Dune Army Lists for 'Hordes of the Things'

These lists were originally compiled by Russ Jackson, and published on the old Stronghold. With a new film coming out, and us having watched the 1984 version this past weekend, I thought it would be fun to republish them. I have posted them exactly as written. To be honest I can see a few flaws or oddities in them, but they should provide a good base from which to start.

These lists are inspired by the battles which take place in Frank Herbert's novel Dune and to a lesser extent the wars of the Fremen conquest of the universe thereafter. Because of the nature of the Dune universe (E.G. shield technology and the Guild monopoly on space travel) wars are fought on planet without the benefit of most of the weapons technology usually associated with a Sci-fi universe. This means that warfare is primarily based on hand to hand combat. As such there is little discord to be found in notion of using the HOTT rules to fight battles in the Dune universe. I have assumed that the reader will have read the book or at least seen the film.

In order to capture the epic scale of Dune I would suggest using 6mm figures in conjunction with the mass battle optional rules. 6mm also allows ranges of space ships to be used as frigates, carryalls and ornithopters. Whilst sandworms can easily be made from milliput or be bought from Irregular Miniatures. I have deliberately restricted the use of technological assets to those armies which displayed use of them in the book (even though, in theory, all of these armies had access to such items). This has been done purely on the grounds of army characterisation.

House Atreides

This list covers Atreides armies during the period of their takeover of Arrakis and during the Harkonnen reconquest of the planet shortly after. It finishes with the Atreides defeat by the Harkonnens two standard years prior to the Battle for Arrakis itself.

Stronghold: City of Arakeen behind the Shield Wall.

Hero General	(Duke Leto Atreides)	@ 4 AP	1
Hero	(Duncan Idaho)	@ 4 AP	1
Spears	(Elite Atreides troopers)	@ 2 AP	4
Hordes	(Atreides troopers)	@ 1 AP	8

Alternatives: Sneaker (Thufir Hawat Master of Assassins) @ 3 AP, Flyers (Ornithopters) @ 2 AP, Hero (Gurney Halleck) @ 4 AP.

House Harkonnen

This list covers the Harkonnen armies which fought against the Atreides during the Harkonnen reconquest of Dune and also those armies during the two standard years that the Harkonnens fought the Fremen, prior to the Battle for Arrakis. For armies during the period of the Battle for Arrakis Rabban must be replaced by the Baron. This list finishes when Paul becomes emperor.

Stronghold: Sprawling industrial complex.

Spear General	(The Beast Rabban and bodyguard)	@ 2 AP	1
Flyers	(Ground attack ornithopters)	@ 2 AP	4
Hordes	(Harkonnen troops)	@ 1 AP	14

Alternatives: Artillery (Rocket launchers) @ 3 AP, Blades (Imperial Sardukar disguised as Harkonnen troopers) @ 2 AP, Flyer General (Baron Vladimer Harkonnen on suspensors) @ 2 AP, Shooters (Harkonnens with Las rifles) @ 2 AP.

Fremen of the Jihad

This list covers Fremen armies led by Paul Atreides during the two standard years that he fought the Harkonnens, prior to the Battle for Arrakis and also for the period of the battle itself. The Alia option is mainly for armies of the jihad after Paul has become emperor, offworld Fremen armies of this type must replace sandworms with Feydakin. Fremen armies in the period before Paul becomes their leader must use Stilgar as their general and may not use any Atreides options. The use of Atreides family atomics is restricted to attacks aginst enemy strongholds and can only be used during the period of the Battle for Arrakis. Gurney Halleck may only be used during the period of the Battle for Arrakis.

Stronghold: Sietch entrance disguised as a rock outcrop in the desert.

Cleric General	(Paul Muad'Dib and Feydakin guard)	@ 3 AP	1
Behemoths	(Fremen riding sandworms)	@ 4 AP	2
Warband	(Fremen jihad warriors)	@ 2 AP	4
Hordes	(Other Fremen warriors)	@ 1 AP	5

Alternatives: Hero (Stilgar or Gurney Halleck) @ 4 AP, Lurkers (Small sandworms in patches of soft sand) @ 1 AP, Shooters (Fremen with Maula pistols) @ 2 AP, Warband General (Saint Alia of the Knife) @ 2 AP, Sneakers (Fremen demolition teams using Atreides family atomics) @ 3 AP.

The Troops of Shaddam IV Emperor of the Known Universe

This list covers Imperial armies for the period up to and during the Battle for Arrakis. For the period after Paul has become emperor Sardukar legions must be replaced by hordes (though Sardukar commanders remain as blades). Feyd Rautha may only be used during the period of the Battle for Arrakis.

Stronghold: Landing zone covered with invasion ships.

Blade General	(Sardukar commander)	@ 2 AP	1
Blades	(Sardukar legions)	@ 2 AP	4
Hordes	(Troops from Great Houses of the Landsraad)	@ 1 AP	14

Alternatives: Spears (Feyd Rautha and elite Harkonnen bodyguard) @ 2 AP, Cleric (Reverend Mother Mohiam and Bene Geserit witches) @ 3 AP, Airboat (Imperial ground attack frigate) @ 3 AP.

Spice Smugglers

This list covers smuggler forces at any time before, during or after the Battle for Arrakis. Gurney Halleck and Atreides troopers may only be used for armies during the two standard years that Paul fought the Harkonnens, prior to the Battle for Arrakis.

Stronghold: Temporary base with tents, storage facilities and transport shuttles.

Airboat General	(Spacing Guild navigator piloting a Carryall)	@ 3 AP	1
Flyers	(Ornithopters with Guild pilots)	@ 2 AP	2
Behemoth	(Spice harvester and ground car escorts)	@ 4 AP	1
Hordes	(Smugglers and Fremen allies)	@ 1 AP	13

Alternatives: Hero General (Gurney Halleck) @ 4 AP, Spears (Atreides elite troopers disguised as smugglers) @ 2 AP.