History VideoGame / DuneII

--> ''"He who controls Dune controls the Spice. He who controls the Spice, controls the universe."'' - [[TreacherousAdvisor Lady Elara.]]

Very loosely inspired by the ''{{Dune}}'' books, of course. The first ''Dune'' game was an AdventureGame with RTS elements that followed the plot of the [[{{Dune}} 1984 Film.]], making this largely as sequel InNameOnly, retaining the basic setting elements but presenting a new story about war and political control [[AlternateUniverse distinct from the novels.]] The game engine for ''Dune II'' would later be refined and used for a game set in an original universe - ''CommandAndConquer.'' The inverse would happen for the sequels, using the game engines for ''Red Alert,'' ''Tiberium Sun''/''Red Alert 2'' and ''Command & Conquer: Renegade'' (An FPS, of all things).

* TropeCodifier: Created the RealTimeStrategy game in the shape we know today, forming the conventions of YouRequireMoreVespeneGas and ConstructAdditionalPylons. (''{{Starcraft}}'' gets the [[TropeNamer naming rights]] for having the [[MemeticMutation more memorable]] terms.) The developers in turn were very influenced by HerzogZwei.

** In one the AI suddenly sends out a group of soldiers into an empty corner of the map for no reason at all, and they remain there, not moving, until the end of the mission.

* SpiritualSuccessor: ''Videogame/CommandAndConquerTiberianDawn'' and the subsequent Command and Conquer saga, Dune "III" ''not'' InSpace. The Megadrive version implements for the first time the iconic C&C right side bar.

* ArtificialStupidity: The AI does not rebuild defenses and its attack patterns are very simple and predictable. This happened by mistake, as more complex strategies were programed but not well implemented due to several bugs.
** Well, in Dune II, the AI does rebuild defenses, as well as other buildings (as long as it possesses its Construction Yard, of course). That said, the AI appears to do the rebuilding in a random fashion, so it doesn't matter much anyway. Excepted when you have units upon the ruins of a building- the AI has the surprising ability to crush them with the rebuilding.

* SpiritualSuccessor: ''Videogame/CommandAndConquerTiberianDawn'' and the subsequent Command and Conquer saga, Dune "III" ''not'' InSpace.

* {{Determinator}}: Sardaukar will not be suppressed by enemy fire. ''Ever.'' Fremen however, ''[[AvertedTrope can]]'', [[DidNotDoTheResearch which isn't exactly accurate to the books.]]

* PlanetOfHats: Each faction is much simplified from their appearance in [[{{Dune}} the books,]] [[CanonImmigrant The Ordos]] not withstanding.

* FogOfWar: Removed permanently from a zone after it is explored.

** Dune II has little to do with Dune I, an AdventureGame by Cryo. Both games were developed simultaneously and Cryo apparently rushed it in order to beat Westwood to the punch.

* LuckBasedMission: ''Dune II'' becomes this whenever a Harkonnen player launches a Death Hand - for either side - since you never know where the missile is going to hit.

* SpiritualSuccessor: The, CommandAndConquer saga, Dune III not InSpace.

* InNameOnly / SequelDisplacement: Out of continuity with the book and the first game. ''Dune 2000'' and ''Emperor, Battle for Dune'' both try very hard to link themselves as prequels to the David Lynch film.
** Could be considered an AlternateUniverse.

* SpiritualSuccessor: The, CommandAndConquer saga, Dune III not [[InSpace]].

* TropeCodifier: Created the RealTimeStrategy game in the shape we know today, forming the conventions of YouRequireMoreVespeneGas and ConstructAdditionalPylons. (''{{Starcraft}}'' gets the [[TropeNamer naming rights]] for having the [[MemeticMutation more memorable]] terms.)

* HealingFactor: Ordos units start with regenerative abilities and Harkonnen ones gain it with experience. In ''Dune 2000'' all units gain this once they reach [[UnitVeterancy corporal rank]].

* UnitVeterancy: Probably the Ur-example.

* HealingFactor: Ordos units start with regenerative abilities and Harkonnen ones gain it with experience.

* PalmtreePanic: The Atreides homeworld, Caladan, has hints of this in it's appearance.

