No heavy weapons and bases in novels ?

[Usul]

They were probably in the desert where they don't use shields (see above).

[Ghosty_Square]

Terror, you mean why didn't the harks use a lasgun to blow up the Atreides when they had just arrived on Arrakis? If you read the book, the answer is there.

And as I said earlier, a lasgun-shield explosion isn't always as powerful as an atomic one.

[Anathema]

Thufir said to Jessica that they wouldn't do that because they would never be able to prove that the explosion wasn't caused by a nuclear device.

[TMA_1]

"anything slower than a bullet? then why don't they make slow bullets"

They did, they are called stunners, or slow pellet guns.

[Terror]

Terror, you mean why didn't the harks use a lasgun to blow up the Atreides when they had just arrived on Arrakis? If you read the book, the answer is there.

And as I said earlier, a lasgun-shield explosion isn't always as powerful as an atomic one.

i meant on caladan..... just send a suicide guy with a laser and a shield... let him stand in the middle of the palace and shoot himself..

and if they don't use shields in the desert.. then why don't they use vehicles and more powerful guns? that would make sense right?

[Sardauker-Kirov]

It will be strange, if they invent a weapon that ignores the Shield particles and goes right through it.

Or a shield that repels the sandworms, so shields can be used on Arrakis.

But that would take alot of time in the Dune Universe, to invent the things.

[Acriku]

Ever heard of the stunner gun? It's in Dune, yeah betcha that blew your mind.

[Colonel_Worf]

You can overlook a lot of stuff in a novel this deep.

[neonext]

Terror, you mean why didn't the harks use a lasgun to blow up the Atreides when they had just arrived on Arrakis? If you read the book, the answer is there.

And as I said earlier, a lasgun-shield explosion isn't always as powerful as an atomic one.

i meant on caladan..... just send a suicide guy with a laser and a shield... let him stand in the middle of the palace and shoot himself..

and if they don't use shields in the desert.. then why don't they use vehicles and more powerful guns? that would make sense right?

I'm not very familiar with the entire Dune universe yet, but aren't House atomics (or anything that causes similar explosions) banned on ALL planets?

[Acriku]

They are, but each House keeps a small amount (exceptions would include Harkonnen I think, who have a lot) in case 'other visitors' come by. As in, alien invasion!

[Terror]

I'm not very familiar with the entire Dune universe yet, but aren't House atomics (or anything that causes similar explosions) banned on ALL planets?

Well, a laser on itself is not an atomic weapon, nor is a shield. However if you shoot a shield with a laster the stuff blows up in a nuclear explosion

[neonext]

but if you did that, the other Houses could assume you used atomics. How would they know the difference?

[Terror]

well, what if it happened as an accident. If the other houses thought that you would betray the pact that you made, they would finish you anyway so i think they can find it out someway. Ah well, i don't think FH thought about that anyway, and why should he... This leaves us to speculate

[Lord J]

They are, but each House keeps a small amount (exceptions would include Harkonnen I think, who have a lot) in case 'other visitors' come by. As in, alien invasion!

They are also kept for a few other purposes:

A House goes renegade, after a vicious defeat, and uses one final blow to annihilate his enemies.

If a House should use atomics, so that the power of the Landsraad falls upon the guilty House.

The same reason 'nukes are held by most major powers on Earth today, Stalemate.

[nemafakei]

Atomics themselves are not illegal, nor is the use of them - except against humans.

[Acriku]

I distinctly remember somewhere in Dune or Dune Messiah that they and the use of them were banned. ???

[Ghosty_Square]

When Paul uses atomics to blow up Shield Wall, he explains that he used them against a natural phenomenon, therefore not violating the Great Convention.

[Anathema]

I distinctly remember somewhere in Dune or Dune Messiah that they and the use of them were banned. ???

I don't believe so. But..

[hide]a priest of Muad'Dib (forgot his name) stole a nuke and attempted to kill him. That wasn't allowed though ;)[/hide]

[Scrinlord]

and if they don't use shields in the desert.. then why don't they use vehicles and more powerful guns? that would make sense right?

no, because the vehicles would attract worms.

and nukes cannot be used against humans, but they can be used against non-living things.

[Terror]

hmm ok they would attract worms.. but still i think it's better to use a few vehicles in battle instead of infantry only.. i mean harvesters are vehicles also..

[Usul]

Yeah but they can get lifted out by carryalls. Anyway warfare was designed for a universe not a single planet. WOuld they really bother using tanks on just one? Anyway they do use ground cars and ornithopters. Also theres a an article in a section of the main site (not on the forum) forget where but its all about the weapons in Dune and how there used.

[Terror]

well, if they did use tanks they would have a serious advantage over the other houses

[Usul]

Untill a worm devoured them you mean.

[Terror]

ok, then just use the vehicles on rocks. That way a worm won't eat it. and those tanks will help a LOT in the defence

[nemafakei]

Why? With lasguns for infantry, and with immobility for the tanks (rocksaren't like those in Emp...), tanks would be pretty useless.