Axon Protocol (2023) Board Game

Axon Protocol is a science fiction economic board game that was released in in 2023. Designed by a team of talented individuals including Henning Ludvigsen, Jan Roth, Andreas Schroth, and Salvador Trakal, this game promises an immersive and strategic gameplay experience.

Game Components of Axon Protocol

Character cards: Over 40 unique characters, each with their own routine and skills.

Corporation cards: 6 different corporations, each with a unique special ability.

Resource tokens: 6 types of resources – augments, data, drugs, products, scandals, and violence.

Software cards: Cards with special abilities.

Standees and tokens: For character and resource placement.

Scoreboard and stress markers: To track resources and game progress.

Monopoly tokens: For resource domination.

How To Setup Axon Protocol

To set up Axon Protocol, start by choosing a first player. Each player then drafts a corporation card, which defines their special ability and the two types of resources they will score points for. Shuffle the character deck and draw a number of character cards equal to the number of players, placing the corresponding standees on the starting area. Each player is dealt five character cards and three software cards. The scoreboard is set up with resource tokens and stress markers. Players place their desktop items, including any face-up cards or tokens, and prepare for the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Objective: Players aim to control characters to maximize their corporation’s resources and score points.

Turn Structure: Each round consists of a turn phase and an end-of-round phase.

Turn Phase: Players take turns activating characters, hacking them with software cards, taking the first player token, reversing turn order, or phishing to add new characters.

End-of-Round Phase: Players discard software cards to perform additional actions, and the round ends after the last character is activated.

Resource Management: Resources are added or removed from the board, affecting the city’s stress level and the player’s score.

Monopoly Mechanic: Players can discard four software cards to become a monopoly, doubling the points for one of their resources but negating points for the other.

Player Experience

Playing Axon Protocol immerses you in a cyberpunk world where corporations vie for control over Nexus City’s resources. The game is known for its complex character interactions and resource management. Players must strategically hack characters to align their actions with their corporation’s interests, all while managing the city’s stress levels to delay the game’s end. The game’s atmosphere is rich with themes from films like *District B13* and *Escape from New York*.

Pros

Rich Theme: A deep, immersive cyberpunk setting with detailed world-building.

Complex Strategy: Multiple layers of strategy involving character hacking, resource management, and software card usage.

High Replayability: Unique characters and corporation abilities ensure each game is different.

Engaging Mechanics: Shared worker placement and hacking mechanics add a unique twist.

Cons

Low Scoring: Games often end with surprisingly low scores, which can be underwhelming.

Complexity: The game involves a lot of text on character cards and multiple actions to track, making it feel overwhelming at times.

Long Setup: While the main actions are easy to learn, the setup and initial understanding of the game can be time-consuming.

Personal Thoughts on Axon Protocol

Axon Protocol is ideal for fans of complex, strategic board games and those who enjoy cyberpunk themes. It is best suited for players who appreciate deep gameplay mechanics and are willing to invest time in understanding the rules. However, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers or those looking for a quick, light-hearted experience. The game’s unique blend of shared worker placement and hacking mechanics makes it a standout, but its complexity and low scoring system may deter some players.

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