Welcome back, Human Sphere recruits! I’m a newbie diving into Infinity the Game N5, Corvus Belli’s sci-fi tabletop wargame that’s captivated me with its tactical depth and 28mm miniatures. If you’re ready to play your first Infinity N5 game, this beginner’s guide is your playbook. I’m walking you through setting up a 24x32-inch table, placing terrain, deploying your army, and tackling mission objectives using the Infinity Essentials framework from Operation: Sandtrap. I’ll share my first full N5 game’s chaos and lessons to help you hit the table with confidence.
New to Infinity N5? Catch up with:
Blog Post 1: Getting Started: What You Need for Infinity N5 for miniatures and rules.
Blog Post 2: Understanding N5 Basics: Core Mechanics for Orders and Saving Rolls.
Blog Post 3: Building Your First N5 Army: Beginner Tips for crafting a 150-point list.
Let’s dive into your first Infinity N5 match!
Infinity N5 (released December 2024, updated April 2025) is a tactical tabletop wargame where small squads clash in mission-driven scenarios. Infinity Essentials, used in starters like Operation: Sandtrap, simplifies rules for beginners, focusing on core mechanics like Face-to-Face Rolls and Automatic Reaction Orders (AROs). This post will guide you through setting up and playing a 150-point Essentials mission, ensuring your first N5 game is fun and manageable.
Setting Up Your Infinity N5 Game
Your first Infinity N5 game starts with a proper setup. Here’s how to prepare a 24x32-inch table for an Infinity Essentials mission.
1. Table Size and Mat
Size: Use a 24x32-inch table (or 2x3-foot mat) for Essentials missions, perfect for 150-point games. Full N5 uses a 48x48-inch table, but start small.
Mat: A sci-fi mat from Frontline Gaming or Deep-Cut Studio adds flavor, but a cloth or bare table works fine.
My Experience: I used a 2x3-foot dining table with a cloth mat. It felt cozy but worked great for Sandtrap’s missions.
2. Terrain Placement
Dense terrain is critical for Infinity N5’s cover-based gameplay. Aim for 8-10 pieces that block Line of Fire (LoF) or provide cover:
Types: Use Sandtrap’s cardboard terrain, MDF buildings, 3D-printed sci-fi structures, or DIY options (books, boxes).
Cover: Grants +3 to Saving Rolls (PS) and -3 to enemy Ballistic Skill (BS) rolls.
LoF: Tall terrain (e.g., buildings) blocks AROs and shots.
Balance: Place terrain symmetrically to avoid favoring one side.
Tips:
Spread terrain evenly, with 2-3 pieces per table quarter.
Ensure some open lanes for movement, but prioritize cover.
Mark difficult terrain (e.g., rubble) that halves MOV.
My Experience: My first setup had too few buildings, leaving open lanes for PanO AROs to snipe my JSA. Tip: Pack the table with cover—8-10 pieces minimum!
3. Initiative Roll
Before deployment, both players roll a d20 for Initiative (WIP stat isn’t used in Essentials). The winner chooses:
Go First: Take the Active Turn first.
Choose Deployment Zone: Pick one of two 24x8-inch zones at table edges.
My Experience: I won Initiative but chose to go first without considering deployment. My opponent’s zone had better cover, costing me models. Tip: Weigh both options carefully.
Deploying Your Army
Once Initiative is decided, deploy your 150-point army (6-10 models) in your 24x8-inch deployment zone:
Place Models: All models must be in your zone, fully on the table (not on terrain edges unless specified).
Hidden Deployment: Units like JSA’s Shinobi (with camouflage) can deploy hidden, noted secretly but not placed until revealed.
Lieutenant: Designate one model as your Lieutenant (e.g., a Keisotsu). If they die, you lose 2 Orders next turn (Essentials simplifies this).
N5 Note: Essentials omits advanced deployment rules (e.g., Airborne Deployment) for simplicity.
My Experience: I deployed my Shinobi poorly, forgetting its camouflage let it start hidden. It died to an ARO on turn one. Tip: Hide specialists like Shinobi to surprise opponents.
