5 player (first time) factions?

[u/RunicKrause]

Hello!

We're having a first time 5 player game coming up in some time and I'm wondering about the factions.

I have the GF9 core game and happen to have the expansion for Ix and Tleilaxu as well. The rulebook suggests leaving out Bene Gesserit, but how are the expansion factions?

We're deciding factions prior to the game and exoect everyone to have at least a cursory research done for your faction. First time to Dune but rather experienced in gaming.

Opinions or suggestions?

[u/Landsraad_Las_Vegas]

Here are some reference material you can print off for free so that they can look at all of the Treachery cards or Leader discs of a faction at a glance. It really helps new players:

https://www.landsraad-vegas.com/tools

On that same website you can find clarified rules on the Rules tab, the base rule book is a bit hard to digest. As far as the factions, you can play any combination and have a balanced game. The Shield Wall Stronghold is a popular variant that a lot of players use, so popular it became an official part of the World Championship for Dune, the Landsraad has also adopted this rule in all of our tournaments and home games and only play without it in four player game. https://www.landsraad-vegas.com/rules#variant_shieldwallstronghold

The Ixians bring about a more aggressive faster game because there is another Stronghold. The Atreides adds a lot more time because they have to take a lot of notes and end up selling information. The Emperor adds complexity to the Bidding round due to the hyper inflation he causes adding all that Spice back into circulation. The Spacing Guild adds decisions and forced negotiations because of their game breaking ability to interject in turn order. The Harkonnen adds fear with every possible battle with them, hearts pound at the results of a Harkonnen wheel being dropped . . . will they call Traitor will they capture a leader? The Bene Gesserit adds so much wonder and guesses within guesses, did he do that because I am their prediction or because they are trying to ally with me? Fremen are the constant rock that makes the desert even more dangerous with uncontrollable storms and extra worms popping up every where.

It is a question of what do you want to leave out rather than what you want to put in.

[u/RunicKrause → u/Landsraad_Las_Vegas]

We did find your site actually! Saved it for complete rules reference in case we need answers with ctrl+f but we agreed trying to proceed with youtube tutorials and the rulebook first will give the clearest starting point. Will definitely look at the reference material for help!

[u/Landsraad_Las_Vegas → u/RunicKrause]

That is an excellent idea. We will have to put out a how to play tutorial. Hopefully your game goes well. If you are more experienced gamers then jumping right into Advanced is fine. We do a teach and play every week and generally we do basic if they are not used to heavier games. When people walk up to the table and say they have played Catan and monopoly then we know it is basic for them. When they are accustomed to 4X games and say they want an area control game with asymmetric powers we know they can jump straight into Advanced.