2015 BGG rank #2941

Xenon Profiteer

2–4 players 30 min Ages 10+ 2.1/5 complexity 6.0/10 rating

About this game

Xenon is a valuable noble gas that is found in very trace amounts in Earth's atmosphere. Due to the difficulty and expense of isolating high-purity Xenon for various technological advancements in recent years, the need for Cryogenic Distillation of Xenon is on the rise. Xenon Profiteer is a highly thematic, deck-deconstruction, euro game for 2-4 entrepreneurs in which each player takes control of their own Air Separation Facility and distills Xenon from their Systems to complete lucrative contracts. You will also physically expand your facility by building upgrades, pipelines, and acquiring new contracts and connecting them to your Center Console. In a decidedly different take on the classic deck-building format, Xenon Profiteer not only actively encourages players to remove cards from their decks, it is absolutely essential in order to isolate Xenon. Each turn begins by strategically removing cards from your hand (and deck) through Distilling based on the real-world hierarchy of elements. The goal: only have Xenon remaining in your hand. The problem is, of course, the only way to gain more Xenon, is to bring in more AIR. And AIR is composed of all kinds of other pesky elements that make isolating Xenon difficult. To combat this, you will need to Buy powerful upgrade cards for your facility in order to become more efficient. These upgrade cards can either be purchased for a lower cost and placed into your system (deck) or installed directly to your facility to be used every turn for the remainder of the game. Or maybe, if you are low on funds, you might decide to place a Bid Token onto an important Upgrade or Contract, thereby giving yourself a discount on a future turn and causing other players to pay YOU extra if they decide to purchase it instead. After a player has either completed five contracts or installed five upgrades, the game end is triggered and the player with the most Xenon points is the winner. Do you have the ingenuity, strategy, and tactical fortitude it takes to be recognized by several reputable business publications as the owner of the most influential domestic supplier of Xenon?

What it feels like

Hand Management Income Multi-Use Cards End Game Bonuses Tags Contracts Open Drafting Deck, Bag, and Pool Building Simulation Economic Industry / Manufacturing Card Game Chemistry Science

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Setup

Standard Setup (2–4 Players): Follow the standard rulebook setup instructions. 5-Player Setup Additions: 1. Print the two 5th player variant sheets (designed for double-sided cardstock, or glue two separate sheets together). 2. Cut out the 5th player's Center Console and Xenon Token supply using scissors or a 1-inch hole punch. 3. Set up the game identically to the standard rules. 4. Keep a central pile of Xenon Tokens accessible to all players. 5. If the money supply is insufficient for 5 players, supplement it with any standard cubes or tokens.

Turn flow

Turn structure follows the standard 2–4 player rules exactly, except: - During the Distill action, players may receive Xenon Tokens instead of (Xe) cards when the (Xe) card supply is low. - During the Introduce AIR action, if any element supply stack is empty, the acting player gains all remaining available Element cards but only $1 per AIR action (instead of $2). If the (Xe) stack specifically is empty, they receive a Xenon Token placed immediately on the right side of their Center Console as isolated Xenon.

Scoring and victory

Standard scoring rules apply. The 5-player variant introduces no changes to scoring methodology. Scoring sources: Completing Contracts, Currency ($) accumulated during play

Source: Rulebook

Rules to know

The most useful rules for getting a first game right.

General

The game is designed for 2–4 players; 5-player is a supported variant.

Xenon Profiteer is designed for 2–4 players. A 5th player variant exists but was not originally intended to be part of the standard game. It is strongly recommended that first-time players use the 2–4 player count.

Setup

The 5th player requires a printed Center Console and Xenon Token sheet.

Before playing with 5 players, print the two provided variant sheets. They are designed to be printed on either side of a single sheet of cardstock, or printed separately and glued together. Cut out the components using scissors or a 1-inch hole punch. This produces the 5th player's Center Console and a new supply of (Xe) tokens.

General

A 5-player game follows standard rules except where explicitly noted.

