Cosmic Encouner, Dune To Be Reprinted By Fantasy Flight Games

To anyone who hasn't seen the news already:

Dune and Cosmic Encounter to Be Reprinted

Interestingly enough, it appears FFG has the rights to the game's mechanics but NOT the Dune license itself.

Puts me in a bit of a funny position; I'm glad to see the reprint, even if it does have to be re-themed a bit.

I like Dune. A lot. Have the novel and both the Extended DVD and the Sci-Fi DVD, and even the original soundtrack. However, though I think it's a bummer they'll have to re-theme it, this isn't a deal-breaker to me.

I mean, it isn't like they're going to suddenly plop the players in the Middle Ages trading silk for poofy shirts or anything like that. The rumor is that we'll be seeing a Twilight Imperium setting. Let's face it; all sci-fi borrows from the greats, Dune being one of them. So even if we don't get "Dune", we'll get a knock-off version using a more generic sci-fi setting. This won't be like changing a horse-racing game into an fantasy arena combat game. The mechanics are pretty much going to demand a conflict-based game, and the expectations of the license will pretty much steer it down a sci-fi path.

But...does this go against F:AT's mantra of "Theme! Theme! Theme!" The fact that it doesn't bother me much? Does it bother you guys if they have to re-theme this? If so, why? Is this a deal-breaker for you?

Regardless, this is something a lot of AT fans have been asking for, and it finally appears that we're going to get it.

The other cool thing is that if we get Cosmic Encounter, we won't be left high and dry like the Avalon Hill version--FFG knows how to ride the expansion bone like nobody's business.