Dune

1979

Dune: Experience the thrilling game of cosmic politics, survival, and alliances set in the futuristic universe of Frank Herbert's novels. Master strategy, negotiation, and bluffing to reign supreme!

180
minutes

2 - 6
player(s)

12+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Welcome to the captivating world of Dune, a board game that catapults you into the heart of Frank Herbert’s coveted science fiction universe. This game is a strategy-based cerebral voyage that takes you to the barren desert planet of Arrakis, known as Dune, where the most valuable commodity in the universe, a spice called Melange, is found.

Set amid the far-flung future amidst a sprawling feudal interstellar empire, Dune is a unique blend of strategic planning, cunning diplomacy, and tactical combat. Each player takes on the role of one of the six factions, each with its distinct strengths, weaknesses, and special abilities, vying for control of the spice and the planet itself.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The Dune board game consists of a variety of components, each playing a crucial role in the gameplay. Here, we’ll take a look at each of these components in detail and discuss their functions and interactions within the game.

1. Game Board:

The game board is a map of the planet Arrakis, or Dune. It is divided into several territories for the players to occupy and control. The game board also includes some special areas like the polar sink and the great flat.

2. Player Shields:

Each player gets a shield which contains information about their chosen faction and their special abilities. The shield also serves as a screen to hide the player’s troops and treachery cards from the other players.

3. Faction Tokens:

These tokens are used to represent each player’s troops on the game board. Each faction has its own distinct set of tokens, differentiated by color.

4. Spice Tokens:

Spice tokens are the primary currency in the game. Players can collect spice tokens by controlling certain territories on the game board and can spend them to recruit more troops, buy treachery cards, or bid for the favor of the Guild.

5. Treachery Cards:

These cards can confer a variety of benefits to the player who holds them. They can contain powerful weapons, defensive equipment, or special abilities that can turn the tide of a battle.

6. Leader Discs:

Each faction has a set of leader discs, representing the faction’s leaders. These leaders can be used in combat to enhance the faction’s fighting ability, but they can also be targeted by assassination attempts.

7. Battle Wheels:

Each player has a battle wheel which they use to secretly select the number of troops they will commit to a fight, and which of their leaders will lead the battle.

8. Storm Marker and Storm Track:

The storm marker is placed on the storm track on the game board and is advanced each round to simulate the movement of the deadly sandstorm around Dune. Any troops caught in the storm are destroyed.

9. Spice Blow and Nexus Cards:

These cards are used to determine where new spice will appear on the game board and whether a Nexus, a special event that allows players to form alliances, will occur.

10. Traitor Cards:

At the start of the game, each player is dealt four traitor cards, which represent potential traitors within the other factions. If a player’s leader is a traitor to another player, that player can reveal the traitor card to immediately kill the leader and win the battle.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Dune is a strategy board game that is set in a universe filled with political intrigue, massive sandworms, and valuable spice. Players assume different roles, each with unique powers, and fight for control over the desert planet Arrakis. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

1. Board Placement

Place the game board in the center of the playing area. The board represents the planet Arrakis, also known as Dune. It’s divided into different territories, each with its unique features and benefits. Make sure all players can easily reach the board.

2. Choosing Player Roles

Shuffle the faction cards and deal one to each player. The factions include the Atreides, Harkonnen, Emperor, Spacing Guild, Bene Gesserit and Fremen. Each faction has unique abilities and strategies. Read your faction card carefully and keep it in front of you for reference throughout the game.
Each player takes the corresponding faction tokens and leader cards.

3. Initial Resources

Each player receives a starting amount of spice, the currency of the game, as indicated on their faction card.
Each player places a number of their forces (“tokens”) on the game board as indicated on their faction card. The remaining forces are placed in their reserves.

4. Random Elements

The Spice Deck: Shuffle the spice deck and place it face down next to the game board. This deck determines the appearance of spice on the board.
The Storm: Place the storm marker on a randomly determined territory on the game board. The storm moves around the board and can destroy forces.
Treachery Cards: Shuffle the treachery deck and place it face down. These cards provide various benefits to the players who draw them.

Once all these steps have been completed, you’re ready to start playing Dune. Remember, the aim of the game is to control the most territories on the planet Dune at the end of a round!

