Nexus Ops

2005

Nexus Ops offers an immersive sci-fi gaming experience. Control futuristic corporations, conquer alien races, and battle for the moon's precious Rubium Ore. The perfect blend of strategy, combat and adventure.

90
minutes

2 - 4
player(s)

12+

Medium

About the game

Nexus Ops is a captivating board game that transports players into an otherworldly setting of corporate warfare and alien battles. The game is set in a futuristic universe where corporations compete for control over a valuable resource-rich moon, using armies of alien creatures and advanced technology.

The core mechanics of Nexus Ops revolve around strategic combat, resource management, and territory control. Players must deploy their forces, manage resources, engage in battle, and establish dominance over key territories. Each player controls an army of various alien creatures, each with unique abilities and roles. This offers a dynamic and varying gameplay, as the outcome of the game can drastically change based on the player’s strategy and the creatures they command.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Nexus Ops is a thrilling board game where players control factions of corporate troops and alien creatures, each with their own special capabilities. The board game contains a variety of components, each contributing to the gameplay in unique ways. Below are the components of the game and their descriptions:

1. Game Board:

The game board represents the moon on which the action takes place. It is divided into hexagonal spaces, each of which is a different terrain type that affects movement and combat. The board is dynamic and modular, meaning it can be arranged differently for each game for a unique experience each time.

2. Rubium Tokens:

These tokens represent the valuable mineral rubium, the primary resource in the game. Players use rubium tokens to purchase units. The more rubium a player has, the more and better units they can buy.

3. Unit Tokens:

These tokens represent the different types of units that players can control. Each type of unit has different abilities and costs a different amount of rubium to buy. Unit tokens are used to move around the game board and fight other players’ units.

4. Battle Dice:

These dice are used to resolve battles between units. The outcome of a battle can be heavily influenced by a good or bad roll of the dice.

5. Player Reference Cards:

These cards provide a quick reference for each player, summarizing the abilities of the different unit types and the combat rules. They are a handy tool, especially for new players.

6. Exploration Tiles:

These tiles are used to randomize the layout of the game board. When a player moves a unit into an unexplored space, they draw an exploration tile and place it on that space. The tile might contain rubium, a hazard, or even a new unit.

7. Secret Mission Cards:

These cards provide players with secret objectives that can earn them extra victory points. A player draws a secret mission card at the beginning of the game and can complete it at any time.

8. Energize Cards:

These cards can be used to give players a temporary advantage, such as boosting a unit’s combat abilities or providing extra rubium. A player can play an energize card at any time during their turn.

9. Monolith:

This is a special terrain feature that provides a strategic advantage to the player who controls it. The monolith grants extra victory points and serves as a focal point for battles.

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

‘Nexus Ops’ is a light strategy board game where players control factions of corporate troops looking to dominate the landscape and harvest its resources. Here’s a step-by-step guide to set up the game:

Step 1: Player Roles

Each player selects a color and takes all the units, reference card, and rubium cards of that color. Players also receive two secret mission cards and keep them hidden from opponents.

Step 2: Board Placement

The board consists of interlocking, hexagonal pieces. The Monolith, a special piece, is placed in the center. The other tiles are shuffled and placed facedown in a pattern around the Monolith. Starting with the first player and moving clockwise, each player flips a tile and places it in the pattern. This continues until the board is filled.

Step 3: Initial Resources

Each player starts with 9 rubium (the game’s currency), which is used to buy units. Players also start with a base and 6 units in their Home Base, which is one of the hexes at the edge of the board. The specific units each player starts with are 2 Humans, 2 Fungoids, 1 Crystaline, and 1 Rock Strider.

Step 4: Random Elements

Secret Mission Cards: These cards, drawn at the start and throughout the game, give players secret objectives that can earn them extra victory points.
Exploration Tokens: When a player first moves into a hex, they flip over the exploration token there, which can provide good or bad effects.
Monolith: Players who control the central Monolith tile can draw powerful Energize Cards.

Step 5: Game Start

The player who last flipped a tile becomes the first player. The game then proceeds in turns, with each player in order buying units, moving units, and then fighting battles. The game continues until one player reaches a set number of victory points, typically 12 in a 2-4 player game.

