Well this ended up being a pretty controversial topic in the less traveled forums on this sight. Split pretty evenly as to like/dislike. This might not even be the 1st thread suggesting this. I've seen some pretty solid ideas from people and I'd like to open this thread to anyone with more great ideas. Please use this only as a place to put suggestions as how to make the game better. Not information or opinions on why it shouldn't be created.

I figure that a Dune MMO should use the major houses out of the books as starting points for the first couple hundred players that log in, however once people have settled into the game after a couple of months, there should be the ability to form your own house...Now bear with me you nay-sayers. First off, it would not be like forming a guild in DAOC or in MXO, where like 8 people are necessary, it should require a flexible # of people based on the server population. For instance, say 3,000 people are registered on a single server, well then like 250 people should be necessary to form a new house, and like i said, population caps (both maximum and minimum) should be required in order to prevent one house from becoming the only legitimate power on a server. Now as for Fremen and Sardukaur, I think that the house that controls the Emperor's chair (not necessarily the Corrinos) should be able to start a QUEST to become sardukaur, likewise whoever has the fief on Arrakis. These quests should be, obviously, almost flippin' impossible. It should require at least a couple dozen HIGH ranking soldiers/medics, if not a damn nuke, to complete it. It should take a damn long time (like the way the original Jedi/Sith path was on SWG), and in the end only ONE person out of  those dozens of people who started the quest should become either Fremen/Sardukar. Even then, they should need to spend massive amounts of time either in a sietch or on Salusa Secundus, and the devs would need to make pvp so random and volatile that the controlling house would only have time enough to pump out one or two sardukar/Fremen recruits. Plus, if the house is de-throned or de-fiefed while the recruit is on either salusa or arrakis, that character should be required to stay in both those hell holes until their house can come back and reclaim it, basically liberating them from there.

Oh and as for the problem of Fremen spice addiction, we'd need to discuss whether this timeline begins where Brian Herbert picked up, (i think his books would make an EASIER MMO, not a better one, because his writing was rite dookie in comparison to Papa Herbert) or whether it starts with the original "Dune" (or even somewhere else?).

For instance, during books 1 and 2 the Fremen were not only Arrakis-bound, but desert bound. They were fractured tribes, to say the least. During this stage of the game, I'd make the Fremen playable, hell even encourage people; because it's goin' to be REAL boring until we hit the end of book 2/book 3.

Until then, the game should focus on house v. house conflicts; espionage, (hell even polictical coups on the emperor would be neat; even if it should be nearly impossible to accomplish.) Alliances should be formed (House leaders should be people? a group of people who speak through one character? = Feedback please). As for forming Houses, I think the major houses from the books should be playable, however, it should be a terminal relationship. For instance, you start out as one of the Houses Major, however you're eventually forced out for some reason (Feedback). Then, find or make your own House minor. Powerhouses (no pun intended) should eventually be able to attain the title of House Major (also needs to be ridiculously hard); and then and ONLY THEN should they be able to say, go to war with other House majors; form alliances with House majors (House missions should reflect status with other NPC house majors); hell even invade Caladan/Giedi Prime/Kaitain etc.

But, heavy sits the crown , and as your house grows in power and popularity it should begin to be not only the envy of your enemies, but of your less trustworthy allies and other neutral parties. (House Ix pwns)

Vehicles, both military and civilian, should be permitted. However, I think we'd need to deal with NPCs on a MASSIVE scale in comparison to former games. First off, max. server population will be like 1,500 if there's a lot of them? Well why not borrow from DAoC and cluster them or hell even pull a page from MXO and just merge all of 'em into a few "superservers". Besides the probable cult following that this game would originally attract, we're still dealing with military forces numbering in the millions per house. Now I don't suggest that the devs attempt anything near this scale, however I do think a large amount of NPC soldiers/vehicles would be necessary in order to bring the Dune we all know and love to life (visually at least).

Oh, and as for intra-house factions. Yeah, none of those. Intra-house factions tend to cause all sorts of political turmoil within the house and overall would ruin the experience. You have a problem with your house? Leave. You and a whole lot of other people have a problem with your house? Leave, make a new one. Although specialization areas within a house (i.e. Military service, Scientific Research, Merchantry, Medical Service) should each receive some sort of specialized communication medium, as well as beneficial areas for each type of service to the house, depending on rank. High ranking military commanders may see the Duke/Baron/Emperor/Doge etc. and collectively plan for war strategies, while privates within an army get a bunk and access to the mess hall (yes I think food/water should be important, the Fremen sure do). Obviously the more prestigious your house, the better your facilities. (Docs get hospital duty, hell even open up a private practice, Merchants can buy marketplace shops, researches can purchase or be granted research facilites, [Devs better invent progressive technology trees...never-ending])

Let's see....oh inter-house wars. I think formal declarations of Kanly should be necessary and PLAYER representatives in the House Council should be required. And when/if we get to the time of Paul's Jihad, every house major should at least try to resist. It'd be easy to just join his crusade and conquer the galaxy. Let's say for the sake of playability, he's a no prisoners kind of guy. However this will allow for some interesting revelations regarding House relationships. Old grudges...strong alliances, will they unite the Houses or fracture them? The devs should be prepared for both scenarios...

