Review Dune: Chronicles of the Imperium - Limited Edition
- Thread starter kafka47
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far-trader
SOC-14 10K
No idea. I remember wanting it when it came out (Dune and Herbert fan) but, not having it available locally to look at, I passed. Looks like a thorough review here:
RPGnet Review
Do I personally think any of these so called rare game books are worth the amount they go for? No. If people would just stop bidding stupid amounts for usually marginal quality material like this simply because it's out of print maybe the used ones would see more circulation. Two personal cases in point...
First that over glorified piece of cardboard and paper, the Atlas of the Imperium. I had one to sell for a friend a while back. The prices were very high (over US$100) so I thought maybe I should keep it myself if it's such an invaluable game aid for Traveller. Didn't take long to look through it (less than a minute) and put it's usefulness at about 2 out of 10. So I sold it with a reasonable Buy It Now price of about US$15 iirc so people wouldn't go crazy and I could live with myself for not ripping anyone off. It sold quick, of course, and I can only hope the person who got it wanted it to use and not just to flip and rip off another Traveller.
Second up is GURPS First In which I got recently at a fair price of about US$20. It's also in the US$100 plus market for some reason and always raved about. So when I saw it at a fair price I had to buy it to see what all the hoopla was about. Now it's not a bad book that I finally got to look at it but I don't get where the mania is from. Worth what I paid for it? Sure, if I didn't already have all that same information in different forms and if I played GURPS. Worth US$100? No way. I'll probably end up just selling it on for a fair price.
So I expect the Dune book is the same. A good book that people have lost all touch with reality over for no good reasons, bidding it into some mythical tome that won't live up to the expectations. I'd say pick a reasonable price point and stick to it.
RPGnet Review
Do I personally think any of these so called rare game books are worth the amount they go for? No. If people would just stop bidding stupid amounts for usually marginal quality material like this simply because it's out of print maybe the used ones would see more circulation. Two personal cases in point...
First that over glorified piece of cardboard and paper, the Atlas of the Imperium. I had one to sell for a friend a while back. The prices were very high (over US$100) so I thought maybe I should keep it myself if it's such an invaluable game aid for Traveller. Didn't take long to look through it (less than a minute) and put it's usefulness at about 2 out of 10. So I sold it with a reasonable Buy It Now price of about US$15 iirc so people wouldn't go crazy and I could live with myself for not ripping anyone off. It sold quick, of course, and I can only hope the person who got it wanted it to use and not just to flip and rip off another Traveller.
Second up is GURPS First In which I got recently at a fair price of about US$20. It's also in the US$100 plus market for some reason and always raved about. So when I saw it at a fair price I had to buy it to see what all the hoopla was about. Now it's not a bad book that I finally got to look at it but I don't get where the mania is from. Worth what I paid for it? Sure, if I didn't already have all that same information in different forms and if I played GURPS. Worth US$100? No way. I'll probably end up just selling it on for a fair price.
So I expect the Dune book is the same. A good book that people have lost all touch with reality over for no good reasons, bidding it into some mythical tome that won't live up to the expectations. I'd say pick a reasonable price point and stick to it.
Muad'dib Pendragon
SOC-9
It was originally released 4-5 years ago in a limited run of 3,000 by WotC just before it lost the license (which it acquired through its acquisiton of Last Unicorn Games). There was never a pdf, nor will you ever see one (legal anyway). With the SciFi channel release of the two mini series and Brian Herbert's new Dune books, the property received a big financial shot in the arm that massively inflated its licensing price. Idon't think we'll see a new Dune RPG any time soon.
It's going rate stems from (a) Dune following, (b) limited run/dead RPG, and (c) collectability, not necessarily in that order.
Is it worth the price? If you're buying it just to play, not even close. While it was a promising beginning on Frank Herbert's great work, with a few supplements hinted in the works (subsequently disappeared never to be printed), it only scratched the surface of what Dune was all about. The mechanics (from what I can remember) did not appeal to me either. If it were released today, you would see it retail in the $30-40 range.
If you're a collector, who's to say really. I have a copy I picked up for $60 a few years ago specifically as a collectible. I would do it all over again.
Thanks guys, these are the reviews that I count on.
Although, I really like RPG.net reviews, it does not take from the angle that I need - that being the usuability of things into Traveller. Plus, sometimes, on RPG.net you just get a one sided review discussing one particular aspect or they try to be objective - weakening the negative features to balance it with the positive.
