Dune: Imperium – Immortality is the game’s second expansion and ramps up the strategy with the addition of the Bene Tleilax / Tleilaxu, who focus on genetic engineering and research. This is my summary and review of the new elements based on two 2-player games (around 2 hours each) with both the Immortality and Rise of Ix expansions. I use the Dire Wolf Game Room app for the third automated player, House Hagal, that you need for a 2-player game. Bene Tleilax board The Bene Tleilax board has 2 tracks: a research track and Tleilaxu track. The research track represents your
Read moreReview of Dune: Imperium Rise of Ix Expansion and Deluxe Upgrade Pack
Dune Imperium: Rise of Ix The Dune Imperium: Rise of Ix (2022) expansion definitely changes the gameplay for this Dune board game. (See my review of Dune: Imperium for more on the original gameplay.) It took a second play of the expansion for me to get the hang of the new features and see their potential for new strategies, and there’s more to explore in future games. Here’s a brief review of the expansion and my experience playing it in a two-player game. The Rise of Ix expansion includes a CHOAM board overlay that sits on top of and expands
Read moreVirtual Book Launch
Please join me in celebrating my soon-to-be-released book by Palgrave titled Women’s Agency in the Dune Universe: Tracing Women’s Liberation through Science Fiction at a virtual book launch on Monday, December 20 at 1pm PST / 4pm EST / 6pm BRT / 9pm GMT / 10pm CET. I will be joined in conversation with co-host Dr. Russ Sloan from Doc Sloan’s Science Fiction Station. Register on the event page or click below! This book is the first major study of female characters in Frank Herbert’s original Dune series and takes a historical approach to exploring the representation of the women of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood. More information will
Read moreDune (2021) Board Game Review
My review of the Dune: A Game of Conquest and Diplomacy released in 2021 has been posted at Dune News Net, which is a site all about Dune, including the movies, books, and other materials in the expanded universe.
Read moreDune Spice Cookies
Imagine you’ve somehow entered the science fiction universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune and you’re on the planet Arrakis… What does it smell like? What does the precious spice or ‘melange’ on which so many things depend taste like? Cinnamon. At least ten references to the odor or taste of cinnamon appear in the book. When Duke Leto and Paul are checking out the spice mining operations and open the door of their ornithopter, “Immediately, their nostrils were assailed by the odor of cinnamon—heavy and pungent.” When a sandworm pursues Jessica and Paul in the desert, “Cinnamon yelled in their nostrils.” Infused with melange, coffee
Read moreDune: Imperium Board Game Review
Dune: Imperium (2020) retains the essence of factions fighting for control of resources, but brings them out into the main gameplay more than its predecessor Dune (2019) board game. It feels more like you are playing politics rather than physically maneuvering around the planet Dune, as was the case in the previous game with its constantly moving storm and spice caches. The left-hand side of the board features the four factions of the Emperor, Spacing Guild, Bene Gesserit, and Fremen. On the top are the Landsraad Council and CHOAM, and the planet Dune takes up the main board area. Each player takes
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