* RousingSpeech: House leaders and Mentants are prone to these, though flavor varies. The Atreides are usually TiredOfRunning while the Harkonnen prefer DareToBeBadass. The Ordos speak of their House's {{Nakama}} and the threat their enemies pose to it. They may come off less rousing to the viewer due to RoboSpeak, but [[BlueAndOrangeMorality the Ordos are a weird bunch.]]

The games featured three playable factions: House Atreides, House Harkonnen and [[CanonImmigrant House Ordos]]. In ''Dune II'', as well as its remake ''Dune 2000'', the player would be given a [[RiskStyleMap map of Arrakis]] that represented the territories of the three factions. The player, no matter which side he picked, would then play through a variety of missions (In ''Dune II'', either [[YouRequireMoreVespeneGas harvesting spice]] or destroying the [[AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs enemy base]] and all their units) and could see their progress on the map. Once they'd conquered pretty much the entire map, the two enemy factions would join each other, as well as the Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe, Shaddam IV of House Corrino and his Imperial Sardaukar, to fight off the much too powerful player faction. Once the player had won the entire game, he would be treated to a cinematic of whatever faction he's playing bringing their own form of justice to the Emperor for having tried to use them in his elaborate XanatosGambit.

* XanatosGambit: The Emperor's plan in Dune 2 and Dune 2000.

* PlanetOfHats: Each faction is much simplified ([[YourMileageMayVary or dumbed down]]) from their appearance in [[{{Dune}} the books,]] [[CanonImmigrant The Ordos]] not withstanding.

* ColdSniper: Fremen Warriors. The Fedaykin [[MakeMeWannaShout use sonic pistols a la the 1984 film instead.]]
* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: See TheGoodTheBadAndTheEvil below. In addition, regardless of chosen faction color, Atreides units and structures are always sand-colored, Ordos sickly green and Harkonnen ones dark brown. Other factions have specific palettes, notably a deep royal purple for the Sardaukar.

** Rakkan Harkonnen and his sons Gunseng and Copec will likely remind the viewer of Vladimir and his nephews Feyd-Rautha and Rabban, at least as depicted in the film.
*** Though Rakkan's grasp of strategy is more akin to the Beast Rabban than Vladimir's [[MagnificentBastard Machiavellian scheming]].

* FriendlySniper: Atreides sniper infantry. To you, anyway.

* TheGoodTheBadAndTheEvil with ChromaticArrangement: Atreides are blue, Harkonnens are red and Ordos are green. Even though the original book specifically states that the Harkonnens are blue and the Atreides are green or red. But then we can't have blue bad guys and red good guys, can we? [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience That's not allowed]].

* HoverTank: The Ordos laser tanks, APCs and Deviators, as well as both Ix units.
* HatePlague: What the Ordos' "Chaos Lightning" super weapon does to enemies.

* MakeMeWannaShout: The [[GlassCannon powerful but delicate]] Atreides Sonic Tank. Fedaykin infantry also use sonic weapons.

* TheMedic: Atreides vehicles have no RegeneratingHealth ability, so they have an unarmed repair vehicle to fix things instead.

* OurZombiesAreDifferent: Tleilaxu Contaminators, shambling monsters that infect other infantry with TheVirus and turn them into more Contaminators.

* RequiredSecondaryPowers: The Fremen Fedaykin wear earplugs to protect themselves from their own sonic weapons. In gameplay terms, this also means that opposing Fedaykin cannot harm one another at range.

* SpiderTank: Calling it a "tank" is exaggerating, but the Ordos Dust Scout qualifies as a "Spider Recon Drone".

It was followed by a true sequel, ''EmperorBattleForDune'', in 2001. [[TheEmperor The Padishah Emperor]] is dead, and the Spacing Guild presents the three great houses with a challenge: [[MeleeATrois All out war]] for control of Arrakis, with the victor being crowned [[YouKillItYouBoughtIt the new ruling house.]]

!!''Dune II'' and its sequels provide examples of:

* AbnormalAmmo: The Harkonnen Inkvine Catapult in ''Emperor'' flings barrels of toxic Inkvine ooze, damaging units on contact and when they pass through the ooze. [[IncendiaryExponent Said ooze can then be lit on fire.]]
* ActionBomb: The Ordos Saboteur. ''Emperor'' also gives them an airborne version, the Air Mine, which rather then simply blowing up on contact with an air unit, instead unleashes a MacrossMissileMassacre. They also have an "Eye in the Sky" scout unit, which when detonated [[ItsRainingMen air-drops a saboteur to the ground]] below it, potentially directly into an enemy structure. There's also the Ix Infiltrator, which is essentially an AttackDrone version of the Saboteur.

