Dune: Imperium (ft. Jeremy Howard - MvM)
Today we discuss Dune Imperium designed by Paul Dennen and published by Dire Wolf featuring Jeremy Howard from Man Vs Meeple! Dune: Imperium is a game that finds inspiration from the Dune legacy, both the new film from Legendary Pictures and the seminal literary series from Frank Herbert, Brian Herbert, and Kevin J. Anderson. It uses deck-building to add a hidden-information angle to traditional worker placement. You start with a unique leader card and ability, and you’ll acquire cards and build your deck, your choices will define your strengths and weaknesses. Cards allow you to send your Agents to certain spaces on the game board, so how your deck evolves affects your strategy. Unlike many deck-building games, you don’t play your entire hand in one turn. The cards you play and keep in your hand will determine where you can go on the board, what you can purchase from the market and your strength in the conflict phase. Whoever reaches 10 points, and is able to keep them when the game ends, wins! (Description provided by the publisher.)
Twilight Imperium (ft. Space Cats Peace Turtles)
Today we discuss Twilight Imperium 4th Edition by Fantasy Flight Games with none other than Space Cats Peace Turtles, the authority on everything TI. Twilight Imperium is a war and 3X game of galactic conquest in which three to six players take on the role of one of seventeen factions vying for galactic domination through military might, political maneuvering, and economic bargaining. A round begins with players selecting one of eight strategy cards that both determine player order and give their owner a unique strategic action for that round. After these roles are selected, players take turns moving their fleets from system to system, claiming new planets for their empire, and engaging in warfare and trade with other factions.
Root
Today we discuss Root by Leder Games, a game of woodland might and right, where you’ll command one of multiple asymmetric animal factions vying to take control of the region. It’s no secret that we are big fans of this dynamic war game with a deceptively welcoming exterior. However, in the spirit of Played It Once, we decided to jump back in time and retell our first experience with Root and how the game and our tastes have evolved with it. In addition, we give some advice on how to teach Root to potential new players and what pitfalls to avoid.