Dune Tournament Rules

World Boardgaming Championships 2018

*** Additions or changes from 2017 are highlighted. ***
Rule Set
We are playing all of the Basic, Optional, and Advanced rules as published in the Avalon Hill 1979 edition of the game
with one exception: Rule XVIII.A (Longer Game) will be ignored. Rule XXI (Double Spice Blow) and a variation of Rule
XVIII.B (see below) will be used.
We are not using any of the additions introduced in any official or unofficial expansions (The Duel, Spice Harvest, articles
from The General, or anything else). The Eurogames/Descartes edition of the game includes some of these elements as
standard play, so make sure you understand which parts will not be used:
...............................................................................No 10-point leaders
...............................................................................No kanly or duels
...............................................................................No spice harvest rounds or variable setup
...............................................................................No non-standard factions -- The factions used are limited to Atreides, Bene Gesserit,
Emperor, Fremen, Guild, and Harkonnen.
...............................................................................No non-standard treachery cards -- The standard card set is limited to 4 x Projectile
Weapons, 4 x Poison Weapons, 4 x Shields, 4 x Snoopers, 1 x Lasegun, 3 x Cheap Hero(ine)s, 5 x Worthless Cards, 1 x Hajr, 1 x
Tleilaxu Ghola, 1 x Weather Control, 1 x Family Atomics, 2 x Truthtrances, and 2 x Karamas.
House Rules
We are using the following house rules:
1. Factions and table seating order are drawn randomly. Players may trade factions with each other by mutual
consent before play begins. In a game with fewer than 6 players, a player made trade for an undrawn faction if all
players consent.
2. Alliances may consist of up to 2 factions (for all games with at least 4 players). Alliances may be extended to 3
factions ONLY in 6-player games IF all players at the table consent at the start of the game. (In all cases, no
faction may belong to more than one alliance at a time.)
3. An unallied faction must control 3 strongholds to win. Two-faction alliances must control 4 strongholds to win.
Three-faction alliances must control 5 strongholds to win. Solo victories while allied are not possible.
4. The Shield Wall is considered to be a stronghold for the purposes of victory ONLY, immediately after the 4th worm
appears (counting all worms, even Karama worms summoned by the Fremen). Victory conditions are unchanged
after the Shield Wall becomes a stronghold, meaning it should become a bit easier to win after that point.
...............................................................................Shipment to the Shield Wall still costs 2 spice/token (1 spice/token for Guild shipment), as
usual for rock spaces.
...............................................................................Occupation of the Shield Wall is not restricted to only 2 factions, as usual for rock spaces.
...............................................................................The Shield Wall is not affected by storm or worm, as usual for both strongholds and rock
spaces.
...............................................................................Family Atomics may be used as written. When Family Atomics is played, all tokens on the
Shield Wall are destroyed (regardless of storm location), but the Shield Wall continues to be treated as a stronghold and continues to be
unaffected by storm or worm.
...............................................................................In the unlikely event that two separate factions occupy the Shield Wall at the end of a turn
(due to location of the storm preventing battle between them), neither faction is considered to control that stronghold for the purposes of
victory determination.
5. Spice may only be transferred from one player to another during the Collection Round of each turn. Deals
involving the transfer of spice may be made at any time, but the transfer may only be performed during a future
Collection Round, even between allies. The Emperor’s special alliance ability becomes “You may transfer spice
to (NOT from) your allies at any time.”
6. The Fremen may count their tokens at full strength for no cost in ALL battles. Additionally, the Fremen may permit
their ally to do the same in their own battles. This ability may be canceled for any one battle (for either the
Fremen or their ally) by a Karama card played by any player.
7. A deck of traitor cards, provided by the GM if necessary, must be used for drawing traitors. Shuffle the deck and
deal 4 per player. Each player should place the card(s) of the selected traitor(s) in a prominent place and set the
rest aside for reference.
Rules Clarifications
In addition, the attached list of rules clarifications (entitled "Dune Rules Clarifications") is given to supplement the standard
published rules. If any question arises during a game that cannot be answered by the published rules or the official
clarification list, the GM or an assistant will adjudicate.
© Bradley T. Johnson 28-Jun-2018 page 1 of 11
Tournament Format and Scoring
The tournament consists of three (3) preliminary heats followed by one (1) final round. You may enter any number of
preliminary heats, but you need only complete one (1) of the three heats to qualify for the final.
In each heat, players will be grouped randomly, creating as many 6-player games as possible, but requiring every game
to have at least 5 players, if at all possible. (For example, 45 players would be grouped into five 6-player games and
three 5-player games.) Games with fewer than 5 players will be permitted only at the GM's discretion.
All games must begin within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time. The GM may attempt to place latecomers with
games with fewer than 6 players if possible. Players arriving after the 15-minute grace period will be placed only at the
GM’s discretion. Players leaving any time after the 15 minute grace period will be subject to the dropout penalties.
Qualification Points
Each player will gain a number of Qualification Points (QPs) for each game won as follows, regardless of the numbers of
players in the game, or whether the game has been adjudicated or not:
...............................................................................Solo Victory 2 QPs
...............................................................................BG Prediction Victory 2 QPs
...............................................................................Solo Fremen Default Victory 2 QPs
...............................................................................Solo Guild Default Victory 1 QP
...............................................................................2-Faction Alliance Victory 1 QP
...............................................................................2-Faction Alliance Fremen Default Victory 1 QP
...............................................................................2-Faction Alliance Guild Default Victory 0.5 QP
...............................................................................3-Faction Alliance Victory 0.5 QP (if permitted)
...............................................................................3-Faction Alliance Default Victory 0.5 QP (if permitted)
...............................................................................Any Adjudicated Victory 0.5 QP

