So yeah, i do like Dune Imperium and would gladly play it again. And the theme helps hold the game together, but the game is very much a low conflict Euro, which is not very Dune to me. So I am conflicted. Also, little things like spice just being another convertable resource and sand worms only being on a card or two, just made me not quite fully feel this as a Dune game. Great board game, so-so Dune game. That's my take.
I haven't played the game, so please note that this question isn't coming from a place of disagreement, just interest. With that preamble over, does the battle system not lend the game a sufficiently blood-thirsty feel? Such direct conflict seems quite unusual for the average Euro, but I'm getting the impression it's nowhere near as cutthroat as the system in Dune (1979/2019)? Cheers!
The conflict subgame is great, no doubt. But its essentially a race game, not a war game, as you are just trying to get the most points there, not "beat" anyone. There is also very little diplomacy or room for back stabbing and betrayals. The intrigue cards are mini boosts, but mostly they help yourself. The sole player conflict axis in DI is the same as most euros "you took the thing i wanted", which is why i think its quite bloodless.
@@3MBG The main thing with this one compared to the 1979 board game is that it just doesn't force the players into the manipulative, trickster mindset that the other one facilitates so well. It's very simple and not particulary theme heavy in my experience. With the other game playing different factions actually feels different, where as with this one they're basically all he same with small variations. Much shorter games though.
Yeah Vicario, its a totally different type of game. I also think it could be easily reskinned, whereas the original Dune leans into the theme so much that the reskin they did felt flat to me
Not important, but interesting that Tom Vassel thinks this is a better Dune game, but after hearing your thoughts I think I agree, Combat, Spice, Worms, & intrigue are what I would call the key elements of the Dune universe, and seems like you're saying 3 out of 4 are kinda weak in this...doesnt make me want it any less 😂
I love Dune the novel and this is a excellent game, especially the combat (auction) and getting a lot of play. It is a bit ‘Duney’ (if that’s a word). But, I never felt like I was playing the specific Houses. Unlike the other Dune game which is sooo thematic and brutal where each houses powers feel like they match.
I do love this game, feels very backstabbing the stuff you can do to friends (which I think its the point lore-wise lol) but I noticed if they dont come up with new expansions I think it will be a short lived game. Even with the new movie coming out.
@@3MBG Ok, I found the rules & this is what it said, “ When a Conflict card is revealed for a space that you already control, you receive a defensive bonus: you may deploy one troop from your supply to the Conflict.”
If I recall, you are a fan of the great Arctic Scavengers. How does this compare? If it were 3-4p game night and going to be one of these two, which would you push for? Thanks!
Dune imperium didnt have the interactivity i wanted, so probably Arctic Scavengers. But Dune Imperium is still solid. If i wanted a quieter night, id go with it.
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
Being a huge fan of Dune (both the setting, novels and the board game) I was really hyped about Imperium. The first game really let me down though. I think you summed it up perfectly: it's a good game, not a good Dune game. I much prefer Lost ruins of Arnak if I want the worker placement-deckbuilding experience and 100% prefer Dune, the original, if I want some Dune action. It sits in a weird spot for me, it's a good game but not one I particularly enjoy and that is maybe because of the theme, one I love that much and that does not really shine here.
@@3MBG Ok, I have 2 more questions: 1.Heard that Dune Imperium can be punishing. I like multiplayer solitaire games but that’s probably because I don’t like big confrontation. I actually like player interaction as long as it is no that punishing to other players. 2.Are the games Dune Imperium & Lost ruins of Arnak different enough to be owned at the same time? (I don’t want to spend a lot of money on a game that’s very similar to a game I already own.)
1.) Not really. Like it punishes bad play, like most good games. But its still pretty bloodless 2.) Yes and no. Yes if deckbuilding + worker placement is something you really love. No if its something you don't love that much. Its like owning 2 dungeon crawlers, fine if that genre is you jam, less so if not
I thought this would be a little more like a Dune Lite, but it doesn't really compare. I think it's worth it to just put in a little more time and learn the classic Dune game.
I would probably play this, but from what I can see, it doesn't feel like Dune. It feels less like Dune than Rex or even some of the asymetric war games like the COIN series or Root.
Great video as always and as always within one minute I know whether or not the game is for me so thank you for your vid. and this is not for me I don't do euros. Just wondering We called games ameritrash or Euros shouldn't we be more fair and equitable and call the euros euro trash just like we call the others ameri trash?
Ameritrash is a reclaimed pejorative. It was originally used by Euro fans mockingly, but it was claimed as a badge of honour by some old school board gamers. For years, the 2nd biggest board game website after BGG was "fortress ameritrash". They rebranded to "there will be games" and are still around.
