game’s deck of cards and place it within easy reach of both players. This deck contains a range of action cards that can be drawn and used during the game. Each player should draw 5 cards to form their starting hand.
Set Up the Score Tracker: Place a marker on the ‘0’ spot of the Score Tracker for each player. As the game progresses, players will earn points for successfully completing objectives and defeating enemy units. The Score Tracker is used to keep track of these points.
Prepare the Dice: Place the dice beside the game board. Dice are used in ‘Mindbug: First Contact’ to resolve combat and other random events.

Once these steps are complete, you are ready to embark on your mission in ‘Mindbug: First Contact’. Remember, strategy is key in this game – plan your moves carefully and adapt to the changing situation on the battlefield.

Game flow Round and round we go

Mindbug: First Contact is a strategic board game where players take on roles as alien races trying to establish dominance in a new unexplored galaxy. This game is structured in a series of rounds, each with its own unique set of actions and phases. Players must use their resources wisely, make strategic alliances, and employ clever tactics to outsmart their opponents.

The game structure can be broken down as follows:

Setup Phase: Each player chooses an alien race, sets up their home planets, and draws a starting hand of 5 cards from the draw pile. The player who most recently saw a shooting star goes first.
Resource Phase: At the start of each round, players gain resources based on the planets they control. Resources include mindgems (the game’s currency), technology cards, and power tokens.
Action Phase: Players take turns performing one action at a time. Actions include:
- Playing a card: Players can play a card from their hand, paying its cost in mindgems. Cards can be creatures, technologies, or events.
- Activating a card: Players can activate a card they control, using its power to affect the game. Creatures can attack other players or planets, technologies can give advantages, and events can cause unexpected twists.
- Trading resources: Players can negotiate trades with other players, exchanging mindgems, cards, or even promises of future actions.
- Passing: If a player does not want or cannot perform an action, they pass. Once a player passes, they cannot perform any more actions this round.
End Phase: Once all players have passed, the round ends. Players check for any end-of-round effects on their cards, then draw back up to their hand size. If the draw pile is empty, the discard pile is shuffled to form a new draw pile.
Victory Phase: If at the end of a round a player controls a certain number of planets (based on the number of players in the game), they are declared the winner. If no player has won, a new round begins with the Resource Phase.

This cycle of phases continues until a player achieves the victory condition, at which point that player is declared the winner of Mindbug: First Contact.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In Mindbug: First Contact, each player’s turn is divided into three distinct phases: The Draw phase, the Action phase, and the Cleanup phase. Here is a detailed breakdown of each phase and the strategic choices involved:

The Draw Phase:

At the start of your turn, draw two cards from your deck. If your deck is empty, shuffle your discard pile and create a new deck.

Strategic Choice: As you can only hold a maximum of seven cards at any moment, it is important to plan your actions ahead of time to avoid discarding valuable cards.

The Action Phase:

During the Action phase, you can perform any of the following actions in any order:

Play a card: Each card has its specific action that could impact the game in various ways, such as attacking your opponent’s mindbugs, defending your own, or manipulating the draw pile. The card’s action is immediately resolved once played.
Deploy a mindbug: You can deploy a mindbug from your hand to the battlefield. Mindbugs are your primary method of attacking your opponent’s life points.
Attack with a mindbug: If you have a mindbug in the battlefield, you can choose to attack your opponent’s mindbugs or directly their life points.

Strategic Choice: Choosing the right action to perform can greatly affect the outcome of the game. Knowing when to attack, defend, or play a special action card is crucial in outsmarting your opponent.

The Cleanup Phase:

At the end of your turn, you must adhere to the following:

If you have more than seven cards in your hand, choose and discard cards until you only have seven.
All damage taken by your mindbugs this turn is healed. If a mindbug’s health reaches zero, it is sent to the discard pile.
Pass the turn to the next player.

Strategic Choice: During the cleanup phase, deciding which cards to keep and which to discard can impact your future turns. Consider your opponent’s possible moves and plan accordingly.

