Own a slice of Arrakis: the private‑server playbook—Worlds, shared hubs & Deep Desert, plus the best PvE/PvPvE/PvP toggles.
The 30‑second overview
- A private server = your own Hagga Basin. It’s a full-sized survival map where you and whoever has your password can build, progress, and play.
- But you’re still part of a larger World. Every private server is assigned to a World—a cluster of many Hagga Basins that share the social hubs (Arrakeen & Harko Village) and a single Deep Desert. That means you’ll meet players from other private servers when you leave your Basin.
- What you can toggle (per provider):
- Security Zones in your Hagga Basin (pockets of PvP on/off, or make Basin full‑PvP).
- Taxation (affects base upkeep).
- Sandstorms (on/off in your Basin).
You can also name and password‑protect your server.
- What you can’t change: You don’t control the shared hubs or the Deep Desert; you can’t tweak XP/rates, use mods/RCON, or skip the daily restart on most hosts.
How Worlds actually work
Your Hagga Basin (your private server)
Think of the Hagga Basin as your “home shard.” It’s a large, persistent survival map with land-claiming and base building—similar in footprint to Conan Exiles’ map—with primarily PvE gameplay and a few PvP pockets by default. On a private server you control whether those PvP pockets exist at all (more on that below).
Shared social hubs
Arrakeen and Harko Village are shared, non‑buildable, non‑PvP social spaces that every server in your World connects to. You’ll visit them to trade on the Exchange, pick up contracts, chat, and use vendors—alongside players from other private servers assigned to the same World.
The Deep Desert
The Deep Desert is the endgame playspace that every server in your World funnels into. It’s massive (several times larger than Hagga Basin), designed for large‑scale conflict over control points and spice blows, and it connects everyone in your World—official or private—into one shared sandbox. Its layout is refreshed weekly by a huge Coriolis Storm that moves resources and points of interest. You can’t disable or customize this from a private server.
Important current context: Funcom has been expanding PvE access in the Deep Desert over time. As of mid‑2025 patches, Tier‑6 resources can be gathered in wider PvE areas there (though PvP zones remain the shortest path to high‑density rewards). That’s great news for PvE‑leaning groups who still want endgame crafting without diving headlong into PvP.
What you can (and can’t) configure on a private server
The three big toggles
- Security Zones (PvP pockets in your Basin)
- On: Hagga Basin plays like official servers—mostly PvE with discrete PvP pockets.
- Off: You’ve created a Basin‑wide full‑PvP free‑for‑all.
These settings apply only to your Hagga Basin, not to hubs or the Deep Desert.
- Taxation (base upkeep & risk)
Taxation is a sink that ties into base protection. On hosts like Nitrado, “taxation” directly impacts building shield decay when payments are missed. Disabling it reduces upkeep chores and softens the survival loop; enabling it enforces economic pressure and clears abandoned claims over time. - Sandstorms (environmental hazard in your Basin)
Toggle moment‑to‑moment sandstorms in your Hagga Basin on or off. This doesn’t affect the weekly Coriolis Storm that reconfigures the Deep Desert for your entire World.
Also configurable everywhere: server name and password. On most hosts that’s instantaneous after a restart.
Common limitations (so you aren’t surprised)
- You don’t control hubs or the Deep Desert. Those instances are provided centrally for each World; no player hosts them.
- Server modding & console access: No RCON, no mod support, and no blanket rate multipliers (XP/harvest) on most providers at present.
- Daily restarts: Required for stability and event cadence across Worlds.
Picking the right World variant (G‑Portal example)
Some hosts let you pick a World variant—a preset that governs which toggles are allowed or enforced across private servers connected to that World. On G‑Portal, you’ll see: Hardcore, PvPvE, Roleplay, Free for all. The differences are straightforward: (GPORTAL)
- Hardcore: Sandstorms on, Taxation on, Security Zones off (full‑PvP Basin).
- PvPvE (official‑like): Sandstorms on, Taxation on, Security Zones on.
- Roleplay: Sandstorms on, Taxes off, Security Zones on.
- Free for all: You decide—every toggle is yours to enable/disable.
Caveat for “Free for all”: other private servers in the same World might set their toggles differently, which can create uneven expectations across communities you meet in the shared spaces. If you’re trying to cultivate consistent cross‑server PvP, the PvPvE or Hardcore variants are safer picks. (GPORTAL)
Step‑by‑step: from rental to “join game” without headaches
- Rent & assign a World with your provider, then set server name and password. (You’ll also see a World Name/Assignment—keep it handy.)
