Rogue Trader | Roles/Classes Guide - Warhammer 40k RPG

A Quick run-down of roles and classes for Rogue Trader the Warhammer 40k Tabletop Roleplay Game.
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Rogue Trader is a role-playing game published in 2009 that uses the Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay system.
In Rogue Trader, players take the role of a Rogue Trader and their crew as they operate outside the stellar and legal boundaries of the Imperium. The book provides, among other things, rules for interplanetary commerce and spaceship operation, travel, combat, and customization.
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This is where the obligatory part goes where you talk about how you do Let's Play Walkthrough and Gameplay videos, how you playthrough games and try to give, tips, hints and guide... and you have to try and make it look like you're not just trying to smack together all the keywords into your description. How did I do?
#TabletopRPG #Warhammer40k #RogueTrader

[@NotoriusBEN1]

I played a senechal in one game a few years ago... 1st session, got some lucky rolls in creating a cascading warp storm from critting a Chaos cultist ship... that killed a flotilla of cultist ships in said warp storm. 2nd session, bought a bunch of weapons platforms with some good Acquire rolls and fortified a planet. 3rd session, had a movie made about my exploits from the 1st session... was almost killed by an assassin. turned the tables on said assassin, and turned them into my bodyguard. 4th session, with the kroot in the team, managed to defuse a bomb and save the engine and warp core of the rogue trader ship. reading back on this, it sounds like fan fiction, but I was rolling hot with crits and just got awesome situations to come up and became the deadliest accountant in the sector. never got that lucky in a d% game since.

[@7Kibz]

This suddenly became very relevant to me

[@kat_boss5520]

to every owcat games fan too

[@Maehedrose]

In my games the Rogue Trader will always be an NPC, that way I don't have to worry about any power imbalance issues in the party. It also allows me, as GM, to play the Rogue Trader and make them as fun and interesting as I would want such a figure to be. The rest of the players will be command crew, each with substantial influence and responsibility on the ship in their own roles. They will act as the Rogue Trader's advisors and 'away team' while he's commanding the ship. I intend to play it a bit like 'Star Trek in 40K' in that regard.

[@momparty]

The way we play, a player Rogue Trader is just... delicious. "With great power comes great responsibility" translates to "WHEN WILL YOU LEARN THAT YOUR ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!!" Your higher crew are the "keys to power". Piss them off, or worse, just not keep them happy, and you've lost what keeps you alive. Every member of the crew is a force multiplier. Piss off your arch militant, now your manual combat goes to shit. Piss off your seneschal, boom, your money goes down the toilet. Enginseer? Oooh boy, now your ship sucks. Navigator? Really? You are now STRANDED. The rogue trader's primary job is steering the campaign, their secondary job is keeping the keys to power happy.

[@Maehedrose]

@@momparty My players learned the 'actions have consequences' lesson many years ago.

[@elcidbob]

Rping a rogue trader, remember you're a real leader: you've surrounded yourself with a bunch of brilliant experts. You lean on and trust their expertise. Weighing out the various risks and benefits they lay out to your is your job, but you're an idiot if you don't listen to the experts trying to do what you brought them in to do.

[@00tree]

100% agreed. When I first started playing in the group I was the Arch Militant who was a heavy weapons specialist from the Death Korps Krieg and one of my friends was the Rogue Trader. He was a bit uncomfortable with with being in charge so after a few months of the game, he expressed that he wanted to step down from the character in a discussion that himself, the GM and myself. I decided that I’d be willing to give it a shot and his character retired with his daughter taking up the rains as the house scion. Even though, ultimately the decision of what we are doing is up to me, I always take in all the info from my retinue. It works out really well actually. I don’t lord my station over everyone else and we all get shares of the loot we find. As cool as I might think a lot of the stuff that we find is, I make sure to let everyone get their shares. It’s the only real way to make sure that all the gear isn’t top loaded into one character. We all need to be effective for the group to function properly anyway. It’s the logical thing to do. My Rogue trader was a newer character that came into the group after we played for a while. Her retinue was already rather experienced when she was ‘green’ so she very much listens to them. I took the Swashbuckler class and not too long ago picked up the legend of the Expanse class, so she is very cavalier and is actually rather friendly and as good natured as someone can be in a 40K game. She’s also a really beast in Melee and decent with a pistol. I play her very flamboyant and as a daring risk taker. Yeah, I’ve burned through three of her six… (Yes she has had six fate points.)… fate points but the results have all been epic, which is exactly the way Rogue trader should feel.