Remember, the key to winning in Mindbug: First Contact is not only about having powerful cards but also about making strategic decisions that will outwit your opponent.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of ‘Mindbug: First Contact’ comes to an end when one of the two conditions are met:

Exhaustion of the Draw Pile: When the draw pile in the game has been exhausted and there are no other cards that can be drawn, the game ends immediately.
Completion of the Final Mindbug: When a player is able to complete the final Mindbug, the game ends instantly.

Upon reaching the end of the game, players must follow these steps before final scoring:

Discard Remaining Cards: Any cards remaining in a player’s hand should be discarded into their respective discard piles.
Calculate Mindbug Points: Players should calculate the total number of Mindbug points they have gathered from completed Mindbugs.
Consider Bonus Points: If a player has any bonus points from special cards or actions, they should be added to the total Mindbug points.

The victory conditions for ‘Mindbug: First Contact’ are as follows:

Most Mindbug Points: The player with the most Mindbug points at the end of the game is declared the winner. In the case of a tie, the player with the most completed Mindbugs is the winner. If there is still a tie, the player with the least number of cards in their hand at the end of the game wins.
Completion of Special Mindbug: If a player completes the special Mindbug, they automatically win the game regardless of the points gathered by the other players.

Please note that the game’s victory conditions can vary if you choose to play with different rules or game modes. Always ensure to agree on the rules before starting the game to avoid confusion.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Mindbug: First Contact is a strategic board game where players earn points by controlling territories, collecting resources and completing missions. The following details the comprehensive scoring system.

1. Territory Control:

At the end of each round, players earn 2 points for each territory they control on the game board.
Control is established by having a majority of units in a territory compared to other players.

2. Resource Collection:

Players earn 1 point for each resource they collect during their turn.
Resources can be collected by landing on resource spaces or by using certain card abilities.

3. Mission Completion:

Each player has a deck of mission cards, and upon completing a mission, they earn points as specified on the card. This typically ranges from 3 to 5 points.
Missions can be completed by meeting certain conditions on the game board or in one’s hand.

The game ends after a predetermined number of rounds, and the player with the highest total score is declared the winner.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

In the event of a tie, the player who controls the most territories is the winner.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most resources is the winner.
If a tie persists, the player who has completed the most missions wins.
If a tie still cannot be broken, the youngest player wins.

The scoring system in Mindbug: First Contact encourages strategic play and resource management, and the tie-breaking rules ensure a clear winner is always declared.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Mindbug: First Contact is a strategic board game that involves a lot of mind games and decision-making. While the rules are generally straightforward, there are a few special rules, exceptions, and clarifications that are key to mastering the game.

1. Special Rule: The First Contact

During the first round of the game, the player who makes the first contact has an advantage. They can draw two cards instead of one from the deck. Remember, this rule only applies to the first round of the game.

2. Exception: The Mindbug Card

While most cards in the game are played instantly, the Mindbug card is an exception. When a player draws this card, they can hold onto it and play it at any point during their turn. This can drastically change the course of the game and should be used strategically.

3. Rule Clarification: The Exchange Rule

There is often confusion around the exchange rule. To clarify, when a player chooses to exchange cards, they must exchange with another player, not the deck. The exchange is also mandatory, not optional, once the player has declared an exchange.

4. Special Rule: The Final Round

In the final round of the game, the rules change slightly. Players must play all the cards in their hand before the round ends. This means strategic planning is crucial in the final round to ensure you can make the most of your cards.

5. Rule Clarification: The ‘No Contact’ Rule

Another rule that often needs clarification is the ‘No Contact’ rule. This rule states that players cannot discuss their cards or strategy with other players. However, players are allowed to bluff, mislead or lie about their cards to confuse other players. It’s all part of the mind games!

Understanding and mastering these rules, exceptions and clarifications can greatly enhance your Mindbug: First Contact gameplay and strategy.