Losing players neither gain nor lose QPs. Feel free to play in as many qualifying heats as you wish without penalty.
In the unlikely event that two unallied players simultaneously achieve solo victories (a possibility after Shield Wall
becomes the 6th stronghold), each will receive full Solo Victory credit.
Concessions
A game may be conceded to a single unallied player or to an alliance at any time if all players in the game unanimously
agree. (Concession cannot be offered to a single player if that player is currently allied.)
Preliminary Heat Duration and Adjudication
Each preliminary heat game is strictly limited to 10 game turns or 5 hours, whichever comes first.
Players should NOT begin a new game turn within 30 minutes of the heat’s end time. Players do NOT have the option to
continue playing past the time limit.
If a game is not able to be completed within the time limit, the GM or an assistant will determine the winner(s) according to
the following criteria, in descending priority order, at the end of the last game turn:
 Most strongholds controlled. (Remember co-existing Bene Gesserit tokens do NOT exert control.)
 Most tokens on board. (Regular tokens count 1, starred tokens count 2, and co-existing tokens count 0.5 each. Tokens off-board or in the
tanks count 0.)
 Most spice in hand.
 Most cards in hand.
 Most available leaders.
 Highest die roll.

This scoring is determined by a simple sum of the factions in each alliance as they stand at the end of the time limit. That
is, an alliance counts the strongholds, tokens, spice, etc. of ALL factions in the alliance together, while a solo faction
counts his points alone.

© Bradley T. Johnson 28-Jun-2018 page 2 of 11

Advancement to Finals
The six (6) highest qualifying player scores will advance to the final game. A player's qualifying score is defined as the
total of the QPs earned in all preliminary heat games played by that player (if more than one was played). Ties will be
broken in favor of the player with the best single-game performance (i.e. QP points earned by game, then resorting to the
adjudication criteria (given above), if all games are tied). Note that if tie-breaker information is not recorded for a game,
the missing values will all be assumed to be zero (0).
Alternates for the final game will be chosen from available non-qualifying players in order of highest qualifying score
(using adjudication criteria from each player’s single best game as tie breakers).
Final Round Faction Assignment
Players in the final round will be awarded faction selection in the order of finish. That is, the player who was the first
qualifier (based on QP scores and tie breakers) will receive his/her first choice of faction to play. Then the second
qualifying player will receive his/her choice of the 5 remaining factions, and so on until all 6 factions are assigned.
Final Round Duration
The final game will last 15 turns or 8 hours, whichever comes first. If all players agree at the start of the game and at the
GM’s discretion, the scheduled time limit may be disregarded if necessary. Otherwise, if the game is not able to be
completed within the time limit, the GM or an assistant will determine the winner(s) according to the adjudication criteria
above.
Final Round Format
The final game will be played using the same rules as the qualifying games, except that three-faction alliances may not be
formed. A two-faction alliance can win the final by controlling 4 of 5 (or 6) strongholds, but only one 1 st place plaque can
be awarded.
In the event of a two-faction alliance victory, 1 st place will be determined according to the following criteria:
...............................................................................In a Fremen default victory, the Fremen player is 1st
...............................................................................In a Guild default victory, the Guild player is 1st
...............................................................................In a normal victory, use the adjudication criteria given above. That is, priority will be given
to the player who controlled the most strongholds, with ties broken by tokens on board, then spice in hand, then cards in hand, etc.

2nd place will be awarded to the ally of the 1st place player (if applicable). Remaining places will be awarded in order of
most strongholds controlled, disregarding alliances, with ties broken according to the adjudication criteria.
Exception: If the Bene Gesserit player wins a prediction victory, the predicted player will be awarded 2 nd place and the
predicted player’s ally (if applicable) will be awarded 3rd place. Remaining places will be awarded as above.
In the unlikely event of two simultaneous solo victories (theoretically possible after the Shield Wall becomes the 6 th
stronghold), the tie will be broken according to the adjudication criteria.

Best Faction Awards (Performance Points)

Prizes (provided personally by the GM) will be awarded to the best single preliminary heat game played by each faction.
That is, there will be six Best Faction awards, one each for Best Atreides, Best Bene Gesserit, Best Emperor, Best
Fremen, Best Guild, and Best Harkonnen.
At the end of each game turn, each player will gain Performance Points (PPs) as follows:
.................................................................................................Controlling Carthag and/or Arrakeen 1 PP each
.................................................................................................Controlling any other stronghold (Fremen) 1 PP each
.................................................................................................Controlling any other stronghold (non-Fremen) 0.5 PP each
.................................................................................................Coexisting in any stronghold (Bene Gesserit) 0.1 PP each

At the end of each game, each player's PP score will be normalized by dividing by the number of game turns played. All
5-player game PP scores will be further normalized by multiplying by 5/6 to allow them to be fairly compared against PP
scores from 6-player games.
The highest normalized PP score accumulated in a single preliminary heat game by each faction will be awarded the Best
Faction award at a small ceremony immediately preceding the final game.
For example, an Atreides player in a 5-player game that lasts 7 turns scores a total of 9.5 PPs, which results in a normalized
PP score of 9.5 / 7 x (5/6) = 1.131. If that is the highest normalized PP score achieved by any Atreides player in any single
preliminary heat game, then that player will win the Best Atreides award.

