The player arrives on Arrakis with the mission of contacting and convincing the Fremen tribes residing in sietches to harvest the spice. Harvesting is crucial for purchasing equipment from smugglers and appeasing the emperor. Players can equip the tribes with harvesters to increase production or ornis to protect them from Shai-Hulud, the sandworms.
The spice doesn't last forever, and new sietches must be prospected before a mining crew is assigned. However, players cannot run southwards forever, as the Harkonnen enemy controls the north of the planet, dangerously close to the Atreides Palace. As the initial batches are sent to the Emperor, players will have to actively deal with the Harkonnen, who will try to take control of player sietches.