Game flow Round and round we go

Nexus Ops is a thrilling board game designed for 2-4 players. The game is set in a futuristic science fiction universe where players control corporations vying for control over the precious Rubium Ore on a distant alien moon. The game is played in rounds, each consisting of four phases: the Draw Phase, the Deployment Phase, the Movement Phase, and the Battle Phase.

The Draw Phase: This is the first phase. It begins with the player drawing a card from the Exploration deck if they control a mine that is not in a territory they started with. These cards may give benefits or penalties, depending on the player’s luck. After drawing, the player then proceeds to calculate their income. The amount of income is determined by the number of mines a player controls.

The Deployment Phase: The second phase begins with the player purchasing units using the income they generated in the Draw Phase. The player can choose to buy a variety of units such as Humans, Fungoids, Rock Striders, Crystallines, Lava Leapers, and the powerful Rubium Dragons. These units are then placed on the player’s Home Base or any other controlled territory that contains a mine.

The Movement Phase: During this third phase, the player can move their units across the board. Units can move a number of spaces up to their movement value. The player may choose to engage in a battle by moving their units into a territory controlled by another player. Also, a player can move into unexplored territories to potentially reveal new mines or other surprises.

The Battle Phase: The last phase of a round is the Battle Phase. If a player has moved their units into a territory with opposing units, a battle occurs. Battles are resolved through dice rolls, with different units having different attack values and abilities. The player who loses the battle must retreat their surviving units to an adjacent controlled territory.

After the Battle Phase, the round ends and the next player begins their round starting with the Draw Phase. The game continues in this way until a player reaches a set victory point threshold, typically 12 points. Victory points are earned by winning battles, controlling mines, and completing secret missions that players draw from the Mission deck.

In conclusion, Nexus Ops combines both strategy and luck in a game that requires careful planning, tactical movement of units, and the courage to engage in epic battles. Each phase of the game presents unique decisions and challenges, making every round a new and exciting experience.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In the board game ‘Nexus Ops’, each player’s turn consists of four distinct phases: Draw a Card, Mine Energize, Deploy and Battle, and Exploration. Each phase involves strategic choices and potential actions that can significantly affect the game’s outcome.

Draw a Card Phase

At the beginning of their turn, a player draws one card from the Secret Mission deck. This card provides a unique objective that, if completed, will award Victory Points to the player.

Strategic Choice: Players must decide whether to aim for the completion of these missions immediately or wait for a more opportune time. This decision can affect the player’s strategy for the rest of their turn.

Mine Energize Phase

In this phase, the player collects Rubium from each of their controlled mines. Rubium is the currency of the game and is used to purchase new units.

Strategic Choice: Players must decide how to allocate their Rubium – whether to save it for future turns, or to spend it immediately on new units. The more units a player has, the stronger their forces, but saving Rubium can allow for strategic purchases later on.

Deploy and Battle Phase

During this phase, a player can purchase new units, deploy them to the battlefield, and then initiate battles in contested territories.

Purchase and Deploy Units: The player can buy new units and place them on any territory they control that has a monolith.
Initiate Battles: The player can move their units into territories controlled by opponents, initiating a battle.

Strategic Choices: There are many strategic choices in this phase. When purchasing units, players must decide which types to buy, as each has unique strengths and weaknesses. Where they deploy these units is also crucial, as it affects the player’s offensive and defensive capabilities. Lastly, deciding which battles to initiate, when, and with what forces, is a complex strategic decision that can greatly influence the game’s outcome.

Exploration Phase

In the final phase, any units that were moved into an unexplored territory flip the terrain tile over to reveal what type of territory it is and whether it contains any Rubium mines or alien life forms.

Strategic Choice: Players must decide which unexploried territories to move into. Exploration can yield valuable resources, but can also result in battles with powerful alien life forms.

By understanding these phases and the strategic decisions within each, players can develop complex strategies and adapt to the ever-changing battlefield of ‘Nexus Ops’.

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

The game of ‘Nexus Ops’ ends when one player reaches a certain number of victory points, depending on the number of players in the game. The victory points are obtained by completing secret missions and winning battles. However, before the final scoring, players must ensure they have taken all necessary actions during their turn.

