Dune: Imperium | Rahdo's Final Thoughts

A video outlining gameplay for the boardgame Dune: Imperium.

Part I: Gameplay Runthrough

Part II: Final Thoughts

[alfredschnabel]

I always appreciate your ability to separate "Is this a well designed (good) game?" from "Is this a game I enjoy?" Obviously, the second question is always the most important but sometimes it's hard for reviewers to separate the two. I like hearing what you think a game does really well and what it does poorly, independent of whether you think it's game you would like to play.

Thanks for the run-through! :)

[Calistake]

Rahdo: "Easily the best game of the year."
Also Rahdo: "And I never want to play it again."
XD

[troyajohnson]

Love your teaching style Rahdo! Watched 3 other videos and was still confused on how to approach the game...until your video. Understand it much better after watching your vid.

[silverfang]

“I will not have AP. AP is the mind-killer....”
“The cubes must flow!”

[baraka]

Dune the movie is a beautiful interpretation of the novel.
The scenes sacrificed gave room to a deep world full of nuance, detail and intensity. A profound visual and auditory experience on iMax.
This game seems perfect for a DUNE gaming night.

[xJAMESVICIOUSx]

very much looking forward to this!!! I am a huge Dune fan and this game is right up my alley in terms of mechanics. I also don't understand what people's problem is with the artwork. I personally really like the simple board. It is very clear and easy to see/know exactly where and what you want to do. In fact I had the exact opposite reaction I have seen others have. The first time I saw the board, I really liked it. It's minimalist and not overly busy like a lot "art-focused" boards can be.

[bluey]

As someone who play with people who thrive on cut throat gameplay, who has loved every inch of both Clank and Dune, but has trouble introducing the complexity of the Dune re-release to my regular group; I could not be more excited for this game.

[KabukiKid]

I... cannot... wait.... to play this!!! This game is completely up my alley! :-D Looks so fun!

[fan-i-am]

My only problem with the game is with the Market, Turn order, and the Intrigue deck as a whole: randomness that negates all ur hard choices for combat, influence track or endgame just because someone plays a card.

Every advantage should be earned as proven by ur foresight/choices not because of luck! Which is why I propose 3 changes:

1) Have the Market be 8 cards instead of 5 OR flip/refresh all unpurchased cards at the end of the round OR both!

2) Fix the Intrigue deck somehow, like drafting display 3 to choose from, so others know what u got, (if they remember), but don't know WHEN you'll play it!
OR take out the Endgame VP cards & Plot pay for VP cards (there's only 4)

3) Have a mechanic that allows players to affect turn order! Such as: Have the CHOAM Secure Contract space also have a 1st Player icon meaning u get to give the 1st player coin to ANY player and they immediately become 1st player OR will be 1st player next round.
OR each round Player lowest on the VP track goes first then 2nd lowest goes 2nd etc. ties broken per normal endgame rules

[vladycavret]

I changed a little bit the rule for reveal turn : I keep some cards in hand for next if I want. This way I don’t loose a precious faction card that I was not able to play this turn. Otherwise I am really penalized if I have to wait it will come back. Missing also an action to remove all cards from the row, each time it was my turn to buy a card there were only weak cards.

[AlexNguyen]

This will probably be my game of the year 2021. Looking forward to the new movie as well!

[knightonart]

My dad and I are both big Dune fans and board gamers and we've been having a great time with this!

[skeezaworkan]

Me and my wife do not mind crushing each other and we're both Dune fans, so... game's ordered! ;)

[edgarffmatos]

Curious to know, between this one and Lost Ruins of Arnak, which one would be your go to, for Solo play?

[Olvenskol]

I don't think I will play with my wife; my "friends" on the other hand... ;)

[jareduxr]

There is a lot of theme and feeling put into it but the conflict is essentially an auction. Even when you snipe someone's bid you are abstractly just bidding more, the variation for theme alone. Highest bid wins first prize and if you lose the bid you do have opportunities to get something else. If you wanted a carebear variant to always get something for the bid just give out all three rewards. Then you could still vie for the top spot but even if the automa out bids you, you gain something.

[partnersatwar]

Maybe the best review of a game I have seen. My wife and I LOVE deck builders, LOVE worker placement games, and LOVED the movie. We are both reading the book now. But... we do not like playing games that devastate our opponents. I had it on order and I cancelled because I feel the exact same as you, I take no enjoyment out of devastating my wife and boys as you highlight. Thank you!

[travisnaganuma]

My only complaint is that the game is not long enough to really get the deck building engine going. Having said that, I only have the bass game, so maybe the expansions fixes it to some degree.
I was also considering a house rule that said you go to 24 victory points. I thought I would try it in solo mode and see if it works or not.

[deepdivemusicreactions]

I'm surprised you reviewed this game. What made you change your mind?

[simonb]

The comment about the board vs what ppl are complaining about the board is spot on. Not sure what ppl were expecting