What system better suits Frank Herberts Dune in your opinion, and why?

Thanks!

I don't know about system, but if you want to make Dune into an RPG setting you would have to make some significant changes to the way the world works if you are playing in the time frame of the first three books or earlier.  As written shields + lasgun = nuke.  This isn't really a deterrent to lasgun use, and players are going to try to exploit this through suicidal hirelings or very long range shots.  In fact this is exploited by some of the characters in the books, and later personal shields are banned.  Still, it's a fairly large setting hole present in the set-up for the series.

It would have to have some sort of rule to enforce the fact that the Bene Gesserit always win in the end.

Burning Sands, the Burning Wheel hack.

Quote from: 837204563;388844I don't know about system, but if you want to make Dune into an RPG setting you would have to make some significant changes to the way the world works if you are playing in the time frame of the first three books or earlier.  As written shields + lasgun = nuke.  This isn't really a deterrent to lasgun use, and players are going to try to exploit this through suicidal hirelings or very long range shots.  In fact this is exploited by some of the characters in the books, and later personal shields are banned.  Still, it's a fairly large setting hole present in the set-up for the series.

I thought the Lasgun + Shields = Nuke for both lasgun wielder and the shield user.  Of course as you point out, "suicidal hirelings".  

I'd just throw in a CHOAM diktat that shield nuking was grounds to have an entire house subject to genocide by legions of saudaukar, and have any house Lords employing the characters make sure they know that.  Or impress it on them at the beginning of the game.

My main concern is that it doesn't work as a setting element if you think about it too much.  The idea that the explosive interaction would deter lasgun use rather than spur the development of lasguns with greater range/automated firing is silly.

Quote from: 837204563;388864My main concern is that it doesn't work as a setting element if you think about it too much.  The idea that the explosive interaction would deter lasgun use rather than spur the development of lasguns with greater range/automated firing is silly.

Yeah, I mean, ultimately it's a fantasy novel (a generally well written one) but stuff like "Oh my god - you mean you used artillery to defeat the Atredies?!" was a little, um...

Hmm...what about a Birthright hack?

I would want my Dune RPG to be both massive in scope and personal in focus.   In theory, Burning Empires is the natural fit, but for me, there is just way too much system.  But the world-burner is a must for a game like Dune.

Whatever you may think about Luke Crane, if you are scifi gamer, you owe yourself a look at Burning Empires - maybe not as a game, but as a toolkit to yank a plethora of interesting ideas.

BTW, if you enjoy Dune, you might want to check out the Metabarons comic book series and the D6 Metabarons RPG.  It's got a similiar flavor.

Quote from: Spinachcat;388870But the world-burner is a must for a game like Dune.

Burning Sands has a world-burner and vehicle rules built in.  

I honestly don't know, having never read it, but was the Dune RPG any good for this?

RPGPundit

I recently played in  Dune campaign using Spirit of the Century. It's a good match because SotC is a very character orientated system. Dune is the kind of game in which don't really need huge lists of weapons, spells and critters. You just really need mechanics that make each character stand out for who they are.

On paper the it is also a good match because the Social Conflict mechanics of SotC should help capture the intrigue elements fo Dune. I say "on paper" because in practice I found the Social Conflict rules a bit clunky. I am not opposed to Social Conflict rules on principle, I just did feel they worked that well. But it is entirely possible we did it wrong, it wouldn't be the first time.

Quote from: 837204563;388864My main concern is that it doesn't work as a setting element if you think about it too much.  The idea that the explosive interaction would deter lasgun use rather than spur the development of lasguns with greater range/automated firing is silly.

There can't be automated firing as nobody in that world would give a computer those capabilities. And I seriously doubt that you can buff the range of a direct fire weapon so much that you are safe from a nuclear explosion and still use it to effectively combat people using personal shields.

@System: I use Burning Sands.

I always assumed that lasgun was a laser weapon.  Didn't you see that recent Big Bang Theory where they bounced a (relatively) low powered one off the moon?  Weaponized the range would only be longer.

Quote from: 837204563;388896I always assumed that lasgun was a laser weapon.  Didn't you see that recent Big Bang Theory where they bounced a (relatively) low powered one off the moon?  Weaponized the range would only be longer.

Are you just arguing recent scientific advances about a weapon system you are not fully sure of if it is the one we talk about in the context of a book that is several decades old?

Because that would seem rather silly.

In a science fiction setting I expect things not to fall apart if I apply my brain, that's one of the things that should distinguish science fiction from fantasy.