Andrew Heath
China
Liaoning
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Cleitus the Black is a nice guy. Hell, I even have him on my geekbuddy list... (but I'm not on his!) So when I saw his A grognards perspective: A really fun game! I was delighted that someone with some real wargaming credentials had decided to review Nexus Ops. Except apparently Cleitus the Black turns into Cleitus the Sissy Avalon Hill Apologist when he sees a few pretty pieces, because his review was wildly off the mark.
Allow me, friends, to present to you:
A REAL Grognard's Perspective: Nexus Ops is Crap 
Opening the Box for the First Time
Upon opening up my copy of Nexus Ops, which I had received for Christmas, I was confronted with several bags of plastic figures (ok), a half-dozen countersheets (alright!), and some weird random bits of cardboard?
Planning to bring my copy of Nexus Ops to my next grognard night, I immediately set to work doing what all true wargamers do upon opening a new game - clipping the counters.
The standard Nexus Ops counters though are quite large, and were a tad too big for my usual clippers to accommodate.
One of the first lessons you learn in Boy Scouts, however, is be prepared! I have a special pair of clippers for such special occasions, and they did a fine job.
As we all know, clipping counters is done to prevent them from jostling and snagging on each other during gameplay. Frankly, I'm surprised no one else has mentioned this with Nexus Ops. I think the picture below makes the improvement clear.
Having clipped my counters, I then set about sorting my units into Chessex countertrays. Unfortunately, and inexplicably, the designers at Avalon Hill didn't take countertray standard sizes into account? It's a real pain in the ass to get all the units into them. Chessex trays have 16 shallow cells, and one army takes up 11 cells at a MINIMUM. Having to use 4 countertrays for this game is shameful!
Maybe GMT trays would be better for this particular game? Nevertheless, I had a few spare trays laying around, so I was able to organize everything ok but then I ran into another major problem: the trays don't fit into the box!
Damnit.
And what the hell is this? I'd MUCH rather have a box that could hold countertrays than some piece of shit flimsy-ass Avalon Hill logo...
Lastly, I cannot ignore the inherent racist insults in the way Avalon Hill chose to depict the Crystalline units.
It's disgustingly reminiscent of a famous Avalanche Press insult in Panzer Grenadier: Afrika Korps; The Desert War:
And any idiot can see that
"Crystalline and Crystal Spires"
is OBVIOUSLY just an anagram for
"Italy's Clearly Crap (snendts)"
Components - Conclusion
The problems with clipping counters can be overcome with special clippers or the use of exacto knives, so I won't mark Nexus Ops down for that. HOWEVER, the ridiculous requirement of FOUR countertrays, and the fact that they don't even fit in the box cannot be ignored. Lastly, I'm getting tired of people picking on the Italian contribution to World War 2. They fought hard, ok?
Components Score: 3/10
Playing the Game
There are innumerable other Nexus Ops reviews going into great detail about the game's mechanics, so I won't here. What I will do instead is highlight some serious problems in the rules.
First of all, the rules as written are 11 pages, but would probably be more like 4 if they had organized them neatly and succinctly. Not only do the rules not follow the standard X.X.XX numbering system wargames have used for half a century, they are too short. There are ambiguities you could drive a BRADLEY through...
LINE OF SIGHT
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've read the rules ~5 times and can find no mention whatsoever of LOS. Because most units can only move one hex per turn, I've been playing under the assumption that LOS is also only one hex. BUT, surely units on a higher elevation - the Monolith - should be able to see further? And the Lava Leaper's jump ability worries me. I don't think they should be able to launch a jumping attack over the Monolith without some sort of negative DRM for lacking LOS prior to the attack. This is addressed in more detail below...
STACKING & SCALE
Another omission in the rules is any reference to stacking or map scale. Apparently there are no stacking limits? If one accepts that each map hex is sufficiently large to potentially hold two entire armies then how can a lone human hope to find, much less engage in combat, another lone human in a single hex? Logical Consistency is critical in wargaming, and Nexus Ops has none.
SUPPLY POINT A
When the invading forces arrive, they discover that the moon has its own life forms, including magnificent dragonlike beings that can breathe gouts of incandescent plasma. The competing forces waste no time in conscripting these and other life forms as fighting units.
Sure, whatever. But the complete absence of supply considerations is inexcusable. Some might counter by saying "Shad, it's a quick battle, they don't need supply!" and I'll reply by saying "but we're MINING minerals, REPEATEDLY, that doesn't happen instantly!"