* AlwaysChaoticEvil: The Harkonnen. Due to them being a [[PlanetOfHats Planet Of]] [[JerkAss Jerkasses,]] the Fremen cannot be made to ally with them in ''Emperor''s campaign.
* ArbitraryHeadcountLimit: 25 buildable units, although you could get up to a total of 99 by buying from Starports. ''2000'' and ''Emperor'' had much higher headcounts.
* AttackDrone: The Atredies' Anti-Air defense drones in ''Emperor''.

* AwesomePersonnelCarrier: The Atredies and Ordos in ''Emperor'' can use APCS, but they're not that awesome. The Atredies one ''can'' use an InvisibilityCloak while not moving though, and the Ordos one is a very nimble HoverTank. Both are armed with rocket turrets for anti-vehicle defense.
* BadAssArmy: The Sardaukar and the Fremen, both of which have to be convinced of your worthiness before they'll help you in ''Emperor.'' In the older games, the Fremen are always allied with the Atredies, while the Sarduakar are of course loyal to the Emperor and always hostile to the player.

* ChainsawGood: The Harkonnen in ''Emperor'' take this trope to the extreme with an entire buzzsaw ''[[TankGoodness tank.]]'' In addition to two small cannons, it uses a large central sawblade to [[{{Squick}} chew up infantry]] and break up spice fields, thus denying the enemy critical resources.
* CoolPlane: Ornithopters, aircraft that use actual flapping wings to achieve flight. In ''Dune 2000'' The Atreides could call in a flight of these for an airstrike as a support power. They return in ''Emperor'' as a controllable unit, with Harkonnen counterparts that are tougher but much slower.
* CosmeticallyDifferentSides: Though FactionCalculus applies, The house armies in ''Dune II'' and ''Dune 2000'' had largely identical units. Key differences were each faction's combat tank and unique unit, as well as their {{Support Power}}s. ''Emperor'' [[AvertedTrope Averts this entirely]], with distinct units for each house.

* ConstructAdditionalPylons: Nearly every level in each game necessitates you building your own base, and then further building additional windtraps to provide power for all your structures. In ''Emperor'' your territories can be attacked by the other houses, in which case you are able to make use of existing bases you may have built yourself previously.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: The Spacing Guild is played this way in ''Emperor''. [[spoiler: ItGetsWorse. Turns out they were PlayingWithSyringes, attempting to create a PhysicalGod called the "Emperor Worm." [[ManipulativeBastard They played the houses against one another]] to weaken them, absorbing the remnants when only one remains.]]

* CriticalExistenceFailure: [[AvertedTrope Mostly averted]], units degrade in performance as they are damaged. Played straight by the Harkonnen in ''Emperor'': as one of their advantages, units function at full ability up until they are destroyed.
* DeadlyGas: The Ordos make use of [[SicklyGreenGlow Sickly Green]] gas-armed infantry and [[SentryGun Sentry Guns]] in ''Emperor.''

* DopplegangerSpin: The Ixian Projector in ''Emperor'' can create harmless duplicates of any unit, in order to fool an enemy.

** ''Emperor's'' Atreides mentat, Kolinar Koltrass, looks a lot like the film's Thufir Hawat.

* ExperiencePoints: Your units earn them in ''Emperor''. Atreides infantry that reach maximum level can be sent back into their barracks. The unit is LostForever but all subsequently produced units of that type start with an extra level. Do this multiple times to be able to produce elite units on command.

* FireBreathingWeapon: The Harkonnen in ''Emperor'' are fond of this trope, with flamethrower-armed infantry, tanks, and [[SentryGun Sentry Guns.]]
--> ''Flame Trooper: [[ApocalypseNow "Smells like... victory."]]''
* FireForgedFriends: Post- ''Dune 2000'', relations between the Atreides and Fremen are strained until an enemy assault on Caladan during a diplomatic meeting between the two helps them iron things out. Notable in that [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking Duke Achillus himself]] fights on foot in the mission where this occurs, probably a big reason the Fremen decide the Atreides are worthy allies.
* FlashStep: Guild NIAB tanks can "fold space" and teleport short distances.
* FunWithAcronyms: NIAB stands for "Navigator In A Box" and NIAP for "Navigator In A Plane".
* FragileSpeedster: The Raider trike in ''Dune II'' and ''2000,'' used only by Ordos, the fastest and weakest vehicle in the game. Its equivalent trikes in other factions have far less exaggerated stats. Ordos units on the whole are this in ''Emperor,'' with the exception of their "Kobra" artillery tank.

