Dune: Imperium

While it's still fresh in my mind I'll share some of the tactics I used, in case they help.

Step 1: Embrace that you're basically being asked to knock out a professional boxer when you're wearing a strait jacket. You have no time to play the long game, be aggressive!
Step 2: Find a way to get the Swordmaster by round 2. I used Count Thorvald to get a bonus spice, then sold the melange at the earliest possibility.
Step 3: Get a High Council seat shortly after the swordmaster. It seems counterproductive but remember the 1st few rounds you're only guaranteed 1 agent to play.
Step 4: Build up faction tracks to get VP's and try to get a few intrigue cards.
Step 5: Don't buy anything from the Imperium Row unless it adds persuasion or Victory points. Keep your deck count low, if only so you get the KH card more often.

I was only involved in 2 conflicts, the 1st one was a mistake but the 2nd one sealed the win. It was for 2 VP's and am lucky to have the intrigue cards I did because they turned out to be essential to win.