Although, I really like RPG.net reviews, it does not take from the angle that I need - that being the usuability of things into Traveller. Plus, sometimes, on RPG.net you just get a one sided review discussing one particular aspect or they try to be objective - weakening the negative features to balance it with the positive.
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
I bought the Dune RPG back when it first came out, and in a week, I saw that it was selling for $90+ on eBay. So, I sold my copy.
If you've got specific questions about it, I'll try to answer them for you.
From my initial impression, it was a pretty well thought out game. I liked the rules system, and there were lots of universe-detailing data on the Houses and planets and such.
I'd say the book was worth it if you are dying to play Dune (specifically Dune).
With a little bit of elbow grease, though, you could easily use the Traveller rules (especially the CT rules) into a Dune game.
I'm sure you know that Traveller was originally designed as a non-specific setting science-fiction rpg.
It wouldn't be too hard at all to change a few skills and alter a couple of careers to end up with a game in the Dune universe.
One other item you might be interested in, if you're interested in Dune, is the Fading Suns RPG. That game IS Dune, just under a different title.
What I mean is--it's very much like Dune. The atmosphere. The backstory.
I'm pretty sure the original (pre-d20) version of the game is out of print now, and you should be able to find it for fairly cheap.
That game could easily be used/converted into a Dune game. You could use Fading Suns rules, or you could just use it as background, using Traveller for the rules.
If you're interested in Fading Suns, there's a d20 version of the game too.
But, if you want to lay out the bucks for the Dune rpg, I don't think you'll be sorry. From what I saw, it was a good game.
Like I said above, if you've got specific questions, hit me with 'em.
I'll try to help.
If you've got specific questions about it, I'll try to answer them for you.
From my initial impression, it was a pretty well thought out game. I liked the rules system, and there were lots of universe-detailing data on the Houses and planets and such.
I'd say the book was worth it if you are dying to play Dune (specifically Dune).
With a little bit of elbow grease, though, you could easily use the Traveller rules (especially the CT rules) into a Dune game.
I'm sure you know that Traveller was originally designed as a non-specific setting science-fiction rpg.
It wouldn't be too hard at all to change a few skills and alter a couple of careers to end up with a game in the Dune universe.
One other item you might be interested in, if you're interested in Dune, is the Fading Suns RPG. That game IS Dune, just under a different title.
What I mean is--it's very much like Dune. The atmosphere. The backstory.
I'm pretty sure the original (pre-d20) version of the game is out of print now, and you should be able to find it for fairly cheap.
That game could easily be used/converted into a Dune game. You could use Fading Suns rules, or you could just use it as background, using Traveller for the rules.
If you're interested in Fading Suns, there's a d20 version of the game too.
But, if you want to lay out the bucks for the Dune rpg, I don't think you'll be sorry. From what I saw, it was a good game.
Like I said above, if you've got specific questions, hit me with 'em.
I'll try to help.
I also really enjoyed the *Fading Suns* game - I still have my copy, plus a couple of the supplements. Very Dune-esque, and I even ganked their versions of personal shields for my own Traveller game.
Find a copy at a reasonable price and if you like Dune as a setting you aren't likely to be disappointed.
D.
Find a copy at a reasonable price and if you like Dune as a setting you aren't likely to be disappointed.
D.
Kind of pricey for a d20 system game. Nevermind. It's the LUG printing. Worthless.
The d20 version appears to not have been released.
No legal PDF was available. There has long been an illicit scan on several sites, but note that the scan was OCRed poorly...
The game engine is the same engine as LUG Trek, with no changes save what templates are available.
Yes, I've read it. I've even gotten as far as getting players to start set-up...
The campaign prep includes:
Building the house minor that the PCs are part of
developing the homeworld of said house minor
building the PC's
building key opponent houses.
The game engine:
6 attributes, rated 1-5
2 edges per attribute, usually 0, so only the non-zero listed on sheets.
lots of skills, rated 0-6 (roughly - a 6 is freaking incredible)
Roll attribute (modified by edge), keep highest die, add skill; multiples of a given die count pips+AddedMatches, so 4-4-4-5 reads as 6 (=4+1+1), not 5.
Enoff
SOC-13
You know for some reason I was confusing "Fading Suns" with TSR's "Dark Sun" when you suggested this. I realize now its a totally different game and does seem to be very Dune like.
LOL! Well I'm glad you figured it out!
I never managed to get an actual Fading Suns game going, though I tried a couple of times. I ended up just mining it for ideas and tech (kind of like Space Opera by FGU). Overall I'm happy to have a copy on my shelf and don't regret the space it occupies or the money I spent on it.
D.