PPs are used only for determining the Best Faction awards.
© Bradley T. Johnson 28-Jun-2018 page 3 of 11
Time Guidelines
All players have the responsibility to keep play moving at a pace that will permit the game to complete in the allotted time.
For most WBC players, a big part of the fun of Dune is the large amount of negotiation and joint problem-solving that the
game naturally inspires. We do not wish to artificially curtail these activities, but all players should try to conform to the
following time limits to the greatest extent possible:
...................................................................................................................Complete an average full game turn 30 minutes or less
...................................................................................................................Submit an individual treachery card bid 10 seconds or less
...................................................................................................................Complete an individual player turn (shipment and movement)
..........................................................................................................2 minutes or less
...................................................................................................................Complete preparation of a player’s battle plans 2 minutes or less
...................................................................................................................Complete a Nexus phase 10 minutes or less

Negotiations away from the table are permitted at any time as long as the above time limits are observed.
If a situation arises where a player is unexpectedly away from the table or is otherwise causing an unacceptable delay of
the game, players at the table may “call the clock” by requesting the GM (or an assistant) to set a hard time limit for
completion of the current action. A timer will be set for the time limit as listed above, and if the player still has not
completed his action when the timer expires, the following default action will be taken:
...................................................................................................................Missed treachery card bid Pass (no bid)
...................................................................................................................Missed player turn (shipment and movement) Pass (no shipment
and no movement)
...................................................................................................................Missed battle plans Plays lowest available leader, dials 0, pays 0
spice, plays no cards
...................................................................................................................Missed Nexus phase No change to prior status (i.e. remain
allied or unallied as before)

If a player is found to be consistently disregarding time guidelines, the GM may choose to force the player to drop out of
the game.
If necessary, breaks should be mutually agreed upon by all players at the table. If time allows, 15-minute breaks after
turns 4 and 8 are recommended.

Away-From-Table Discussions
Players may ONLY step away from the table for discussions with other players under the following circumstances:
1. During a timed 5-minute period immediately prior to the start of each Movement Round, when ALLIES can
discuss shipment and movement plans with each other.
2. During a timed 5-minute period immediately prior to the start of each Battle Round when ALLIES can discuss
battle plans with each other.
3. During a timed 5-minute period during each Nexus when EVERYONE can discuss alliances with each other.
4. During a timed 2-minute period at any time with any other player(s) when the player expends a Diplomacy Chip.
Each player will be issued 3 Diplomacy Chips at the start of the game. Diplomacy Chips may not be traded.
ALL other discussions must be conducted publicly (in English) over the table. (For example, no private whispering to the
player seated next to you, no written notes, no sign language, etc.) Remember to not let table discussions interfere with
the time guidelines given above.
Players should use cell phone timers at each table as needed.

Dropouts
Players are STRONGLY discouraged from dropping out of any game prior to the game's conclusion. If a player drops out
of any game before the scheduled end, that player will be disqualified from all further games in the tournament, including
the final, as well as Best Faction Award consideration, unless the game is extending beyond the scheduled time limit and
the player has another commitment.
All of the player's tokens and non-captured leaders will be removed from the game, spice returned to the bank, and cards
returned to the discard pile. (If the Harkonnen drops out, any captured leaders will be returned to their owners.) All of the
remaining players will continue the game, scoring QPs and PPs according to the number of players who started the game.

© Bradley T. Johnson 28-Jun-2018 page 4 of 11

Disclaimer
As always, the GM may change these rules for the good of the tournament at any time, and the decisions of the GM and
his assistants are final.

