We played this at Jordal Con last weekend. It was definitely the highlight. Getting to the eighth round, and having all of the alliances switch, and realizing that all six players could legitimately win was the proof to me that this game is for real.
Tom, I love watching you geek out over games! This was a great review, thanks for looking at this one. I've always been attracted to the lavishness of Twilight Imperium, but feared it would never hit the table. Rex looks like a nice streamlined alternative to a fix of epic space conquest that my gaming group would actually be willing to play.
I was going to go through the effort of printing my own version of Dune, until I heard this game was coming out. Games with combat are typically not my thing, but this one just sounds great.
I like your reviews Tom, but I wish you would do a overall how the game is played first before going into the focused details of the cards or races or whatever.
*glee* I found the Dune game as a download on a website. Basically the rules, cards and board, so you had to put a lot of work in to be actually able to play it. ( The game was years out of print, so sue me) My friends back than were heavily into Dune (the books and the computer game Dune 2), but not so much into board games. Reading the rules I knew I would like it, but unfortunately no one else would. With my current gaming group we regularly play Twilight Imperium 3, so I'm sure I would be able to play Rex, if I got my hands on it. I just wished it was a bit cheaper...
The thing about the bidding phase is that the person playing Jol-Nar (Atreides), the race that gets to look at the cards as they come up for bidding, really needs to be familiar with the deck. If you aren't, it's pretty easy for the other players to tell whether you just looked at a weapon or defense card (easy to identify quickly, and highly desirable) or one of the grey cards with special abilities and longer text. There aren't too many different cards to learn though.
I wasn't sure if I was going to buy this game or not. Then I decided to do so. Then i watched this video and realized that... I DID THE RIGHT THING, CUZ THIS GAME LOOKS AMAZING!
Definitely goes on the list. Love the low-level stories aspect, that's imho the very best thing a game can achieve. Also the double thinking and art...mmm
This inspired me to get the game. I possess the original Dune game and I think this is heaps better. Dune definitely needed the re-make for a newer gaming experience. My goodness, how much BETTER the components are!!! I hated how flimsy the original components were, let alone the crummy unit marker discs. Blah!!!
I think the Sol bombardment card was explained wrongly. === When revealed, players look at the top influence-providing card in the Influence discard pile. All units and influence in both of the listed spaces are destroyed (resolve them from left to right as listed on the card). === But overall, this is a fantastic game! Our first game ended under 15 minutes. Someone gained an individual victory by taking 3 strongholds in the second round!
Sol's winning condition is to hold either both of the left strongholds at the end or they win if no other ONE player controls both. If player A controls just the first stronghold and Sol controls the second, then Sol will still wins. That's rather hard to accomplish, in my opinion.
Brian Herbert gave Iron Maiden back in the 80's trouble too over one of their songs on the album Piece of Mind. They couldn't call the song Dune so they had to call it To Tame a Land.
Finally got to play this game. Only 5 players. I very much enjoyed it. Only problem was the one dude that is part of my gaming group that was being a total whiner because me and two other players had a 3 person alliance and he said there was no way the two person alliance could win. Only thing he didn't take into account was the fact that we didn't win until the very last turn. And we had to really work together to get that victory. It was even close to automatic.
I have come so close to clicking purchase on this game like 30 days in a row. Each time I'm stopped by the fact I have one friend who will sit down for board games and this game needs 3 players. :/
@hydra66 Makes you wonder why they dont make digital versions of the games. Like have a engine that is suited for it like the old point and click game engines.
Just played it, didnt really like it. It's kinda slow ( of course that depends on the player's experience) but it's hard to prevent the humans from winning and the turtles bet almost always on the humans because it's so hard, so most of the time the turtles win. :( Most fun are the traitor cards and the risk that comes with them but there are SO few in the game, it's a pity.
It might be a great game, but it doesn't sound or look anything like Dune, so the appeal for me is limited. Also: If it takes 1/2 the time to play, then it's not the same game.
In my opinion, half the time is better. Too many games take too damn long and we don't need any more of those. Except TI (I'll play TI for a week non stop if I could)
The classic Dune board game was so great because it was an awesome game and offered excellent mechanics. Its why it was possible for FFG to reprint the game with a brand new aesthetic and for it to ultimately work. If the reason you don't dig this game is because it lacks the Dune IP then its clear that you never really enjoyed the original game at all because this new version is, just like Tom says, a faithful reprint minus the Dune aesthetic.
