Ah, this is why I've appreciated and enjoyed your reviews for many years now... Fun, rambling-yet-to-the-heart-of-it, understanding, insightful, and most of all... human.
Just realized that Paul Atriedes has a lot of names. When Paul is accepted into the Fremen tribe, he is given the secret "sietch name" Usul, the Fremen word meaning "the base of the pillar". He chooses "Paul Muad'Dib" as his common name of manhood, to be used openly. The Bene Gesserit also refer to him as the “Kwisatz Haderach” which is more of a title but still kinda like a name. I am not entirely sure but I think the Fremen (desert people) also refer to him as the “Lisan al Gaib” which references Paul's clairvoyant abilities, while they also refer to him as “Mahdi” which refers to his role among the Fremen as “The One Who Will Lead Us to Paradise.” Some of these are names and some are titles. I guess when his father passes away, he was also assumed the title of Duke of House Atreides.
I'd have clicked on this review anyway but I appreciate you mentioning the 6p game. Won't call out any other channels but one review I watched they specifically referenced they refused to play it lol. Not very helpful for a review! Anyway you're the best (I am entering this comment before watching so if I reserve the right to edit you being the best afterwards :P)
Having played both DI with and without both expansions and DIU, I'm not sure why so many people think DIU is superior. Admittedly, DIU is really fun because of how much rides on specific combats. I have scored 5 points in a single round. While this is very dramatic and exciting, I don't think it's better. DI already had plenty of luck in my opinion. DIU has more luck because so many of these extremely valuable battles come down to who is holding which Intrigue cards. Ultimately I guess it depends on what you value more. If you want really epic moments, at the expense of less skill, DIU is better for you. If you want a game that's more balanced, less swingy, with more paths to victory and not as much luck, DU with expansions is the clear winner in my opinion.
Ya I don't think it's case of "better" but "mood" (as I said in the video). The worms are an acquired experience. I don't think I always want to play with them, but having the option is great. The only thing I wish I could port back to the original board is the spies.
@@DriveThruReview I agree 100%. I do love the spies. However, it feels much more samey than DU with expansions for me. In DUI you basically have to get at least 2 influence with the Fremen so you can get your Maker Hooks, and then make sure you've hoarded the resources to be ready when a huge combat is going to occur. It often has a moment that basically decides the winner. It's so exciting that it's made my heart race. However, I still prefer the more balanced experience of DU with expansions.
@@chrisjohnphillips6352I will say I have seen games where the winner does not even get maker hooks, but invests in other areas and takes preventive measures to block the worm spaces as much as possible. A feat to be sure, but I've seen it :)
Most interesting and informative review of this I've seen. I wasn't even aware of the 6 player team mode and had an impression that this was just basically a newer edition with a different name and some updates/new mechanics. Hearing it presented as more of a stand alone expansion that combined seamlessly with the rest while providing multiple new experiences has me revisiting and reconsidering my prior opinion about it. Now I'm taking a second, good long look at it.
Solo, two-player... Dune just keeps making a multi-player experience work for fewer, and I am delighted it does. Admittedly I'm a fanboi, but this series of games consistently evokes the theme and at the same time makes for a fun time.
I haven't seen many people mention it, but Uprising increases the value of strategic planning, and reduces the effect of luck. There's multiple places to get water, troops, card draw, etc. Spies let you draw into a bad hand, or place agents somewhere that would otherwise be blocked. This lets you actually plan and follow a strategy, instead of getting locked out by an unlucky hand on the wrong round. Sandworm-doubling seems like the only controversial part. At my table, we homerule that sandworms add the 3rd place rewards to whatever you get normally. Aside from that single mechanic, people like everything else about the expansion.
I love your reviews- my favourite reviewer across all the channels now. You seem to paint the picture of what it’s like to play and how it feels better than other reviewers. Cheers :) now to decide whether to get this in addition to the OG Dune Imperium!
Awesome video! I never played the original Dune Imperium but picked this up immediately and I've been loving it as a 2p game. I'm glad to hear the 6p team game is so solid. I have no idea if I'll ever get that many people together who can commit but now I really want to.
Great video. This really amps up my enthusiasm for it - I’m new to Dune Imperium, and I’ve read if that’s the case, jump to Uprising. Great discussion and ideas as usual. Thank you.
Aside from the great review (including the fact that, yes, you are allowed to like both versions), i truly appreciate the decidedly non-clickbait title.
Love the thoughts on the 6 player mode. So if I'm getting this right, out of the box I'd be getting a solo experience, a midweight 90 minute experience at 3/4p and a big weekend event experience at 6p?