This next set was written by M1sf1t and I think he/she? brings up some good ideas. (heh sorry for stealing this potential post from you)

1.) Players should be given the choice to start playing as a member of one of the 3 Major Houses of the Landsraad - House Atreides, House Harkonnen, House Corrino.

Players should also be allowed to choose to start off playing play as a neutral as well if they desire.

2.) All 3 Major House should be NPC controlled just as in EVE ONLINE and its factions/n00b corp. This allows devs to have a role in shaping the over all conflict in the game and not have it get all crazy or stagnate.

3.) If you choose to be part of a Major House as a member at the start of the game you should be afforded some advantages and disadvantages in the game.

Maybe you gain a bonus to trade, combat, diplomacy, better starting equipment, better prices from NPC merchants in your area of space that your House controls or are allowed to train in certain schools ( see 7 & 8 below ) while denied access to others.

Also depending on the Major House you decide to join you should be KOS to your rival Major House NPC's. Players who do not select a major house to join are considered neutral but receive no starting bonuses, discounts, gain default basic equipment, and have access to only the schools in the game that are generally considered to be House neutral to all players.

Neutral players are can also have a easier go at starting their own House without to much trouble unlike players from Major Houses who would have to defect and would end up being KOS to their enemies and own Major House. Of course their should be a way to work this off in due time.

4.) Any player created Houses should be minor Houses and require you to relinquish your Major House membership and effectively remove your bonuses, discounts and depending on the Major House you defect from make you KOS to them and to your previous rivals. You can still though maintain your skills you learned from your school even those that are Major House specific.

Of course once you've defected from a Major House you can no longer rejoin them at all. You are a traitor to that House so deal with it IMHO. You can though end up becoming neutral to them but it will take time and price to pay so that you are no long KOS to them. Same goes for your rivals if you want to be neutral to them as well once you left your Major House. Leaving a Major House and joining another one would make you perma KOS to your former House though and you again can never go back to them.

5.) Player minor Houses should have to balance out their roles in the universe and have to somehow be made to balance out relationships with both 3 Major Houses to maintain their neutrality. Neutrality should afford a player made Minor House a bonus in that they can easily trade with all Major House, and gain access to equipment that would other wise is off limits to Major House players of a rival faction. Minor Houses could serve as go betweens of the Major 3 Houses and players that belong to them.

Of course if a Minor House wants to though they could also forgo neutrality and ally themselves with one of the Major Houses. Doing so would again afford bonuses and discounts but also acquire negative side effects like being KOS to a Major House NPC's, etc and would be a permanent thing or at least require a very, very, very hefty and hurtful fee/price to pay in order to go back to your neutral status or switching sides.

6.) Players should not be able to play any major plot killing ub3r "Jedi" like classes/professions in the game. Sorry you can't be a Kwisatz Haderach.

7.) You can though specialize in some schools like the Bene Gesserit school of training, Mentat school of training, or Sadukar Imperial school of training, Freemen survivalist ( aka you went native ala Duncan ) school of training, Spacing Guild school of training, Spice Mining Consortium school of training, Space Pirate school of training, etc...

** I am sure we can add some more here and even sub-categories within these schools that further allow you to specialize and customize your character. Some schools might even overlap but have different offshoot schools fostered by a House to be used for specific roles. **

These schools would grant you major skills in the game that would effect and determine your place in the world and how you interact in it. As well as help determine how effective you are at certain things in the game like trade, combat, npc based diplomacy between the 3 Major Houses, etc….

8.) You should be able to pick one Major school to be your main school of training. Then you should have to select one Minor School to further give you depth but you would not have the entire/same abilities as those who majored in it this school as it's your minor after all !

I know a Dune MMORPG is something myself and my partner have been working on for quite some time.

I will say, the only problem with any Dune game or MMO is the licensing. I myself have been in contact with the Herbert family and right at this moment, as it has been for some time, all the video game rights for Dune are under dispute. I have tried to contact everyone involved with claims to the rights to licensing and either they are unwilling to negotiate or will not respond at all.

As to our designs, we have some things in common, and some things are vastly different, but I will not elaborate any further.

Our ultimate goal is to get the licensing rights back to the Herbert family.