Game flow Round and round we go

‘Dune’ is a strategic and complex board game where players take control of one of the factions vying for control of the desert planet Arrakis. The game is played over a series of rounds, each round consisting of several phases. To win, a player must control a certain number of strongholds on the game board.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of each phase within a round:

Storm Phase: The round begins with the Storm Phase. In this phase, players move the storm marker around the game board according to the roll of a six-sided die. Any troops in an area hit by the storm are eliminated from the game.
Spice Blow and Nexus Phase: In the Spice Blow Phase, players draw a card to determine where spice (the game’s main resource) appears on the board, and place the indicated amount of spice there. If a “Shai-Hulud” (sandworm) card is drawn, a Nexus Phase occurs. During a Nexus Phase, players may form or break alliances.
Choirs Phase: During this phase, players can bid on and purchase powerful treachery cards using their spice. The player with the most spice starts the bidding, and bidding continues clockwise around the table.
Revival and Movement Phase: In this phase, players can pay spice to revive their eliminated troops. Following this, they can move their troops around the game board. Players can move troops from their reserves onto the board, or move troops already on the board to another area. However, moving troops requires spice or other special abilities.
Battle Phase: If two or more players’ troops are in the same area, a battle occurs. Players use their leader cards, treachery cards, and remaining troops to fight the battle. The loser’s troops are eliminated.
Collection Phase: In the final phase of a round, players collect spice from any areas of the board where they have troops and there is spice. The collected spice can be used in future rounds to bid on treachery cards, revive troops, and move troops.

The game continues in this way, round after round, until one player (or alliance of players) controls the required number of strongholds at the end of a round. That player is then declared the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

The game Dune is a strategic board game with an intricate ruleset that allows for a range of actions during a player’s turn. Understanding these actions and how they affect gameplay is crucial to playing and winning the game.

Here’s a breakdown of what happens during a player’s turn in Dune:

1. Storm Phase

During this phase, the storm marker is moved clockwise around the map according to the number shown on the storm deck’s top card.

2. Spice Blow and Nexus Phase

Two cards are drawn from the spice deck. If a “Shai-Hulud” card is drawn, a Nexus occurs, and players may form or break alliances.

3. Bidding Phase

Players bid on Treachery Cards, using their spice as currency. The player who bids the highest gets the card. This phase is skipped if there are no cards in the deck or if no player can bid.

4. Revival and Movement Phase

Players can revive their dead troops and move their forces across the board. During this phase, the player can strategically position their forces to control specific territories and collect spice.

5. Battle Phase

If there are two or more players’ forces in the same territory, a battle ensues. Players use their Battle Wheels and cards to determine the outcome.

6. Collection Phase

Players who control a territory with spice can collect it. The amount of spice collected is determined by the number of forces in the territory.

These are the bases of what can happen during a player’s turn. However, Dune’s gameplay is highly strategic and can be affected by various factors. For example:

The use of Leader and Treachery Cards: These cards can turn a battle around and drastically change the game’s outcome.
Forming alliances: Having an ally can provide a significant advantage, allowing for shared victories and combined forces.
Positioning and movement of forces: Controlling specific territories can offer strategic advantages, such as the ability to collect more spice or gain access to special abilities.

Thus, players must be mindful of their actions and strategic choices during their turn, as they can significantly impact their progress and the game’s outcome.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The board game ‘Dune’ comes to an end under several different conditions, each corresponding to a different phase of the game. There are several victory conditions that players should be aware of and actions that need to be taken before final scoring.

Victory Conditions:

Storm Victory: The game ends immediately if any one player controls a minimum of three strongholds at the end of a round during the storm phase. This player is declared the winner.
Spice Victory: If a player accumulates a total of 15 or more spice at the end of the collection phase, the game ends and this player is declared the winner.
Alliance Victory: If an alliance controls four or more strongholds at the end of a round during the storm phase, the game ends and the alliance is declared the winner.
End of Game Victory: If no player or alliance has achieved victory by the end of the last round (usually the 10th round), the player or alliance with the most strongholds wins. If there is a tie, the player or alliance with the most spice wins.

Actions Before Final Scoring:

Before the final scoring and the end of the game, players must ensure they have completed certain actions:

Reveal Treachery Cards: All players must reveal any remaining treachery cards in their hand. These cards can affect final scoring.
Count Spice: Players count the total amount of spice they have accumulated during the game.
Count Strongholds: Players count the number of strongholds they control.