© Bradley T. Johnson 28-Jun-2018 page 5 of 11

 Dune Rules Clarifications
World Boardgaming Championships 2018
*** Additions or changes from 2017 are highlighted. ***
It is well known that Dune, while a fantastic game, has one of the most frequently disputed sets of written rules. I have
found that almost no two groups of players can completely agree upon exactly how Dune is played. While not all of
the questions raised here are necessarily impossible to adjudicate with the rules as written, all have come up as points
of contention during play-by-email Dune games and tournaments in which I have taken part. I know that every group
has its own preferred interpretations for many of these rules, but I have found this set of rulings to be the most self-
consistent and justifiable.
These clarifications will be enforced as official extensions/clarifications of the published rules throughout the
tournament, so make sure you are familiar with them.
III. Set-up For Play 8. The storm affects each sector only when it moves into that
sector. If the storm moves zero sectors due to Weather
1. If fewer than 6 players are playing, only the leaders of the
Control, the storm does not re-affect the space on which it is
factions actually involved in the game are eligible to be drawn
already located.
as traitors.
9. Two groups of tokens (same faction or not) in different sectors
2. The Bene Gesserit's prediction must be made immediately after
of the same territory are considered to be “separated by storm”
factions are assigned.
for the purposes of movement and battle if the storm is between
3. Fremen tokens placed at the start of the game may include them or covering one of them.
Fedaykin (starred) tokens if desired.
10. If the storm covers one sector of a multi-sector territory, that
4. Fremen tokens placements are chosen before the Bene territory is effectively temporarily split into two different locations
Gesserit token placement is chosen. for the purposes of governing movement and battle.
5. The Bene Gesserit token placed at the start of the game is 11. No tokens are destroyed by the storm during the first game
always considered to have been coexisting before the game turn. The storm is considered to begin over the randomly-
began (and therefore cannot affect ornithopter access), but it is determined sector; it is not considered to have moved in the
not required to coexist in the first game turn. first game turn.
6. No card play may affect initial game setup. (For example, no
one can play a Karama to prevent the Harkonnen from drawing VII. Spice Blow
his second starting card.) 1. A Nexus is caused for every worm that is revealed (excluding
worms raised by the Fremen’s play of a Karama card),
IV. Object of Play regardless of which spice blow it appears at or how many
1. Bene Gesserit tokens in a space that was declared to be worms have appeared that turn.
coexisting during the turn do not count as occupying a 2. When more than one worm is drawn for a given spice blow, the
stronghold for the purposes of determining victory, even if they Fremen may send the additional worms to any territory on the
are the sole occupants after battle is resolved. board.
2. You may not claim a solo victory for controlling 3 strongholds by 3. If the Fremen directs a second or additional worm to appear in
yourself if you are currently part of an alliance. a space occupied by their tokens, those tokens may ride the
worm normally.
VI. Storm 4. When the Fremen rides a worm, tokens and/or spice in the
1. The precise order of activities during the Storm Round is: destination space are not eaten.
 Reveal storm marker, 5. Fremen worm riders may not leave or enter a space under the
 Play Weather Control, storm.
 Play Family Atomics,
6. The Fremen may choose to use worm movement to move all,
 Move storm. some, or none of their tokens in an applicable space, just as if it
(This takes some liberty with the wording for Weather Control were a normal move with unlimited range.
on the Player Aid Pad, with the intention of avoiding potential
timing conflicts.) 7. Fremen worm riders may enter a stronghold already occupied
by two other factions, if and only if one of them are Bene
2. Weather Control and Family Atomics may not be played during Gesserit tokens which ended the previous turn coexisting. This
the first game turn. will force those Bene Gesserit to remain coexisting when they
3. Weather Control movement is instead of the normal storm declare their status in the upcoming Movement Round.
movement, not in addition to it. 8. Tokens owned by an ally of the Fremen are safe from being
4. Coexisting Bene Gesserit tokens may not be used to play the eaten by worms (and this ability may not be withdrawn by the
Family Atomics card. Fremen), but they may not ride worms as the Fremen do.
5. Tokens whose path of adjacency to the Shield Wall is covered 9. Worms eat tokens only after the Nexus is resolved.
by the storm may not be used to play the Family Atomics card.
6. Family Atomics causes all tokens on the Shield Wall, including VIII. Bidding Round
coexisting Bene Gesserit tokens, to be destroyed and removed 1. When a treachery card is required to be drawn and the
to the tanks. treachery deck is empty, the discard pile should immediately be
7. After Family Atomics is played, the Shield Wall, Arrakeen, and reshuffled to form a new deck. The only card that is ever
Carthag all still retain their normal status as non-desert spaces, removed from the game after one play is Family Atomics.
even though the latter two become susceptible to storm effects.
Occupancy rules in those spaces remain unchanged as well.

