
Physique, for example, has the edges of Strength and Constitution. An edge is a bonus or a penalty to an attribute in certain situations, and each attribute has two of them to provide more detail and variation. The attributes themselves (Physique, Coordination, Intellect, Charisma and Prescience) all have “edges,” or modifiers. The system is simple and versatile, the two things I demand of any gaming system I would actually use. The applicable skill rating is then added to the highest die to compare against a target number. In Icon, rolls are made with a number of dice equal to the appropriate attribute. The basic die mechanic of the Icon system is similar to that of the Silhouette system that Dream Pod 9 uses. I have yet to read my copy of Deep Space 9, but I imagine that a few of the notable elements of the Dune version are unique to the game, such as the skill grouping. The art that graces those pages is only average to good, with a few exceptions, but the color does help to make it much more appealing and engaging.Īs I mentioned, the limited edition of Dune uses Last Unicorn’s Icon system, a variant of the ones used for the various Star Trek game lines the company also produced. There is something very satisfying about its weight and the way the paper bends, Dune is a very well-made volume, durable and pretty. It is a nice hardcover book and the pages are all color, printed on quality paper - the book even smells nice. Visually, the game seems live up to its rather expensive price tag. Was it worth the wait, and will it be worth even more waiting for the mainstream release? Unfortunately, not really. Even that was only a temporary version, the “Limited Edition.” Before the game sees unlimited release it will be overhauled and Last Unicorn’s Icon system will be taken out and replaced with Wizard’s own d20 system. Aside from the usual hurdles that books have to overcome before they hit the shelves, the game had to wrestle with long delaying legal issues and then a complete corporate buy-out by Wizards of the Coast before it was finally released at GenCon this year. The Dune role-playing game has been a long time in coming.
