NEUTRONIUM
EXPANSION

4X Space Strategy

2-6

Players

30-60

Minutes

12+

Age

1 GAME OBJECTIVE

VICTORY

Build the Mega-Structure at universe level 5

400 Nn + 4 Stations + Control of Sectors D, E, F

How the Game Works

Cycle: Collect Neutronium (Nn) and artifacts. When 3 Paradox X artifacts are found — the cycle ends, universe collapses.

Progress: Your Nn transfers to the next level. Each level unlocks new mechanics.

2 COMPONENTS

Game Board
Hexes	18 + Alpha Core
Universe Edges	6 pcs
Paradox X Board	1 pc

Cards and Tokens
Artifacts	39 + 3 Paradox X
Nn Tokens	50 pcs (1/2/5/10/50)
NP Tokens	30 pcs

Player Components
Heroes (miniatures)	6 pcs
Player Boards	6 pcs
Bases	9 per player
Colonies	21 per player
Stations	6 per player
Nuclear Ports	12 per player

Other
d6 Die	1 pc (colored)
Progress Journal	1 pc

3 SETUP

Game Board Size

Player Experience	Hexes	Artifacts	Recommendation
First 1-2 games	7	7 + 1 Paradox X	Quick mechanics learning
From 3rd game	18	39 + 3 Paradox X	Full game experience

Map Modes

Closed Mode (default)

Hexes face-down. Explore the universe!

Open Mode

Hexes face-up. Saves ~15 minutes, more strategy.

Available after first game with 18 hexes.

Board Assembly

Universe Edges — place around perimeter (numbers 1-6 visible)
Hexes + Alpha Core — shuffle face-down, place inside
Paradox X Board — place nearby with tokens 5/5/10 Nn on slots

Important: Alpha Core

Alpha Core is shuffled with other hexes and can end up anywhere on the board!

Artifact Deck

For 7 Hexes

Shuffle 7 artifacts
Place 1 Paradox X at deck bottom

For 18 Hexes

Shuffle 39 artifacts
Divide: 21 (top) + 10 (middle) + 10 (bottom)
Add 1 Paradox X to middle and bottom
Place 1 Paradox X between top and middle

4 GAME PHASES (4X)

🔍 EXPLORE — Exploration

Revealing hexes, finding Alpha Core, collecting artifacts

📈 EXPAND — Expansion

Capturing territories, building bases and ports

⚡ EXPLOIT — Development

Upgrades (colonies, stations), trading, decrees

⚔️ EXTERMINATE — Conflict

Combat, diplomatic capture, destruction

Phases are not rigid — players switch between them as needed.

5 TURN STRUCTURE

1. Navigation? → 2. Roll → 3. Movement → 4. Action → 5. End

Die Roll

🟢 Green

17%

2, 4, 5

🔵 Blue

50%

3, 6

🔴 Red

33%

Navigation (optional)

Cost	Action	When
1 NP	Scout — view adjacent hex	Before roll
3 NP	Course Selection — choose 2 of 3 colors	Before roll
5 NP	Full Control — choose any arrow	Instead of roll
5 Nn	Foresight — reroll die (1 time/turn)	After roll
2 NP	Correction — modifier ±1 to result	After roll

Movement

Move along the arrow color matching your die roll from current position
Arrow leads to face-down hex? Flip it and choose orientation
Arrow leads to empty space? Go to Universe Edge with the die roll number
Arrow leads to Alpha Core? Perform actions, then roll again and exit to Edge with new roll number

Action on Location

Location	Action
💎 Artifact	Draw a card from the deck
🏗️ Free Territory	Build a base (pay Nn)
🏠 Your Territory	+1 NP, can upgrade
👤 Enemy Territory	Pay tribute to owner
☢️ Radioactive Deposits	Loot (+2 Nn) OR build port
🌀 Alpha Core	Enrichment + publish Decree

6 MECHANICS

6.1 Economy

Neutronium (Nn)