Now, I can accept that the humans are carrying MREs or somesuch future equivalent on their persons - especially since a close examination of the figure shows some sort of backpack. What I cannot accept is that a plasma-breathing dragon, or a giant lizard, can go many days without nourishment.
I've come up with a House Rule to address this oversight.
HR1 - After deployment, Rubium Dragons & Lava Leapers must each consume 1 human per turn to remain combat effective. The human must be in the same hex as the RD/LL, and may belong to either the player or be killed (and consumed) during combat with an opponent. RD/LLs that do not meet these requirements suffer a -1 DRM penalty every battle until they feed again.
SUPPLY POINT B
Rules as written, rubium mining can be conducted and the ore conveyed back to home base instantly from across the entire length of the battlefield. Furthermore, mine production can only be interrupted by direct intervention into that mine's location. A mine that is completely surrounded can still magically convey its production back to the owning player's home base. The stupidity of this rule is self-evident.
I've come up with a pair of House Rules to address this problem as well.
HR2.1 - Mines are only "in production" if they can trace an uninterrupted supply line back to one of the owning player's 3 home base hexes.
HR2.2 - At the conclusion of each turn, mines that meet the requirement in Rule 2.1 may produce credits equal to their worth. These credits then move 1 hex towards the owning player's home hexes. Each subsequent turn each rubium convoy can move an additional hex. Once a rubium convoy reaches a player's home hex the player adds that rubium to his bank.
HR2.2.1 - If an enemy unit enters a hex occupied by a rubium convoy, this is considered an interdiction and the convoy is immediately destroyed. Rubium Convoys have no combat abilities.
Nexus Ops doesn't include pieces to accurately portray this, so I recommend either 1) placing the rubium tokens themselves in play and moving them along the map or 2) substituting counters from another wargame.
In my case, I used convoy trucks from Panzer Grenadier, wagons & horses didn't really fit the theme.
COMBAT RESOLUTION
Rules as written, each unit can inflict & take exactly one point of damage. Furthermore, combat is conducted by rolling a series of 1d6's, a notoriously luck-heavy method. Units are either destroyed, or remain to contest the hex for another battle.
Fortunately, Nexus Ops is easily adapted to a more accurate 2d6 & DRM system. I highly recommend the following CRT to anyone serious about playing this game the way it was meant to be played:
NEXUS OPS 2d6 COMBAT RESOLUTION TABLE
ODDS 1:5 1:4 1:3 1:2 1:1.5 1:1 2:1 3:1 4:1 5:1
2 1/1 1/1 1/1 0/1 0/1 0/2 0/2 0/3 0/4 0/5
3 1/0 1/0 1/0 0/0 0/1 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/3 0/4
4 1/0 2/0 1/0 2/0 1/1 1/1 1/2 1/2 0/3 0/3
5 2/0 2/0 2/0 2/0 1/1 1/1 1/1 0/2 0/3 0/3
6 2/0 2/0 2/0 1/0 1/0 1/1 1/1 0/1 0/2 0/2
7 3/0 3/0 2/0 1/0 1/0 2/1 1/1 1/1 1/2 0/2
8 2/0 2/0 2/0 1/0 1/0 1/1 1/1 0/1 0/2 0/2
9 2/0 2/0 2/0 2/0 1/1 1/1 1/1 0/2 0/3 0/3
10 1/0 2/0 1/0 1/0 1/1 1/1 1/2 1/2 0/3 0/3
11 1/0 1/0 1/0 0/0 0/1 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/3 0/4
12 1/1 1/1 1/1 0/1 0/1 0/2 0/2 0/3 0/4 0/5
ODDS 1:5 1:4 1:3 1:2 1:1.5 1:1 2:1 3:1 4:1 5:1
NOTE: (7 - Hits On) = Unit's Attack/Defense Strength.
Total Attack:Total Defense,
Select Appropriate Column,
Roll Once.
X/Y -- X is Attacker's Steplosses, Y is Defender's
Playing the Game - Conclusion
Rules as written, this is not a game I can recommend, to anyone. There are simply too many ambiguities, too many problems of scale & unit balancing, and the supply rules are a disaster. Applying the handful of house rules I've come up with cleans things up a lot, but those were all obvious flaws that are indicative of a shoddy design validation process.
