Great review. I like the idea of adventures based on the OG books. Imagine doing something similar for LOTR.. It might be a bit railroaded but it's a new kind of roleplaying & I welcome the concept.
I love the scope and ambition behind this supplement. Taking part in the events of the books/movies is what most licenced games are about. It is really hard to do it well, but when it works it is fantastic. See works like The Great Pendragon Campaign or Darkening of Mirkwood. All licenced properties should have a supplement like this. And I don't think it is a problem that the players know the grand events of the story. After all player characters in most games roughly know what will happen in the campaign. It is seeing the hows and whys of the way you'll take part, and the consequences of your actions, that is exciting. More problematic is scenario-building where rolls are just for show. That is just poor scenario writing.
The art is incredible! I have tried Dune RPG since your review of the rulebook, Dave. It's a pretty cool narrative system.. ..although i am having quite a struggle defining the Assets and its worths during the game.
Instead of asking the players to suspend their knowledge, lean into it. Precognition is part of Dune lore anyways so just say they know the shape of things to come just not the details and how are they going to profit slash survive the coming storm
I disagree with the premise that because of the players know what will happen to the Artreides in Arakis is a big ask for them to suspend that knowledge, I think that this adventure is for players that want is to "live" as an artreides soldiers in arakis in the middle of the fall of House Artreides
The problem with licensed games is figuring out what to do besides the license that sold the game. I get it, Arrakis, Paul Atreides, but I prefer what ALIEN did for precanned scenarios like Destroyer of Worlds... and I like DUNE's approach to the general case, like Houses of the Landsraad as compared to Building Better Worlds. Paul Atreides is like the xenomorph... I just wish there was less of the Arrakis, Atreides stuff... but that's why they bought the license, so they have to do it. The perfect licensed game approach would marry the ALIEN and DUNE sensibilities towards the game, I think, but at least they are doing pretty well by both of these properties.
Yeah, this particular adventure book is the culmination of the Dune RPG. You’re just IN the two most popular novels from the franchise, sometimes as nothing more than spectators.
Thanks Dave. An interesting product. It was part of a humble bundle a while back as well as the books so I may wait for it to come round again before looking into it.
(POTENTIAL SPOILER) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . My favorite part of this campaign is the last part, where the players are away from Arrakis on their home planet, trying to defend it and their allies from the fires of jihad.
The weirdest part of this campaign is the bit that asks the GM to essentially narrate to the players the climax to book one, with Paul killing Feyd and assuming the mantle of Emperor, as the players watch, minus any agency, from the sidelines. It's a great idea for a campaign, but I don't think I'd run it as is - with a bit of tweaking (especially player agency), it could be a classic.
Support the channel by joining my Patreon! www.patreon.com/thaumavore
Sign up for my newsletter! bit.ly/ThaumavoreNewsletter
Great review. I like the idea of adventures based on the OG books. Imagine doing something similar for LOTR.. It might be a bit railroaded but it's a new kind of roleplaying & I welcome the concept.
I love the scope and ambition behind this supplement. Taking part in the events of the books/movies is what most licenced games are about. It is really hard to do it well, but when it works it is fantastic. See works like The Great Pendragon Campaign or Darkening of Mirkwood. All licenced properties should have a supplement like this. And I don't think it is a problem that the players know the grand events of the story. After all player characters in most games roughly know what will happen in the campaign. It is seeing the hows and whys of the way you'll take part, and the consequences of your actions, that is exciting. More problematic is scenario-building where rolls are just for show. That is just poor scenario writing.
The art is incredible!
I have tried Dune RPG since your review of the rulebook, Dave. It's a pretty cool narrative system..
..although i am having quite a struggle defining the Assets and its worths during the game.
They are going with the same art direction as the movies. Love it!
Instead of asking the players to suspend their knowledge, lean into it. Precognition is part of Dune lore anyways so just say they know the shape of things to come just not the details and how are they going to profit slash survive the coming storm
I like that is has both the books plot points and the POV from the periphery. It does need more art though.
Enjoying your in depth reviews!
I disagree with the premise that because of the players know what will happen to the Artreides in Arakis is a big ask for them to suspend that knowledge, I think that this adventure is for players that want is to "live" as an artreides soldiers in arakis in the middle of the fall of House Artreides
Awesome review!!
The problem with licensed games is figuring out what to do besides the license that sold the game. I get it, Arrakis, Paul Atreides, but I prefer what ALIEN did for precanned scenarios like Destroyer of Worlds... and I like DUNE's approach to the general case, like Houses of the Landsraad as compared to Building Better Worlds. Paul Atreides is like the xenomorph... I just wish there was less of the Arrakis, Atreides stuff... but that's why they bought the license, so they have to do it. The perfect licensed game approach would marry the ALIEN and DUNE sensibilities towards the game, I think, but at least they are doing pretty well by both of these properties.
Yeah, this particular adventure book is the culmination of the Dune RPG. You’re just IN the two most popular novels from the franchise, sometimes as nothing more than spectators.
I do pointcrawls and solo RPGs Its funny for solo these style of written adventures really shine
I never thought of running this solo. Yeah, that would be a lot of fun.
Thanks Dave. An interesting product. It was part of a humble bundle a while back as well as the books so I may wait for it to come round again before looking into it.
(POTENTIAL SPOILER)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
My favorite part of this campaign is the last part, where the players are away from Arrakis on their home planet, trying to defend it and their allies from the fires of jihad.
Cool review!
Entertaining review thank you
The weirdest part of this campaign is the bit that asks the GM to essentially narrate to the players the climax to book one, with Paul killing Feyd and assuming the mantle of Emperor, as the players watch, minus any agency, from the sidelines.
It's a great idea for a campaign, but I don't think I'd run it as is - with a bit of tweaking (especially player agency), it could be a classic.
Do outgunned action flicks
:{ D