Your first shift (tutorial)
Arena lesson · NAMS Training Officer · Unrated
Your first login starts a tour of the interface and then an arena lesson: a real match against the Training Officer, a NAMS operator who runs practice shifts for new staff (“Unrated, unhurried, unimpressed”). The lesson is narrated by the Shift Supervisor, the ANRO Control Room Supervisor who also reads the referee log during normal matches. Nothing in the lesson is rated, there is no clock, and you can wander off-script: every step degrades gracefully if you play something else.
The lesson deals you a fixed opening hand so the script can teach with it: Plant Maintenance Intern, Reactor Trainee, Junior Watchman, Coolant Pumps Alpha & Beta, a Reactor Operator and Relief Valve Cycling. You play first.
Step by step
Section titled “Step by step”1. Two reactors
Section titled “1. Two reactors”Welcome to your first shift, operator. Two reactors, one per side; both cores start at 1,420 K. Nominal runs from 1,000 K to 2,390 K; 2,400 K is Reactor Overheat; 3,120 K is the meltdown — and the loss.
Read the two temperature readouts. Everything in the game moves those numbers. See Core Temperature.
2. Roster Review
Section titled “2. Roster Review”Your opening six are below. That is a clean shift. Keep this hand.
You may shuffle your hand back and draw six again, once. In the lesson, keep it.
3. The shift
Section titled “3. The shift”Every shift runs Shift Start → Operations → Incident → Shift End. Shift Start is automatic: Base Load heats the core, you draw a card and your badge refreshes — 2 Swipes plus one per Facility.
4. Play the Reactor Trainee
Section titled “4. Play the Reactor Trainee”Tap the Reactor Trainee. It costs 2 Swipes and requires Clearance D — the level every operator starts at, so D cards are always open. The Trainee is an OPERATOR: the piece that earns Power Orders.
5. Orientation
Section titled “5. Orientation”The Trainee is on the floor under ORIENTATION: new Personnel cannot be stationed or strike until your next Shift Start.
Lore: ANRO holds orientation once a day for new staff; “Mr. Tutorial” waits at the RO/PM/LO spawn.
6. End your shift
Section titled “6. End your shift”Ending the shift runs the Incident phase (nothing on the alarm board yet) and Shift End, where the plant checks for a Power Order. It needs a STATIONED OPERATOR, so expect a miss. Unspent Swipes are lost.
7. The Officer’s shift
Section titled “7. The Officer’s shift”Watch the referee log. Every play, strike and check is written there with names; the Supervisor reads the headline events out loud.
8. Station the Trainee
Section titled “8. Station the Trainee”Base Load took your core up. Tap the Reactor Trainee and choose Station. STATIONED Personnel hold a post: they can intercept strikes, and a STATIONED OPERATOR earns a Power Order at Shift End.
9. Play the Intern and the Watchman
Section titled “9. Play the Intern and the Watchman”The Plant Maintenance Intern (1 Swipe, D) is HAZMAT crew: it clears Incidents and can Repair a Facility or remove a HACK counter. Not a fighter (ATK 0). The Junior Watchman (1 Swipe) is a GUARD: when it intercepts a strike it hits first.
10. Power Orders
Section titled “10. Power Orders”End the shift with the Trainee stationed and the core in band. Watch the check: Power Order complete. Seven of those wins the match — The Perfect Shift.
11. Bring a Facility online
Section titled “11. Bring a Facility online”Your core is climbing. Play Coolant Pumps Alpha & Beta (2 Swipes). Facilities stay on the site: the Pumps COOL your core at every Shift Start, and every Facility adds a Swipe to your badge.
12. Strike, block, damage
Section titled “12. Strike, block, damage”Strike with a ready Personnel: pick a target on the Officer’s roster. The Officer decides whether to intercept with a stationed unit. Damage is simultaneous — except that a GUARD blocker lands first, and if the striker dies it deals nothing. Damage is persistent: it does not heal at the end of the shift. See Strikes and blocks.
13. Did you know: SCRAM
Section titled “13. Did you know: SCRAM”If your core ever reaches Overheat (2,400 K), SCRAM is the emergency stop: the core drops to 900 K and the reactor is SHUT DOWN for four shifts — no Base Load, no Power Orders, no cooling. Once per match. Reaching 3,120 K with SCRAM spent is the loss.
14. Lesson complete
Section titled “14. Lesson complete”Finish the shift on your own. Everything is unlocked. The Supervisor still interrupts the first time an Incident lands on your board, the first SKALA hack, and the first time you enter Reactor Overheat — once each, then never again.
After the lesson
Section titled “After the lesson”- Claim your daily supply run: three free crates and shift pay.
- Build a 40-card deck (max 3 copies per card, one bloc plus Neutral). The Training Officer’s own roster is DOE + SECFOR + Neutral, a good template for a first DEFENSE deck.
- Queue Training for more unrated practice, Casual for people, or Ranked to climb the Plant Security ladder.