I keep hoping that FFG will expand the TI3 universe into other games. Awhile ago they purchased the mechanics and game engine but not the title or subject rights to the old Dune boardgame, and there was speculation then that it would be turned into a war game within the TI3 universe. A tactical sci-fi combat game, akin to ToI would be great in the TI3 line, as would an LCG and a sci-fi adventure game similar to Runebound, also in the TI3 universe.

The thing is that FFG wholly owns the IP for this universe and it was (and presumably still is) their flagship product. It seems a natural that it should be the basis for a line of different styles of other games expanding upon and exploiting that universe, much as they are doing with the whole Runebound universe with the upcoming deck building game, Runewars, Descent, etc.

I wholeheartedly agree with basically everything you said. The TI universe is at least as rich and complex as the Terrinoth setting, and I'd love to see it spread out a bit.

I've heard the same rumours about a TI-themed version of the Dune boardgame and I have to say, short of an actual Dune reprint (which I understand is unlikely due to legal issues with the Herbert estate) then a TI-skinned version sounds like the next best thing to me. There's more than enough races to fill the basic thematic roles of each of the Dune factions. Probably the biggest issue would be picking which six races to use (trying to incorporate ALL the races from TI3 could be tricky, to say the least, and might dilute the political interactivity with too many options.) But regardless, I would buy such a product in a heartbeat. I love the old Dune game, but I'm not willing to spend $150 on an old copy that may be missing a few peices.

I'm given to understand that one of the older editions of Mag-Blast did actually have TI-theme artwork, but that was appraently replaced with more generic artwork in the most recent edition. Haven't played Mag-Blast, but it seems like a fairly simple card game, so I doubt it added mcuh to the setting anyway.

One thing that I would simply LOVE to see is an expansion of the TI3 combat system with a tactical sideboard where placement of ships would factor in when fighting. Something like the Descent combat rules with range and line of sight and such. All ships should have specific ranges though.

Maybe it's a bit over the top and would probably add a lot of play time but MAN would i buy it...

May I suggest a variant I created some time ago? This is a much more complex variation on combat.

http://checkwolf.com/nccs1/rules.htm

Fnoffen said:

Having played Titan I can say with some certainty that I would NOT want anything like that in the game.

Titan uses a very similar mechanic, where stacks of monsters move about the world map and then when two stacks meet they move to a smaller battle map and fight it out one step at a time. The problem with that is that only two players are involved in the battle, and everyone else basically has to sit and wait until they're done to continue playing. Even if no one else is planning to do anything in the same area of the board and you all agree that non-involved players can continue doing their own thing on the main board, you run into situations where everyone else has done their turn and it's back around to the first of the two players involved in the battle (who is still tied up resolving the battle from "last" turn.) Even with a strict "only attack the player on your right" house rule (which is a somewhat ridiculous "patch" in the first place) it still bogs things down.

It isn't just a question of adding play time, it's a question of how many players are actively involved for the majority of the added time. If the answer isn't "all of them" then something's wrong. My two cents anyway. Maybe if it was simple "battle line" that took all of two minutes to decide where each ship is on the line and then roll out combat, perhaps with relative positioning deciding what ships are elligable to take hits rolled by opposing ships. That might be okay, add a bit more to combat without drastically extending the combat process.

I am rather surprised FFG has not released a book set in the TI universe much as they did with the AH books.

Steve-O said:

Atreides - Universities of Jol-Nar

Harkonnen - Barony of Letnev

Emperor - Federation of Sol

Fremen - Sardakk N'orr

Spacing Guild - Emirates of Hacan

Bene Gesserit - Xxcha Kingdom

Bleached Lizard said:

Interesting choices. Personally, I'd be inclined to put Sol in the place of Atreides (from what I gather of their history with the Letnev, there's a comparable amount of betrayal and bad blood between them as with Atreides and Harkonnen.) Considering how central Mecatol Rex is to the TI universe, I'd be inclined to put L1Z1X in as Emperor, with a darker Borg twist, of course and the Winnu as Fremen (the custodians of MR are probably the closest thing to a native population for the planet.) I completely agree with Letnev and Hacan in the place of Harkonnen and the Guild.

Xxcha make an eerily good pick for BG (I had been blanking on that one myself) especially with the fluff from the beginning of Shards - "spiritual advisor" anyone? The Naalu seem like another choice at first glance, what with the mostly female schtick and the psychic abilities (running away from battles before fighting them is sort of like co-existence, right?), although they aren't really as political as the BG should be, I concede.

What about the expansion factions (dare I even mention the idea?) As purveyors of advanced technology, I'd peg Jol-Nar for Ix. Maybe Yssaril as Tleilaxu? They don't do bio-tech any better than the other races, but they are both sneaky buggers who operate mostly by subterfuge. from what I understand of the Dune universe, the BT - at least some of them - are also described as creepy little gnomes with pointy teeth, which sounds like a good match for Yssaril. Assuming the Xxcha are already in as a replacement for BG, who would stand in for the Landsraad?

Steve-O said:

Yes, you're probably right about Sol/Atreides, though I was thinking more along the lines of the Atreides' precognitive abilities. Jol-Nar make a good match for Ix.

I was thinking Fremen = Sardakk N'orr as they are known for their fighting prowess (the Fremen are comparable to the Saudarkar). The Winnu don't really strike me as being similar to the Fremen in any way, except being native to the focal planet.

I'd say possibly the Brotherhood of Yin for the Bene Tlilax...?

Emperor would more appropriately be the Lazax rather than the L1z1x.

The Landraad... Erm... Maybe that's the Winnu.

Bleached Lizard said:

Agreed. I was taking it for granted that such a game would be set in "present day," where the Lazax Empire is in shambles. If the game was set in an earlier time frame where the Lazax were still in power, that'd work better than their modern era cyborg counterparts, of course. But if we go that route, we need to keep in mind which races were around back then. The basic six are probably a safe bet (Sol, Letnev, Hacan, Jol-Nar, Sardak N'orr and Xxcha, I think?)

The three Shards races are all new arrivals as far as I can tell, never seen before in this part of space, so they'd be out. Likewise I think Naalu and Saar were both hiding and/or elsewhere at the time. L1Z1X and Winnu would both be accounted for by the Lazax prior to the empire's fall, I think. Muaat were either pre-space tech or else enslaved in hidden Jol-Nar facilities. I'm less certain about other races.

I see your point about Sardak = Fremen for fighting prowess. That makes sense, and it would probably be easier to use that tie and forget the "native" thing rather than the other way around.

Steve-O said:

Maybe such a game will be based around the fall of Mecatol Rex, in which case it would be appropriate to have the Lazax in the game.