In Dune: Awakening, the Landsraad system plays a central role in shaping the political landscape and driving the endgame activities. The Landsraad is a weekly competition where guilds, aligned with major houses such as the Atreides or Harkonnen, vie for influence over server rules. The guild that accumulates the most votes by the end of the week has the power to dictate certain server rules, affecting gameplay for all players. This system introduces a dynamic and engaging layer to the game, adding depth to the strategic decisions players make throughout their journey.
How Does the Landsraad System Work?
The Landsraad system revolves around guilds earning votes by completing various tasks and objectives, each tied to the major houses in the Dune universe. These votes accumulate throughout the week, culminating in the faction with the highest vote count influencing server rules for the following week.
Earning Votes
Players earn votes for their faction by engaging in activities that contribute to their house’s success. Tasks include:
- Controlling specific territories in the Deep Desert.
- Delivering large quantities of valuable resources, like spice.
- Gathering and submitting maps of designated Deep Desert sectors.
These tasks encourage players to work together within their faction to complete objectives and earn votes, which in turn impacts the broader game environment.
Influencing Server Rules
At the end of each week, the faction with the most votes gets to choose a server rule that applies to all players on the server. These rules can drastically affect gameplay and include:
- Reduced crafting costs for the winning faction, making it easier for them to build and craft.
- Open-world PvP looting rules, known as the “Right of Salvage,” which introduces new dynamics in the Deep Desert, allowing for more player-versus-player engagement.
These server rules create a constantly shifting landscape, encouraging players to adapt their strategies each week based on the chosen rule.
Dynamic Objectives
To prevent the gameplay from becoming predictable, the objectives of the Landsraad system change every week. This ensures players are always faced with new challenges and encourages fresh strategies. By continually altering the tasks, the Landsraad system keeps the experience exciting and prevents any single faction from gaining a permanent advantage.
Driving Endgame Activities
The Landsraad system serves as a primary motivator for endgame players, encouraging them to participate in a wide array of activities:
- Resource gathering, which involves collecting valuable materials like spice.
- Territory control, where factions vie for dominance over key areas in the Deep Desert.
- Crafting and exploration, essential for gaining unique items and uncovering hidden resources.
- PvP combat, where players battle for supremacy in designated zones.
The variety of tasks ensures that the endgame remains engaging for players with different playstyles, from those focused on combat to those more interested in crafting or exploration.
Third Faction as a Balancing Force
To prevent any one faction from dominating the server for too long, the developers are considering the addition of a third faction. This new faction would only gain rewards if the competition between the top two factions is especially close. This mechanism encourages strategic decision-making, as players may need to shift their alliances or tactics to influence the outcome and prevent one faction from becoming too powerful.
A Dynamic and Evolving System
While the Landsraad is a significant part of the endgame, Dune: Awakening aims to ensure that it doesn’t become the sole focus of the game. Instead, the Landsraad system provides direction and purpose for player actions, encouraging diverse gameplay experiences and fostering a dynamic, ever-evolving world. As Joe Bylas, the game’s creative director, has stated, the Landsraad will be a “menu” of endgame activities that give players the freedom to explore different aspects of the game while always striving for the next victory.
The Landsraad system in Dune: Awakening adds a layer of complexity and excitement to the game, intertwining political strategy, resource management, and player-driven content. Whether you’re managing territories, gathering spice, or engaging in open-world PvP, the system ensures that no two weeks will ever feel the same, keeping players engaged in an ever-shifting political and gameplay environment.
