A cursory glimpse of Dune would have many people thinking it’s all about action, supernatural abilities, and massive worms in the sand. They wouldn’t be wrong, but it goes a fair bit deeper than just those things. At its heart, Dune is a representation of imperialism, colonialism, and all the politics that occur within these systems.
Dune: Awakening, the upcoming MMO from Funcom, is not going to ditch the political nuances for action and adventure. As it stands, Funcom is making it an inherent part of the game, and players will have to consider not just the worms in the sand but also the snakes in the grass.
The Player’s Choices Will Affect the Political Dynamics in Dune: Awakening
In a conversation with VG247, Joel Bylos, Creative Director of the upcoming MMO, shares some key details regarding the balance of power and how player agency will actively shift that balance. On Arrakis, players can choose to complete missions for House Atreides or Harkonnen in a bid to win their loyalty and form an allegiance with the faction leader.
With an allegiance formed, the player will be able to take part in the Landsraad, the body formed to represent the Great Houses in Dune. Your choices can affect the ruling of the Landsraad, and they can turn greatly in your favor.
If you influence the Landsraad in particular ways, they might reduce the spice tax, which makes it very beneficial for you as a faction to have been stockpiling spice instead of selling it. Then wait until you win the Landsraad, change the spice taxation, and then sell a bunch because that’s a great way to make money.
In the novels and the movie, the ultimate goal of anyone owning the planet of Arrakis is power. As the saying goes, “He who controls the spice controls the universe.” Politics, subterfuge, and betrayal are all essential elements within the franchise, and Dune: Awakening is doing its best to recreate these systems without making them boring.
Dune: Awakening Aims to Capture the True Arrakis Experience
The team at Funcom is doing everything it can to stay faithful to Frank Herbert’s universe. Along with a dynamic political system, the team is bringing the dangers of Arrakis to center stage. The Coriolis storms raging on the southern half of the planet will become PvP battlegrounds.
Beware; the storms are treacherous, and any structures built there will be wiped out every week. The blueprint system will make it easier to recreate them but will require the same resources to build. Speaking of resources, spice will be at the top of your list. The hallucinogen is not only going to help you get rich but also alter your abilities through exposure.
Everything we have seen so far from the game is impressive, and Funcom could be building the next big MMO. The game will even allow players to ride the infamous sandworms, though not at launch. That feature will be added to a path further down the line.
What do you think of the political system in Dune: Awakening? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
