This game has been a mainstay in my gaming groups since it released. Feels like every time we get together, D:I is ALWAYS an option or gets played. I love how Ix really gave more value to the Spacing Guild and Emperor factions. One of my favorite things to do early is get my Swordmaster. It helps so much being able to do one more action each round. Something I need to value more in games are the blue/purple spots. I tend to go for my Swordmaster, go up factions, and prepare for end game battles by getting Dreadnaughts.
Good focused talk on many aspects of the game. I would liike to mention some counter points. In this game a lot of advantages have their disadvantage. For example, being starting player is huge for first picks, but has a disadvantage for combat. Having the only Swordmaster means not getting first card pick with Persuasion (unless using Helena Richese's ring). And min-maxing, in the sense you get maximum value for what you pay, is not always everything! Speed is also very important. If you focus on long term maximum advantage the game may be over sooner than you'd like. Another example is Interstellar Travel boardspace. Suppose you choose to min-max it, first going to the 2nd and later a 2nd time to bring back the cargo and reap all the benefits. Very efficient, particularly if you buy good tech with it, but also slower. You could instead choose a back and forth and get those 5 Solari right away. Is it really worth it to go for maximum reward and get the Swordmaster a full turn, or even two turns later? Maybe, but it really depends. Maybe you don't need those extra troops and influence all that much for example. Maybe there's not enough time because someone is very close to the top. What feels too cheaty is the combat avoidant strategy that mostly focuses on Influence. It's a cheap, boring, lazy way to get VP, particularly when lucking into certain intrigue end game cards. Not committing to combat (enough) is not always a high price. You really have to play with 4 players, with 3 players it's often small token commitment with one troop to get that 3rd award if big enough. The combat players going for 1st/2nd place are always risking more. This is what I don't like. Influence gets too much reward. Important note is Intrigue cards are very random and they're not always dangerous right away, often depending on resources. Only 1/3 of the Intrigue cards are combat cards that can play after reveal and only 2/3 of those swing power (others hand out rewards for victory or just retreat). So effectively 7 out of 9 Intrigue cards will not swing power positively during combat. And the risk is even less if players are low (0 or 1) on Solari or spice. Fear is the mind killer, shivering thoughts like "oh that player as an Intrigue card" are wrong, it should not impress all that much....take your chances. Sometimes you get unlucky, it's in the game, but the odds are in your favor. It gets different if an opponent has 3 Intrigue cards in hand (4 is dangerous for him because of the Secrets boardspace, lets you steal one). Battles for VP won by little will reveal that an opponent does not have a swing card.
You make some really great points here and I appreciate you taking the time to dive into the reasoning as well! Definitely agree that I let my fear of what Intrigue cards others might be holding gets in the way of good decisions making. I like your rundown of the statistics on those cards.
DI with Ix is incredible!! Such an amazing game. Glad you enjoyed the video and that it was helpful. Spoilers, you’ll have to keep a close eye on our “Top 10 board games of all time” videos… DI just might show up on there once or twice 😉
Really appreciate this video. I don’t own Dune but love TM. I feel that I’d like picking up this game, so keep coming out with strategy videos for other games too.
Hey! Glad to hear you enjoyed the strategy talk video. We will be sure to keep these going. We will be posting a podcast series about SolForge strategy to our UA-cam channel soon too if that game interests you! - Cory
Hey guys ! Thank you for your video for my, also, favourite conflict game. The game strategies will differ with the number of players. I play solo epic mode at sardaukar level. Challenging ? Yes, but if it was not, it would not be at the top of my list. Usually, two, three games in a row is not unusual. An essential strategy is getting a level two influence with the fremen because the Sietch Tabr location is not available for the AI opponents. It becomes a secure place to bring a unit into combat and also getting a water resource at the same time, is not negligible. There is also the Research Station location that is unavailable to the AI, making this site a powerful thrust in getting three more cards to your hand. I have played only once with four players and selection of strategies are different of course. But, like Cory said, the depth of this game is so that it is always a pleasure to get into it and have fun. Thanks again.
Have yet to try solo or 2p, but I’d love to see how the strategy differs at those player counts. Also agree that a solo game being challenging is a must… if too simple, no fun coming back to it. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Wrong direction! You have to think every turn how to make as, much points as you can. And then everything what you need have to come to your aid. In different situations you need third agent in some you don't need him at all
Just found you guys. I love the flow and energy you guys have.
Thanks! We appreciate your tuning in 😃
This game has been a mainstay in my gaming groups since it released. Feels like every time we get together, D:I is ALWAYS an option or gets played.