* HannibalLecture: The Guild representative gives one near the end of ''Emperor'' to Elara.

** ''Emperor'' Is full of this, with [[StarTrek Michael Dorn]] as Duke Achillus Atreides and the late VincentSchiavelli has Harkonnen Mentat Yanich Kobal.
* HumongousMecha: Featured in ''Emperor''. The Atreides Mongoose is a light anti-armor/air platform, while their Minotaurus is a heavy assault unit armed with ''[[MoreDakka four]]'' [[StuffBlowingUp cannons.]] The Harkonnen Devastator (upgraded from TankGoodness status in the previous games) performs a similar role to the latter, only with [[NukeEm atomic]] [[EnergyWeapon energy cannons.]] It also has a third, central leg and walks not unlike a three-legged relay race team.
* HoverTank: The Ordos' basic laser tank, APC and the Deviator in ''Emperor.''

* InvisibilityCloak: Fremen units are perpetually invisible, unless badly injured. This is meant to represent their skill at moving and hiding in the desert. In ''Emperor'', this is also employed by the Ix Infiltrator, the Atreides APC and all scout units.
* LanguageEqualsThought: "In the language of the Ordos, there are no words for the concepts of 'trust' or 'honour'. There are more than three hundred for the concept of 'profit'." (Ordos introduction, ''Emperor: Battle for Dune'')
* LightningGun: Guild NIAB tanks and NIAP flyers use these.

* MakeMeWannaShout: The [[GlassCannon powerful but delicate]] Atreides Sonic Tank. ''Emperor''s version [[HerdHittingAttack damages targets in a cone.]] Fedaykin infantry also use sonic weapons.

* MoreDakka: Several examples, but the Harkonnen ''[[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill quad-barreled]]'' gun towers in ''Emperor'' stand out.
* NotableOriginalMusic: Frank Klepacki's score to this game, see [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeZa6KoOPks here]]. He returned for ''Emperor'' to do the Atreides soundtrack, while David Arkenstone scored the Harkonnen and Jarrid Mendelson did the Ordos.

* NukeEm: The Harkonnen Death Hand missile. In ''Dune 2000'' other houses lacked an equivalent super weapon, but gain more fanciful alternatives in ''Emperor.''
* OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness: The Executrix, leaders of House Ordos. In Dune 2000, the Ordo's leadership is so secrective, they're never directly seen. In ''Emperor'', they're four individuals connected by horrific machinery. [[VoiceOfTheLegion They speak collectively]] through a being called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The Speaker.]]

** The map is more dynamic in Emperor. The computer controlled rival factions can try to retake territories you've captured and you can defend them with most of the base you built carried over. Sometimes, the CPU will attack an area that you started off with control of, and you will have to defend a pre-built base. Also, the sub-faction units become available depending on which map areas you conquer. This adds replay value because you can either try to push into enemy territory and take their stronghold in as few missions as possible, or you can keep taking territories until you control almost the whole map.

* SandWorm: Of course. Keep your units off the sand whenever possible to avoid attracting them, [[InvincibleMinorMinion as they cannot be killed]] and will [[OneHitKill destroy your units instantly.]] Watch for {{Wormsign}} to know of their approach. Fremen units can move without attracting them and in ''Emperor'' [[HorseOfADifferentColor can even ride them,]] steering them into enemy units.

* SigilSpam: Many structures incorporate their House's logo into their very architecture if not simply having it stuck on the side. This extends to units, such as the Atreides Minotaurus from ''Emperor'', a HumongousMecha, the cockpit of which is shaped like an eagle's head and body.
* SingleBiomePlanet: The titular world and damn near every other planet, including Sigma Draconis, the [[SlippySlideyIceWorld frozen]] Ordos homeworld introduced in ''Emperor.''