[@moseszero3281]

You could play the missionary where he has a specialization/obsession with a certain enemy type. IE demons. Kinda like some Inquisitors factions that are able to overlook using a little xenos tech if it helps kill demons.

[@harrymason4300]

I always play them as being outcasts who were assigned to the Traders because they weren't zealous enough.

[@griffincrump5077]

Or maybe has a really deviant understanding of the emperor like thinking he believed in science and logic over dogmatic blind faith, some sort of imperial truth perhaps

[@clockworkdeity]

After I watched the trailer for the new Rogue Trader game this video was immediately recommended by KZbin.

[@kanashikute18]

Its pretty much that youtube is readying us up for owlcat's game

[@clockworkdeity]

@@kanashikute18 Back when I was writing up my last Rogue Trader campaign I felt like I couldn't get this many related hits on the game...

[@Wandering_Inn]

@@clockworkdeity Dark Heresy tends to do the best, but I've done a couple of Rogue Trader shows that've done okay :D

[@ghostwood9174]

I was able to find a hard copy in very good condition for only $20. Very excited to delve into a campaign.

[@00tree]

That’s a great find. They are rather expensive now. Easily well over $100 when they are EBay.

[@boyanpenev9822]

"Everyone wants to be an ork or a dark eldar." Ironically, either of these can impact the kind of game you play and what other players must tolerate more than all but the most stupid missionaries. Dark eldar in particular have been a deal-breaker to me. Especially the Dark Eldar. A rogue trader's ship has to travel through the warp, possibly for months at a time, and there any excessive emotions could beckon the demons that the gellar field is usually barely keeping away. Meanwhile, Cruellagh De'Vile is not just an "edgy" eldar but a psychic vampire who literally has to feed on pain and anguish on a regular basis to not shrivel and die, not to mention being extra tasty to fair few demons. Talk about "does not play well with others." Also, IIRC orks are easier to do medicae on, rather than harder like kroot. Orks are so hardy and survivable that just slapping stuff against each other and maybe tying them together works.

[@arnoldtabor3767]

Somone made a fairly well balanced eldari race ... which is fully ( In my opinion) fleshed out

[@Rytonic69]

Having an Ork onboard might offset that, since they might see a gellar field as a killjoy

[@horpaskron6645]

harharhar.... thats how much the idea of a missionary can vary from person to person. I like to think that many a rogue trader would love to have an unhinged pyromaniac at their side^^

[@yourdoom9898]

Yeah, but not one that gets incredibly mad anytime they do anything against the Emperor's Will (read: basically all the time, that's why they're Traders)

[@toastertech1181]

main reasons to have a player be an astropath and navigator? you always need a telephone and a compass when traveling

[@kuroazrael2069]

I don't mean this to offend, because I think you look awesome, you look like a real live viking

[@docartemis2878]

Arch-Militant’s special is the weapon class, not the type. So Melee, Pistols, Basic, or Heavy.

[@Wandering_Inn]

I wasn't sure, but that def makes it more powerful lol

[@deanmottershead9208]

I usefully make the player choose a type IE bolter, shot guns the power is so good it's generally a good idea to limit it a little

[@scelonferdi]

For GMs it sounds like the best way of making up adventures is creating projects (using the project rules)with your players and then throwing the curveballs.

[@commissarchaplainradke92]

I DON'T HAVE A GAME PROBLEM, YOU DO!! *snorts some recaffe*

[@Wandering_Inn]

It's only a problem if you let it be a problem.

[@MilosAndric123]

Thank you so much, i have my book in front of me and listening to you :D

[@arnoldtabor3767]

Missonary and a kroot could be fun ... especislly if the kroot treats the missionary as a shaper ... "no dont eat that hard to defeat enemy" ..."why man-shaper" ,"its tainted with chaos" ... "but it tastes like kricken" , "kricken?" , "yes kroot chicken" ... "chickens have been extinct for eons" ... "yes after a few kroot found a ancient human planet 35,000 years ago ... KFChicken" ... "OK just finish the one leg and after we are off to peck I want me some chicken"

[@scelonferdi]

There's also a little PDF expansion for T'au characters, for whatever reason.

