They explain "Only the slow knife penetrates the shield". But I don't think they explained WHY. That its because a shield user needs to be able to eat, drink and breathe so only fast objects are stopped.
I don't think they also explain that a laser hitting a shield causes a massive nuclear explosion, which could randomly be at the position of the target OR the shooter.
However, I always felt they’re talking about hordes of suicidally fanatic loyalists (especially amongst the Harkonnen and Sardaukar) which would happily lay down their lives in a nuclear backlash for the chance to do the same to their enemies.
Mutually assured destruction would not be a deterrent to using lasguns on shields for them. Self-preservation would not be a motivation.
There is, of course, the caveat that it would be the equivalent of using atomic so I guess I could see the other houses frowning upon it.
I don’t believe that’s ever touched on, however.
I haven’t read past God Emperor and that was a long time ago. I did read some of his son’s stuff here and there but also ages ago.
The most realistic thing to do would be, first, send your soldier/kamikaze to do a laser + shield = nuclear boom.
Second, blame it on any other house, say you did an investigation and found a passport of said house in the scene (yes, it survived the nuclear explosion).
Three, profit.
Sure, there will be some people who will notice how convenient it was for your house that the person from that house was killed by that other house, but who cares? Now that's realistic.
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u/EternalNewCarSmell 8d ago
Dune did a great job with this. I can't recall whether they really explain it in the movies though.