A lot of really fun games are Ameritrash. Cosmic Encounter and Battlestar Galactica for example. I would never pass an opportunity to play those games. What has changed more is what kind of games are called Eurogames nowadays. They used to be really, really tight designs and really, really mean. I wouldn't use those designations as a final verdict, but they can be useful to create a general idea of a game. Twilight Struggle for example plays more like a Eurogame than a classical Wargame.
When you played the game, did you and your group make Spice Girl jokes? “Don’t tell me what you want...”. My group tends to make Monty Python references in Tainted Grail, so I was curious if the game “somehow” goes that direction...
Its grown on me and im enjoying it a lot more. Still isn't a great Dune game, but its a great worker placement game. (I still feel it could have been any setting with how the locations and cards work)
@@3MBGI do agree on it not going "Full scale assault" mode with the combats, and a lot of the mechanics are over-simplified, but it is still a great game that happens in the Dune Universe :D
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
So yeah, i do like Dune Imperium and would gladly play it again. And the theme helps hold the game together, but the game is very much a low conflict Euro, which is not very Dune to me. So I am conflicted. Also, little things like spice just being another convertable resource and sand worms only being on a card or two, just made me not quite fully feel this as a Dune game. Great board game, so-so Dune game. That's my take.
I haven't played the game, so please note that this question isn't coming from a place of disagreement, just interest. With that preamble over, does the battle system not lend the game a sufficiently blood-thirsty feel? Such direct conflict seems quite unusual for the average Euro, but I'm getting the impression it's nowhere near as cutthroat as the system in Dune (1979/2019)? Cheers!
The conflict subgame is great, no doubt. But its essentially a race game, not a war game, as you are just trying to get the most points there, not "beat" anyone. There is also very little diplomacy or room for back stabbing and betrayals. The intrigue cards are mini boosts, but mostly they help yourself. The sole player conflict axis in DI is the same as most euros "you took the thing i wanted", which is why i think its quite bloodless.
@@3MBG The main thing with this one compared to the 1979 board game is that it just doesn't force the players into the manipulative, trickster mindset that the other one facilitates so well. It's very simple and not particulary theme heavy in my experience. With the other game playing different factions actually feels different, where as with this one they're basically all he same with small variations.
Much shorter games though.
Yeah Vicario, its a totally different type of game. I also think it could be easily reskinned, whereas the original Dune leans into the theme so much that the reskin they did felt flat to me
Not important, but interesting that Tom Vassel thinks this is a better Dune game, but after hearing your thoughts I think I agree, Combat, Spice, Worms, & intrigue are what I would call the key elements of the Dune universe, and seems like you're saying 3 out of 4 are kinda weak in this...doesnt make me want it any less 😂
"Not spicy, just mild" always nice catchy sentences! Thanks for the tips!
Organised, thoughtful, compact yet thorough, helpful and clear. You set the standard for game reviews. Thank you
I love Dune the novel and this is a excellent game, especially the combat (auction) and getting a lot of play. It is a bit ‘Duney’ (if that’s a word). But, I never felt like I was playing the specific Houses. Unlike the other Dune game which is sooo thematic and brutal where each houses powers feel like they match.
I do love this game, feels very backstabbing the stuff you can do to friends (which I think its the point lore-wise lol) but I noticed if they dont come up with new expansions I think it will be a short lived game. Even with the new movie coming out.
The intro bass line has a lot of spice.
Written by Vic Granell, who is both a board gamer and a pro-bass player :)
2:33 I don’t remember it clearly, but I think you also add an extra cube when something happens when you have control of a region.
Can't recall sorry
@@3MBG Ok, I found the rules & this is what it said, “ When a Conflict card is revealed for a space that you already control, you receive a defensive bonus: you may deploy one troop from your supply to the Conflict.”
Nice use of colour and black and white, dude. Awesome production as always!
Cheers Sam. And for the record everyone, it was Sam's copy of the game in the video :)
I havent read Dune. But man, I absolutely LOVE this game. It is making me hype for the movie. But the game holds it own.
How was the movie?
@@Chiewrt I liked the movie.
Will you read the book?
I played this game several times and you did a great job explains everything quickly with good visuals. Well done.
Next April 1 you should release a three-hour rules breakdown.
Or a 3 second review :)
If I recall, you are a fan of the great Arctic Scavengers. How does this compare? If it were 3-4p game night and going to be one of these two, which would you push for? Thanks!
Dune imperium didnt have the interactivity i wanted, so probably Arctic Scavengers. But Dune Imperium is still solid. If i wanted a quieter night, id go with it.
Excellent review!
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
Two questions:
(1) Dune: Imperium or Lost Ruins of Arnak?
(2) Does either game's expansion change the answer to (1)?
I preferred Dune imperium slightly, but didnt care much for either game so didnt play the expansions.
This looks so good! Right up my alley but completely impossible to get it at a reasonable price here in Brazil. Oh well.
Just wait. Its a solid game, but its not the 2nd coming like the hype says it is. Patience, wait for the reprint and the hype to die down.
