Lunar Base Alpha: Crisis & Opportunity

Lunar Base Alpha: Crisis & Opportunity - Game Manual (Rev 1.0)

Introduction

Welcome, Overseer candidate, to the advanced simulation for Lunar Base Alpha. Survival, not just expansion, is paramount. You must manage your specialized crew and base resources while contending with constant Crises. Your goal is to earn the most Victory Points (VP) over 6 rounds by building facilities, fulfilling contracts, seizing Opportunities, and, critically, managing base Crises and Integrity.

Core Concepts

1. Specialized Crew: Your team has distinct roles:
   • Engineers (E): Best for building, repairs, power management, and metal refining. Needed for specific construction and maintenance tasks.
   • Scientists (S): Focus on research, analysis, and managing systems like life support. Required for lab work and certain crisis solutions.
   • Operators (O): Handle logistics, resource gathering (often with bonuses), hydroponics, and contracts.
   • You begin with one of each type. Using a crew member assigns them for the current round.
2. Base Integrity (Threat Level):
   • This track (0-100%, starting at 10%) shows the base's overall stability.
   • Threat Increases: When new Crises appear each round.
   • Threat Decreases: By using the Maintenance Hub action (requires an Engineer) or through specific Crisis resolution rewards.
   • Impact: High Threat levels trigger penalties (like resource drains or VP loss) at the start of the round. Keeping Threat low is essential.
3. Crises:
   • These are challenging events drawn at the start of each round.
   • Each Crisis has a Penalty (e.g., a location becoming unusable, extra resource costs) that applies if the Crisis is not resolved.
   • Resolving a Crisis involves sending a specific Crew Role to the Crisis Response location and paying the listed Resource Cost for one of its resolution steps.
   • Successfully resolving a step grants Rewards (VP, resources, Threat reduction, etc.) and may negate the penalty. Ignoring Crises can quickly destabilize the base.
4. Opportunities:
   • These are beneficial cards drawn by using the Command Center location.
   • They offer unique actions, resource conversions, or temporary advantages.
   • You can play an Opportunity card during your turn in the Planning Phase.
5. Resources:
   • You'll manage: Power, Water, O2 (Oxygen), Regolith, Metals, Research, and Food. Careful management is key to success.

Game Flow (Per Round)

Each of the 6 rounds follows these four phases:

1. Crisis Phase:
   • First, apply any ongoing penalties from Crises that were not fully resolved in the previous round.
   • Apply any penalties associated with the current Base Integrity (Threat Level).
   • Draw one new Crisis card (possibly more if Threat is very high).
   • Immediately increase the Threat Level by the amount shown on the new Crisis card(s).
   • Review the active Crises and note any newly disabled locations or effects.
2. Planning Phase (Player Turns):
   • Players take turns assigning their available crew members until everyone has passed. (If playing solo, the AI takes its turn automatically when it's its turn).
   • On Your Turn:
     1. Select Role: Choose an available crew member type (E, S, or O) from your player display.
     2. Select Location: Click on an available action space on the main game board.
        • Requirements: Check if the location needs a specific role. You must have selected that role.
        • Bonuses: Note if using a specific role provides an extra benefit.
        • Crisis Response: To work on a Crisis, select the role required by a specific resolution step (check the Crisis list) and click the 'Crisis Response' action space.
     3. Assign: Your chosen crew member is placed on the location. They are now busy for the round, and your available count for that role decreases. Your role selection resets, allowing you to choose another.
     4. Repeat: You can continue selecting roles and assigning crew as long as you have available crew members.
     5. Use Opportunity (Optional): At any point during your turn actions, you may click 'Use' on one of your Opportunity cards.
     6. Pass: Click the "Pass Turn" button when you are done assigning crew for the round or cannot make any more placements.
   • Play proceeds to the next player.
3. Action Phase:
   • Once all players have passed, all assigned crew members perform their actions simultaneously.
   • Costs for actions are paid (if applicable).
   • Players gain resources/VP, draw Opportunity cards, resolve Crisis steps (potentially gaining rewards and reducing Threat), etc., based on where their crew was assigned.
   • The narrator (Pip) will describe the results.
4. Cleanup Phase:
   • All crew members are removed from the board and become available again for the next round.
   • The round marker advances.
   • The game proceeds to the next Crisis Phase (unless it was the final round).

End Game and Winning

• The game concludes after the Cleanup Phase of the 6th round.
• Final Scoring: Players may receive bonus VP based on their remaining resources and for maintaining a low final Base Integrity (Threat Level).
• Winner: The player with the highest total VP is the winner!

Quick Tips from Pip (Base Technician):

• Crises can be nasty; deal with the worst ones or those you can resolve efficiently. Don't let Threat get out of control!
• Use your crew wisely – match their specializations to location requirements and bonuses for maximum effect.
• The Maintenance Hub (Engineer needed!) is vital for reducing high Threat.
• Visit the Command Center to get potentially game-changing Opportunities.
• Think ahead, but be ready to adapt your plans when Crises hit!

Good luck, Overseer! The fate of Lunar Base Alpha is in your hands.