Three Player
How to set up for a three player game
Full games of NXS can be played with three players. Players set up their pieces around the center-line of the board just like with a two person game. The players then push their boards together so that the small alignment marks line up (note that the center-lines will not line up).
The diagram below shows the setup for the long game, but any other setup could be used.
Special rules for three player games
You must capture at least 1/3 of the needed territory from each enemy player
For example: If you are playing to 10, then you must get at least 4 of those spaces from each enemy.
Two players can capture the same enemy space
For example; if both white and black have captured one of red's spaces it will count towards both black's and white's total captured spaces.
You can capture territory across multiple enemy boards
In the illustration below, you can see that white has two pieces in enemy territory. White captures all of the uninterrupted spaces (marked in green) between its pieces.
Four Player
How to set up for a four player game
Full games of NXS can be played with four players. Players set up their pieces around a neutral fifth board.
The diagram below shows the setup for the long game, but any other setup could be used.
Special rules for four player games
You must capture at least 1/4 of the needed territory from each enemy board that is not touching your board
For example: If you are playing to 10, then you must get at least 3 of those spaces from each enemy whose board is not touching yours. In the example above, that would mean the black player must get at least 3 of their 10 spaces from each of purple and gold. The rest could come from any board, including the neutral center board.
Two players can capture the same enemy space
For example; if both white and black have captured one of red's spaces it will count towards both black's and white's total captured spaces.
You can capture territory across multiple enemy boards
This works exactly like three player, but you can also capture territory across on the neutral middle board.