Dune (1979)

Set thousands of years in the future, Dune the boardgame is based on the Frank Herbert novels about an arid planet at the heart of the human space empire's political machinations.

Designed by the creators at Eon of Cosmic Encounter fame, some contend that the game can best be described as Cosmic Encounter set within the Dune universe, but the two games bear little in common in the actual mechanics or goals; they're just both set in space. Like Cosmic Encounter, it is a game that generates a lot of player interaction through negotiation and bluffing, but that can be said of numerous unrelated games.

Players each take the role of one of the factions attempting to control Dune. Each faction has special powers that overlook certain rules in the game. Each turn players move about the map attempting to pick up valuable spice while dealing with giant sandworms, deadly storms, and other players' military forces. A delicate political balance is formed amongst the factions to prevent any one side from becoming too strong. When a challenge is made in a territory, combat takes the form of hidden bids with additional treachery cards to further the uncertainty.

The game concludes when one faction (or two allied factions) is able to control a certain number of strongholds on the planet.

Avalon Hill Complexity rating - 3

Expanded by:

• Spice Harvest
• The Duel

Re-Implemented as:

• Rex: Final Days of an Empire

Awards

• 1993 Golden Ace Nominee.

Dune Microbadges :

from "The Avalon Hill General Index and Company History, 1952-1980"

Dune (1979)
Freelance design revised by Avalon Hill
Designed by Jack Kittredge
Development by Mick Uhl

An excellent adaptation of the book by the designers of FUTURE PASTTIMES. Mick Uhl authored most of the advanced game options.

Magazine References:

The GENERAL Index Article List:

• The GENERAL Vol.16,No.6
  • Dune – “The Essence of Dune” (Designer Notes) Bill Eberle/Jack Kittredge/Peter Olotka/Charles Vasey
• The GENERAL Vol.18,No.1
  • Dune – “Dual Player Dune - Two Player Variant with Allies” (Variant) Paul Snow
• The GENERAL Vol.18,No.5
  • Dune – “Reviving the Ghola - A Variant on the Bene Tleilaxu in Dune” (Variant) Kirby Lee Davis
• The GENERAL Vol.20,No.4
  • Dune – “Arrakis by Airmail: PBM Dune” (Article) Tom Swider
• The GENERAL Vol.26,No.1
  • Dune – “The Lansraad Maneuver: A Dune Variant” (Variant for incorporating Lansraad, includes new pieces) Kenneth Burke
• The GENERAL Vol.32,No.1
  • Dune – “Grand Dune: The 9-Player Variant” (Variant; includes new 2 cards and a new faction) Alan Arvold
• The GENERAL Vol.32,No.1
  • Dune – “Contracting the Expansion” (Variant on incorporating a stripped down set from Spice Harvest) Stuart K. Tucker

Other Magazine References:

• The Boardgamer Vol.7,No.2
  • Dune – “Rule Clarifications for Dune” (Errata/Clarifications) Alan Arvold
• The Boardgamer Vol.8,No.1
  • Dune – “French Dune: Highlights of the New Version” (Review/Overview of Descartes ed.) Alan Arvold
• The Space Gamer
  • No.26 (Jan/Feb 1980) Dune - a review by Tony Watson
• Ares Magazine
  • No.1 (Mar 1980) Review, By Eric Goldberg