Dune/docs/OPTIONAL_ALLIANCE_VICTORY.md

# Optional three-stronghold alliance victory

## Group Guild transport — 28 October 2026

**Staged Basic prototype, not a selectable game mode.** Both Guild group
allies can use native cross-planet transport, including a Fremen ally's
southern-reserve source. Only Guild may return its own forces to reserves.
The shipper can name separate pledged shares from its group allies. Permission
and the discounted rate retain their distinct Karama windows before payment
or transfer. Rate cancellation keeps the exact original shares and requires
the shipper to fund the full-price remainder; otherwise the unused declaration
returns without spending. Guild's own contribution goes to the bank and
other named contributions go to Guild. Table quotes and minimal bots use the
same available group permission. The [publisher rules, pp. 9 and 19](https://www.gf9games.com/dunegame/wp-content/uploads/Dune-Rulebook.pdf)
and [FAQ, pp. 2 and 7](https://www.gf9games.com/dune/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Dune-FAQ-Nov-2020.pdf)
describe the pair power and cancellations. Applying it to both allies and
the donor allocation procedure are provisional. Advanced, optional modules,
No-Field and purchased-rate combinations remain outside this staged path.

## Group Guild-rate shipments — 28 October 2026

**Staged Basic prototype, not a selectable game mode.** Guild and both members
of its group receive the ordinary rounded Guild reserve-shipment rate. When
that rate changes the price, the original unpaid Karama response resolves
before movement or payment. If canceled, the declared donor shares stay fixed
and the shipper must fund the full-price remainder; otherwise the declaration
returns unused and a replacement uses the full rate. Each payer's contribution
is routed individually: Guild's own payment goes to the bank, while other
payments go to Guild. The table quote and minimal bot use the same group rate.

The [publisher rules, p. 19](https://www.gf9games.com/dunegame/wp-content/uploads/Dune-Rulebook.pdf)
grant the Guild rate to its ally; the [FAQ, p. 7](https://www.gf9games.com/dune/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Dune-FAQ-Nov-2020.pdf)
permits Karama to prevent that rate. Applying the benefit and original split
to both members of a larger group is a provisional composition. Other special
transports, independent purchased rates, optional modules and full group play
remain separate; no lobby exposes the group option.

## Group ordinary-bid funding — 28 October 2026

**Staged Basic prototype, not a selectable game mode.** A group member can
allocate separately pledged spice from multiple allies to an ordinary bid.
Each selected share remains committed while that bid leads and becomes
withdrawable after an outbid. The winner pays the original donor split once;
using a Karama instead releases the shares without spending them. The
ordinary Emperor income and phase-end refunds remain in force. The donor sees
the amount committed to the current bid, and the bidder sees the combined
committed payment. Group controls and minimal legal bot decisions are connected
in staged games.

The [publisher FAQ, p. 2](https://www.gf9games.com/dune/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Dune-FAQ-Nov-2020.pdf)
describes allied contributions and the Emperor ally's payment returning to
Emperor. Recipient-specific escrow and explicit per-donor allocation are
provisional online procedures. This scope is Basic classic-faction ordinary
auctions; optional modules, competing Truthtrance commitments, special
auctions and complete group play remain separate. No lobby exposes group play.

## Group ordinary-shipment funding — 28 October 2026

**Staged Basic prototype, not a selectable game mode.** Group allies can set
aside separate amounts for each other during Shipment and Movement. A shipper
may explicitly allocate amounts from each pledged donor to an ordinary physical
reserve shipment; the authoritative payment rechecks those exact pledges,
charges the shipper's remainder once, and retains each donor's identity. An
outside Guild receives the eligible payment. Unspent pledges return to their
respective donors at phase end. Alliance edge authorizations are renewed on
formation, preserved for surviving edges and revoked on departure, with
aggregated refunds for removed edges. Controls show only the viewer's own
outgoing and incoming pledges; bots may continue using their own spice.