Pure Nn — can be spent
Raw Nn — must be enriched at Alpha Core

Income Sources

Looting deposits	+2 Nn
Selling artifact	+5 Nn
Paradox X	+5 Nn (last: +5 +5 Nn)

Nuclear Port Income

Ports	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Nn	2	5	10	20	40	70	100	140	180	220

6.2 Construction

Building	Cost	Requirement	Effect
Base	5-27 Nn	—	Territory control, income
Colony	1 artifact	3 territories (sector/race)	Increases income
Colony ×2	1 artifact	Base with 1 colony	Increases income
Colony ×3	1 artifact	Base with 2 colonies	Increases income
Station	1 artifact	Base with 3 colonies	Maximum income, +2 NP
Nuclear Port	1 artifact	Radioactive deposits	Passive income

Territory Income Examples

Territory	Base	+1 Col	+2 Col	+3 Col	Station
A1 CHIP	0	1	3	9	20
B2 ALLENDE	1	4	10	30	60
F3 TITAN	4	13	36	85	125

6.3 Tribute

When entering enemy territory — pay the owner:

Territory: Income = current development level
Port: Income = FULL income from ALL owner's ports

6.4 Navigation Points (NP)

Accumulation

Turn on your territory	+1 NP
Visiting Alpha Core	+1 NP
Building Station	+2 NP

Usage

1 NP	Scout
2 NP	±1 to roll
3 NP	2 of 3 colors
5 NP	Any arrow

Maximum: 5 NP

6.5 Combat (level 4+)

Creating Army

"Recruit" artifact → unit of strength 1. Units combine (max strength 6).

Combat Sequence

Initiate Attack: Attacker plays "Recruit" cards
Defense: Opponent may play their "Recruit" cards to increase defense
Counter-play: Attacker may play additional cards to exceed new defense
Resolution: Compare Attack vs Defense

Victory: Attack > Defense (buildings + defender's recruits)

Buildings	Base Defense
Base	1
+1 colony	2
+2 colonies	3
+3 colonies	4
Station	5

Combat Result

Victory (Attack > Defense): Buildings destroyed, attacker loses 0 units
Defeat (Attack ≤ Defense): Buildings intact, attacker loses (Defense − Attack) units + skip turn + pay tribute

Building After Victory

If attacker wants to build a base immediately — they lose units = (Attack − Defense)

Example: Attack 4 vs Base (1) = victory. Building costs 4−1 = 3 units.

6.6 Diplomatic Capture (level 4+)

Hero on enemy territory (owner absent)
Skip N+1 turns (N = number of buildings)
Take territory with all buildings
Owner can interrupt by entering the territory

6.7 Galactic Decrees (level 3+)

At Alpha Core you can publish a Decree (cancels previous):

Ban attacks / destruction / looting
Ban colony / station construction
Additional roll for wormhole exit
Everyone draws 2 artifacts instead of 1

6.8 Paradox X

3 Paradox X Cards = End of Cycle

Each Paradox X: +5 Nn

Last (#3): +5 Nn + bonus +5 Nn = +10 Nn

When all 3 are on the board — universe collapses.

6.9 Fate's Choice (level 7+)

Cycle tempo control through Paradox X decision:

Choice	Effect	Cost
ACCEPT	Receive +10 Nn, card goes to board	Free
POSTPONE	Card goes to bottom of current deck section	10 Nn

Fate's Choice Limitations

Only 1 time per cycle
Cannot postpone 1st Paradox X
Requires minimum 10 Nn for postponing

7 UNIVERSE LEVELS

Don't understand a mechanic? Open Mechanics Glossary → for detailed description of each mechanic by level.

