Dune: Adventures in the Imperium is a tabletop RPG set in the iconic Dune universe, allowing players to explore political intrigue, deadly conflicts, and epic struggles for power. Published by Modiphius Entertainment, the game is available in both PDF and hardcover formats, offering a rich storytelling experience inspired by Frank Herbert’s seminal works.
Core Rulebook
The Dune: Adventures in the Imperium Core Rulebook, published by Modiphius Entertainment, is available in both PDF and hardcover. It details the game’s core mechanics, character creation, and setting, set in the year 10,191 AG. Players take on roles of noble house agents, navigating intrigue and conflict in Frank Herbert’s iconic universe, with tools for both new and experienced gamemasters.
PDF and Hardcover Availability
The Dune: Adventures in the Imperium Core Rulebook is available in both digital and physical formats, catering to the preferences of all players. The PDF version can be purchased from platforms like DriveThruRPG and the official Modiphius website, priced at $35. This digital format allows players to access the rulebook immediately, making it ideal for those who prefer convenience and portability. The hardcover edition, retailing at $52 MSRP, offers a premium tactile experience, perfect for collectors and fans of physical media. Both versions include the same comprehensive content, ensuring seamless gameplay regardless of format. The PDF is particularly popular for its ease of use during sessions, while the hardcover is praised for its high-quality production. Modiphius Entertainment has ensured widespread availability, making the Core Rulebook accessible to a global audience. Whether you prefer the convenience of a digital copy or the elegance of a physical book, Dune: Adventures in the Imperium is readily available to embark on your journey through the Imperium.
Setting
The game is set in the year 10,191 of the Imperial calendar, a time of feudal politics and deadly intrigue. Humanity spans thousands of planets, with Arrakis, the desert planet, being the sole source of melange, a substance vital for space travel and prescience.
Political Climate
The political climate in Dune: Adventures in the Imperium is one of feudal intrigue and deadly rivalry. Noble houses vie for power and influence under the rule of the Padishah Emperor, while the Fremen of Arrakis wage a covert war for independence. The Imperium is a complex web of alliances and betrayals, where assassination, espionage, and manipulation are commonplace. Players must navigate this treacherous landscape, balancing loyalty to their house with the temptation of rebellion. The rise of the Fremen Jihad, led by the messianic figure of Muad’Dib, further destabilizes the Imperium, forcing houses to choose sides. Will they align with the Emperor and risk destruction, or support the Fremen and face the consequences of defiance? The game master guides this intricate political drama, creating a dynamic and immersive experience where every decision shapes the fate of the Imperium.
Importance of Arrakis
Arrakis, often referred to as Dune, is the pivotal setting in Dune: Adventures in the Imperium, serving as the sole source of the rare and highly valuable spice melange. This substance is essential for interstellar travel, making Arrakis the economic and political heart of the Imperium. The harsh desert environment of Arrakis is as unforgiving as its significance, with native Fremen tribes waging a guerrilla war against Imperial forces. Players are drawn into the intricate web of intrigue surrounding the spice trade, with their choices influencing the balance of power among noble houses and the Fremen. The native ecology, particularly the massive sandworms, adds another layer of complexity, as these creatures are vital to the spice cycle. Arrakis is not just a setting; it is a character in its own right, shaping the destinies of those who venture onto its shifting sands. The game master uses Arrakis’s unique environment to create compelling narratives, where survival and political maneuvering go hand in hand.
Character Creation
Character creation in Dune: Adventures in the Imperium allows players to craft unique agents, leaders, or rebels, selecting backgrounds, skills, and traits that define their roles within the Imperium. The core rulebook provides detailed guidelines for tailoring characters to fit the Dune universe.
House Allegiance
House allegiance is a cornerstone of Dune: Adventures in the Imperium, shaping characters’ identities and motivations; Players choose to represent one of the noble houses, such as House Atreides or House Harkonnen, each with unique traits, abilities, and political agendas. This allegiance influences relationships, access to resources, and overarching story arcs. The core rulebook provides detailed backgrounds for major houses, enabling players to align with their preferred faction. Characters may also remain neutral or forge alliances with lesser-known houses, adding depth to the political intrigue. House allegiance not only defines a character’s role but also immerses players in the feudal power struggles central to the Dune universe. This mechanic enhances the game’s thematic depth, allowing for rich storytelling and strategic gameplay.
Skills and Motivations
Skills and motivations are integral to character creation in Dune: Adventures in the Imperium, defining a character’s abilities and driving forces. Players allocate skill points across categories like diplomacy, combat, and stealth, reflecting their character’s expertise. Motivations, such as loyalty, ambition, or revenge, guide decision-making and interactions, adding depth to storytelling. These elements are determined during character creation, often through a point-based system or specific tables. Skills influence task resolution, while motivations shape role-playing opportunities. The game’s 2d20 system integrates skills and motivations seamlessly, enhancing narrative and mechanical depth. Motivations can evolve over time, allowing characters to grow and adapt. This system ensures characters are multi-dimensional, with clear goals and capabilities that enrich the Dune universe’s political and social dynamics. By balancing skills and motivations, players craft unique characters that thrive in the Imperium’s intricate web of intrigue and conflict. This approach fosters immersive storytelling and strategic gameplay, making each character a vital part of the narrative.
Game Mechanics
The game utilizes the 2d20 system, emphasizing storytelling and strategic decision-making. Players manage resources like action economy and determine outcomes through skill checks, creating a balance of narrative depth and mechanical complexity. The system enhances immersion in Dune’s intricate universe.
2d20 System
The Dune: Adventures in the Imperium RPG employs the 2d20 System, a versatile and narrative-focused mechanic that emphasizes storytelling and player agency. This system uses two 20-sided dice to determine the outcomes of actions, with the goal of creating a balance between luck and skill. Players can influence results by spending Momentum, a resource earned through successful rolls, to modify outcomes, add narrative flair, or gain advantages in critical situations.
