TDG: Dune: War for Arrakis

[@007nikster2]

I was not expecting this much praise from you. I might have to pick this one up as I love the Dune theme.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I really got a kick out of it. Great game!

[@sullyvanrichard]

If you did not buy it yet, you can pre order it with all exclusive items from the kickstarter camaign and a new expansion.

[@flow3730]

I love, respect and trust your reviews, because we both come from the same games and love dudes on a map game. Used to play a lot of Shogun (Ikusa now) and Axis and Allies when I was a teenager. So everytime I see a dudes on a map game I get excited.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Then you will get a huge kick out of this one. Fantastic! Thank you.

[@jaytee63236]

Love the use of the classic Dune theme!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@jaytee63236 It’s actually a similar piece that was available on KZbin’s music library.

[@tunesapps8177]

Thanks for the encouraging review - I'm waiting on my pre-ordered KS version through a retailer, so I have the option to back out. But reviews like this confirm my decision to go ahead with it. BTW, you might have noticed that an opportunity to get the KS version has just been announced on the CMON website. As part of a NEW expansion it says "Fans will also have the chance to pick up things they missed the first time, including the Exclusive Edition core box, the Smugglers expansion, the playmat, the plastic tokens, and for those buying the core game at retail, a new box containing only the stretch goals from the original campaign."

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Excellent. Everything is proceeding according to my design....

[@123ehdrmfl]

Great review as always!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@123ehdrmfl Thanks.

[@Warchoon]

Small rule correction: Special Elites (Fedaykin/Sardaukar) are downgraded to Regular, not Elites. They are basically Elites with the extra ability of ignoring 1 shield, they don't have 3HP. Also with the bans, the rule our group missed is that Harkonnen only gets 1 ban per round (unless the markers hit bottom), even if all 3 markers go down - Harkonnen just chooses which is in effect.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks!

[@iwraithofthestyx2292]

They’ve modified that rule since release. It’s now all corresponding bans get activated. Refer to FAQ 3.0

[@philippemartin4386]

Great review, as usual. And the opening joke was a felicitous and clever one :)

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Glad you liked it. Thanks!

[@rokassan]

Well, I’m happy I kickstarted this all in. Haven’t played yet.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

You need to.

[@jace76ful]

Wow awesome I'll have to check this one out!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I think you'll be glad you did.

[@Elicurren]

I've been waiting for this one. Thanks for the review.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Happy to help. Thank you!

[@rawkyle9385]

It’s coming back to gamefound! I also missed out on the first campaign, so now I need to start saving for the all in pledge

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Very excited for it!!!

[@darthmuadib7237]

I backed this game fully. I have all of the bell and whistles and the freaking nice roll up play matt. The day it went live on Kickstarter I backed it right away. Now next from CMON which I backed fully is DCeased Zombicide.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Yeah, I went all in for DCeased as well. Loved Marvel Zombies, but I've always been more of a DC man.

[@mamunestor]

I went all in on the KS, haven’t been able to play yet. Can’t wait.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Hope you get to it soon. Great game.

[@dhmcarver]

Well damn, I am sold! Gonna get it now.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@dhmcarver Happy to help.

[@jameskim8599]

Did you manage to get the crowdfunding extras from the Desert War campaign? It's over on Gamefound and ends on Oct-4th! Thanks for the review, Cody. I'm gonna go with your recommendation on this one and pick it up :)

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@jameskim8599 Yup! Thanks!

[@andyman885]

Own it and love it. Played about 4 times now. However the atreides/fremen has not won once. Feels very difficult for the green player.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I heard the designer say it should be 60/40 Harkonnen balance.

[@bergstro]

Totally agree. This takes the best parts of Star Wars Rebellion and The War of the Ring. My best game of 2024.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

It’s amazing. One of the best games I’ve ever played.

[@kevinsayers5985]

I got my copy a few weeks back but haven't got it to the table yet though I've played rebellion 2 times in the last week 😅 Roy, from the dice tower, gave this a 10/10 as well so it must be really good! Can't wait to play it!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

That's what I rated it on BGG. Great game!

[@keithr9640]

Excellent video as always. You need a bigger game table! 😉

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I need a bigger apartment to fit a bigger table.

[@artxbang]

just bougth the core set didnt play it yet...... but now i want the extra exclusive stretch goals pieces ..i hope i can get them

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

They are going to have another crowdfunding campaign in the near future.