There was a Dune MUD that was pretty successful; But, considering most people would rather have a 'prettiful' game, the point is moot, it seems.

Originally posted by Zhanghia

There was a Dune MUD that was pretty successful; But, considering most people would rather have a 'prettiful' game, the point is moot, it seems.

There have been a few other Dune games, or more accurately mods to other games. There also was a Dune MMORTS in the works that closed it's doors. Some pople have created Dune RTS games that either mod the original Dune RTS games, or are orginal creations. My business partner and I are actually following the latter, in that we are trying to create a Dune RTS as an original game, then begin work on an MMO. Of course, there in lies the problem that we can't charge for it either.

I'll be perfectly honest with you folks here looking at this post, I doubt there is anyone more passionate about making a Dune MMO than myself at this point. Now, I know it's hard for me to prove this via a forum. If I could talk to each of you, face to face, you would see what I'm talking about.

While our small game studio is struggling to get our first games to creation, games based on the Dune IP is my driving force that haunts me day and night. Call it an obesession, because that is actually what it is. One day, hopefully, I'll be able to fulfill this obsession.

*Edited due to my horrid typing skills and fat fingers.

Like a sequel from a movie.....An established title will fill seats, a good game will keep them full.  Bottom line is I would look at a game based on Dune.  I would stay if it was good game.

i would really love a dune MMO, i think there was a brief try ofmaking one by cryo, but the project was closed once cryo was bought by someone .......

i agree dune is a really good theme for a mmo

Fremen ftw!

Btw, what era would you set it in? Before during or after Paul?

Originally posted by serjndestroy

Fremen ftw!

Btw, what era would you set it in? Before during or after Paul?

In our design we have chosen before the first Dune book, which would be before Paul. We are actually deciding on the exact time, but it will be around the time of the actual forming of The Spacing Guild. We're just not sure if we are going to use, just before or just after that event. We've chosen this time frame because there is still alot of unknowns in this time and we really don't want to mess with the cult following of the actual Dune books by Frank Herbert.

I'm praying that your obsession becomes a reality and I can buy a copy of a Dune mmo some day.

im not gonna lie, its late and im tired so i didnt read anything...

my response is YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES KBYE

thread rez....

thread CPR

As long as you either have a PvE server or a PvE race (as Irth Online original design) which is completely free from any PvP(possibly allowed to group with everyone)...I would try the game.

Why make a Dune MMO?  everybody know the Bene Teilax will prevail. Is a matter of time.. and spice.

Even if Dune itself is not made the political aspects behind the 1st part of the 1st Dune book should be looked at by Developers.

 Why not instead of a single player house use a guild system, your guilds become the houses both great and minor. 

Then you could have 4 Player types:

• Crafters
• Healers
• Soldiers
• Assassins

Great Houses (Guilds)

• Each has 1 leader selected by members this players class results in a buff for the entire house
• Death of the leader results in a new leader chosen and some sort of penalty
• They can have there own unique uniforms, emblems, flags 
• They build cities and major industries Ex. Ornithopters, Harvesters, Heavy transports, Space Craft
• Each of these has three minor components required for starter houses
• Guilds have NPC soldiers they can hire to defend there cities and industries from raids and saboteurs they must also equip these soldiers with weapons, shields exc,,,
• There is only 9 great houses per server which is decided based on wealth and membership from player houses automatically by the server
• 5 of 9 votes from great houses results in the dune fief

Crafters

• As a guild leader they result in increased production
• They construct all game items ex. Weapons, Shields, Clothing, Furniture exc,,,,
• They can control up to 5 NPC's

Soldiers

• As guild leaders increase the number of available NPC slots
• Most effective unit in direct combat
• Can train NPC soldiers, skill of soldier based on player skill
• Can control up to 6 NPC's

Assassins

• As the guild leader increase chance of detecting assassins and saboteurs
• Excellent at sneak attacks and sabotage
• Can train NPC saboteurs
• Can control NPC's up to 4

Healers

• As guild leaders increase all hit points
• Can resurrect and heal any units
• Can train NPC healers (NPC healers can not resurrect units)
• Can control up to 5 NPC's

Economy

• Player driven all but the most basic required items made by the players
• All great house manufactured items can be purchased or sold by CHOAM (ADMIN controlled) But larger profit or cheaper purchase prices available through player trading even at this level (This can also be used to keep the economy stable)
• Spice difficult to mine but results in large player and NPC buffs to health and other attributes can only be obtained by players
• Two Methods of spice collection available, with dune fief you may mine the spice with harvesters, without the dune fief you may only obtain spice through covert smuggling very difficult and also only small amounts acquired

I don't know thats just my thoughts gives the players lot's of freedom. I like your ideas for the timeline and newbie areas like the atreides and harkonens. Also I agree that players should only be able to go to war by use of declaring Kanly and you could use some kind of honorable and dishonorable player standings to keep people in line. I think you have to just kind of leave the Emperor out of it say he is week or something because let's face it if he wasn't it would be tough for anyone to really compete against him.  Another thing I like is the idea of the different schools of training were you could pick up skills for your character. Finally obviously this would have to be a PVP type game with PVE elements to make this model work. Damm I am long winded sorry.

