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
Hexes18 + Alpha Core
Universe Edges6 pcs
Paradox X Board1 pc
Cards and Tokens
Artifacts39 + 3 Paradox X
Nn Tokens50 pcs (1/2/5/10/50)
NP Tokens30 pcs
Player Components
Heroes (miniatures)6 pcs
Player Boards6 pcs
Bases9 per player
Colonies21 per player
Stations6 per player
Nuclear Ports12 per player
Other
d6 Die1 pc (colored)
Progress Journal1 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

  1. Universe Edges — place around perimeter (numbers 1-6 visible)
  2. Hexes + Alpha Core — shuffle face-down, place inside
  3. 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

  1. Shuffle 7 artifacts with 2 Paradox X
  2. Place 1 Paradox X at deck bottom

For 18 Hexes

  1. Shuffle 39 artifacts
  2. Divide: 21 (top) + 10 (middle) + 10 (bottom)
  3. Add 1 Paradox X to middle and bottom
  4. 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

1
🟢 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

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)

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:

6.4 Navigation Points (NP)

Accumulation

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

Usage

1 NPScout
2 NP±1 to roll
3 NP2 of 3 colors
4 NPRotate hex with any Hero
5 NPAny arrow

Maximum: 5 NP

6.5 Combat (level 4+)

Creating Army

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

Combat Sequence

  1. Initiate Attack: Attacker plays "Recruit" cards
  2. Defense: Opponent may play their "Recruit" cards to increase defense
  3. Counter-play: Attacker may play additional cards to exceed new defense
  4. Resolution: Compare Attack vs Defense
Victory: Attack > Defense (buildings + defender's recruits)
Buildings Base Defense
Base1
+1 colony2
+2 colonies3
+3 colonies4
Station5
Combat Result
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+)

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

6.7 Galactic Decrees (level 3+)

Decrees are drawn from a common deck (not from a player's deck). At Alpha Core you can publish a Decree (cancels previous):

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

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, trading 3 bases + port
3 Development Decrees, colonies, 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

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

End of Cycle Bonuses

AchievementReward
Alpha Core Discoverer+5 Nn
Last Explorer+5 Nn
Most BasesBases × Multiplier (see below)

"Most Bases" Formula

BoardMultiplierMax Bases
7 hexes× 4 Nn6
18 hexes× 6 Nn18
BoardPlayersBasesBonus
7 hexes2416 Nn
7 hexes3312 Nn
7 hexes4-628 Nn
18 hexes21060 Nn
18 hexes3742 Nn
18 hexes4-5530 Nn
18 hexes6424 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
AAsteroids+5 Nn during enrichment
BMeteoritesFree colony 1 time/cycle
CComets+1 artifact when visiting Alpha Core
DNEOsRequired for Mega-Structure
ESpace StationsRequired for Mega-Structure
FSatellitesRequired 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:

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

10 REFERENCE

1 EXPLORATION — Quick Reference

🎲 DIE → COLOR

1 → 🟢 Green

2 4 5 → 🔵 Blue

3 6 → 🔴 Red

📍 LOCATION ACTIONS
💎 ArtifactDraw card
☢️ Deposits+2 Nn (loot)
🌀 Alpha CoreEnrichment
💰 ECONOMY
SourceNn
☢️ Loot deposits+2
Sell artifact+5
🔮 REROLL

Foresight: Pay 5 Nn = reroll die (1×/turn)

Must accept new result

⚡ CYCLE END

3 Paradox X found → cycle ends

Artifacts auto-convert to 5 Nn each

Only Nn transfers to next level

TURN: Roll → Move → Action → End   │   GOAL: 30+ Nn

2 EXPANSION — Quick Reference + new

🧭 NAVIGATION (NP) new
NPAbility
1Scout (peek ahead)
2±1 to die roll
3Choose 2 of 3 colors
4Rotate hex
5Choose any arrow

Max 5 NP per cycle. 1 nav option per turn.