Being a huge fan of Dune (both the setting, novels and the board game) I was really hyped about Imperium. The first game really let me down though. I think you summed it up perfectly: it's a good game, not a good Dune game. I much prefer Lost ruins of Arnak if I want the worker placement-deckbuilding experience and 100% prefer Dune, the original, if I want some Dune action. It sits in a weird spot for me, it's a good game but not one I particularly enjoy and that is maybe because of the theme, one I love that much and that does not really shine here.
I preferred this one to Ruins, but yeah, totally get where you are coming from. Solid game, but not enough Dune in it
Are there plans for a Sleeping Gods review soon? Would love to hear your thoughts on it and your rundown 😊
Not currently, I don't have a copy of it myself. Not sure if anyone in my close circle does either.
I am choosing between this & Lost Ruins of Arnak, which would you recommend?
Dune Imperium i reckon
@@3MBG Ok, I have 2 more questions:
1.Heard that Dune Imperium can be punishing. I like multiplayer solitaire games but that’s probably because I don’t like big confrontation. I actually like player interaction as long as it is no that punishing to other players.
2.Are the games Dune Imperium & Lost ruins of Arnak different enough to be owned at the same time? (I don’t want to spend a lot of money on a game that’s very similar to a game I already own.)
1.) Not really. Like it punishes bad play, like most good games. But its still pretty bloodless
2.) Yes and no. Yes if deckbuilding + worker placement is something you really love. No if its something you don't love that much. Its like owning 2 dungeon crawlers, fine if that genre is you jam, less so if not
@@3MBG Wow, thank you for the information! 👍
Man I’m glad you fixed the titles, they were unviewable for a while
Which titles?
I thought this would be a little more like a Dune Lite, but it doesn't really compare. I think it's worth it to just put in a little more time and learn the classic Dune game.
There is a proper dune lite coming out from Gale Force 9 this year
I would probably play this, but from what I can see, it doesn't feel like Dune. It feels less like Dune than Rex or even some of the asymetric war games like the COIN series or Root.
Yep. See, i liked the game itself. Its a solid deck building/Worker placement hybrid. But as a Dune game, nah.
Dune Imp. is a very good game. But again, I have not read the novels.
Great review Jarrod! At a 2-player count, being forced to use an AI player tips the scale for me in favor of Lost Ruins of Arnak.
Fair, in general im not a fan of worker placement at 2 anyway
Is there something wrong with the AI?
I wanted to believe the hype so badly but after your succient explanation of mechanics I see this isn't for us. Thanks!
Yeah, I've had more than one person call this a "Clank! killer". I definitely don't see it.
Can I play this by myself?
11 seconds into the video is the answer you seek
Great video as always and as always within one minute I know whether or not the game is for me so thank you for your vid. and this is not for me I don't do euros. Just wondering We called games ameritrash or Euros shouldn't we be more fair and equitable and call the euros euro trash just like we call the others ameri trash?
Ameritrash is a reclaimed pejorative. It was originally used by Euro fans mockingly, but it was claimed as a badge of honour by some old school board gamers. For years, the 2nd biggest board game website after BGG was "fortress ameritrash". They rebranded to "there will be games" and are still around.
@@3MBG oh. Ok.
Ameritrash is a designation to be proud of. Embrace the glory of your reptilian brain
A lot of really fun games are Ameritrash. Cosmic Encounter and Battlestar Galactica for example. I would never pass an opportunity to play those games. What has changed more is what kind of games are called Eurogames nowadays. They used to be really, really tight designs and really, really mean.
I wouldn't use those designations as a final verdict, but they can be useful to create a general idea of a game. Twilight Struggle for example plays more like a Eurogame than a classical Wargame.
@@swishersnaaake8208 always felt a bit of a mix, but mostly sloth with occasional orangutan moments
When you played the game, did you and your group make Spice Girl jokes? “Don’t tell me what you want...”. My group tends to make Monty Python references in Tainted Grail, so I was curious if the game “somehow” goes that direction...
Of course! I always have a song in my head and any little thing will set off a new one. Spice up your life!
Kinda reminds me of Waterdeep
Yeah, most worker placement games are a little like Waterdeep
I agree - Imperium is a great game, just not much of a "Dune" game
Sorry, but this game is amazing (and much better than the original dune game).
Its grown on me and im enjoying it a lot more. Still isn't a great Dune game, but its a great worker placement game. (I still feel it could have been any setting with how the locations and cards work)
@@3MBGI do agree on it not going "Full scale assault" mode with the combats, and a lot of the mechanics are over-simplified, but it is still a great game that happens in the Dune Universe :D
Too bad it's over $100 on Amazon.
Lol, it's definitely not worth that
For having such rich source material, the theme here looks way too thin
100% agree. Solid game, even a very good game. Not sure its a good Dune game though.