Nemo’s War (Second Edition) (2017) Board Game

Nemo’s War (Second Edition) is a board game based on the classic novel “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” by Jules Verne. In this game, players take on the role of Captain Nemo, commanding the Nautilus submarine on a journey through the seas. Originally released in 2009, the second edition was published in 2017 by Victory Point Games. Designed by Chris Taylor and featuring artwork by Ian O’Toole, the game offers a solo experience filled with adventure, exploration, and nautical themes.

Game Components of Nemo’s War

Game Board: A large, detailed board that serves as a map and includes rule reminders and the flow of the turn.

Adventure Cards: Unique cards drawn from a randomly constructed deck, each representing events, dangers, natural wonders, warships, or treasures.

Dice: Two six-sided dice used for resolving challenges.

Resources: Hull, Crew, and Nemo himself, which can be exerted to gain bonuses.

Treasure Tokens: Colorfully bright and hefty jewels.

Ship Tokens: Solid cardboard pieces for drawing ships.

Upgrade Cards: Allow modifications and improvements to the Nautilus, such as the ‘Monstrous Design’ upgrade.

Notoriety Track: Monitors the player’s notoriety level, affecting the difficulty of the game.

How To Setup Nemo’s War

Setting up *Nemo’s War* involves several steps. First, the player chooses one of four motivations for Captain Nemo: Science, Exploration, Anti-Imperialism, or War. Each motivation shapes the game’s strategy and scoring system. The event deck is then constructed randomly, ensuring a unique experience each time. The player places the Nautilus token on the board, sets the notoriety level to zero, and allocates the initial resources. Finally, the player draws the first adventure card to start the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Motivations: Choose from four different motivations that influence gameplay and scoring.

Adventure Cards: Draw and resolve event cards that present challenges, opportunities, or dangers.

Dice Rolls: Use two six-sided dice to resolve tests, with the option to exert resources for bonuses.

Action Points: Spend action points to move, search for treasure, attack ships, or perform other actions.

Resource Management: Manage Hull, Crew, and Nemo’s resources, as failing tests can deplete these resources.

Notoriety: Increase notoriety by sinking ships or failing tests, which adds more powerful warships to the game.

Upgrades: Upgrade the Nautilus using salvage from sunk ships.

Objective: Survive until the finale card is drawn and maximize the final score based on the chosen motivation.

Player Experience

Playing *Nemo’s War* is an immersive and thematic experience. The game creates a narrative that feels like an adventure through Jules Verne’s world. Each turn is filled with tension as players roll dice, manage resources, and make strategic decisions. The game’s artwork and components, including the detailed board and colorful treasure tokens, enhance the experience. Despite the randomness of dice rolls, the game offers ways to mitigate luck, making each roll feel significant.

Pros

Thematic Masterpiece: Strong thematic integration with *20,000 Leagues Under the Sea*.

Replay Value: High replayability due to the random event deck and different motivations.

Beautiful Components: Detailed and beautifully illustrated board, cards, and tokens.

Smooth Gameplay: Engaging gameplay with a good balance of strategy and luck.

Solo Suitability: Highly suitable for solo players.

Cons

Luck-Dependent: Heavily dependent on dice rolls, which can be frustrating.

Player Aids: Some minor issues with player aids, such as missing action point costs.

Complexity: Can be overwhelming for new players due to the number of rules and components.

Personal Thoughts on Nemo’s War

*Nemo’s War* is an excellent choice for solo players who enjoy thematic adventures and strategic decision-making. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate the narrative and setting of *20,000 Leagues Under the Sea*. While it may not be ideal for players seeking a game with minimal luck, the game’s mechanisms to mitigate luck make it engaging and challenging. For fans of solo board games and those looking for a game with high replay value, *Nemo’s War (Second Edition)* is a standout title.

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