Overview

51st State: Master Set is a card-driven engine-building game set in the post-apocalyptic world of Neuroshima. Players build a new State by interacting with Location cards in three ways: Building them into their State, Razing them for Spoils, or making Deals for ongoing resources. The game ends when any player reaches 25 Victory Points, triggering final scoring. The player with the highest score wins.

Components

• 200 cards (63x88mm):
  • 88 51st State base cards
  • 12 Connection cards
  • 50 New Era cards
  • 50 Winter cards
• 4 Faction boards
• 1 Victory Point board
• 4 Victory Point markers
• 1 First Player token
• Min. 30 Brick pieces
• Min. 30 Fuel pieces
• Min. 30 Gun pieces
• Min. 30 Iron pieces
• Min. 38 Worker pieces
• 13 Bullet (Ammo) tokens
• 20 Red Contact tokens
• 20 Blue Contact tokens
• 30 Grey Contact tokens
• 7 Universal Contact tokens
• 9 Development tokens
• 10 Shield tokens
• 4 Multiplier tokens

Setup

1. Each player takes a Faction board and matching VP marker (placed on “0”).
2. Give the First Player token to one player.
3. Separate Connection cards and create Connection piles.
4. Shuffle remaining Location cards into a single deck.
5. Place resource tokens in a general supply.

Turn Structure

Each round has 4 phases:

1. Lookout Phase (Draft)

1. Reveal the top card of each Connection pile.
2. Draw cards from the deck equal to number of players + 1. Place face-up.
3. Starting with the First Player clockwise, each player takes 1 card.
4. Discard the remaining card.
5. Draw another set of cards (players + 1) face-up.
6. Starting with the last player counter-clockwise, each player takes 1 card.
7. Discard the remaining card.

No hand limit.

2. Production Phase

Collect Goods from three sources (simultaneously or in player order):

• Faction board – basic production for your faction
• Deals – each Deal provides its depicted Good
• Production Locations – each produces its depicted Goods

3. Action Phase

Starting with the First Player clockwise, take one Action at a time. Continue around until all players have Passed.

4. Cleanup Phase

• Store Goods on cards with storage abilities.
• Return all other Goods to the supply (resources, workers, contact tokens, shields).
• Keep only cards in hand and stored Goods between rounds.
• Discard untaken face-up Connection cards.
• Pass First Player token to the left.

Actions

Action	Description
Build (Construct)	Play a card from hand; spend Grey Contact tokens equal to Distance. Place in appropriate row.
Build (Develop)	Play a card from hand over an existing Location sharing a Type. Spend 1 Brick (or 1 Development token to ignore Type match). Gain 1 VP.
Make a Deal	Spend Blue Contact tokens equal to Distance. Tuck card under Faction board showing Deal field. Immediately gain Deal Goods.
Raze from Hand	Spend Red Contact tokens equal to Distance. Discard card. Take Spoils Goods.
Raze Opponent’s Location	Spend Red Contact tokens equal to Defense value. Take Spoils. Opponent gets Deal Goods. Location becomes Ruins (flipped face-down).
Use Action Location	Spend required Goods (place on card). Use the Action ability. Once per round unless stated otherwise.
Use Faction Action	Spend Goods as indicated on Faction board. Once per round unless stated otherwise.
Send Worker to Open Production	Place your Worker on opponent’s Open Production Location. Take its Production Goods. Opponent gains 1 Worker.
Take Connection Card	Spend 2 Workers. Take a face-up Connection card.
Play Connection Card	Play from hand, gain depicted Goods. Pay any cost shown.
Place Shield	At any point during your turn (free action), place 1 Shield on one of your Locations. Max 1 Shield per Location.
Pass	Stop taking Actions for the round. Your Locations become immune to interaction.

Location Categories and Defense Values

Category	Row	Defense
Production	Top	3
Feature	Middle	4
Action	Bottom	5

Shield: +1 Defense. Max 1 per Location.

Resource Types

• Basic Resources: Fuel, Iron, Gun, Brick
• Ammo: Wild – can replace any basic Resource (but not vice versa)
• Workers: Used for various actions
• Contact tokens: Red (Raze), Blue (Deal), Grey (Build), Universal (any)
• Development tokens: Replace Brick for Developing; ignore Type requirement

Scoring / Victory Conditions

• End trigger: Any player reaches 25 VP on the track.
• Finish the current Action Phase (skip Cleanup).
• Add 1 VP per Location in each player’s State.
• Highest total score wins.

Tie-breakers (in order):

1. Most total Goods
2. Most Locations
3. Shared victory

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Golden Rule: Card-specific rules override the rulebook.
• Production Locations produce immediately when Built.
• Building Bonuses are one-time only.
• If a Production Location has a Building Bonus, gain both when Built.
• Cards that give bonuses for Building certain Types count themselves.
• Ruins have any Type (for Developing purposes).
• Resources are unlimited – use substitutes if needed.
• All player resources and cards are open information.
• If the deck is empty, shuffle the discard pile.
• You cannot Raze your own Locations.
• You cannot use your own Open Production Locations.
• Once you Pass, your Locations cannot be Razed or interacted with.
• You may have multiple Locations with the same name.
• When stealing opponent’s production, count the Location owner’s cards.

Solo Game

• Virtual Player does not receive Goods during Production.
• Virtual Player claims Connection cards for free (2 VP each).
• Virtual Player attacks by revealing deck cards and matching Types to your Locations.
• VP stops at successful Raze (2 VP to Virtual Player) or 3 attack attempts.
• Shield tokens block one Raze attempt when discarded.
• Game ends when either player reaches 25 VP; add Location VP; highest score wins.

Player Reference

Phase	Summary
1. Lookout	Draft cards (2 picks per player per round)
2. Production	Collect from Faction + Deals + Production Locations
3. Action	Take 1 Action at a time until all Pass
4. Cleanup	Store or discard Goods, pass First Player left

End Game	Trigger: 25 VP reached
Final Score	VP track + 1 per Location in State