© Bradley T. Johnson 28-Jun-2018 page 6 of 11

2. After a player passes during the bid for a treachery card, that
player may choose to later enter bidding for the same card
again on his normal bidding turn if the card has not already
been sold at that time. However, a player cannot bid again if all
other players have passed.
3. The Atreides is not permitted to see any free cards drawn by
the Harkonnen.
4. The Harkonnen is considered to have a single 8-card hand, not
two separate 4-card hands. The Harkonnen is not required to
separate his free cards from his purchased cards for any
purpose.
5. The Harkonnen’s ability to take a second free treachery card
when buying one is mandatory. He must take the second free
card if possible. (This ruling was explicitly chosen to limit abuse
of the Emperor’s alliance ability.)
6. The Emperor receives payments for treachery cards
immediately upon the purchase of each card.
7. Spice paid by the Emperor's allies for card purchases is paid to
the Emperor. Only the Emperor's own card purchases are paid
to the bank.
8. If the Emperor gives spice to another player to purchase a
treachery card, the spice is still paid to the Emperor (not the
bank). If another player gives spice to the Emperor to purchase
a treachery card, the spice is paid to the bank.
9. The Emperor may not choose to offer discounted card
purchases to any player, but he may give spice to any player at
any time (before or after the purchase) to defray card purchase
costs. (That is, the full cost of the bid must be able to be paid
somehow.)
10. A player may bid higher than the amount of spice he currently
holds if he intends to play a Karama to avoid paying for the
card. In the event that more than one player intends to play a
Karama to buy a card, the first one to bid “infinity” in his proper
turn to bid wins the card (and obviously must use the Karama
ability to avoid paying).
11. A player may never bid if his hand is currently full, even if he
intends to play a Karama to avoid paying for the card.
12. A player is only required to prove that he is capable of paying
his bid if/when he wins the bid. (But see clarification VIII.13
below.)
13. If a player is discovered to have made an invalid bid for any
reason, the bidding for the current card is re-started from the
beginning. If this condition was not caused by an involuntary
loss or cancelation of a Karama card, the offending player may
not bid on that card in the new auction, but may rejoin the
bidding as normal on the next card.
14. If a player is discovered to hold more treachery cards than his
hand size permits, he must immediately discard random cards
from his hand sufficient to return to his legal hand size.
15. The contents of the treachery card discard pile is open to
inspection by any player at any time.
IX. Movement
1. The precise order of activities during the Movement Round is:
 All players take revival (in player dot order if it matters),
 The Bene Gesserit declares coexistence status where
necessary,
 Players ship and move in player dot order.
2. A player may not enter a location in which his ally has tokens,
even if he is not ending his move in that space (unless
permitted by BG coexistence, see clarification XV.11, or storm
separation, see clarification VI.10.)
3. If, for any reason, a player ends his own shipment/movement
turn with his (non-coexisting) tokens in the same location as his
ally’s (non-coexisting) tokens, he must destroy his tokens,
moving them to the tanks.
4. If the storm splits a territory and hides a sector from a given
faction for the purpose of battle, can their ally move into/through
that sector of the territory?
© Bradley T. Johnson 28-Jun-2018
5. The Guild receives payments for shipment immediately when
the shipment is made.
6. Spice paid by the Guild's allies for shipping is paid to the Guild.
Only the Guild's own shipping is paid to the bank.
7. If the Guild has given spice to another player to pay for
shipment, the spice is still paid to the Guild (not the bank). If
another player gives spice to the Guild to pay for shipment, the
spice is paid to the bank.
8. The Guild may not choose to offer discounted shipping to any
player (except allies, as written).
9. Tokens may be moved on-planet in the same turn that they are
shipped to the planet.
10. A player is considered to have access to ornithopters during his
turn if and only if he controlled Carthag and/or Arrakeen at the
start of Movement Round. Therefore, Fremen tokens that ride
a worm into an empty city during the Spice Round, or BG that
do not announce coexistence in an empty city do have access
to ornithopters. However, worm-riding Fremen or non-
coexisting BG co-located with another player in a city do NOT
prevent that other player from having access to ornithopters.
11. Fremen shipments may be to any space within a movement of
2 from The Great Flat, regardless of the location of the storm.
Only shipments ending in a space under the storm take half
losses, rounded up (as written).
12. If the Fremen are allied with the Guild, the Fremen is entitled to
use Guild alliance movement options, regardless of the
restriction on the Fremen player shield.
13. Fremen shipment range is not changed if the Fremen have
ornithopters – the range always remains 2 spaces from The
Great Flat.
14. Fremen shipment or movement may not end off the board.
(Barring special Guild ally shipments, Fremen shipment is one-
way to the surface of the planet, just like other factions.)
15. Fremen movement may not leave or enter a space under the
storm.
16. If the Fremen are allied with the Guild, the Fremen may choose
to either use normal Fremen shipment for no cost, or any form
of Guild shipment for Guild cost. When using Guild shipment,
Fremen tokens may not ship into a space under the storm.
17. The Guild (and its allies) may not ship tokens that begin in a
space under the storm.
18. Guild cross-planet shipment is considered to be a shipment, not
an on-planet move.
X. Battles
1. All battles, including the Guild's, are resolved in player dot order
as written (regardless of when the Guild actually chose to take
his movement turn).
2. All battle ties, including the Guild's, are resolved in player dot
order as written (regardless of when the Guild actually chose to
take his movement turn).
3. The precise sequence of activities in a battle is:
 Issue the Voice command,
 Play Karama to cancel the Voice.
 Issue the Prescience question,
 Play Karama to cancel the Prescience.
 Answer the Prescience question (if not canceled).
 Play Karama to view entire battle plan.
 Commit battle plans.
 Reveal battle plans.
 Resolve the battle.
Truthtrances may be played at any time before the Commit
Battle Plans step.
Karamas may be played to swap cards, cancel Sardaukar or
Fedaykin bonuses, and/or cancel Kwisatz Haderach at any time
before the Commit Battle Plans step.
Battle plans may be changed at any time during the above
sequence before the Commit Battle Plans step as long as no
page 7 of 11
 un-cancelled Voice, Prescience, Karama, or Truthtrance effects
are violated.
4. Tokens under the storm may only battle with tokens in the same
space and sector.
5. Alliance battle powers (Atreides’ Prescience, Bene Gesserit’s
Voice, and Harkonnen’s traitor calls) may be granted or
withheld as the player chooses for each individual battle.
6. If granted, alliance battle powers are under the control of the
ally for that use. The ally may choose the question or
command to be given, or whether or not the traitor is actually
called.
7. The answer given to the Atreides’ Prescience must be given
publicly.
8. If a player’s Prescience answer becomes impossible to meet
(e.g. due to subsequent play of a Karama card), the player must
provide an updated valid answer to the Prescience question
before the Commit Battle Plans step. (If the Prescience answer
is still possible to be met, it must be met.)
9. The Bene Gesserit may not specify weapon or defense when
Voicing an opponent to play or not play a Worthless Card.
(That is, the Voice may only be "play a Worthless Card" or "do
not play a Worthless Card".)
10. The statement on the Bene Gesserit’s player shield “You may
not Voice a Cheap Hero(ine)” means that the BG may not use
Voice to say “play a Cheap Hero(ine)” nor “do not play a Cheap
Hero(ine)”. It does not mean that a player is immune to the
Voice if s/he plays a Cheap Hero.
11. If a player is unable to comply with the Voice, s/he is not
required to announce that fact until battle plans are revealed.