I love how Ix really gave more value to the Spacing Guild and Emperor factions. One of my favorite things to do early is get my Swordmaster. It helps so much being able to do one more action each round.
Something I need to value more in games are the blue/purple spots. I tend to go for my Swordmaster, go up factions, and prepare for end game battles by getting Dreadnaughts.
Good focused talk on many aspects of the game. I would liike to mention some counter points.
In this game a lot of advantages have their disadvantage. For example, being starting player is huge for first picks, but has a disadvantage for combat. Having the only Swordmaster means not getting first card pick with Persuasion (unless using Helena Richese's ring).
And min-maxing, in the sense you get maximum value for what you pay, is not always everything! Speed is also very important. If you focus on long term maximum advantage the game may be over sooner than you'd like. Another example is Interstellar Travel boardspace. Suppose you choose to min-max it, first going to the 2nd and later a 2nd time to bring back the cargo and reap all the benefits. Very efficient, particularly if you buy good tech with it, but also slower. You could instead choose a back and forth and get those 5 Solari right away. Is it really worth it to go for maximum reward and get the Swordmaster a full turn, or even two turns later? Maybe, but it really depends. Maybe you don't need those extra troops and influence all that much for example. Maybe there's not enough time because someone is very close to the top.
What feels too cheaty is the combat avoidant strategy that mostly focuses on Influence. It's a cheap, boring, lazy way to get VP, particularly when lucking into certain intrigue end game cards. Not committing to combat (enough) is not always a high price. You really have to play with 4 players, with 3 players it's often small token commitment with one troop to get that 3rd award if big enough. The combat players going for 1st/2nd place are always risking more. This is what I don't like. Influence gets too much reward.
Important note is Intrigue cards are very random and they're not always dangerous right away, often depending on resources. Only 1/3 of the Intrigue cards are combat cards that can play after reveal and only 2/3 of those swing power (others hand out rewards for victory or just retreat). So effectively 7 out of 9 Intrigue cards will not swing power positively during combat. And the risk is even less if players are low (0 or 1) on Solari or spice. Fear is the mind killer, shivering thoughts like "oh that player as an Intrigue card" are wrong, it should not impress all that much....take your chances. Sometimes you get unlucky, it's in the game, but the odds are in your favor. It gets different if an opponent has 3 Intrigue cards in hand (4 is dangerous for him because of the Secrets boardspace, lets you steal one). Battles for VP won by little will reveal that an opponent does not have a swing card.
You make some really great points here and I appreciate you taking the time to dive into the reasoning as well! Definitely agree that I let my fear of what Intrigue cards others might be holding gets in the way of good decisions making. I like your rundown of the statistics on those cards.
Got DI a month ago & just got Ix last week. Love this game & enjoyed this video as a newer player. Thanks, very helpful!
DI with Ix is incredible!! Such an amazing game. Glad you enjoyed the video and that it was helpful. Spoilers, you’ll have to keep a close eye on our “Top 10 board games of all time” videos… DI just might show up on there once or twice 😉
Really appreciate this video. I don’t own Dune but love TM. I feel that I’d like picking up this game, so keep coming out with strategy videos for other games too.
Hey! Glad to hear you enjoyed the strategy talk video. We will be sure to keep these going. We will be posting a podcast series about SolForge strategy to our UA-cam channel soon too if that game interests you! - Cory
Late to the party but this was a great discussion
Hey guys ! Thank you for your video for my, also, favourite conflict game. The game strategies will differ with the number of players. I play solo epic mode at sardaukar level. Challenging ? Yes, but if it was not, it would not be at the top of my list. Usually, two, three games in a row is not unusual. An essential strategy is getting a level two influence with the fremen because the Sietch Tabr location is not available for the AI opponents. It becomes a secure place to bring a unit into combat and also getting a water resource at the same time, is not negligible. There is also the Research Station location that is unavailable to the AI, making this site a powerful thrust in getting three more cards to your hand. I have played only once with four players and selection of strategies are different of course. But, like Cory said, the depth of this game is so that it is always a pleasure to get into it and have fun. Thanks again.
Have yet to try solo or 2p, but I’d love to see how the strategy differs at those player counts. Also agree that a solo game being challenging is a must… if too simple, no fun coming back to it. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
FYI, in case you didn’t hear, Dune Imperium : Immorality is coming in december. New expansion !!
Nice
Wrong direction! You have to think every turn how to make as, much points as you can. And then everything what you need have to come to your aid. In different situations you need third agent in some you don't need him at all
Great stuff, thanks fellas!