A 5-player game is set up and played exactly the same way as the standard 2–4 player rules, with only the exceptions described in the 5th player variant rules.

Resource management

Money is not a limited resource; substitute tokens may be used if the supply runs out.

Money is not intended to be a limited resource in the game. If the physical supply of money tokens runs out during a 5-player game, any standard cubes or tokens may be used to represent the additional currency needed.

Resource management

Xenon Tokens substitute for (Xe) cards when the general supply of (Xe) cards runs low.

The Xenon Tokens provided in the 5th player variant sheets are used to represent isolated (Xe) when (Xe) cards in the general supply are running low. Each Xenon Token counts as a single isolated (Xe). They are used to complete contracts in the same way as (Xe) cards.

Resource production

When isolating (Xe) during Distill and (Xe) cards are low, return your (Xe) card to the general supply and take a Xenon Token instead.

During the Distill action, if the general supply of (Xe) cards is running low, a player isolating (Xe) should place their (Xe) card back into the general supply and replace it with a Xenon Token. The Xenon Token then represents that isolated (Xe).

Resource management

Xenon Tokens are returned to a central pile after being used to complete a Contract.

When a player uses Xenon Tokens to complete a Contract, the tokens are simply returned to a central pile (as opposed to (Xe) cards, which return to the general supply). Xenon Tokens function identically to (Xe) cards for the purpose of contract completion.

Special

If an element supply stack is empty when a player Introduces AIR, that player gains all other available Element cards but only $1 per AIR action instead of $2.

In a 5-player game, if there is ever a situation where an element supply stack has become empty and a player performs an Introduce AIR action, that player gains all other available Element cards from remaining stacks but receives only $1 for each AIR action, rather than the standard $2.

Strategy briefing

Managing Xenon Supply in 5-Player Games

Because the (Xe) card supply is shared among 5 players instead of 4, it depletes faster. Prioritize Distill actions early to secure isolated (Xe) cards before the stack runs low and you are forced to use Xenon Tokens, which — while functionally equivalent — signal that the supply is stressed and competitors are also pursuing Xenon.

Introduce AIR Timing and Empty Stacks

In a 5-player game, if any element stack becomes empty, performing Introduce AIR yields only $1 instead of $2 per action. Avoid being the player who triggers AIR introduction when stacks are nearly depleted, or intentionally time it to deprive opponents of the full $2 payout.

Using the Xenon Token Pile Strategically

Xenon Tokens returned to the central pile after contract completion are reusable by anyone. Completing contracts quickly cycles Xenon Tokens back into availability, potentially helping opponents. Balance speed of contract completion against the need to hoard isolated Xenon.

Common questions and edge cases

The (Xe) card stack is empty. A player performs the Distill action and would normally isolate (Xe). What happens?

The player places their (Xe) card back into the general supply and receives a Xenon Token instead. The Xenon Token counts as a single isolated (Xe) and can be used to complete Contracts just like a (Xe) card.

A player performs Introduce AIR and the (Xe) stack is empty. What do they receive?

The player receives a Xenon Token instead of a (Xe) card, and immediately places it on the right side of their Center Console. This counts as an isolated Xenon.

A player performs Introduce AIR and at least one element supply stack (not necessarily Xe) is empty. How does this affect their earnings?

If any element supply stack is empty at the time a player Introduces AIR, that player gains all other available Element cards but receives only $1 per AIR action instead of the standard $2.

Can Xenon Tokens be used interchangeably with (Xe) cards when completing Contracts?

Yes. Xenon Tokens function identically to (Xe) cards for Contract completion. The only difference is that after use, Xenon Tokens are returned to a central pile rather than the general (Xe) card supply.

A player selects the Profiteer card ability granting 10 bid tokens, but there aren't enough bid tokens in the box. What should players do?

Find 5 additional cubes or tokens from any available source (spare components, household items) to represent the extra bid tokens. This is explicitly accounted for in the 5-player variant rules.