Understanding N5 Missions
Infinity N5 games revolve around missions, not just killing enemies. Essentials missions, like those in Operation: Sandtrap, emphasize objectives over destruction. A common beginner mission is “Stealth-Ops” (downloads.corvusbelli.com/infinity/its-rules-season-16).
Stealth-Ops Mission Overview
Objective: Secure zones (8x8-inch quadrants) by having more points of models in them at game’s end (3 turns).
Scoring: 1-3 points per quadrant based on control; bonus points for covert tasks (e.g., a specialist reaching the enemy zone).
Setup: 24x32-inch table, 150 points, 3 turns.
N5 Note: Essentials missions simplify scoring and limit special skills, making them ideal for learning.
Tips:
Read the mission before setup (check infinityuniverse.com/resources).
Use specialists (e.g., Ryuken-9) for objective tasks.
Spend Orders on objectives, not just kills.
My Experience: I played “Stealth-Ops” and focused on shooting, ignoring quadrants. I lost 5-1, as my opponent’s PanO Kamau secured two zones. Tip: Prioritize mission goals!
My First Full N5 Game
I played “Stealth-Ops” with my 150-point JSA list (3x Keisotsu, 1x Yamabushi, 1x Shinobi, 2x Ryuken-9) against PanO’s Kestrel Force on a 24x32-inch table. Here’s how it went:
Setup: I used Sandtrap’s terrain but placed it poorly, leaving a sniper lane. My opponent won Initiative and picked a cover-heavy zone.
Deployment: I hid two Keisotsu in cover but exposed my Shinobi, forgetting hidden deployment. PanO’s sniper ARO’d it down turn one.
Gameplay: I spent Orders chasing kills, winning Face-to-Face Rolls with my Yamabushi’s melee (PH12). But I ignored quadrants, letting PanO’s Kamau score points.
Result: Lost 5-1. My Keisotsu survived thanks to cover (+3 PS Saving Rolls), but I neglected objectives.
Lessons:
Terrain: Dense, balanced terrain prevents ARO snipes.
Deployment: Use hidden deployment for units like Shinobi.
Missions: Focus Orders on objectives, not kills.
Beginner Tips for Your First N5 Game
Terrain Density: Use 8-10 pieces, ensuring cover and LoF blockers. Test LoF before deploying.
Deployment Strategy: Place line infantry (e.g., Keisotsu) in cover; hide specialists if possible.
Mission Focus: Read the mission and prioritize objectives over kills.
AROs: Check enemy LoF before moving to avoid reactive shots.
Practice: Play Sandtrap’s first mission (150 points, 3 turns) to learn flow.
My Tip: Mark your Lieutenant token clearly—I forgot mine and confused my Order Pool!
Resources for Playing N5
Mission Rules: Download at downloads.corvusbelli.com/infinity/its-rules-season-16.
Infinity Wiki: Clarify rules at infinitythewiki.com.
Bromad Academy: Mission tips at bromadacademy.com.
YouTube: Corvus Belli tutorials or Guerrilla Miniature Games for gameplay.
Community: Ask for setup advice on r/InfinityTheGame or Infinity’s Discord.
Ready to play your first Infinity N5 game? Set up a 24x32-inch table, grab your Operation: Sandtrap box, and play a “Stealth-Ops” mission. Share your game results, terrain setups, or deployment tips in the comments or on r/InfinityTheGame. What was your first N5 match like? Let’s swap stories and dominate the Human Sphere!
What’s Next in the Series?
Next, we’ll explore Common Beginner Mistakes in N5, diving into pitfalls like poor positioning and mission neglect, with fixes from my games and community advice. Need a refresher? Revisit:
Blog Post 1: Getting Started: What You Need for Infinity N5 for setup basics.
Blog Post 2: Understanding N5 Basics: Core Mechanics for rule foundations.
Blog Post 3: Building Your First N5 Army: Beginner Tips for list-building.
Until then, visit infinityuniverse.com, join the Infinity Global League Discord, or share your first game in the comments. Let’s conquer Infinity the Game!
Hashtags for Social Media: #InfinityN5 #InfinityTheGame #PlayN5Game #InfinityEssentials #OperationSandtrap #TabletopWargaming #SciFiMiniatures #JSAArmy #PanOceania #TacticalWargame #WargamingBeginner #CorvusBelli #MiniatureGaming
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