I understand there isn't the possibilty of using the Dune setting, but not sure the TI setting is the best way to go. I would have preferred a different setting (with no cat people).

Shub-Niggurath said:

That's your opinion and you're welcome to it.  Personally, I think the TI universe is suitably political to host a game like Dune if it can't be made as Dune proper (of course, I would prefer the official setting to be maintained, but you can't always get what you want.)

The concept that the galaxy is populated only by humans (excepting a few mutants and evolutionary off-shoots) is something that is integral to the Dune setting, but I don't personally find it integral to the Dune board game mechanics.  If FFG were publishing the game as Dune and trying to introduce a non-human race they just pulled out of their ass, I would be right pissed about it.  However, since the entire setting is being changed to something with an established non-human presence, I'm not too concerned about the presence of "cat-people" in Rex.

Just out of curiosity, is it only the Hacan that annoy you, or are you also upset about some of the other non-human races being introduced to the game?  Would you be happy with it if it simply didn't have anthropomorphic animal races?  I can certainly understand having a hatred of furries that runs so deep it undermines other settings that try to use animal-people hybrids, I've been there myself.

As I mentioned above, my primary concern about re-theming the Dune board game is that the new setting needs to have a sufficient level of political intrigue.  The board game was all about politics in way few other board games are.  TI has the potential to reach that level of political intrigue, I think.  It may not have gone that far in the actual TI games, but they were focused on being war games.  The setting has the potential, in a game designed to exploit player interactions, so I'm still looking forward to what FFG comes up with.

Yes - the only problem I have is with the anthropomorphic animal races - no issue with non humans in general: aliens, robots or other new creatures - just the ones that look like variations of easily recognisable earth animals but wear clothes and/or talk. Just makes it seem like a kind of Muppet or Disney Sci Fi to me and spoils the whole thing.

I see from the above post how the TI world does fit with the gameplay (useful explanation!) - I just can't see past the cat person on the box, which is my problem as it may well be a great game that I'll miss out on.

Im fairly impressed and look forward to this game.

Especially if i need a TI fix but dont have the time for TI, I can whip out Rex for a few hours.

I will be purchasing it when it comes out  as a fan of TI in general simply for completing my collection.