Level	Name	New Mechanics	Level Goal
1	Exploration	Movement, artifacts, looting, foresight, Paradox X	30+ Nn
2	Expansion	Bases, tribute, NP, hex rotation, ports, enrichment	3 bases + port
3	Development	Decrees, colonies, trading, Fate's Choice	2 colonies + 100 Nn
4	Conflict	Combat, armies, destruction, diplomatic capture, racial NP bonuses	Capture a territory
5	Victory	Stations, sector bonuses, mega-structure	Mega-Structure

Level Transition

When 3 Paradox X are found — cycle ends
Each artifact = 5 Nn (auto-exchange)
Record Nn in Progress Journal
Next cycle — new level with new mechanics
Only Nn transfers, artifacts don't transfer

End of Cycle Bonuses

Achievement	Reward
Alpha Core Discoverer	+5 Nn
Last Explorer	+5 Nn
Most Bases	Bases × Multiplier (see below)

"Most Bases" Formula

Board	Multiplier	Max Bases
7 hexes	× 4 Nn	6
18 hexes	× 6 Nn	18

Board	Players	Bases	Bonus
7 hexes	2	4	16 Nn
7 hexes	3	3	12 Nn
7 hexes	4-6	2	8 Nn
18 hexes	2	10	60 Nn
18 hexes	3	7	42 Nn
18 hexes	4-5	5	30 Nn
18 hexes	6	4	24 Nn

Logic: Player with more bases invested more Nn → receives proportionally larger bonus.

8 RACES

Bonus Activation: Build 3 bases on territories of your color.

TERANO ●

Main: -1 turn to diplomatic capture
Navigation: +1 NP on successful diplomatic capture
Theme: patience and observation

MI-TO ●

Main: +1 army strength in combat
Navigation: Correction costs 1 NP instead of 2
Theme: precision and maneuverability

IIT ●

Main: +1 free port (without spending artifact)
Navigation: +1 NP when building Nuclear Port
Theme: energy network

ASTERS ●

Main: Advanced Station (A3, C1, D2, E3)
Navigation: +2 NP at start of each cycle
Theme: stellar wisdom

Race Bonus Activation

To activate bonuses, you must build 3 bases on territories of your race's color. Navigation bonuses are active from level 4+.

Sector Bonuses (level 5)

Sector	Name	Bonus
A	Asteroids	+5 Nn during enrichment
B	Meteorites	Free colony 1 time/cycle
C	Comets	+1 artifact when visiting Alpha Core
D	NEOs	Required for Mega-Structure
E	Space Stations	Required for Mega-Structure
F	Satellites	Required for Mega-Structure

9 VICTORY

MEGA-STRUCTURE (Level 5)

400 Nn (8 payments of 50) + 4 Stations + Sector D + Sector E + Sector F = VICTORY

Bankruptcy

If a player cannot pay debt:

Sell territories (100% cost)
Sell upgrades (5 Nn each)
Universe collapses — ALL return to this level

10 REFERENCE

CHEAT SHEET

DIE

1 → 🟢 Green (17%)

2, 4, 5 → 🔵 Blue (50%)

3, 6 → 🔴 Red (33%)

NAVIGATION (NP)

1 NP = Scout

2 NP = ±1 to roll

3 NP = 2 of 3 colors

5 NP = Any arrow

FORESIGHT

5 Nn = Reroll (1 time/turn)

BUILDINGS

Base → Colony ×3 → Station

Each upgrade = 1 artifact

PARADOX X: 3 cards = end of cycle | Artifact = 5 Nn | Only Nn transfers

FAQ

Question	Answer
Can I reroll after Correction?	No. Order: Roll → Foresight → Correction.
How many NP can I use per turn?	Only 1 navigation option (before or after roll).
What if Foresight gives same result?	Accept new result. Reroll is mandatory.
Can I attack multiple times per turn?	No. One attack per turn.
How does port tribute work?	You pay FULL income from ALL owner's ports.
Can I postpone 1st Paradox X?	No. Fate's Choice works only for 2nd and 3rd.
When do racial navigation bonuses activate?	From level 4+ after building 3 bases on territories of your color.

NEUTRONIUMEXPANSION