* StandardSciFiArmy: Unlike the books, the games provide a wide range of infantry and vehicle units. ''Emperor'' would take it further by adding Mecha, Supersoldiers, and Biological monstrosities.
* StandardStatusEffects: Found mostly in ''Emperor'', though Deviators have been around since ''Dune II.''
** Burn: Harkonnen flame troopers and tanks.
** Charm: Ordos Deviator tanks.
** Confuse: Ordos Chaos Lightning superweapon.
** Fear: Atreides Hawk Strike superweapon.
** Doom: Essentially what happens to vehicles when attacked by a Tielaxu Leech. They can be saved by friendly [[TheEngineer Engineers.]]

* TankGoodness: The Harkonnen Devastator, which becomes a HumongousMecha in ''Emperor''. It has an on-board atomic reactor and radiation-based weaponry. [[{{Expy}} An equivalent huge, double-barreled tank]] [[SpiritualSuccessor appears in every]] ''CommandAndConquer'' game to date.

* WorkerUnit: The ubiquitous, beetle-like Spice Harvester (presented exactly as they appeared in the 1984 film) and the Construction Yard. Carryalls also function as such, automatically ferrying harvesters to and from spice fields. Tyically these carryalls are entirely automated and uncontrollable (though they will automatically ferry a damaged unit to an available repair pad), but you may build more expensive Advanced Carryalls in ''Emperor'' that can be given orders.

** The Spacing Guild's challenge to the Houses in ''Emperor'' [[spoiler: proves to be one by the Spacing Guild in an effort to control the galaxy.]] They get OutGambitted by Elara and the player's House.

* PolutedWasteland: Geidi Prime, the Harkonnen homeworld. Reflecting this, nearly every Harkonnen building has smoke stacks. Including ones that logically shouldn't, like their radar outposts, barracks and ''[[UpToEleven palaces.]]''

* TheMedic: Atreides vehicles have no RegeratingHealth ability, so they have an unarmed repair vehicle to fix things instead.

* ActionBomb: The Ordos Saboteur. ''Emperor'' also gives them an airborne version, the Air Mine.

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: See TheGoodTheBadAndTheEvil below. In addition, regardless of chosen faction color, Atreides units are always sand-colored, Ordos sickly green and Harkonnen ones black and brown. Other factions have specific palettes, notably a deep royal purple for the Sardaukar.

* FireBreathingWeapon: The Harkonnen in ''Emperor'' are fond of this trope, with both flamethrower-armed infantry and tanks.

* FragileSpeedster: The Raider trike in ''Dune II'' and ''2000,'' used only by Ordos, the fastest and weakest vehicle in the game. Its equivalent trikes in other factions have far less exaggerated stats. Ordos units on the whole are this in ''Emperor.''

* HoverTank: The Ordos' basic laser tank and the Deviator in ''Emperor.''

* MakeMeWannaShout: The [[GlassCannon powerful but delicate]] Atreides Sonic Tank.

* MobileFactory: The Mobile Construction Vehicle.

* ArbitraryHeadcountLimit: 25 buildable units, although you could get up to a total of 99 by buying from Starports.

* ActionBomb: In ''Emperor'', Ordos Saboteur and Air Mine units.

** Tleilaxu: PlayingWithSyringes to the point of {{Squick}}, in the name of {{Greed}}.

* AbnormalAmmo: The Harkonnen Inkvine Catapult flings barrels of toxic Inkvine ooze, damaging units on contact and when they pass through the ooze. [[IncendiaryExponent Said ooze can then be lit on fire.]]
* ActionBomb: The Ordos Saboteur and Air Mine units.
* AlwaysChaoticEvil: The Harkonnen. Due to them being a [[PlanetOfHats Planet Of]] [[JerkAss Jerkasses,]] the Fremen cannot be made to ally with them in the campaign.

* BadAssArmy: The Sardaukar and the Fremen, both of which have to be convinced of your worthiness before they'll help you.

* DeflectorShields: Found on a few Ordos units. Amusingly enough, they mirror the books in that if a shielded unit is hit by a laser weapon both units will be instantly destroyed.
* {{Determinator}}: Sardaukar will not be suppressed by enemy fire. ''Ever.''

