What a Friday.
It started out taking yet more clothes to the Salvation Army drop off spot in the Tesco car park. And ended with Jonathan somehow winning our second game of Dune Imperium!
I hadn’t planned on gaming. But after the roads in the area decided to throw spanners in the works for the majority of those planning to go to the Friday gaming session. Tied in with the petrol panic buying taking out others (what is this 2002 again?) I didn’t want Jonathan and Julie to be left high and dry at the last minute.
So I quickly got ready, grabbed a bag that already had games in it, and left for The Luxe.
I set up the new round table, and awaited the arrival of the others. Because I hadn’t made it to the previous Friday gaming session I hadn’t met Julie before. So introductions were made. Then Jonathan arrived and a game was chosen for the evening.
Our game for the evening was Dune Imperium.
Rules lawyering! 
Winner, winner, chicken dinner
I thought Dune Imperium played ok with two players. But with three it was great. Taking into account setup, teaching the game to Julie, the whole thing took about two and a half hours to play. Which is pretty good.
If I was asked to choose between Dune Imperium and Lost Ruins of Arnak, which I both really like. Imperium edges it for me.
The unique player abilities (which I believe the Arnak expansion adds), the combat, twice as many rounds, the influence tracks, the worker placement plus the reveal stage, dual use cards, the take that element. Oh and that the scoring is much closer. Just tip it in favour of Imperium.
Boy do I look grumpy, must be my thinking face. 
Next time I play Imperium I’m going to use one of the more difficult leaders to play. The fact they rank the leaders in order of difficulty to play is a great little touch.
Whilst playing we were asked a couple of times about the game we were playing. Now get this one of them had met/knew Frank Herbert! How frickin cool is that? Plus what are the odds that whilst we are playing a game based on the Dune books in a small single screen cinema, in a Fenland market town (some would argue with delusions of grandeur, after all it is the Capital of the Fens) we would bump into such a person?
I had a fun time despite everything going on. It was great meeting a new club member.
Although I’m not keen on deckbuilding or sci-fi, Dune: Imperium is a decent game. I don’t think it is quite as good as the Lost Ruins of Arnak. Won’t come close to challenging my top rated games, but I’d happily play again.
It’s not often that I play sci-fi/space themed games and it was an achievement that I actually won. That said, I think we were playing a rule incorrectly throughout the game which might have affected that win (mind you, it would have affected all three players equally).
Which rule?
Forget it, I remember that we clarified it at the time… it was about sending troops you acquire for your garrison straight to the combat zone (although I’m sure this was too powerful and still doubt that the ruling is correct).
Lol that one.
Just checked the Watch it played video myself and I believe that Rodney explains that what we were doing yesterday evening can’t be done. He says you can only move troops to the combat area if the space has the crossed weapons icon; if it does not, they can only be placed in your garrison. Check out his explanation starting at 10.03 :)
Which is how we played it.
No you are right. I can see from looking at the board that we have indeed played this correctly. My mistake :)