📍 LOCATION ACTIONS
💎 ArtifactDraw card
🏗️ Free territoryBuy base new
🏠 Own territory+1 NP, upgrade new
👤 Enemy territoryPay tribute new
☢️ Deposits+2 Nn / build port new
🌀 Alpha CoreEnrichment
🏗️ CONSTRUCTION new
BuildingCost
Base5–27 Nn
Port1 artifact (on ☢️)
☢️ PORT INCOME
2
1
5
2
10
3
20
4
40
5

ports → Nn per cycle

💰 ECONOMY
SourceNn
☢️ Loot deposits+2
Sell artifact+5
Port incomesee chart ↑

Tribute: territory = level income │ port = ALL owner's port income

⚡ CYCLE END

3 Paradox X → cycle ends → bonuses → next level

Only Nn transfers

TURN: Navigate? → Roll → Move → Action → End   │   GOAL: 3 bases + 1 port

3 DEVELOPMENT — Quick Reference + new

🏛️ COLONIES new
ColonyCostRequires
Colony ×11 artifact3 territories
Colony ×21 artifact—
Colony ×31 artifact—
📜 DECREES new

Visit 🌀 Alpha Core → Enrichment + Decree

Decrees grant powerful one-time effects

🔮 FATE'S CHOICE new

For 2nd and 3rd Paradox X only:

Choose to keep or discard the artifact

1st Paradox X is always mandatory

🏗️ ALL CONSTRUCTION (lvl 1-3)
BuildingCostNotes
Base5–27 NnFree territory
Port1 artifactOn ☢️ only
Colony ×1–31 artifact eachOn own territory
💰 ECONOMY (lvl 1-3)
SourceNn
☢️ Loot deposits+2
Sell artifact+5
Port income (1–5 ports)2 / 5 / 10 / 20 / 40
TURN: Navigate? → Roll → Move → Action → End   │   GOAL: 2 colonies + 100 Nn

4 CONFLICT — Quick Reference + new

⚔️ COMBAT new
⚔️
ATTACKER
Army strength
>
🛡️
DEFENDER
Territory defense
TerritoryDefense
Base only1
Base + 1 colony2
Base + 2 colonies3
Base + 3 colonies4
Station5

Attack > Defense = Capture!

🏁 RACE BONUSES new at lvl 4

Activate: build 3 bases on your color territories

RaceMain BonusNav Bonus
TERANO -1 turn diplomatic capture +1 NP on capture
MI-TO +1 army strength Correction = 1 NP
IIT +1 free port +1 NP on port build
ASTERS Advanced Station +2 NP per cycle
TURN: Navigate? → Roll → Move → Action (or Attack!) → End   │   GOAL: Capture a territory

5 VICTORY — Quick Reference + new

🏗️ STATION new
BuildingCostBonus
Station1 artifact+2 NP, defense 5

Need 4 stations for victory

🌌 SECTOR BONUSES new
SectorBonus
A Asteroids+5 Nn enrichment
B MeteoritesFree colony 1×/cycle
C Comets+1 artifact at Core
D NEOsRequired for Mega
E StationsRequired for Mega
F SatellitesRequired for Mega
🏆 MEGA-STRUCTURE
400 Nn
(8 × 50 Nn)
+ 4 Stations
+ Sectors D, E, F
= VICTORY
BUILD THE MEGA-STRUCTURE TO WIN!

📊 MECHANICS BY LEVEL

Mechanic 1 Explore 2 Expand 3 Develop 4 Conflict 5 Victory
Movement & dice✅✅✅✅✅
Artifacts & loot✅✅✅✅✅
Foresight (reroll)✅✅✅✅✅
Paradox X✅✅✅✅✅
Navigation (NP)—✅✅✅✅
Bases & ports—✅✅✅✅
Tribute—✅✅✅✅
Enrichment & trade—✅✅✅✅
Colonies——✅✅✅
Decrees——✅✅✅
Fate's Choice——✅✅✅
Combat & armies———✅✅
Diplomatic capture———✅✅
Race bonuses———✅✅
Stations————✅
Sector bonuses————✅
Mega-Structure————✅

🏆 CYCLE END BONUSES

📋 END SEQUENCE

❶ All 3 Paradox X found

❷ Artifacts → 5 Nn each

❸ Award bonuses (see →)

❹ Record Nn in Progress Log

❺ Next level begins!

⚠️ Only Nn transfers — artifacts reset

🥇 FIXED BONUSES
AchievementNn
🌀 Alpha Core discoverer+5
🔍 Last explorer+5
Paradox X (#1)+5
Paradox X (#2)+5
Paradox X (#3 — last)+10
🏰 «MOST BASES» BONUS

Formula: Your bases × Board multiplier

Board×Max
7 hexes×4 Nn6
18 hexes×6 Nn18
Examples (18 hex):
2 pl. → 10 bases = 60 Nn
3 pl. → 7 bases = 42 Nn
4-5 pl. → 5 bases = 30 Nn
6 pl. → 4 bases = 24 Nn

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.
NEUTRONIUM EXPANSION — Version 12+ | © 2026
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