# Dune: Imperium

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2020
- **BGG Rating**: 8.4
- **BGG Rank**: #6
- **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 4)
- **Duration**: 60-120 min
- **Weight**: 3.08 / 5
- **Designers**: Paul Dennen
- **Artists**: Brett Nienburg, Clay Brooks, Nate Storm, Raul Ramos
- **Publishers**: Dire Wolf, Arclight Games, Broadway Toys LTD, Galápagos Jogos, Geekach LLC, Lavka Games
- **Categories**: Movies / TV / Radio theme, Novel-based, Political, Science Fiction
- **Mechanics**: Card Play Conflict Resolution, Deck, Bag, and Pool Building, Delayed Purchase, Force Commitment, Increase Value of Unchosen Resources, Multi-Use Cards, Open Drafting, Ownership, Race, Solo / Solitaire Game, Tags, Take That, Turn Order: Progressive, Variable Player Powers, Worker Placement

## Verdict
If you're a fan of strategic depth and the Dune universe, Dune: Imperium offers a compelling blend of worker placement and deck-building that will keep you engaged. It's a fantastic way to experience the struggle for Arrakis on your tabletop.
Seamless blend of worker placement and deck-building
Engaging strategic choices with unique leaders
Strong thematic integration with Dune universe
High replayability through varied card acquisition
Initial learning curve for new mechanics
Player count impacts strategic feel
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

## Description
Get ready to dive into the epic universe of Dune: Imperium, a game that blends classic worker placement with a twist of deck-building to create a unique strategic experience. Inspired by both the acclaimed Legendary Pictures film and the seminal literary saga by Frank Herbert, Brian Herbert, and Kevin J. Anderson, you assume the role of a leader from one of the Great Houses of the Landsraad. Your mission? To raise your banner, marshal your forces and spies, and prepare for the impending war for control of Arrakis, the desert planet and source of the coveted Spice.

Each player begins with a unique leader and an identical starting deck. As the game progresses, your choices in acquiring new cards will shape your strategies, defining your strengths and weaknesses. Cards are the key to sending your Agents to different locations on the game board, meaning your deck's evolution directly impacts your tactics. You might focus on military might, dominating conflicts with more troops, or seek influence with the four political factions in the game: the Emperor, the Spacing Guild, the Bene Gesserit, and the Fremen.

Unlike many deck-building games, you don't play your entire hand at once here. Each round, you draw a hand of cards and take turns with other players, performing one Agent turn at a time—that is, playing one card to place one of your Agents on the board. When you have no more Agents to place, it's time for the Reveal phase. You reveal the remaining cards in your hand, which will provide Persuasion (to acquire more cards) and Swords (to strengthen your troops in the round's conflicts). Defeat your rivals in combat, shrewdly navigate political intrigues, and collect valuable cards. The Spice must flow to lead your House to victory!

## How to Play
Objective of the Game
Welcome to the treacherous sands of Arrakis! In Dune: Imperium, you lead one of the Great Houses in a ruthless struggle for control of the universe's most valuable resource: spice melange. Your mission is to outmaneuver rivals through political intrigue, military might, and cunning alliances. Victory hinges on accumulating Victory Points by dominating Factions, winning Conflicts, and securing Alliances. The game ends when any player reaches 10+ Victory Points or the Conflict Deck depletes. The leader with the most Victory Points wins—may the best strategist prevail!

Setup
Prepare your desert empire with these steps:

  Board & Components: Place the game board. Put the Mentat sideways in its space. Position Alliance tokens on Faction Influence tracks. Create a Conflict Deck by stacking Conflict III (4 cards), then Conflict II (5 cards), then Conflict I (1 card). Shuffle and place unused Conflict cards away.
  Cards & Tokens: Shuffle the Intrigue Deck and Imperium Deck. Deal 5 Imperium Row cards face-up. Reserve Arrakis Liaison, The Spice Must Flow, and Foldspace stacks nearby.
  Player Setup:
    
      Choose a Leader (start with 1-icon leaders like Paul Atreides for simplicity).
      Take your colored 10-card starting deck, shuffle it, and place it face-down.
      Place 2 Agents on your Leader. Keep your Swordmaster (3rd Agent) near the board.
      Put your Score marker on 1 (4-player) or 0 (fewer players). Set Combat marker to 0.
      Place 4 Influence cubes on the bottom of each Faction track. Deploy 3 troops in your starting garrison.
      Take 1 water token. Place all other components in your supply.
    