This first path is limited to Basic classic-faction staged groups without
optional modules, independently purchased Karama shipment pricing or special transport.
Other shipment types, special auctions, and the
remaining faction benefits and interactions are not connected. No lobby can
start a group game yet. The recipient-specific pledge and allocation procedure
is a provisional online convention rather than a printed worked example.

## Group Emperor aid — 28 October 2026

**Staged Basic prototype, not a selectable game mode.** The Emperor chooses
which of the two group allies receives a spice gift or paid extra revival.
The ordinary Karama response retains the selected recipient, and payment and
revival occur only if that response is passed. A staged table exposes a
recipient selector; bots can offer legal targeted revivals. The native
per-recipient allowance is provisionally applied separately to both allies:
the printed power and [publisher FAQ](https://www.gf9games.com/dune/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Dune-FAQ-Nov-2020.pdf)
describe an ally but do not settle a three-member alliance's limit. This is
an implementation interpretation, not an official ruling. The prototype is
restricted to Basic classic factions without optional modules; other group
faction benefits and combinations remain unfinished and no lobby exposes it.

## Group Voice and Prescience — 28 October 2026

In the unexposed Basic classic group prototype, Bene Gesserit may Voice an
opponent of either allied combatant, and Atreides may request Prescience for
either ally's battle. The existing native preparation order, cancellation,
answer and control windows remain in place. The same side selection drives
Truthtrance's native-power opportunity; it never substitutes the other ally
or allows an ambiguous battle between group members. Extending the printed
single-ally wording to both group members is provisional. Advanced, expansion
factions and optional modules remain outside this prototype, and normal
group starts are not yet available.

## Group Harkonnen traitor support — 28 October 2026

In the unexposed Basic classic group prototype, Harkonnen may call its held
traitor against the opponent of either allied combatant. The choice remains
Harkonnen's, and the native allied-call Karama response, other combatants'
votes, mutual calls and battle resolution continue through the existing
windows. Applying the printed single-ally power to both group members is a
provisional interpretation. Other profiles and normal lobby access remain
separate; the remaining group abilities and interactions are unfinished.

## Group Nexus negotiation — 28 October 2026

**Integrated groundwork, not a selectable game mode.** In a staged Basic
classic-faction Nexus with the group ledger present, a pair member or an
unallied entrant can propose adding the entrant. Every participant must
explicitly agree; a decline cancels the invitation and preserves the pair.
Each proposal has a fresh event and revision, and an unanswered invitation
holds the Nexus. Leaving a three-member group retains the other pair and its
original edge age. Pair offers involving the newly formed group are cleared.
The staged table renders the group controls and minimal bots can answer.

Unanimity, cancellation, the pending-Nexus hold and the surviving pair are
provisional online procedures, not publisher rulings. This scope excludes
expansion decks/factions, Advanced, optional modules, live Truthtrance
commitments and pledged aid. No lobby creates the group ledger: faction ally
benefits, group funding and other interactions must be connected before any
player can start the printed larger-alliance option. The separate unlimited
alliance variant remains missing.

**Prototyped / Partial — 28 October 2026.** The host can select a shorter
two-member alliance game in the lobby. With at least three physical
controllers, allied factions need three distinct qualifying strongholds
instead of the default four. A solo faction keeps its normal target, a
separately agreed extra-stronghold requirement is added afterward, and Tech
Tokens retain their existing ownership requirements. The same calculation
drives public progress and the Mentat victory decision. Changing the setting
clears human readiness; older games omit it and retain the default.

The 2019 GF9 rulebook's optional alliances table, printed p. 24, lists a
two-member alliance with three strongholds as a shorter game. The
[publisher rulebook mirror](https://www.boardgamesbot.com/assets/games-library/dune/manual_eng.pdf)
preserves that table. This first version keeps the existing four-stronghold
target for two physical controllers, including the two-faction-per-person
setup; priority between that special setup and this optional table is a
provisional interpretation. Larger alliance variants require separate
membership and interaction work. Advanced and expansion combinations are not
certified by the Basic-focused evidence.