No more stealth classes... show yourself!

 I am not talking WOW style stealth here. Anyone can see assassin including NPC if they get in direct line of sight. It would be more like a sneak skill not a hey I am right in front of you standing in the road but you can't see me so when you walk by I will stab you in the back. I mean for me how would it be fun to be able to just walk by everyone without them seeing, you would need cover and shadows to stay undetected. Well its not like I haven't dreamed this up for years just nobody wants to make anything like it, closest thing has been Darkfall but its fantasy and doesn't sound like there is a much politics I never really went into huge detail but some of the possibilities I was thinking even involve betrayal of the leader from within his own guild as a possibility after he is taken out you vote on a new leader look at that I have just  killed you and taken all the power, I actually work for faction so and so and you have voted me in all to your doom. Of course this would not be easy just like stealth would not.

Originally posted by cbesner

 Why not instead of a single player house use a guild system, your guilds become the houses both great and minor. 

Then you could have 4 Player types:

• Crafters
• Healers
• Soldiers
• Assassins

Great Houses (Guilds)

• Each has 1 leader selected by members this players class results in a buff for the entire house
• Death of the leader results in a new leader chosen and some sort of penalty
• They can have there own unique uniforms, emblems, flags 
• They build cities and major industries Ex. Ornithopters, Harvesters, Heavy transports, Space Craft
• Each of these has three minor components required for starter houses
• Guilds have NPC soldiers they can hire to defend there cities and industries from raids and saboteurs they must also equip these soldiers with weapons, shields exc,,,
• There is only 9 great houses per server which is decided based on wealth and membership from player houses automatically by the server
• 5 of 9 votes from great houses results in the dune fief

Crafters

• As a guild leader they result in increased production
• They construct all game items ex. Weapons, Shields, Clothing, Furniture exc,,,,
• They can control up to 5 NPC's

Soldiers

• As guild leaders increase the number of available NPC slots
• Most effective unit in direct combat
• Can train NPC soldiers, skill of soldier based on player skill
• Can control up to 6 NPC's

Assassins

• As the guild leader increase chance of detecting assassins and saboteurs
• Excellent at sneak attacks and sabotage
• Can train NPC saboteurs
• Can control NPC's up to 4

Healers

• As guild leaders increase all hit points
• Can resurrect and heal any units
• Can train NPC healers (NPC healers can not resurrect units)
• Can control up to 5 NPC's

Economy

• Player driven all but the most basic required items made by the players
• All great house manufactured items can be purchased or sold by CHOAM (ADMIN controlled) But larger profit or cheaper purchase prices available through player trading even at this level (This can also be used to keep the economy stable)
• Spice difficult to mine but results in large player and NPC buffs to health and other attributes can only be obtained by players
• Two Methods of spice collection available, with dune fief you may mine the spice with harvesters, without the dune fief you may only obtain spice through covert smuggling very difficult and also only small amounts acquired

I don't know thats just my thoughts gives the players lot's of freedom. I like your ideas for the timeline and newbie areas like the atreides and harkonens. Also I agree that players should only be able to go to war by use of declaring Kanly and you could use some kind of honorable and dishonorable player standings to keep people in line. I think you have to just kind of leave the Emperor out of it say he is week or something because let's face it if he wasn't it would be tough for anyone to really compete against him.  Another thing I like is the idea of the different schools of training were you could pick up skills for your character. Finally obviously this would have to be a PVP type game with PVE elements to make this model work. Damm I am long winded sorry.

 reading the books again and thought about this as an mmo

 How about making an MMO but more PvP based on the board game with your class ideas.

from the board game. "Players each take the role of one of the factions attempting to control Dune. Each faction has special powers that overlook certain rules in the game. Each turn players move about the map attempting to pick up valuable spice while dealing with giant sandworms, deadly storms, and other players' military forces. A delicate political balance is formed amongst the factions to prevent any one side from becoming too strong"

I really liked that game but have not played it in years.

Economy, Politics,  and War driving the game to capture Dune. The map would have to reset mich like WWII Online. Only two factions could be allies at one time. Of course of the factions in the boards game would have to be revisted or eliminated as they would be more like classes than factions.

just a thought