[@MrNicktwin]

Fully agree, this is an amazing game!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Indeed.

[@martonferenci]

having War of the Ring and Rebellion, I think I can wait until this is available for the cheaps.😊

[@Julesplayssomemusic]

Tbh the whole time I was playing WfA and even enjoying it I was silently wishing I were playing WftR instead .. just got me more involved and had a more epic feeling, but I had the same with SW Rebellion ..

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Fair enough. As I say I get a lot of the same feel from Rebellion, but they are very different games in many respects.

[@dustbustus27]

I love Rebellion so much and with the shorter playtime on this game I look forward to it being my onboarding process to get more people (traditionally, the folks that wouldnt have the patience for them) into Rebellion, WotR, and aBoFA. The rulebook on WotR is a daunting affair on its own (especially with expansions sprinkled in). I need to get more plays in of this game myself. I'd love it if Corey K. would take some plays of this and add some of his old magic and see if Rebellion could be streamlined into a second edition.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I'd love to see a Rebellion 2nd edition, maybe find a better combat system (even with expansion), but I'm not holding my breath. At any rate, this is a fantastic game!

[@kevinsayers5985]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer I know a lot of people say this about the combat in rebellion but I really like it. What don't you like about it? Thematically it makes a lot of sense to me Because certain ships or ground units are going to be better at killing certain things versus other things and I love the tactics cards and how they can totally swing a battle that looks unwinnable

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@kevinsayers5985 It's fine (with the expansion) but it brings the game to a screeching halt. The larger stuff you're doing in the game is so much more fun. With DUNE War for Arrakis, the combat fits seamlessly into the larger game.

[@simonb4689]

Gotta get the playmat. It's amazing

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

They playmat does look cool.

[@branboom3342]

I played once at 2p (with some rules goofs) and once at 4p. 2p was definitely better but 4 was also great. Even though it's considerably shorter than SW:R or WotR, it's still a bit long for my tastes, but one of the most thematic and exciting games I've ever played.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Great game! Thanks.

[@playbooktv5262]

Hm, the combat system seems very simple ... the story of Dune, the cycle itself, is fantastic! Greetings from germany (I like your input, subscription is out)

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Fantastic. Thanks.

[@Wolcik3000]

its always nice when a game has its own art - especially a book based ones Its worse when a second worse game uses said art like it was with Dune Betrayal or Game of Thrones B'Twixt

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Original artwork is fantastic.

[@MichaelBomholt]

This game is excellent I love it.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Indeed!

[@ThisIDig]

Only have enough money for one: Nemesis or War for Arrakis….which one do you buy?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Both great games. For my money, I'd go with Dune. It just ticks too many boxes for me.

[@Apeshower]

Great vid and I have hovered around with this one. May I ask a couple of questions? A mate of mine has War of the Ring. We are giving that a go and loving it. Does this game fill that same space or do folks think this worthy game to have alongside WotR? Also, given some Kickstarter exclusives, does the retail base game have staying power? I would hate to spend £100+ only to ‘need’ an expansion fairly quickly. Thanks all.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I haven’t ever played a full game of WotR, so I can’t comment. The base game here alone is spectacular. Stay tuned for my thoughts on The Spacing Guild.

[@seanobrien798]

Looks like a really good game. Some of the game mechanics remind me of War of The Ring. I really like asymmetrical games. Will have to save up for it. Spice spice baby Spice spice baby All right stop Collaborate and listen Paul is back with a new prescient vision Jihad grabs a hold of you tightly Slice like a crysknife daily and nightly Will it ever stop? Yo, I don't know Eyes blue within blue they glow Ride Shai-hulud like the Mahdi Light up the atomics over the wadi

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

That is delightful. You should be a professional Maud'dib lyricist. Thanks!

[@browe]

Cody, you and yer frakking review cost me a $ hunny. 😉 I love DUNE (OG game back in the day, and Imperium / Uprising today), but this just did not ring my bell whatsoever during crowdfunding. I adore SW: Rebellion, and I thought this might be for me... Something just left me so meh about it until your take. Luckily my partner loves all things DUNE, and she won't have any trouble wiping the floor with me in this game!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I think you’ll get a kick out of it. Happy to help!

