FAQ
12 answered questions10 official
Rules questions from the BoardGameGeek forum. Answers marked Official were confirmed by Frosted Games or the designers; official accounts: Sleeran (Matthias Cramer, game designer), darkpact (Matthias Nagy, Frosted Games / Deep Print Games).
Common mistakes
- A value moves one token the full distance; it cannot be split or shortened. Ruling · Rule
- Playing a value with no legal target is allowed; the movement simply has no effect. Ruling · Rule
- Nixon wins if the supply is empty when evaluation requires a new momentum token. Ruling · Rule
- John Mitchell can cancel The System Works itself; do not wait to see which removed event it selects. Ruling · Rule
- Do not shorten a value move: the token must move the full printed distance unless it is claimed at space 5. Ruling · Rule
Showing 12 of 12
Can a card's movement value be split between multiple tokens? Official
No. Move one eligible token the full value; any movement remaining after it reaches space 5 is lost.
Source: BGG thread
May I move fewer spaces than a value card shows?
The rulebook says to move a token as many spaces as the card's value states, not up to that number. A rules-forum reply reaches the same reading; no publisher ruling is identified in this thread.
Source: BGG thread
Can I choose a value when no eligible token is on the track?
A community answer says yes: play the card for value even if its effect has no legal target. This is a community reply; no publisher ruling is identified.
Source: BGG thread
Does Nixon win if no momentum token remains in supply, even if the Editor already has five? Official
Yes. Nixon wins if evaluation needs a new token for zero and the supply is empty. This is a separate win condition from placing five tokens on the Administration card.
Source: BGG thread
If Nixon cancels The System Works with John Mitchell, what happens to the selected card? Official
The selected removed card stays removed. The publisher-side answer explains that John Mitchell can cancel The System Works itself; the canceled card is discarded according to the reaction sequence.
Source: BGG thread
If no face-down evidence matches the color I named for a Joker, can I move any face-up evidence token? Official
The publisher's forum erratum says no: after naming a color for a Joker, you may move only a face-up evidence token of that named color, or move initiative or momentum. This differs from the broader “any color” wording printed in the English and German rules. Agree which wording your group will use before play; the erratum is the publisher's latest ruling.
Source: BGG Rules forum
When does an evidence token's red momentum icon move the momentum marker? Official
The bonus applies when the token is pinned to the evidence board or claimed at space 5, not when it is merely flipped face up on the research track. If no momentum marker is on the track because it was already claimed, the bonus is lost. Designer Matthias Cramer confirmed the no-marker case.
Source: BGG Rules forum; designer clarification
Does gaining initiative during the card phase change who plays next? Official
No. The current round keeps its existing turn order. Initiative changes the first player and hand size for the next round during evaluation.
Source: BGG Rules forum
Does Nixon reveal a face-down evidence token whenever it moves on the research track? Official
Yes. Any time a face-down evidence token moves on the research track, flip it face up immediately, whether moved by a value card or an effect.
Source: BGG Rules forum
Do the Editor's two informant connections need separate evidence paths? Official
No. Connections from different informants may share face-up evidence tokens as they lead to Nixon.
Source: BGG Rules forum
What if an action's instructions cannot all be carried out? Official
Carry out each possible instruction in the order printed on the card, then skip only the impossible part. A reaction must be played before the triggered card's instructions resolve.
Source: BGG Rules forum; reaction timing
What if my deck and discard pile together do not contain enough cards for my full hand? Official
At the start of the round, draw the cards that are available and play with a smaller hand. Shuffle the discard pile only when a new round starts and a draw is needed; do not reshuffle immediately when the deck empties during play.
Source: BGG Rules forum; reshuffle timing