** ''Emperor's'' Atreides mentat, Kolinar Koltrass, looks a lot like Thufir Hawat.

--> Flame Trooper: [[ApocalypseNow ''"Smells like... victory."]]''
* FireForgedFriends: Relations between the Atreides and Fremen are strained until an enemy assault on Caladan during a diplomatic meeting between the two helps them iron things out. Notable in that [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking Duke Achillus himself]] fights on foot in the mission where this occurs, probably a big reason the Fremen decide the Atreides are worthy allies.

** Ordos: [[ManipulativeBastard Manipulative Bastards]] driven by {{Greed}}.
** Harkonnen: AlwaysChaoticEvil and like StuffBlowingUp.

** Tleilaxu: {{Squick}}, with some {{Greed}}.

* RousingSpeech: House leaders and Mentants are prone to these, though flavor varies. The Atreides are usually TiredOfRunning while the Harkonnen prefer DareToBeBadass. The Ordos come off less rousing to the viewer due to RoboSpeak, but [[BlueAndOrangeMorality the Ordos are a weird bunch.]]

* HumongousMecha: Present in ''Emperor'', mostly on the Atreides side.

* AbnormalAmmo: While their equivalents in other houses simply use automatic rifles, the basic Ordos trooper in ''Emperor'' employs a chemical projector. The Harkonnen Inkvine Catapult flings barrels of toxic Inkvine ooze, damaging units on contact and when they pass through the ooze. [[IncendiaryExponent Said ooze can then be lit on fire.]]

* AllianceMeter: Of a sorts. You can undertake specific missions in ''Emperor'' to earn the trust of any one of the five sub-factions, each one giving you access to EliteMooks with various capabilities. [[spoiler: Though the Spacing Guild always turn against you by the game's end.]] There are limitations, however. Certain factions will not ally with others in the campaign, but in multiplayer you can select any two before a match.

* BigDamnHeroes: A slightly different one of these occurs in each house's ending in ''Emperor.'' Atreides Minotaurs get backup from an [[DeathFromAbove Ornithopter squadron,]] Ordos laser tanks from [[MoreDakka a Kobra artillery barrage]] and Harkonnen assault tanks from [[GoombaStomp air-dropped]] [[HumongousMecha Devastators.]]
* CainAndAbel: Gunseng and Copec Harkonnen. [[SelfMadeOrphan Copec poisons]] [[KlingonPromotion their father Rakkan]] and takes control of the house. [[MultipleEndings The commander must choose who to side with, ultimately resulting in that brother being crowned emperor.]] The other? Well...

* ChainsawGood: The Harkonnen Buzzsaw in ''Emperor'' is a huge circular saw blade with a cockpit and mounted machine guns. [[{{Squick}} To say nothing of what it does to infantry]], it can be used to break up spice fields, disrupting your enemies' economy.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Gunseng is unusually respectful of the rules for a Harkonnen. [[FridgeBrilliance This may be why so few of the House troops side with him when it comes to civil war against Copec.]]
* TheEvilPrince: Copec Harkonnen. Gunseng mostly just wants to win the war.

* FatBastard: Rakkan and and elder son Copec. Gunseng, [[LeanAndMean not so much.]]

* FunWithAcronyms: The Guild NIAB tank in ''Emperor'', generally thought to stand for "Navigator In A Box," which can be used if you ally with the Guild. They also have the non-usable NIAP, the "Navigator In A Plane."

* GlassCannon: The Ordos Kobra in ''Emperor'', a fixed-gun tank destroyer that can deploy itself to become a SentryGun.
** There's also the Atreides Sonic Tank.

* TheMedic: In ''Emperor'' Atreides vehicles lack a HealingFactor, so they get a dedicated repair vehicle to compensate.

* OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness: The Executrix, leaders of House Ordos. [[VoiceOfTheLegion They speak collectively]] through a being called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The Speaker.]]
* OurZombiesAreDifferent: In ''Emperor'', allying with the Tleilaxu gives you access to Contaminators, which convert slain infantry into more of themselves. The [[NightmareFuel scary part]] as that they can also do this to ''vehicles'' with their Leech unit.
** The Ordos intend to put Shaddam IV back on this throne... as a Ghola, a resurrected, conditioned duplicate of a formerly living individual.

* XanatosGambit: The Spacing Guild's challenge to the Houses in ''Emperor'' [[spoiler: proves to be one by the Spacing Guild in an effort to control the galaxy.]] They get OutGambitted by Elara and the player's House.