In late 79' with the cult popularity of the odd DUNE film a Bookshelf* game by AH[Avalon Hill] presented a unique strategic space fantasy game. Based on methods of Cosmic Encounters, the role play 6 player event was a welcome relief to board game enthusiasts. It is still published by a French Maker and is the model for two or three Spin off Models. The PBEM sites on Yahoo and others are active and play tounament games and continue dialogues on the game play. It is a game without Dice;but random card luck is a factor. 'Player House' opportunies vary but the mode is aquisition of Spice to Buy Cards to use in individual Battle for Stronghold control. DuneBoardGame on yahoo is a popular site. I now have some 2o odd players and interested fans on my game site for games in progress. Advanced and Basic game modes exist. john

The Bookshelf[ AH ],Game DUNE is still published with minor additions in France. The PBEM Dune Yahoo sites are active. There are international Game conventions for Dune in 'Advanced Play'. The game itself is a rare scenario of play that has no Dice . Cards are random selections for bidding cycles but there are less luck elements to the game. For a 6 player game it has a great many tactical and strategic choices. Face to Face is difficult to acheive in Dune. The game length tends to be quite long for a 12 or 15 turn game. Bid plans ,schedules and other devices to speed response can help. My last game went about 18 months and ended in about turn 7. The character'houses' follow the Book&film characters; Harkonnen, Atreides,Fremen,Guild,Emperor,and Bene'Gesserit. The Turn consists of Storm Movement ,Spice Blow[new'spice' on random location of 'Arakkis/Dune'.Battle Card bidding,revival Movement[troop movement],Battle,Spoils collection. Battle cards vary from ordinary weapon or defense to exotic specialized cards-'Family Atomics',Telexi Ghola,Karama Card,Haji[on board second movement],others. Role Play aspects enter into the play. A considerable amount is generated between players in the course of actions.