Quick question: You said during the bidding phase the players can look at the cards? My rules say that is a definite NO. I love this game! I've never played the old dune, but it is very easy to see which factions are equivalent to the Dune factions, and my gaming group even stopped calling them by their TW names and stuck with their Dune names, even though I'm the only one who has read the Dune books! Great game!
I love your reviews. You do the best reviews on TH-cam. Thank you. You make my choices for my video game collection so much easier.
Sounds like they did a pretty good job lining up the Twilight Imperium races with roles that make sense.
We played this at Jordal Con last weekend. It was definitely the highlight. Getting to the eighth round, and having all of the alliances switch, and realizing that all six players could legitimately win was the proof to me that this game is for real.
Tom, I love watching you geek out over games! This was a great review, thanks for looking at this one. I've always been attracted to the lavishness of Twilight Imperium, but feared it would never hit the table. Rex looks like a nice streamlined alternative to a fix of epic space conquest that my gaming group would actually be willing to play.
I realize Im quite randomly asking but does anyone know a good site to watch new series online ?
I was going to go through the effort of printing my own version of Dune, until I heard this game was coming out.
Games with combat are typically not my thing, but this one just sounds great.
I like your reviews Tom, but I wish you would do a overall how the game is played first before going into the focused details of the cards or races or whatever.
You sold it to me. Great video!
I think I'm going to spring for the Illya redesign of Dune. The "baroque CGI" art style drives me nuts.
I picked it up off Amazon a few weeks back. I haven't gotten to play it yet but the board/components really looks good
"May they burn up"
HAHAHA
whahahaah yes loved it!
Xavier Paquin yes, it's not, like,, an HORDE of young fan of Dune books out there. They lost a chance for some brand awareness.
*glee*
I found the Dune game as a download on a website. Basically the rules, cards and board, so you had to put a lot of work in to be actually able to play it. (
The game was years out of print, so sue me)
My friends back than were heavily into Dune (the books and the computer game Dune 2), but not so much into board games. Reading the rules I knew I would like it, but unfortunately no one else would.
With my current gaming group we regularly play Twilight Imperium 3, so I'm sure I would be able to play Rex, if I got my hands on it.
I just wished it was a bit cheaper...
The thing about the bidding phase is that the person playing Jol-Nar (Atreides), the race that gets to look at the cards as they come up for bidding, really needs to be familiar with the deck. If you aren't, it's pretty easy for the other players to tell whether you just looked at a weapon or defense card (easy to identify quickly, and highly desirable) or one of the grey cards with special abilities and longer text. There aren't too many different cards to learn though.
I wasn't sure if I was going to buy this game or not. Then I decided to do so. Then i watched this video and realized that... I DID THE RIGHT THING, CUZ THIS GAME LOOKS AMAZING!
Actually I believe Xxhca Kngdom is a misprint. The correct name is "Derpturtle Empire." :P
I thought it was pronounced Bene Gesserit
I would guess that the xxcha are the new parallel to the Bene Gesserit since they're attempting to predict the future.
Definitely goes on the list. Love the low-level stories aspect, that's imho the very best thing a game can achieve. Also the double thinking and art...mmm
This inspired me to get the game. I possess the original Dune game and I think this is heaps better. Dune definitely needed the re-make for a newer gaming experience. My goodness, how much BETTER the components are!!! I hated how flimsy the original components were, let alone the crummy unit marker discs. Blah!!!
I've looked at this game a few times, but finding 6 players at the same time is a logistical nightmare
This review really made me want to buy this game.
Twilight Imperium as a setting has also been explored in a role-playing game from FFG. It's long oop.
And considered non-canon by the creator.
Just got this game in a trade
Traded Dark Darker Darkest for this game + New Ghostbusters game .... Can't wait to try it
I think the Sol bombardment card was explained wrongly.
===
When revealed, players look at the top influence-providing card in the Influence discard pile. All units and influence in both of the listed spaces are destroyed (resolve them from left to right as listed on the card).
===
But overall, this is a fantastic game! Our first game ended under 15 minutes. Someone gained an individual victory by taking 3 strongholds in the second round!