Gameplay Score: 4/10
Shad's Final Thoughts
Taken as a whole, Nexus Ops falls firmly into a well-populated category - undercooked, overly ambitious crap. Were it not for the garish colors and figures, the idiosyncratic rules and supply stupidity would have convinced me this was a Richard Berg design.
Any of you who consider yourselves wargamers should stay far, far away from this mess.
Final Score: 7/20 
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Tom Jukic
United States
Richmond Hts.
Ohio
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Too funny! Have a GG.
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Give Me Gas In My Ford
United States
Elkhart
Indiana
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Classic.
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Ted Stein
United States
Oakdale
Minnesota
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This is the FUNNIEST thing I've read in weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ThankYou!
ThankYou!
ThankYou!
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Ted Stein
United States
Oakdale
Minnesota
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jeez, Stein, get a life!
But it is really good!
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Mark Bigney
Spain
Cambridge
Massachusetts
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You had me at snendts.
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WAN CHIU
United States
SUNNYVALE
94089
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Oh gosh this is so funny (wipe away tears). Thanks I needed this before the work week begins!!
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Jeffrey Vaca
United States
San Diego
California
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Just way, WAY too funny.
I started to laugh out loud at the counter clipping, and it just kept going...
Thanks!
[trundles off to see if he has any GG]
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T. Nomad
New Zealand
Winnipeg/Auckland/Cheonan
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Shad wrote: HR1 - After deployment, Rubium Dragons & Lava Leapers must each consume 1 human per turn to remain combat effective. The human must be in the same hex as the RD/LL, and may belong to either the player or be killed (and consumed) during combat with an opponent. RD/LLs that do not meet these requirements suffer a -1 DRM penalty every battle until they feed again.
Pure comedy gold.
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Andrew Swan
Australia
Sydney
NSW
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I'm just amazed that the SOH-deprived haven't yet weighed in with a staunch defence of this game.
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I think someone is a bit cranky
At least you gave yourself an A
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Colin Hunter
New Zealand
Auckland
Stop the admins removing history from the Wargaming forum.
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This is truly a wonderful review, very, very funny. Thanks, I particularly like that you added a CRT.
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Jack van Riel
Netherlands
Nijmegen
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Very helpful review, thanks. Nexus Ops in on my wish list now.
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Andrew Carlstrom
United States
San Marcos
California
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Shad wrote: Cleitus the Black is a nice guy. Hell, I even have him on my geekbuddy list... (but I'm not on his!)
You are now!
Great review
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Booker Hooker
United States
Hendersonville
North Carolina
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Funny stuff, thanks for the laughs!
I must get this game.
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Jacob
United States
Lexington
Kentucky
Go Pats!
My awesome son =)
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Avalon Hill logo.......BWAHAHAHAHA!!!! That was quite funny =)
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Wendell
Spain
Arlington
Virginia
All the little chicks with crimson lips, go...
Hey, get your stinking cursor off my face! I got nukes, you know.
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Wait, he was being funny?
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Andrew Heath
China
Liaoning
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The casual/euro gamers read my review and say:
Ha ha ha, very clever.
The hardcore wargamers read my review and say:
Wait, can a Rubium Dragon use its dragon-breath attack to interdict a convoy, or do I need to actually enter the hex?
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Andrew Carlstrom
United States
San Marcos
California
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By the way, Andrew, if we ever get together to play Nexus Ops, lets use my copy. I looks to me like you used your toe nail clippers on yours.
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Andrew Heath
China
Liaoning
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No worries mate. I'm a yoga fan, haven't clipped my toenails in years...
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Andrew Carlstrom
United States
San Marcos
California
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Shad wrote: No worries mate. I'm a yoga fan, haven't clipped my toenails in years...
huh?...
....oh....
...ewww.
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Andrew Heath
China
Liaoning
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Addendum added to original review. Keep it rolling!
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Xander Fulton
United States
Portland
Oregon
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Gyges wrote: You had me at snendts.
'struth
Articles that get an actual, real live, honest-to-gods LOL out of me are rare.
This is a gem.
Well done, sir, well done! I especially like the Panzer Grenadier trucks for supply. Awesomely crafted!
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Andrew Swan
Australia
Sydney
NSW
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Cleitus the Black wrote: Shad wrote: No worries mate. I'm a yoga fan, haven't clipped my toenails in years... huh?... ....oh.... ...ewww.
And as for the other obvious question, I'm sure the answer is "yes ... often"! 
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Posted Mon Jan 5, 2009 3:59 am