Victory Conditions:

Victory Points: The game ends immediately when a player has earned 12 victory points in a 2-player game, 10 points in a 3-player game, or 9 points in a 4-player game. The player who reaches this point total wins the game.
Secret Missions: Players also earn victory points by completing secret missions, which are drawn at random from a mission card deck. These missions can range from controlling certain territories, possessing a certain number of units, or defeating a certain number of enemy units. The number of victory points earned varies depending on the difficulty of the mission.
Winning Battles: A player earns 1 victory point for each battle they win against another player. The winning player must have at least one unit remaining after the battle to earn the victory point.

Before the final scoring, each player must take the following actions during their turn:

Draw a Secret Mission Card: At the start of their turn, a player draws a secret mission card from the deck. This card provides a specific objective that the player can complete to earn additional victory points.
Deploy and Move Units: Players then deploy new units to their home base and move existing units across the game board. Units can be moved to explore new territories, control more resources, or attack other players.
Resolve Battles: If a player’s units end their movement in a territory controlled by another player, a battle occurs. The player who wins the battle earns 1 victory point and takes control of the territory.
Collect Resources: At the end of their turn, a player collects resources based on the territories they control. These resources can be used to purchase new units on future turns.

After a player reaches the required number of victory points, all players reveal their secret mission cards and add any additional victory points earned to their total. The player with the highest total is the winner of the game. If there is a tie, the player with the most units on the game board wins.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

‘Nexus Ops’ is a thrilling board game that rewards players with victory points for successful strategic maneuvers and combats. The following is a detailed explanation of the scoring system:

In ‘Nexus Ops’, victory points (VPs) are earned primarily in two ways:

Winning battles: Each time a player wins a battle in an opponent’s zone, they earn VPs equivalent to the number of units they destroyed in that battle. For example, if a player destroys three enemy units, they earn three VPs.
Completing mission cards: Players draw mission cards that assign them specific tasks. Upon successfully completing these tasks, players earn the number of VPs indicated on the card.

The game concludes when one player accrues 12 victory points and declares the end of the game. However, the game isn’t officially over until the end of that round, allowing other players a final opportunity to earn VPs.

In the event of a tie at the end of the game, ‘Nexus Ops’ has specific tie-breaking rules in place:

Player with the most units: The player who has the most units on the board wins the tie.
Player with the most rubium: If there’s still a tie, the player with the most rubium (the game’s currency) wins.
Player with the most mission cards: If a tie persists, the player who has completed the most mission cards wins.

If, after all these tie-breakers, a tie still exists, the victory is shared between the tied players.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies

Nexus Ops is a game that is not only about combat, but also about managing resources and making strategic decisions. With that in mind, here are some advanced strategies:

Focus on the missions: While it’s tempting to focus on attacking and conquering, remember that the ultimate goal is to complete missions. These give you victory points, which are key to winning the game.
Use your units wisely: Different units have their own strengths and weaknesses. Use this to your advantage, and try to match the right unit with the right task.
Manage your resources: Resources are crucial in Nexus Ops. Make sure you’re getting the most out of your mines, and be careful not to overspend.

Beginner Tips

If you’re new to Nexus Ops, here are some tips to help you get started:

Understand the game: Before you start, make sure you understand the basics of the game. This includes the rules, the goal of the game, and how to play.
Start simple: Don’t try to do everything at once. Start with simple strategies and gradually try more complex ones as you get more comfortable with the game.
Learn from others: Watch other players and learn from their strategies. This can be a great way to improve your own game.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced players can make mistakes in Nexus Ops. Here are some common ones to avoid:

Ignoring the missions: The missions are the key to winning the game. Ignoring them can be a costly mistake.
Not managing resources: It’s easy to get caught up in the combat and forget about your resources. But without proper management, you can quickly find yourself at a disadvantage.
Overextending: It’s tempting to try to conquer as much as possible, but overextending can leave you vulnerable. It’s often better to focus on securing a few key areas instead.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay

Finally, here are some ways to optimize your gameplay in Nexus Ops:

Plan ahead: Try to anticipate your opponents’ moves and plan your strategy accordingly. This can give you a significant advantage.
Use your units effectively: Each unit has its own strengths and weaknesses. By using them effectively, you can maximize their potential and increase your chances of winning.
Adapt to the game: The game can change quickly, so be ready to adapt your strategy if necessary. Being flexible can be a key to success in Nexus Ops.