12. If, when battle plans are revealed, a player has failed to include
a leader in his battle plan when he was required to do so, his
lowest-value available leader disk must be played.
13. If, when battle plans are revealed, a player has dialed a number
higher than his tokens and/or spice paid would allow, the
number must be reduced to the highest supportable number
given the number of tokens in the battle and the spice paid.
14. If, when battle plans are revealed, a player has included two
battle cards of the same type (either two weapons or two
defenses), one will be chosen randomly to be included in the
battle plan and the other one will be returned to the player’s
hand.
15. If any other invalid element is included in a battle plan, it must
be removed from the plan when revealed.
16. The Harkonnen's capture of an opponent's leader when he wins
a battle is optional.
17. The identity of leaders captured by the Harkonnen is not
required to be public knowledge.
18. If the Harkonnen chooses to immediately kill a captured leader,
the Harkonnen receives 2 spice (as opposed to paying 2 spice).
19. A captured leader played by the Harkonnen against the original
owner in battle may always be called as a traitor (regardless of
whether or not the captured leader was also a traitor to the
Harkonnen or any other player).
20. A captured leader played by the Harkonnen in battle against a
player who chose that leader as his traitor may still be called as
a traitor, as normal.
21. A player who wins a battle but dials away all of his tokens in the
battle is still permitted to claim any benefits of winning the battle
(collect spice for dead leaders, retain treachery cards, capture a
leader.)
22. A lasegun-shield explosion causes all tokens in the space,
including coexisting Bene Gesserit tokens and spice tokens, to
be destroyed and removed to the tanks.
23. There is no winner of a battle in which a lasegun-shield
explosion occurs. Therefore no one may claim benefits of
winning the battle (collect spice for dead leaders, retain
treachery cards, capture a leader.)
© Bradley T. Johnson 28-Jun-2018
24. There is no winner of a battle in which both side’s leaders have
been called traitor. Therefore no one may claim benefits of
winning the battle (collect spice for dead leaders, retain
treachery cards, capture a leader.)
25. If a traitor is called in a battle with a potential lasegun-shield
explosion, the explosion does not occur. (That is, traitor calls
take precedence over lasegun-shield explosions.)
26. To be considered valid, all battles must be conducted with both
combatants placing all of their battle elements on a battle
wheel, revealing them publicly, and having the results
witnessed by at least one other player.
XI. Spice Collection
1. Bene Gesserit tokens in a space that was declared to be
coexisting during the turn can not collect spice.
2. Spice collection rates for each player are determined at the
start of the Collection Round. (See also clarification IX.10
above.) A player who takes control of Carthag or Arrakeen
during the Battle Round will enjoy the improved collection rate
in the same turn.
XII. Alliances
1. Two players with tokens in the same location but in different
sectors separated by the storm may choose to ally. However,
see clarification IX.3 above.
2. The Fremen may choose to ally with another player with whom
he shares a space (which could have occurred due to worm
riding.) However, see clarification IX.3 above.
XIII. Bribery
1. Players may only exchange spice with each other during the
Collection Round, even if allied. The fact that spice is changing
hands should be announced publicly, but the amount of spice
involved may be kept private.
2. Deals involving the exchange of spice (i.e. “bribery”) may be
made at any time, but the spice may only actually change
hands during a future Collection Round.
3. The Emperor’s special alliance ability is interpreted as “You
may transfer spice to or from your ally at any time.”
4. Private negotiations away from the table are permitted. Any
deals discussed during this time cannot be considered formal
and enforceable unless they are made public at the table.
5. Only those aspects of a deal that are announced publicly are
required to be enforced. Assumptions, inferences, and
unspoken implications cannot be enforced.
6. A previously-made publicly binding deal may be canceled at
any time if all parties to the deal agree to do so.
XV. Additional Character Advantages
1. The Atreides gains permanent access to the Kwisatz Haderach
immediately after losing a cumulative total of 7 or more tokens
in battles over the course of the game. That is, the Atreides
may use the Kwisatz Haderach in a later battle in the same
game turn that it is gained, and he may thereafter use the
Kwisatz Haderach once per turn every turn for the rest of the
game (unless it is in the tanks).
2. The Kwisatz Haderach may only be played on an Atreides
leader played in battle by the Atreides player. (That is, it may
not be played on an ally’s leader nor a captured Atreides leader
played by the Harkonnen.)
3. Once available, the Kwisatz Haderach token may be used in
any number of battles in one space each game turn. Within
these restrictions, the Kwisatz Haderach token may be used
with any number of different leaders per turn.
4. The Kwisatz Haderach, if killed by lasegun/shield explosion,
must be revived as if it were a normal leader, but otherwise has
no effect on the revival order of Atreides leaders.
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5. Bene Gesserit coexistence status is attached to the territory (as
opposed to the group of tokens occupying that territory).
6. The Bene Gesserit must declare coexistence status only in
territories where Bene Gesserit tokens and opposing tokens
are/become co-located. Territories in which coexistence has
not yet been declared this turn are implicitly not coexisting.
7. Coexistence status is only declared at the start of the
Movement Round (after revival is taken) and during the
Movement Round at the instant when Bene Gesserit tokens
and new opposing tokens become co-located.
8. A space that has been explicitly announced to be non-
coexisting may change to coexisting in the same turn only when
the space has been vacated by all non-Bene Gesserit tokens
and then is later entered by a different faction.
9. A space that has been explicitly announced to be coexisting
may never change to non-coexisting in the same turn.
10. The Bene Gesserit must always declare territories that contain
tokens owned by both him and his ally to be in coexistence.
11. An ally of the Bene Gesserit may move tokens into a space
containing Bene Gesserit tokens, but only if the Bene Gesserit
player agrees to immediately declare coexistence for that
territory.
12. The Bene Gesserit may ship tokens into a territory already
containing tokens of two other factions, but only if the Bene
Gesserit player immediately declares coexistence for that
territory.
13. The Bene Gesserit's sending of spiritual advisors is optional.
14. Bene Gesserit spiritual advisors may be placed in the Polar
Sink instead of the territory into which the other player shipped
if that territory is not coexisting or if the Bene Gesserit so
chooses.
15. The Bene Gesserit may send spiritual advisors with his ally’s
shipments if desired.
16. The Bene Gesserit can not send a free spiritual advisor with the
Fremen's shipment.
17. The Bene Gesserit can not send a free spiritual advisor with his
own shipments.
18. The Bene Gesserit can not send a free spiritual advisor with a
Guild shipment that originates on the planet.
19. Coexisting Bene Gesserit tokens are allowed to use ornithopter
movement (but do not count for the purpose of determining
access to ornithopters).
20. The Fremen ability to take only half losses (rounded up) in the
Storm is NOT optional.
XVII. Special Karama Powers
1. The Harkonnen can play a Karama to steal treachery cards
from another player only at the beginning of the Battle Round,
before any battles are selected to be performed.
2. The precise sequence of activities when the Harkonnen plays a
Karama card to steal treachery cards from another player is:
 Declare how many cards are being taken,
 Randomly select the declared number of cards from the
target,
 Look at the cards that were taken,
 Return the declared number of cards to the other player.
Returned cards must come from the Harkonnen's original hand
(but may be of the same type as the cards that were stolen, if
desired).