The 2d20 System is particularly well-suited for the political intrigue, strategic decisions, and high-stakes conflicts of the Dune universe. It allows for nuanced skill checks, combat resolution, and social interactions, ensuring that every decision carries weight. The system also incorporates an action economy, enabling players to manage their resources effectively during tense scenarios.
For newcomers, the system is relatively intuitive, with clear rules and guidelines for both players and Game Masters. The core rulebook provides detailed explanations of the 2d20 mechanics, ensuring a smooth learning curve. This system enhances immersion in the Dune universe, making it a compelling choice for fans of both the setting and tabletop roleplaying games.
Action Economy
The action economy in Dune: Adventures in the Imperium is a crucial aspect of the 2d20 System, defining how players and Game Masters manage resources during encounters. This system ensures that each decision is impactful, whether in combat, political negotiations, or exploration. Players can earn and spend Momentum to influence outcomes, adding depth to their actions and fostering creative problem-solving.
Momentum serves as a key resource, allowing players to adjust die rolls, gain advantages, or create narrative opportunities. Conversely, adversaries can also utilize Momentum, enhancing the challenge and unpredictability of encounters. This dynamic creates a balanced yet flexible framework for resolving conflicts and driving the story forward.
The action economy is designed to keep gameplay engaging and strategic, ensuring that every action has consequences. It supports the game’s focus on storytelling and player agency, making it an integral part of the Dune: Adventures in the Imperium experience.
Conflict Resolution
Conflict resolution in Dune: Adventures in the Imperium is handled through the 2d20 System, emphasizing narrative outcomes and player agency. The system uses two 20-sided dice to determine success or failure, with the number of successes influencing the outcome’s severity. Momentum, a core mechanic, allows players to manipulate results, adding layers of strategy and drama to conflicts.
Combat, political intrigue, and social interactions are all resolved using this flexible framework. The rules encourage creative problem-solving, enabling players to weave intricate plots or engage in intense battles. The Game Master can also use Momentum to complicate scenarios, ensuring dynamic and unpredictable encounters.
The system’s design reflects the themes of the Dune universe, where every action carries consequences. Whether negotiating with nobles or surviving a sandworm attack, the conflict resolution mechanics ensure that the story evolves organically, blending strategy with storytelling to create immersive experiences.
Adventures and Campaigns
Dune: Adventures in the Imperium offers immersive adventures and epic campaigns, spanning the Dune universe. From the sands of Arrakis to the intrigue of royal courts, these scenarios delve into political maneuvering, survival, and monumental conflicts, allowing players to shape their House’s destiny and confront the challenges of the Imperium.
Introductory Adventure
The introductory adventure for Dune: Adventures in the Imperium is designed to immerse new players in the intricate political and survival challenges of the Dune universe. This 34-page adventure transports players to the unforgiving desert planet of Arrakis, where they must navigate the treacherous landscape of noble houses, Fremen intrigue, and the ever-present threat of giant sandworms. The adventure is crafted to introduce players to the core mechanics of the game while thrusting them into the heart of the Imperium’s schemes. By focusing on the byzantine plots and alliances on Arrakis, the adventure provides a compelling starting point for both new and experienced players. The adventure also serves as a gateway to deeper campaigns, allowing players to explore the complexities of their House’s legacy and the looming specter of the Fremen Jihad. With its rich narrative and immersive gameplay, the introductory adventure sets the stage for epic storytelling and strategic decision-making in the Dune universe.
Fall of the Imperium Campaign
The Fall of the Imperium campaign is a landmark supplement for Dune: Adventures in the Imperium, offering players a sweeping narrative that aligns with the events of the upcoming second Dune film and the original books by Frank Herbert. This campaign delves into the collapse of the Imperium, the rise of Paul Atreides, and the Fremen Jihad, providing a rich, cinematic experience for players. Designed to span multiple sessions, Fall of the Imperium allows players to navigate the political upheaval, betrayals, and epic battles that define this critical era in the Dune universe. The campaign is structured to accommodate both new and experienced players, offering a deep exploration of the Imperium’s decline and the emergence of a new order. Players will face pivotal decisions that shape the fate of their noble House and the future of the galaxy. Available in both PDF and hardcover formats, this supplement is a must-have for fans of the Dune RPG, offering a compelling and immersive storyline that captures the essence of Herbert’s vision. With its intricate plot and thematic depth, Fall of the Imperium promises an unforgettable adventure.
Expansions and Supplements
Dune: Adventures in the Imperium is supported by various expansions, including Sand and Dust, a sourcebook detailing Arrakis, and Fall of the Imperium, a campaign exploring the Imperium’s collapse. Additional supplements like The Great Game and asset decks enhance gameplay depth and narrative possibilities.
Sand and Dust Sourcebook
The Sand and Dust sourcebook is a comprehensive guide to the harsh and unforgiving world of Arrakis, offering deep insights into its ecology, politics, and culture. This supplement expands on the core rulebook by detailing the unique challenges of surviving on the desert planet, including the native Fremen traditions and the ecological balance of the sandworms. Players can explore the intricacies of spice production and trade, while Game Masters gain tools to create immersive adventures centered around the dangers of the deep desert, from massive sandstorms to hidden Fremen sietches.
The sourcebook also introduces new character options, such as Fremen-specific skills and equipment, allowing players to craft characters deeply connected to Arrakis’ native culture. Additionally, it provides detailed descriptions of key locations, including the ancient sietches, hidden oases, and the imposing structures of the spice mining operations. Sand and Dust is available as a PDF, making it easily accessible for fans of the Dune: Adventures in the Imperium RPG.