- Apply toggles (Security Zones, Taxation, Sandstorms) and restart.
- Join from the game: In the server browser’s Private tab, search for the World Name (not your server name!). Expand the World, then select your server. Enter password.
- Visit other private servers: Anyone in your World can hop between private Hagga Basins by selecting the target server and entering its password; on private servers, visitors can even claim land—unlike visits among official servers. You’ll spawn at Griffin’s Reach.
Recommended settings, by playstyle
The toggles are simple, but the impacts aren’t. Below are tested profiles that match how most groups actually play.
1) PvE sanctuary (casual groups, builders, story enjoyers)
- Security Zones: On (default official‑style pockets). Keeps random ganks out of your day‑to‑day, while still letting you opt into fights.
- Taxation: Off if your group is small or time‑constrained; this removes upkeep pressure, so you’re not logging in to pay bills. On if you want a light economy and automatic cleanup of abandoned claims.
- Sandstorms: Off if you’re accessibility‑minded or have new players; On if you want survival texture.
- World variant: Roleplay (G‑Portal) or comparable on other hosts—gives you storms and safe hubs with taxes disabled by default.
- Why this works now: The Deep Desert’s PvE side has broader access to Tier‑6 materials than at launch, so your PvE‑heavy crew can craft endgame gear without constantly wading into PvP. Expect higher densities further into PvP areas if you choose to brave them.
Quality‑of‑life tips
- Keep a shared stash near Griffin’s Reach to shuttle to hubs safely.
- Schedule optional “Deep Desert nights” to chase spice blows when your group feels up for it. The weekly Coriolis Storm re‑rolls the DD map, so every week’s outing is fresh.
2) PvPvE (the game “as intended,” but privately hosted)
- Security Zones: On (mirrors official vibe: mostly PvE Basin with opt‑in PvP pockets).
- Taxation: On (maintains a functioning economy, incentivizes activity, and ensures inactive claims decay).
- Sandstorms: On (hazard that rewards preparation and makes traversal meaningful).
- World variant: PvPvE (G‑Portal) to align you with other servers in your World using the same baseline.
- Why this works: You preserve the survival loop and economy of official servers while still controlling your local community and rules. Shared hubs and the Deep Desert ensure you meet the wider World when you want to.
Community & fairness
- Publish your Basin rules (raid hours, loot etiquette in PvP pockets) in Discord and in the server MOTD.
- If you organize cross‑server events in hubs, agree on ground rules; remember you can’t change hub/Deep Desert rules from your server.
3) Hardcore PvP (sieges, territory, politics)
- Security Zones: Off (full‑PvP Basin). This is the cleanest ruleset for conflict‑driven groups.
- Taxation: On (ensures upkeep pressure and organic churn of captured/abandoned real estate).
- Sandstorms: On (adds fog‑of‑war moments and operational risk to ambushes and logistics).
- World variant: Hardcore (G‑Portal) to ensure other Basins in your World are playing by similar expectations.
- Operational reality: Your real endgame battleground is the shared Deep Desert. Use the Basin for logistics/industry and push conflict to the DD where the stakes (spice, T6 mats, control points) justify PvP ops. The weekly storm wipes the strategic map clean—plan around it.
Administration advice
- Post clear no‑harassment and exploit policies. There’s no RCON/mod stack today, so you’ll moderate socially (Discord, ban lists) rather than via plugins.
Advanced tips most hosts won’t tell you
- Search by World Name when joining. Many hosts generate your World Assignment string; you expand it to see your actual server. If you search for the server name directly, you’ll miss it.
- Visitors & land claims (private ↔ private): Unlike visiting between official servers, visitors can claim land when visiting another private server in the same World—assuming they have the password. Useful for allied build projects.
- Switching Worlds later: Some providers (e.g., Nitrado) let you transfer your private server to a different World after creation—handy if your target World’s population dries up. Check your host’s guide.
- Regions & restarts: Expect mandatory daily restarts and limited region options at first; these exist to keep a consistent cadence and stability across Worlds. Plan your community events around restart windows.
Putting it all together
- If your group is here for building & story, go Roleplay or PvE‑leaning Free‑for‑all: Security Zones on, Taxation off, Sandstorms to taste.
- If you want the official feel with control over your neighborhood, go PvPvE: Security Zones on, Taxation on, Sandstorms on.
- If you’re here for factional warfare, go Hardcore: Security Zones off, Taxation on, Sandstorms on.
Whichever path you pick, remember: your Basin is private; hubs and the Deep Desert are shared. That’s the magic of Dune: Awakening’s architecture—local control without losing the planet‑wide drama.