Sol's winning condition is to hold either both of the left strongholds at the end or they win if no other ONE player controls both.
If player A controls just the first stronghold and Sol controls the second, then Sol will still wins. That's rather hard to accomplish, in my opinion.
magblast 2nd edition also used the Twilight Imperium theme.
Great game...I agree with Tom.
What are the original factions? Fremen, Harkonen, Atreidies, empire, space guild, merchants guild? It's been a while since I read Dune.
what are all the games on your back wall?
Cosmic encounter?
Isn't there an expansion to twilight imperium that does a fall of the Empire ? So basically your playing planet rex during that scenario
Brian Herbert gave Iron Maiden back in the 80's trouble too over one of their songs on the album Piece of Mind. They couldn't call the song Dune so they had to call it To Tame a Land.
Aww... I was hoping to post my review of Rex before these guys did.
Awww man my brother played this today, I'm jealous as hell now.
Don't tell me what to do, Mr. Vasel.
*proceeds to purchase game*
Tom said "bling"! That cracked me up.
Finally got to play this game. Only 5 players.
I very much enjoyed it. Only problem was the one dude that is part of my gaming group that was being a total whiner because me and two other players had a 3 person alliance and he said there was no way the two person alliance could win.
Only thing he didn't take into account was the fact that we didn't win until the very last turn. And we had to really work together to get that victory. It was even close to automatic.
Writing to Tom Vasel an email! " How could you not know how to pronounce the name!?!? " wahahahaah
He mentioned it in passing enough to tell them what they are, 05:00
You never talked about the fleet, except to say that it looks cool. Is it a pirate fleet or something?
Disthron he did mention it was Sol's fleer
If I like this will I like twilight imperium 3?
Trust me, another expansion is coming. Just be patient my young friend.
I have come so close to clicking purchase on this game like 30 days in a row. Each time I'm stopped by the fact I have one friend who will sit down for board games and this game needs 3 players. :/
18:26 so happy! :D
@eviltofutube How did you guys let that happen!?
@hydra66
Makes you wonder why they dont make digital versions of the games. Like have a engine that is suited for it like the old point and click game engines.
Looks like a really cool game but way to heady for my group. Maybe some day.
great review Tom. Cheers :-)
Tom messed up at the beginning “The Federation of Jol-Nar.” Anyone else catch it?
Ah thx, it already felt weitd playing it.
@RhinoBarbarian
wasn't*
Just played it, didnt really like it.
It's kinda slow ( of course that depends on the player's experience)
but it's hard to prevent the humans from winning and the turtles bet almost always on the humans because it's so hard, so most of the time the turtles win. :(
Most fun are the traitor cards and the risk that comes with them but there are SO few in the game, it's a pity.
It might be a great game, but it doesn't sound or look anything like Dune, so the appeal for me is limited.
Also: If it takes 1/2 the time to play, then it's not the same game.
In my opinion, half the time is better. Too many games take too damn long and we don't need any more of those. Except TI (I'll play TI for a week non stop if I could)
The classic Dune board game was so great because it was an awesome game and offered excellent mechanics. Its why it was possible for FFG to reprint the game with a brand new aesthetic and for it to ultimately work.
If the reason you don't dig this game is because it lacks the Dune IP then its clear that you never really enjoyed the original game at all because this new version is, just like Tom says, a faithful reprint minus the Dune aesthetic.
To be honest, it really needs six.
So Tom is a Harkonen man... I should have known.
The LASIK empire? Special ability: eye surgery. (If someone beat me to this I apologize I didn't read the comments yet.
Seems like a very balanced game. Kind of like chess
Game of Thrones second edition.
Quick question: You said during the bidding phase the players can look at the cards? My rules say that is a definite NO.
I love this game! I've never played the old dune, but it is very easy to see which factions are equivalent to the Dune factions, and my gaming group even stopped calling them by their TW names and stuck with their Dune names, even though I'm the only one who has read the Dune books!
Great game!
Jonathan Daigle I think he was referring to the Jol-Nar racial ability.
ah...that makes sense!
@lottg1971
Sometimes people's dumbness makes my brain hurt.
Root and Dune brought me here
"I like games with shared victory..." Really? Huh. I myself very much don't.
0:35 Twilight Imperium? XD
But it's not DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNE! :*-(
That's an even bigger shame :/
false