Survival, strategy, and sovereignty on the sands of Arrakis

Why Base Building Matters #

Base building is the cornerstone of survival and power in Dune: Awakening. Beyond shelter, bases enable:

• Resource Refinement: Convert raw materials (spice, scrap, biomass) into advanced components.
• Crafting Progression: Build vehicles, weapons, and gear via specialized fabricators.
• Storage & Security: Safeguard loot from environmental hazards and PvP threats.
• Political Influence: Expand territory to control spice nodes and earn Landsraad votes.

Bases are permanent in PvE zones (Hagga Basin) but reset weekly in PvP areas (Deep Desert).

Base Limits & Rules #

• Main Bases: Players can own 3 permanent bases via Sub-Fief Consoles (upgradable to Advanced Sub-Fief Consoles).
• Outposts: Temporary bases in the Deep Desert are allowed but wiped weekly by Coriolis Storms.
• Land Claims: Bases require solid terrain (not open sand) and cannot overlap with landmarks or other players’ claims.

Intel Points and Schematic Progression #

To craft advanced structures, shields, and modules, you must unlock schematics using Intel Points, a currency earned through exploration and progression.

How Intel Works #

• Earning Intel:
  • Leveling up your character.
  • Exploring Points of Interest (POIs) like crashed ships or ancient sietches.
  • Clearing enemy camps and activating scanning nodes.
• Spending Intel:
  • Use Intel Points in the Research Menu at your base or social hubs to unlock schematics for crafting.
  • Example: Unlocking the Dewreaper (water collector) costs 50 Intel.

Types of Schematics #

1. Researchable Schematics
   • Permanently unlocked via Intel Points.
   • Allows unlimited crafts (e.g., basic walls, fabricators).
2. Unique Schematics
   • Found in hidden chests (e.g., caves, labs, crashed ships).
   • Often require Intel to research after discovery.
   • Single-use: Most unique schematics (e.g., Emperor’s Wings MK1) allow one craft per schematic. To craft again, find another copy.

Key Rules #

• High-tier schematics (e.g., Spice Harvesters) require rare materials from the Deep Desert.
• Some schematics are faction-locked (e.g., Bene Gesserit Meditation Chambers).

Intel Points Summary Table #

Aspect	Details
Intel Sources	Leveling, exploration, enemy camps, scanning nodes.
Research Costs	50–1,000+ Intel per schematic, depending on tier.
Unique Schematics	Found in specific chests/POIs; one craft per schematic.
Crafting Limits	High-tier items require rare Deep Desert materials (e.g., Spice Melange).

Shields: Protection & Power #

Shields are critical for base survival.

Shield Mechanics #

• Power Source: Fuel Cells (crafted or looted) power generators. One Fuel Cell = 1 hour of shield uptime.
• PVE Areas (Hagga Basin):
  • Shields block sandstorm damage.
  • If shields fail, structures degrade over time but cannot be raided.
• PVP Areas (Deep Desert):
  • Shields prevent player raids.
  • If shields fail, bases are vulnerable to destruction and looting.

Taxes & Maintenance #

• The Emperor imposes escalating taxes (paid in Solaris) for large bases.
• Unpaid taxes disable shields, exposing bases to storms/raids.

Fuel Cells #

To craft a Fuel Cell for base building in Dune: Awakening, you need the following:

• Primary Ingredient:
  • Oil (sometimes referred to as organic biomass or fuel precursor in some sources).
• Crafting Station:
  • Chemical Refinery.
• Process:
  • Collect Oil (or salvage it from camps, wrecks, or via biomass processing).
  • Use the Chemical Refinery to process Oil into Fuel Cells.
  • Fuel Cells are then used directly in base generators to provide power, or further refined into Vehicle Fuel Cells for vehicles.

Blueprints: Design & Trade #

Blueprints allow players to save and share base layouts:

• Creation: Use the Solido Replicator to scan your base and generate a blueprint.
• Limitations:
  • Blueprints exclude furniture, decor, and placed items (crafting stations, storage).
  • Players must manually add these after blueprint construction.
• Economy: Sell blueprints on the Exchange or gift them to allies.

Faction-Specific Bases Information #

Aligning with Great Houses unlocks unique aesthetics and functional perks:

House Atreides #

• Style: Sleek, angular designs with green/silver accents and hawk motifs.
• Unique Structures:
  • Caladan Gate: Reinforced entryways with faction banners.
  • Bene Gesserit Meditation Chamber: Boosts mental resistance for nearby players.

House Harkonnen #

• Style: Brutalist, industrial builds with black/red tones and griffin emblems.
• Unique Structures:
  • Giedi Prime Foundry: Increases refining speed for metals.
  • Flame Bastion: Anti-personnel turrets for defense.

Shared Systems #

• Modular Upgrades: Faction-agnostic modules (e.g., solar panels, spice harvesters) can be added to any base.
• Cosmetic Swaps: Use dyes and patterns to mix faction styles.

Summary Table #

Aspect	Details
Base Limit	3 permanent bases (Hagga Basin) + temporary Deep Desert outposts.
Shield Failure	PvE: Degradation. PvP: Raid vulnerability.
Blueprints	Structure-only; furniture/gear must be added manually.
Faction Perks	Atreides (defense/utility), Harkonnen (offense/efficiency).