I don’t know if I missed it in your video but what do you recommend for people who have everything so far? I really wish they did make this a standard expansion instead of a standalone one. For the price point in hard pressed not to get a completely different experience over a reiteration of something I already have even if it may be slightly better.
I don't think I addressed that question directly... but indirectly. I'll summarize for clarity: The game without the six player game is just like.. another expansion (granted with a new board). It's a really good expansion for sure, just not sure it's better than base game + Ix expansion. Uprising + Ix might be really good too, but I didn't try mixing any of the expansions with this one.... yet.
Does the two player game feel very different? It seems like adding real rivals from the solo game to the two player game would change it quite a bit from the original where House Hagal was basically just a space blocker and combat spoiler.
Largely no. The "bots" are a bit smarter all around which is nice, but yes... in a two player game it has the same general effect on the game. We've seen in two player games where the bot is somewhat competitive... but I've never seen the bots win in a two player game (I've seen them win in a solo game though of course).
I have a feeling a lot of these changes may be great at higher player count, but I play the game exclusively at 2 players, and it seems the spy mechanism would only make it less tight.
It's still pretty tight. Remember the worms are a huge swing and need to be accounted for (or pursued), and spy spaces are pretty limited... and the bot will take them up as well.
I find myself using spies for the extra draw far more often than infiltrating a blocked space, especially when playing spy-centric leaders like Lady Margot. Two-player games in Uprising also have unique rival cards that don't earn points; they only take up spaces and fight combats to throw a wrench into the players' plans, so the board is still very tight, even with spies.
I think so.. but it's tough to say I think you should rush out and get it. For me, I like the different play experiences. The original isn't SO focused on combat (even though it can still play a big part). I like having the options myself, but I can see folks would just rather stick with one or the other.
Finally someone covering the 6 player mode! Great video 👍
Ah, this is why I've appreciated and enjoyed your reviews for many years now... Fun, rambling-yet-to-the-heart-of-it, understanding, insightful, and most of all... human.
Thanks Brian!
Just realized that Paul Atriedes has a lot of names. When Paul is accepted into the Fremen tribe, he is given the secret "sietch name" Usul, the Fremen word meaning "the base of the pillar". He chooses "Paul Muad'Dib" as his common name of manhood, to be used openly. The Bene Gesserit also refer to him as the “Kwisatz Haderach” which is more of a title but still kinda like a name. I am not entirely sure but I think the Fremen (desert people) also refer to him as the “Lisan al Gaib” which references Paul's clairvoyant abilities, while they also refer to him as “Mahdi” which refers to his role among the Fremen as “The One Who Will Lead Us to Paradise.” Some of these are names and some are titles. I guess when his father passes away, he was also assumed the title of Duke of House Atreides.
When the announce him it would be like a Heavyweight Fighter coming into the ring :)
I'd have clicked on this review anyway but I appreciate you mentioning the 6p game. Won't call out any other channels but one review I watched they specifically referenced they refused to play it lol. Not very helpful for a review!
Anyway you're the best (I am entering this comment before watching so if I reserve the right to edit you being the best afterwards :P)
Haha... well at least you know where they stand.
Having played both DI with and without both expansions and DIU, I'm not sure why so many people think DIU is superior. Admittedly, DIU is really fun because of how much rides on specific combats. I have scored 5 points in a single round. While this is very dramatic and exciting, I don't think it's better. DI already had plenty of luck in my opinion. DIU has more luck because so many of these extremely valuable battles come down to who is holding which Intrigue cards. Ultimately I guess it depends on what you value more. If you want really epic moments, at the expense of less skill, DIU is better for you. If you want a game that's more balanced, less swingy, with more paths to victory and not as much luck, DU with expansions is the clear winner in my opinion.
Ya I don't think it's case of "better" but "mood" (as I said in the video). The worms are an acquired experience. I don't think I always want to play with them, but having the option is great. The only thing I wish I could port back to the original board is the spies.
@@DriveThruReview I agree 100%. I do love the spies. However, it feels much more samey than DU with expansions for me. In DUI you basically have to get at least 2 influence with the Fremen so you can get your Maker Hooks, and then make sure you've hoarded the resources to be ready when a huge combat is going to occur. It often has a moment that basically decides the winner. It's so exciting that it's made my heart race. However, I still prefer the more balanced experience of DU with expansions.