  
  Bank & First Player: Create a bank with Solari, spice, and water tokens. Randomly choose the First Player and give them the marker.

Note: Solo/two-player games require extra House Hagal setup (see manual).

The Game Turn
Each round has 5 phases. Let’s break down your turn:
Phase 1: Round Start
Reveal the top Conflict card and place it face-up. All players draw 5 cards from their decks.

Phase 2: Player Turns
Starting with the First Player, take turns clockwise. On your turn, choose:

  Agent Turn: Play a card with an Agent icon matching a board space. Send an Agent there, pay costs, and resolve effects (e.g., gain spice, recruit troops). You may deploy troops to the Conflict if it’s a Combat space.
  Reveal Turn: When out of Agents (or choosing to skip), reveal all cards in your hand. Resolve Reveal effects (e.g., gain Persuasion, swords). Use Persuasion to acquire cards from the Imperium Row or Reserve stacks. Calculate your Combat strength (troops = 2 strength each; swords = 1 strength each). Move your Combat marker to track this.

Key Rules:

  Play Plot Intrigue cards anytime during your Agent/Reveal turns.
  After a Reveal turn, skip until all players finish theirs.


Phase 3: Combat
Starting with the First Player, play Combat Intrigue cards or pass. Resolve Combat:

  Highest strength wins the top Conflict reward (e.g., Victory Points, Control markers).
  Second-highest gets the next reward (third in 4-player games).
  Ties split rewards (e.g., two 1st-place ties get the 2nd reward).

Reset Combat markers to 0. Return troops to your supply.

Phase 4: Makers
Add bonus spice to unoccupied Maker spaces (The Great Flat, Hagga Basin, Imperial Basin). Agents already there harvest accumulated spice.

Phase 5: Recall
Return the Mentat to its space. Pass the First Player marker clockwise. Start a new round!

End of Game and Scoring
The game ends when a player reaches 10+ Victory Points or the Conflict Deck empties. Tally Victory Points:

  Gain 1 VP for each Faction with 2+ Influence.
  Keep Alliance tokens (worth 1 VP each) even if Influence drops below 4.
  Winning: The player with the most Victory Points wins. Tiebreakers: spice > Solari > water > garrisoned troops.

Tips for Winning

  Balance Resources Wisely: Water is scarce but vital for spice harvests. Prioritize Fremen cards for water, and use CHOAM/Emperor spaces to trade spice for Solari when needed.
  Control Key Spaces: Dominate Combat spaces (e.g., Imperial Basin, Carthag) to deploy troops efficiently. Control markers (from Conflict wins) provide passive bonuses—defend them!
  Trash Weak Cards: Use Bene Gesserit abilities to remove low-impact cards from your deck. A leaner deck draws powerful cards faster, especially for late-game Conflicts.

## FAQ
### How many players can play Dune: Imperium?
Dune: Imperium can be played by 1 to 4 players, including a really cool solo mode with the Automa!

### What is the average game length?
Expect to dedicate between 60 to 120 minutes per game. It's a game that makes you think, so time flies by!

### What is the complexity level of the game?
It's considered medium complexity, with a BGG weight of 3.07/5. It's not overly difficult, but it requires a few plays to master the nuances.

### Do I need to know the Dune universe to play?
It's not mandatory, but it helps to immerse yourself in the theme! The game is tightly woven with the lore, so Dune fans will feel right at home.

### What are the main components of the game?
You'll find a robust game board, beautiful deck cards, wooden markers (meeples) for your agents and troops, and various tokens for resources and victory points.

### Does Dune: Imperium have a solo mode?
Yes! The game features a very well-implemented solo mode, allowing you to face the Automa and refine your strategies even without company.

### Is there a lot of player interaction in the game?
Absolutely! Interaction is high, especially in military conflicts and the struggle for worker placement spots. You'll need to keep an eye on your opponents at all times.

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