I'm struggling to work out what to do with allied Supporting Characters (allied NPCs) during a skirmish conflict in Dune. Some parts of the rules seem to imply the GM treats them like they would an NPC in other RPGs: the NPC would take their own turn during a combat round, roll to move, roll to attack, etc.
However, other bits of the rules, and the Agents of Dune scenario imply that the NPCs are just assets that the PCs move around the map like chess pieces, and only the PCs are rolling dice.
(Except when the PC chooses to do the Follow Orders rule on page 136 of the core rules: a PC tells the NPC what to do and rolls 1d20 and the NPC rolls 2d20, then successes are counted.)
Page 136 also states that allied NPCs will automatically fail any skill test that is above Difficulty 0, without rolling dice. So if shooting Baron Harkonnen is Difficulty 3, they'll always miss.
So in a conflict, how do I handle the allied NPCs? Are they "people" who get their own turn in the action order? Or are they "advantages" (assets) simply there to modify PC dice rolls and/or chance of success?
Clarification: I'm after some clues as to what happens in a skirmish conflict. If PC A, PC B, Minor Supporting Characters C and D get into a fight with Harkonnens X, Y and Z...
Does it play out like this? (Very trad RPG style)
- PC A does their action and attacks.
- Harkonnen X does their action.
- PC B does their action and moves, then keeps initiative & attacks..
- Harkonnen Y does their action.
- Supporting Minor C does their action, GM choses what they do with player input ('follow orders' rule - dice are rolled).
- Harkonnen Z does their action.
- Supporting Minor D does their action, GM chooses what they do - automatic fail as Difficulty is above 0.
Or does it play out like this?
- PC A does their action. They pick 'Follow Orders' and thus "use up" the Supporting Minor C by ordering them to attack. Dice are rolled.
- Harkonnen X does their action.
- PC B does their action. They move into the zone where Supporting Minor D is, and can therefore use Minor D's trait of "soldier" to lower the difficulty when they keep the initiative and attack. This "uses up" Minor D.
- Harkonnen Y does their action.
- Harkonnen Z does their action.
Or does it play out in a completely different way?