The Atredies likes a combined arms charismatic noble house apperance but they won't have qualms about sending people to their deaths and certainly will offer the commander as a death sacrifice to the Fremen. It's funny because these factions are often fickle, EBFD expanded a bit on this. One should always be critical of authority. In the end, neither should people become self-sacrificing fanatics for a greater cause that in practice brings suffering, nor should they fall prey to sweet words and populism. It warns us against another type of charisma, the politician who tells us what we want to hear and makes us feel validated. Yet is this a good thing? This shunning of self-control and embracement of vices, be it cruelty and sadism, lust or greed. Harkonnen subjects enjoy a great deal of freedom from the conventional morality of the Imperium. He rules through vice, through giving you what you want, and telling you it's alright to want that, no matter how frowned upon and how deprived. The Baron Vladimir Harkonnen is also charismatic. Paul too becomes a virtuous charismatic leader who ultimately dooms the universe to the Jihad and in inspiring fanaticism makes individuals "something less than themselves". The old duke got himself killed in a bull fight, and the Duke Leto gets himself and his men killed on a fool's errand in Arrakis. Their style of leadership is theatrical and risky. They reward loyalty with loyalty and their followers are often fanatically devoted. The Atreides are an example of honourable and virtuous charisma. Both of them are examples of charismatic leadership. For the Duke!Īs an intellectual Dune-connoisseur I must correct you on the Atreides and Harkonnen. I pick Atreides as the faction I would join. They have quite a headbanging awesome soundtrack in Emperor. More evil and insane than anything the Soviets and Nod can provide. They are slow, yet heavy with amazing firepower. The Harkonnen are despicable and horrible in original Dune, but they are badass villains in the games. There is something so ominous about a faction that is a plutocratic hive mind with a weapon of deception and sabotage, yet not good as Atreides nor evil as Harkonnen. While Herbert never had them in his mainline books, they would fit well in the Dune universe. Ornithopters are an awesome support power in Dune 2000, and Sonic Tanks are quite a messy weapon if you can handle the friendly-fire effects. I always liked the Atreides for having the most clear perspective of goodness (well, to the Fremen anyway), and for being versatile in battle.