[@robertthurman9866]

Rebellion was FFG's effort to make WotR with the Star Wars IP. I just picked up WfA about a months ago and had to pay through the nose for Smugglers. But I know the price would only go higher. If I had known the designers were the same a WotR I would have backed the KS.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Yeah. Kicking myself for not backing it. But the game is just fantastic!

[@robertthurman9866]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer You really, really need to try WotR. It is drenched in theme and is tense from the first move to the last.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@robertthurman9866 I've tried it. Maybe need to try it again.

[@Julesplayssomemusic]

@@robertthurman9866totally agree and WfA although being a solid game never got me involved like WftR did over and over again

[@paulsousa]

Cody, if you do try and buy the plastic tokens be careful they aren’t the original set that they shipped. There was an issue with inconsistent coloring on some of the hidden information tokens and they are in the process of replacing all of the plastic tokens. Definitely would hate to see you spend a fortune on the bad tokens.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks for the head's up. I appreciate that.

[@paulsousa]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer hey Cody, CMON just announced a preorder on Gamefound for a new expansion, and they’re also selling the exclusive stuff from the first KS.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@paulsousa Ooooh. I shall have to look into this.

[@bjj_9925]

Will you be getting everything from the gamefound project?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Yes. Already ordered.

[@akshayanand787]

I know in the video you said this is on with SWR. I'm looking for a thematic 2p game to play with my wife, who is open to all games as long as they're engaging and don't gave a ton of rules grit and need to reference rules constantly. Which would you recommend I get considering most of our collection is Euros but we want something more interactive and replayable? Cheers!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Both great games and both about the same level of complexity. This one is shorter, for sure. Once you know what you're doing here it is a two hour game. SWR is usually a 3-4 hour game. I guess go with whichever IP you like. However, if you get SWR, you must get the Rise of the Empire expansion, as it greatly improves combat.

[@akshayanand787]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Right on, thank you! I'll ask her if play time is a factor. I like both IPs but don't nerd out over either, so no preference there or it'd make my life easier haha. I have heard that about the expansion for SWR though - many people seem to think it not only improves combat itself but the pace as well

[@nihlify]

Got mine some time ago but none of my friends likes Dune, so it's been hard to get it to the table... Have you tried the solo mode? (appologies if you mentioned it in the video, was multitasking while listening :P ) I might have to try the solo until I convince someone to play it

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I haven't played it solo yet. Probably will sooner or later. Thanks.

[@GGdeTOURS37]

Just a question please: I love very much SWRebellion because different starts and such different strategies (and I often play it with pleasure) but I completely hate WOTRing because always the same start and such boring strategies (and I sold it back with pleasure) > So do you think Dune WFA is closer to the first one (SWR) or to the second one (WOTR) ? - TY

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Honestly, I only briefly played a few rounds of WoTR years ago, so I can't really compare that. But you do have a random setup for units on both sides with this game, and in the few games I've seen, I've seen different strategies. Talking to others, it seems like there are a lot of different ways you can seek victory here.

[@TheNotouchin]

Did you already play it with 4 Players?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Not yet. Just two player games.

[@arturthekingg]

Cody, do NOT go hunting for the KS exclusives! They just announced a new campaign for all of the original stuff + a new expansion on Gamefound. I'll be getting that 😎

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Yeah, I saw that. Thanks! I'm really glad that they're doing this.

[@arturthekingg]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Me too! And thanks for this review. I was already really excited about this game, your review only made me sure to get it next time I have the chance. Thanks and have a great week!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@arturthekingg Thank you! Happy to help.

[@PhD_Angel]

Are there any games you reviewed that you do not recommend?!...

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

You don’t watch the channel much, do you?

[@kryz9648]

Thanks for the review. Any plans to review Burning Banners?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

First I've heard of it. Compass usually doesn't send me review copies, and I can't afford to buy them. Maybe sometime down the line.

[@RolandoRatas]

Did you know that some of the cast of movie Se7en were cast in the original David Lynch Dune movie but were later sacked ? .. ... ... .... ... Two were let go: Morgan Fremen and Brad Pitt who kept asking the reverend mother 'What's in the box ?'.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Ha!

[@combusticator]

A while back if I remember correctly, I think you said you hadn't played War of the Ring yet. If that's still the case, after bowing your head in shame 😂 😉, you will try it now, right?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I've never played a full game, just a few rounds. I suppose I should sometime down the line.

[@combusticator]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer I'll await your review if you do! Thanks for this one as well! Ya always make great videos!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@combusticator Thank you!