@@chrisjohnphillips6352I will say I have seen games where the winner does not even get maker hooks, but invests in other areas and takes preventive measures to block the worm spaces as much as possible. A feat to be sure, but I've seen it :)
Most interesting and informative review of this I've seen. I wasn't even aware of the 6 player team mode and had an impression that this was just basically a newer edition with a different name and some updates/new mechanics. Hearing it presented as more of a stand alone expansion that combined seamlessly with the rest while providing multiple new experiences has me revisiting and reconsidering my prior opinion about it.
Now I'm taking a second, good long look at it.
Solo, two-player... Dune just keeps making a multi-player experience work for fewer, and I am delighted it does. Admittedly I'm a fanboi, but this series of games consistently evokes the theme and at the same time makes for a fun time.
I haven't seen many people mention it, but Uprising increases the value of strategic planning, and reduces the effect of luck.
There's multiple places to get water, troops, card draw, etc. Spies let you draw into a bad hand, or place agents somewhere that would otherwise be blocked. This lets you actually plan and follow a strategy, instead of getting locked out by an unlucky hand on the wrong round.
Sandworm-doubling seems like the only controversial part. At my table, we homerule that sandworms add the 3rd place rewards to whatever you get normally. Aside from that single mechanic, people like everything else about the expansion.
I love your reviews- my favourite reviewer across all the channels now. You seem to paint the picture of what it’s like to play and how it feels better than other reviewers. Cheers :) now to decide whether to get this in addition to the OG Dune Imperium!
Appreciate it!
Awesome video! I never played the original Dune Imperium but picked this up immediately and I've been loving it as a 2p game. I'm glad to hear the 6p team game is so solid. I have no idea if I'll ever get that many people together who can commit but now I really want to.
Great video. This really amps up my enthusiasm for it - I’m new to Dune Imperium, and I’ve read if that’s the case, jump to Uprising. Great discussion and ideas as usual. Thank you.
Aside from the great review (including the fact that, yes, you are allowed to like both versions), i truly appreciate the decidedly non-clickbait title.
Love the thoughts on the 6 player mode.
So if I'm getting this right, out of the box I'd be getting a solo experience, a midweight 90 minute experience at 3/4p and a big weekend event experience at 6p?
💯
I don’t know if I missed it in your video but what do you recommend for people who have everything so far? I really wish they did make this a standard expansion instead of a standalone one. For the price point in hard pressed not to get a completely different experience over a reiteration of something I already have even if it may be slightly better.
I don't think I addressed that question directly... but indirectly. I'll summarize for clarity: The game without the six player game is just like.. another expansion (granted with a new board). It's a really good expansion for sure, just not sure it's better than base game + Ix expansion. Uprising + Ix might be really good too, but I didn't try mixing any of the expansions with this one.... yet.
Does the two player game feel very different? It seems like adding real rivals from the solo game to the two player game would change it quite a bit from the original where House Hagal was basically just a space blocker and combat spoiler.
Largely no. The "bots" are a bit smarter all around which is nice, but yes... in a two player game it has the same general effect on the game. We've seen in two player games where the bot is somewhat competitive... but I've never seen the bots win in a two player game (I've seen them win in a solo game though of course).
I have a feeling a lot of these changes may be great at higher player count, but I play the game exclusively at 2 players, and it seems the spy mechanism would only make it less tight.
It's still pretty tight. Remember the worms are a huge swing and need to be accounted for (or pursued), and spy spaces are pretty limited... and the bot will take them up as well.
@@DriveThruReview thanks for the reply!
I find myself using spies for the extra draw far more often than infiltrating a blocked space, especially when playing spy-centric leaders like Lady Margot. Two-player games in Uprising also have unique rival cards that don't earn points; they only take up spaces and fight combats to throw a wrench into the players' plans, so the board is still very tight, even with spies.
Thanks! Can you say if you have Uprising it would be useful to get the original?
I think so.. but it's tough to say I think you should rush out and get it. For me, I like the different play experiences. The original isn't SO focused on combat (even though it can still play a big part). I like having the options myself, but I can see folks would just rather stick with one or the other.
Pulling off spies is tight.
whenever you review games of interlocking mechanisms and social power im re surprised at how you bounced off porfiriana and renaissance
Brain melt :)
I’d be curious about what could be built with everything, since I have it. Become an amateur game designer in your spare time! 😅
Ya there's a few threads on BoardGameGeek.com about various setups that people are trying out.
Shout out to face dancers
Haha.. just finished reading Heretics (for the third time).. so this comment is extra funny :)
@DriveThruReview I love Sytail. He's such a weirdo in the best way. And yeah I think Denis is going to make 3rd movie for sure.