From: rri1@aol.com (RRI1)
Subject: Re: Dune Boardgame

>I heard somewhere that a boardgame was made based on Frank Herbert's "Dune".
>Could somebody please send me some information on this?

Yes there was a board game version of Dune based on the movie.  But it can
be somewhat difficult to find, but here are the specifics:

Dune (Avalon Hill):  This game was designed by the same group that
produced Cosmic Encounter and it is pretty faithful translation of the
book.  The basic game turn has six phases:
-  Storm Round:  The storm is moved counterclockwise around the board. 
Any tokens and spice on sand spaces that are swept by the storm are lost. 
-  Spice Blow:  Spice will appear in a random location on the board or
possibly a worm will appear at the previous site (devouring any tokens
there) and signaling an alliance round where alliance can be formed.
-  Bidding Round:  Treachery Cards are placed up for bid sight unseen.
-  Movement/Revival:  Players may revive dead tokens/leaders and then
"ship" tokens to the planet and move one group of token already on planet. 
Occupiers of Carthag & arrakeen may move 3 spaces as they have
ornithopters, while others may only move one.
-  Battle:  In areas where two or more player co-occupy a teritory a
battle is fought.  Each commits a number of tokens in the area to the
battle, selects a leader, and may play weapon/defense/ worthless treachery
cards.  If a player does not play a correct defense to a players weapon the
the leader is killed and does not add its strength to the battle.  Leaders
are also selected at the start for being a traitor--if that leader is
played vs. the opponent who selected him, the player playing the
traitorious leader loses.  Higher total of tokens committed and survinvg
leader wins.  The winner must lose the tokens committed (so only commit
enough to win, no more.) while the loser loses all tokens.  The winner also
receives spice equal to any leaders killed.
-  Spice Collection:  If any players occupy a spice containing territory
after battle, they may collect it.

Simple, except for the fact that each player has special abilities:
Atreides:  (Prescience) May look a treachery cards before bidding.  May
ask one item in an opponents battle plan, receives a special leader
(Kwisatz Haderach), Views next spice blow card.
Bene Gesserit:  (Mind control/Religion)  Voice (force opponents to play or
not play a particular card in battle), Spiritual advisors (May ship a token
down with a another player.),  Coexistence (may occupy a territory with
another player WITHOUT causing a battle), Uses worthless cards as Karamas,
unlimited CHOAM charity.
Emperor:  (money)  Receives money from all card sales in bidding round
(Emperor is rarely short of spice=cash), Sardaukar (2 pt.) token.
Fremen: (native)  Knows next storm round amount, moves 2 spaces, "ships"
from opposite side of planet (thus avoiding the Guild), may "ride" worm
when it comes up, loses only 1/2 tokens in storm, Fedaykin Warriors (2 pt.
tokens), excellent revival.
Guild (shipment):  Is paid when player ship tokens onto planet (Fremen and
BG "advisors" exempt), Pays cheap price for shipment, allowed special
shipments (on board to off, between 2 on board locations) that other cannot
use, May take his turn at any time in the turn sequence.
Harkonnen:  (Treachery)  Gains an extra treaxhery card when he buys one. 
Gets all initial leaders as traitors instead of just one, May kidnap
leaders for use or disposal for spice.

I think this is the my favorite game of all time.  It is somewhat
difficult to play because you have to be aware of all of the rules (and
their possibilities) but this a great game.

Your best bet is game convention/flea market or r.g.marketplace.  But this
can be hard to find.  There are two editions:  The older Worm cover and
Sting cover (to tie in with the movie) and Two expansions which overall
don't add much to the game:  The Duel adds an arena and kanly duels and
Spice Harvest adds a bluffing game which varies the start positions. 
Neither is required, but they can add some fun elements to the game.

Do NOT get the Parker Bros. game titled Dune based on the the movie.

>Please mail to my address, as I don't check here very often.

Sure

Richard Irving      rri1@aol.com
Made with recycled electrons!