3. The Atreides can play a Karama to force any opponent to
immediately commit and reveal his entire battle plan any time
before battle plans are committed (i.e. after Voice and
Prescience are resolved, if desired). The Atreides commits and
reveals his own battle plan after seeing the opponent's plan.
4. The Atreides can play a Karama to force any player to reveal
his entire battle plan. The Atreides is not required to be a part
of the battle involved, but the battle plan is only revealed to the
Atreides (who may sell/give the information as he sees fit).
© Bradley T. Johnson 28-Jun-2018
5. The Guild can play a Karama to cancel another player's
shipment any time after the shipment is declared, but before the
player's movement is declared. That player loses his entire
shipment action for the current turn. He may not simply choose
to make a different shipment. However, he may still make a
normal on-planet move.
6. The Guild can not play a Karama to cancel the Fremen's free
shipment.
7. If the Guild plays a Karama card to cancel a player’s shipment,
no costs related to that shipment are paid. The player may
retain any spice and/or Karama card that was to be paid.
8. The Fremen may play a Karama to cause a worm to appear
only during the Spice Round. This worm does cause a Nexus
to occur.
9. The Emperor may play a Karama to revive 3 tokens or a leader
at any time not forbidden by another ruling.
XIX. Increased Spice Flow
1. Bene Gesserit tokens in a space that was declared to be
coexisting during the turn may not collect increased spice flow.
Player Aid Sheet
(Treachery Card Descriptions)
1. The Hajr card effect may only be used to move tokens owned
by the player who played the card.
2. The additional move granted by the Hajr card may allow a
player to move one group of tokens twice or to move two
different groups of tokens. Both moves may apply any
applicable Fremen or ornithopter bonuses.
3. The Tleilaxu Ghola card effect may only be used to revive
tokens (or a leader) owned by the player who played the card.
4. The Tleilaxu Ghola card may be used to revive zero tokens (in
effect simply discarding the card.)
5. Truthtrance questions and answers must be announced
publicly.
6. Truthtrance questions must be answered immediately after the
question is given. No other card plays or other game actions
(except player discussion) may occur until the question is
answered.
7. Truthtrance questions are permitted to require the target to
answer questions about future actions or conditions. However,
no player is required to act to make the conditions of the
question true. When/if the explicit conditions specified by the
question are met, the target must abide by the answer given to
the question to the best of his ability. If it is logically impossible
for the target to abide by the answer given to the question, then
the Truthtrance is negated and the target must publicly state
that the answer previously given is invalid.
For example, I ask "Will you play a projectile weapon in battle
against me in Carthag this turn?" and you answer "Yes". You
are bound to play a projectile weapon if we have a battle in
Carthag this turn and if you hold a projectile weapon at the time
that battle plans are committed. If we do battle in Carthag, but
you have no projectile weapon in your hand when it comes time
to commit our battle plans, then you must announce that you
are physically unable to abide by the answer you have given,
the Truthtrance is negated and we ignore the answer to the
question – you may play any weapon or no weapon at all. If
you had answered "No", then you may not play a projectile
weapon in any battle against me in Carthag this turn, no matter
what else happens.
In practice, highly speculative questions have rarely been found
to be valuable uses of Truthtrances anyway. Players are
encouraged to confine Truthtrance usage to the least
speculative questions possible. Players are required to avoid
frivolous or purposely paradoxical use.
8. Karama powers that specify "once" in the description refer to
"once per Karama card play" (as opposed to "once per game"
or “once per player”).
page 9 of 11
9. Any player may play a Karama to "prevent Atreides from seeing
the future once", selecting one of the following effects: cancel
Prescience in one battle, prevent looking at the next spice blow
card this turn, or prevent looking at the rest of the treachery
cards up for bid this turn. The Atreides use of a Karama to see
an entire battle plan can not be canceled.
10. Any player may play a Karama to cancel the Atreides'
Prescience in any battle any time after the Prescience question
is asked but before battle plans are committed. If the
Prescience is canceled after the answer was given, the answer
may be ignored.
11. Any player may play a Karama to cancel the Atreides' use of
Kwisatz Haderach in any battle any time before battle plans are
committed. (This does not prevent the Atreides from using the
Kwisatz Haderach in a different battle later in the same turn
even in the space.)
12. Any player may play a Karama to cancel the Bene Gesserit's
Voice in any battle any time after the Voice is given but before
battle plans are committed.
13. Any player may play a Karama to cancel any single BG spiritual
advisor immediately after the advisor is announced.
14. Any player may play a Karama to cancel the Bene Gesserit's
use of a Worthless Card as a Karama immediately after the
Karama effect is announced. (The Worthless Card is still
discarded.)
15. A Karama card may only be used to cancel a treachery card
payment owed by the player who played the card. The Karama
must be played immediately when the purchase is made.
16. Any player may play a Karama to cancel the Emperor's or
Fremen's starred token advantage in any battle any time before
battle plans are committed.
17. Any player may play a Karama to prevent the Fremen (or an
ally of the Fremen) from controlling a worm once (thus sending
their tokens to the tank instead) any time after the worm is
revealed but before worm-riding is resolved. If this was an
"additional" worm that was placed in a location by the Fremen, it
instead appears at the first spice blow in the stack beneath it,
as usual. It is not possible to cancel the Fremen's control of a
worm that he called with a Karama card of his own.
© Bradley T. Johnson 28-Jun-2018
18. A Karama card may only be used to reduce the cost of a
shipment made by the player who played the card. The
Karama must be played any time after the shipment is declared,
but before the player's movement is declared. Note that this
use of a Karama card for players allied with the Guild does not
reduce the cost below half-rate. The only difference is the spice
paid goes to the bank instead of to the Guild.
19. Any player may play a Karama to force the Guild to move in
proper player dot order any time during the Movement Round
before the player who would move after the Guild has begun his
turn.
20. Any player may play a Karama to prevent the Harkonnen from
drawing a free card any time before the identity of the free card
is seen.
21. Any player may play a Karama to cancel the Harkonnen's
capture of a leader any time after determining which leader has
been captured but before the Harkonnen decides whether to
keep it or kill it.
Miscellaneous
1. Only the Atreides player may keep written notes of treachery
card ownership during the game. No other written notes are
permitted in the game.
2. No computer assistance is permitted during the game.
3. Any player may reveal any personal information, including his
treachery cards, to any other player at any time if desired.
4. All spice transactions require agreement from both players
involved. (That is, no player may give spice to another player
unless that player consents to receive it.)
5. In any timing dispute not ruled on elsewhere in these
clarifications, (for example, if players attempt to play
Truthtrances and/or Karamas simultaneously) resolve the tie in
player dot order.
6. It should go without saying that intentionally attempting to
circumvent game rules/clarifications or exploit unclosed
“loopholes” in said rules will be considered poor sportsmanship
and will warrant immediate disqualification from the tournament.
We all know there are many ways to cheat in this game,
perhaps more than most, so please take extra care to keep all
your play “above board”.
page 10 of 11
 Dune Karama Reference
World Boardgaming Championships 2018
*** Additions or changes from 2017 are highlighted. ***

