If you've never read Dune or seen the movies, they are not necessary for play, but would probably add some excitement. I will probably go back and link lots of the terms to wiki or fansite entries detailing them as time permits, but for the moment I suggest scanning wikipedia.

For our purposes all that matters is this: The setting is in the distant future, it's feudal, the nobles all rules planets instead of a few square miles, and they have a ruling body called the Landsdraad that is basically a Parliament or Senate, there is also an Emperor. Trade goes on through Space Folding, instantaneous travel, and only the Spacing Guild can do it, making them absurdly powerful too, they are all mutants who use a drug called Melange - called 'the spice' - to expand their brains so they can fold space safely. The Spice also grants long and healthy lives, and it is found on only one planet... Dune, which is a horrible barren wasteland. Insert plot. It's an excellent series I suggest to everyone but that's the bits of theme you need to know for the game.

For those who are big fans: I am not attempting to stay to Dune Canon, which I view as a bit of a joke anyway, but whenever possible I will be using actual names, characters, and places drawn from the series... all of it, even the various prequels and interquels that have come out recently. Stats and abilities only loosely aim to parallel the series, more interested in functional game play than 'accuracy', but I will try to avoid anything that would make a serious dune fan wince.