Only one novice m twenty achieved the coveted sixth rank, Advisor Skilled in wisdom and diplomacy, possessing the abilities of all the lower ranks adding sophistication and understanding, an Advisor was the equal in price and value of a Sardaukar legion or a bloc of CHOAM shares Advi sors planned for the long ran, they negotiated delicate matters they judged matters of life and death Regularly, a field marshal, a planetary governor, or a CHOAM director would closet himself with an Advisor before taking key actions A Mentat-Advisor was thought to be able to transform a mediocre ruler into a respected leader, and a better than-average ruler into a potential emperor By the 9000s, no Great House lacked a Mentat-Advisor, the death of whom was often disastrous to its fortunes several years might pass before a suitable replacement could be framed, purchased, bnefed, and functioning Not only were Advisors sometimes unavailable, but long waiting lists and astronomic bidding might further delay re placement MENTAT DYSFUNCTION Mentat Freeze Memorizer Babble, Processor naivete, and Generahst pride have been noted above But other conditions could impair a Mental's abilities Generahsts and higher-rank Mentats were vulnerable to a syndrome uilled "Mental-Freeze, ' which sprang from self-doubt Although taught to transcend the narrowness of specialization no human being can be entirely free from Ihe elemenl of uncertainly that transcendence implies Repeated and strenu ous questioning of A Mental's computations did not lead to new computations-those were mferentially determined-but to anxiety about the base of those computations Senior-rank Mentals were repeatedly warned that wavering was the first slep toward the tolally disabling Mental-Freeze Thai state halted all Mentat functions permanently unless the doubt could be removed and confidence restored The rehabilitation of frozen Mentats consumed a long process of hypnosis, counseling, and the ullimate rebuilding of a personality strengthened to resist self doubt So devastat ing was Mental-Freeze that the condition, e