Round Effect Who Can Play? Valid Target Timing

Prevent BG from using one worthless Anyone Bene Gesserit Immediately after Karama use is
card as a Karama. (Worthless card is announced.
Any

still discarded.)
Revive 3 tokens or 1 leader. (No Emperor N/A Any time.
spice is paid.)
Prevent Fremen from controlling one Anyone Fremen Immediately after worm is revealed.
worm. (Fremen may not direct the
worm’s placement and Fremen’s or
Spice

ally’s tokens are devoured.)

Summon worm to any one location. Fremen N/A Any time during Spice Round.
(Causes extra Nexus. Cannot be
affected by another Karama.)
Prevent Atreides from viewing Anyone Atreides Any time during Treachery Round.
treachery cards up for bid. (Affects all
cards remaining in the round.)
Treachery

Prevent Emperor from collecting spice Purchasing Emperor Immediately after card purchase, before
for one treachery card purchase. (No Player card is received.
spice is paid by purchasing player.)
Prevent Harkonnen from taking a Anyone Harkonnen Immediately after card purchase, before
bonus free treachery card. bonus card is drawn.
Prevent BG from sending one spiritual Anyone Bene Gesserit Immediately after selected shipment has
advisor. been performed.
Prevent Guild from collecting spice for Anyone Guild Immediately after shipment is announced.
one shipment. (Player ships at Guild
Movement

rate, spice paid to bank.)

Prevent Guild from choosing his
movement order. (Guild must move in
normal turn order.)
Prevent any one player from making a
shipment. (Target player may not
make a shipment this turn. No spice
is paid by shipping player.)
Prevent Atreides from using
Prescience in one battle.
Prevent Atreides from using Kwisatz
Haderach in one battle.
Prevent BG from using Voice in one
battle.
Prevent Emperor from using
Battle
Anyone Guild Any time during Movement Round, before
Guild’s normal turn order.
Guild Anyone Immediately after shipment is announced.
(May be announced after Karama to get
Guild shipment, if applicable. Other
Karama is not discarded.)
Anyone Atreides Any time after Prescience question is
issued, before battle plans are committed.
Anyone Atreides Any time after battle is selected, before
battle plans are committed.
Anyone Bene Gesserit Any time after Voice is issued, before
battle plans are committed.
Anyone Emperor Any time after battle is selected, before

Sardaukar bonus in one battle. battle plans are committed.

Prevent Fremen from using Fedaykin Anyone Fremen Any time after battle is selected, before
bonus in one battle. battle plans are committed.
Prevent Harkonnen from capturing a Anyone Harkonnen Immediately after battle is resolved,
leader. before leader is drawn.
View any one player’s entire battle Atreides Anyone Any time after battle is selected, before
plan for one battle. battle plans are committed.
Swap 1-4 treachery cards with one Harkonnen Anyone At beginning of Battle Round, before any
other player. battles are selected.

© Bradley T. Johnson 28-Jun-2018 page 11 of 11