Should the fremen even have an air force? Vs... Paul Maud dib

[Shaithias]

Ok, this might be unpopular, but hear me out.

The fremen in the books didn't have anything like an airforce. There are very few instances of them having thropters of their own, and when they did, it was transient and used for suprise attacks to overwhelming advantage.

In contrast in game, the fremen thropter force is something that is built up slowly and is carefully conserved, and is maintained. This is wayyyy different than the books. If anything, the fremen thropters should be an operation. For example, you launch an operation on a city, giving you 3 hijacked thropters that last for say 20 days. These are temporary units, and the cost of the operation could include junk.

In addition, the fremen ark is just not in universe. There are caryalls, there are Heighliners, and ornithopters. From a technology standpoint, its conceivable there would be fixed wing aircraft, but its not actually mentioned in the dune novels.

But then we have this massive fremen airship, when the fremen need a spiritual leader. A hero. A leader. And instead they get a floating airship. The fremen need to have Paul Maud'dib as their unique hero unit. Not this stupid ark. >:/

He could have the exact same stats, and even the same passive ability swapping as the ark. Maybe even make him able to do ranged combat vs aircraft. But we need the mouse!

[Mick Savage]

I agree with the Ark thing, just doesn't seem right.

Smaller ships yes I think Fremen should get them and since they have to scavenge for parts it makes sense. Getting ships is not near as easy as the other factions, so it's balanced considering Fremen have some of the best fighters.

[LloydyBoyy]

Agreed!

I think Ornithopters is okay, you could see how they could be picked up and maintained etc. Any other flying unit should not be in the Freman roster really though.

Maybe instead they could have a mission or unit that is capable of stealing a flying unit/airship from another faction for 3 days or something?

[Fenrir]

I never understood why the Fremen needed to recon the field anyways, I mean, they are EVERYWHERE, in every city, village and Sietch on Dune. One of their hegemony perks should literally be map knowledge.
Besides discoveries, which they could send a unit out to uncover and then you decide to use infiltration or the unit to resolve.

[LloydyBoyy]

True!

Maybe they should have map knowledge from the off, know wind speed, spice location etc, but then need Ornithopters to uncover discoveries, but they cost 20/30 per month instead of the usual 10.

[Anapoda]

the ark thing looks so bloody stupid and ugly

[mazrados]

@Fenrir It depends. If we play as particular Fremen sietch, then limited knowlage of area makes sense. Remember that Fremen is not a monolith. It's not like single nation or something like that. At least if I remember this story correctly. It's been long time since I've read the books.

[Fenrir]

@mazrados I am a scholar(avid reader) of the books, and you are correct. It is a segmented population. But, it would still stand that if your Sietch is in the area, you would know the area. I'd even make the concession of allying with a Sietch gives you map knowledge of a large area, with one Sietch spawning close to base.

[mazrados]

You know area around the sietch ;)

But yes, some better knowladge about sorroundings would make sense for Fremen.

[Attackmack]

In the end its a game that needs to be balanced, it doesnt follow the books more than marginally.

I like the idea of fremen map knowledge though. Maybe they should begin with the map entirely explored.