Notes on Playing Nemesis

Introduction

• Presenter: Matt Evans
• Game: Nemesis
• Designer: Adam Kwil Pinski
• Publisher: Awakened Realms
• Game Mode: Standard 2 to 5 player semi-cooperative game mode

Game Overview

• Setting: Inside a spaceship called the Nemesis.
• Start: Players wake up from hypersleep, discover a corpse, and alarms are going off.
• Objective: Explore the ship, gather supplies, complete secret objectives, and survive the alien threat.

Game Setup

1. Board Setup

   • Use the double-sided board; place the side with red arrows on top.
   • Gather room tiles marked with a "2" and shuffle them.
   • Place one tile face-down on each of the numbered "2" spaces on the board.
   • Repeat for room tiles marked with "A1."
   • Shuffle exploration tokens and place them face-down in room spaces.
   • Shuffle coordinates cards and place one face-down on the board.
   • Place a status marker on the destination track.
   • Shuffle and place escape pod tokens as per player count.
   • Shuffle engine tokens and place one face-down on the corresponding spaces.
   • Set up the intruder board with weakness cards.
   • Organize intruder tokens and set them aside.

2. Crew Setup

   • Deal help cards based on player count.
   • Give each player an inventory card holder.
   • Separate and shuffle objective cards into personal and corporate decks, dealing one of each to each player.
   • Players choose characters through a draft system.
   • Each player sets up their character board and initializes their inventory.

Game Phases

Player Phase

• Turn Order: Players take turns in clockwise order.

• Actions Available: Each player can perform up to two actions:

  • Movement: Move to a neighboring room.
  • Careful Movement: Move without making noise.
  • Pick Up Heavy Object: Pick up items like corpses or intruder carcasses.
  • Trade: Exchange items with other players in the same room.
  • Craft Item: Combine items into a new special item.
  • Search: Search for items in a room.

• Noise Roll: Rolling noise can trigger encounters with intruders.

• Encounters with Intruders: Triggered by noise rolls or events.

• Combat: Players can attack intruders using shoot or melee actions.

Event Phase

• Move time marker on the time track.
• Resolve intruder attacks in combat.
• Check for fire damage.
• Draw and resolve event cards.
• Resolve intruder bag development.

Endgame Conditions

• Hyperspace Jump: Time marker reaches final red space; non-hibernating characters die.
• Ship Destruction: Ninth fire marker or malfunction token placed; self-destruct sequence activated.
• Character Elimination: Last character dies or hibernates.

Victory Check Phase

1. Engines Check: Reveal engine tokens.
2. Coordinates Check: Check ship's destination.
3. Contamination Check: Scan contamination cards for infection.
4. Objective Check: Players reveal objective cards to check for completion.

Objectives

• Various types including:
  • Ensure a specific player dies.
  • Kill the Queen intruder.
  • Send a signal from the comms room.
  • Reach Earth or Mars.
  • Discover intruder weaknesses.
  • Destroy the nest.

Tips

• Use reference sheets for room actions and critical gameplay moments.
• Keep track of objectives and character status.
• Communicate with players but be strategic about sharing information.

Conclusion

• A complex game of strategy, cooperation, and betrayal.
• Important to understand the rules and mechanics to enjoy the gameplay.