Only after these actions have been completed can final scoring occur and the winner of the game be determined.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Dune is a strategic board game where the objective is to control the most territories on the planet. The scoring system is based on the territories you control at the end of each round.

The points are distributed as follows:

Sietch Tabr, Carthag and Arrakeen: Each of these territories gives 2 points.
Tuono and Habbanya: These territories provide 1 point each.
Polar Sink: This territory is worth 2 points, but it’s usually the hardest to control due to its central location.
Spice territories: These territories give 1 point each, but they also provide a bonus point if you control a spice blow in that territory.

At the end of each round, if a player controls three or more territories, they score additional points:

3 territories: 1 point
4 territories: 2 points
5 or more territories: 3 points

The game ends after 10 rounds, or when a player reaches 10 points, whichever comes first. If two or more players have the same number of points at the end of the game, the tie-breaking rules apply:

The player who has the most territories wins the tie.
If there is still a tie, the player who has the most spice wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who controls Carthag or Arrakeen wins.
If there is still a tie, the players share the victory.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

The board game Dune is a classic game of strategy and negotiation set in Frank Herbert’s sci-fi universe. Here are some special rules, exceptions, and rule clarifications that might be important while playing:

Treachery Cards:

When a player receives a treachery card, they should keep it hidden from other players. The card can be used at any time depending upon its instructions. However, a player can never hold more than four treachery cards at a time. If they do, they must immediately discard down to four.

Storm:

At the end of each round, the storm marker is moved counterclockwise around the game board. The number of territories the storm moves is determined by the top card in the storm deck. All forces in a territory hit by the storm are removed from the game board.

Spice:

Spice is the main resource in Dune. It can be collected by having forces in a territory when a spice blow occurs there. However, any spice left uncollected when a storm hits is lost.

Revival:

Each faction has the ability to revive a certain number of forces at the start of their turn. The number of forces a faction can revive is noted on their faction sheet.

Battle Plans:

During a battle, both the attacker and defender secretly make a battle plan. The plan includes how many forces they will commit, and any leader or weapon they will use. Battle plans are revealed simultaneously.

Victory:

The game ends immediately when one player controls three strongholds at the end of a turn. If no player has won after 10 turns, the game ends and the player with the most spice is the winner.

These rules are just the basics, and the game also includes additional rules for advanced play and team play. It’s also worth noting that each faction has unique abilities that can change how these rules apply to them.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies:

Understand the special abilities of each faction. Each faction in Dune has unique abilities that can provide significant advantages when used properly. For example, the Atreides ability to see what cards will be drawn in future turns can be used to plan ahead and make strategic decisions.
Control the spice. The spice is the most valuable resource in the game and controlling its flow can give you a significant advantage. Try to occupy territories that produce a lot of spice and use the spice to fund your military efforts.
Use alliances to your advantage. Forming alliances in Dune can provide you with additional resources and support. However, be careful not to become too reliant on your allies as they may turn on you if it suits their interests.

Beginner Tips:

Start by focusing on understanding the basic mechanics of the game. Dune can be quite complex, so it’s important to get a good grasp of the basic rules before trying to develop advanced strategies.
Don’t neglect your economy. While military strength is important, it’s also vital to have a strong economy to fund your efforts. Make sure to allocate resources to spice production and other income-generating activities.
Keep an eye on your opponents. Pay attention to what other players are doing and try to anticipate their moves. This can help you make decisions that will put you in a better position in the future.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Overextending your forces. It can be tempting to try to control as many territories as possible, but this can leave you vulnerable to attack. It’s often better to focus on controlling a few key territories well.
Ignoring alliances. Alliances can be a powerful tool in Dune, but they can also be a double-edged sword. Be careful not to rely too much on your allies, and be ready to break an alliance if it’s no longer serving your interests.
Not adapting to the changing game state. The state of the game can change rapidly in Dune, and it’s important to be able to adapt your strategy to the current situation. Don’t stick to a single strategy if it’s not working.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Plan your moves in advance. Try to anticipate the consequences of your actions and plan your moves several turns in advance. This can help you make more strategic decisions and avoid making mistakes.
Manage your resources carefully. Be careful not to waste your resources on unnecessary actions. Always consider the cost and benefit of each action before you take it.
Use your faction’s abilities to the fullest. Each faction in Dune has unique abilities that can provide a significant advantage if used properly. Make sure to fully understand and utilize your faction’s abilities.