Dune

To set up the game, first place the game board, which depicts the planet Dune with various territories and strongholds. Organize all the spice tokens into a central 'spice bank'. Each player receives a player aid sheet. Players then choose one of the six available character sets (Fremen, Harkonnen, Atreides, Bene Gesserit, Guild, or Emperor). Each character set comes with a character sheet, which players fold into a box to hide their components. Players place their starting leaders and armies on the board according to the instructions on their chosen character sheet. Leaders are placed face down in a central area on the board, and players secretly select four leaders, one of whom is designated as a 'traitor'.

The primary objective of Dune is to control three or more strongholds on the planet. This can be achieved individually or as part of an alliance with other players. If an alliance controls three or more strongholds, all members of that alliance win the game. Players must strategically deploy their forces, manage resources (spice), and utilize their unique character abilities to gain dominance over the planet's key locations.

Each turn in Dune follows a sequence of phases. It begins with the Storm phase, where the storm marker moves around the board, potentially destroying units in its path. Next is the Spice Blow phase, where new spice tokens appear on specific territories of the board, determined by drawing a Spice card. This is followed by the Bidding phase, where players can bid Spice to acquire powerful Treachery cards. The Movement phase allows players to move their armies and leaders across the board. Finally, the Spice Collection phase allows players to gather Spice from territories they control.

Scoring in Dune is primarily about controlling strongholds and accumulating Spice. Spice tokens serve as the game's currency, used for bidding on Treachery cards, reviving lost units from the 'tanks', and paying for various other actions. While direct victory is tied to stronghold control, effective Spice management is crucial for sustaining your forces and influencing the game's strategic flow. There are no traditional 'points' in the basic game; victory is immediate upon meeting the objective.

The game concludes immediately when a player or an alliance successfully controls three or more strongholds. If playing with advanced rules, there might be a set number of turns, and if no player or alliance meets the victory condition by the final turn, specific tie-breaking rules would determine the winner. The game emphasizes strategic alliances and tactical combat, making the end game highly dynamic and often unpredictable.