[@docartemis2878]

I’ve run Rogue Trader a couple times, campaigns haven’t really held up but that’s as much my group as anything. Always wanted to play in one, thinking I’d roll a Navigator if I ever do get to play.

[@Wandering_Inn]

Yeah sometimes it can be hard to keep meeting for sessions. I've never played in a 40k rp game as a player. One day maybe :D

[@deanmottershead9208]

I like most of the 40k Roleplay games rogue trader is one of my favourites it's hard to find groups because D&D is so popular and some people convince the players that 40k is not as good. It has its strengths and weaknesses like all Roleplay

[@deanmottershead9208]

I would offer to GW but not sure how to do it over Skype/internet

[@briancline7349]

They have Dark Eldar but not regular Eldar?

[@OverlordMagos]

great video :) Plan to describe the other careers like the ork weirdboy or the tau fire warrior?

[@Wandering_Inn]

If people want it, I'm down to go over them. I feel like these set you up to figure those out though :)

[@alohi79]

So Midas from the first Eisenhorn novel would be a Void Master?

[@coyotep5021]

Aww snap Rogue Trader having a kroot could be interesting

[@hollowedshadow2822]

How does one find a group to play with, kind of a shut-in with few friends.

[@Wandering_Inn]

Some of the people on my discord organise 40k games now and then... can't promise anything but, that's the best i've got :D

[@kaasmaster8892]

You know a cool thing about the missionary might be playing Them as a missionary for a certain warp deity anf constantly trying to secretly convert people to their heretical faith

[@Crystlejock]

What version are you using I'm not seeing the xeno classes and a few other things your showing

[@mattjack4587]

thanks again sheepy!

[@Logan..B.]

Loverly

[@SilentOne2382]

Sheepy, what class would you recommend for the campaign you are GMing? Also, where can I get copies of all of the books? Preferably online.

[@Wandering_Inn]

Which show? I believe all the books are on places like DriveThruRPG, i believe it's called, and other stores like that they also go on humble bundles etc sometimes

[@SilentOne2382]

The Rogue Trader: Lost. The one where they die almost every episode. And I watch every week. And I will try and help out the players once I get my paycheck. I feel bad for you and EE. All that Chaos.

[@Ghandicus]

Played a lot of pathfinder then more recently d&d 5e...I would love to see a more d&d based rule set for this game. I've tossed the idea of playing RT around with the boys, and they all look at the rule set and go hell no lol

[@Wandering_Inn]

I think there is a 40k homebrew floating around for D&D 5e...? Or more than one maybe, not sure.. but you might be able to find it if you go looking :D

[@nephalos666]

Honestly, the d100 percentile is far easier to learn and play than DnD's d20 system.

[@LilacMage]

So what youre saying is... the whole group COULD be Orks? 😍

[@00tree]

Commonly referred to as Ork Trader. LOL. The GM could have an assault unit of Orks as the PCs characters and send them on missions. I actually played an ork that became a Big Mek in a game for a while and I had a unit of 10 orks that I took as my own after killing their Nobz. By the end of the campaign, I had four of them left. The rest had died, but my character and the ones that were still around all had Mega Armor that my character built. We were the ultimate ship boarding repellent crew all buzzing around the ship’s corridors in our trukk searching for boarding parties to fight.

[@26snoopy82]

I Just got the main book to play this game. I would like to be a pirate should I get more supplements to creat a pirate/bounty hunter?

[@Wandering_Inn]

I would say that Hostile Aquisitions is probably the main extra book you'd want to look at for that... maybe Battlefleet Koronus because it adds more stuff for ships? Hopefully this helps :)

[@26snoopy82]

@@Wandering_Inn I will look for those books to see if I can start a campaign with some friends. Thanks.

[@26snoopy82]

@@Wandering_Inn can you have a sister of battle in your RPG? I’m building a sister army for the Warhammer and kill team.

[@caad5258]

nice

[@countsnowyofgwainn3996]

Is there a way to play a Dreadnought? I would love it if there were a rpg game that allows me to be my hulking venerable Dreadnaught. If they would be overpowered then I understand

[@tomtheconqerur]

Deathwatch and one of its supplements has rules for that

[@TheGreystroke]

i see why this person doesn't get the priest as it appears he thinks orc's trade same with the dark elder , they trade bolters shells and similar for your life

[@Wandering_Inn]

I mean, in Rogue Trader, they trade... Even in 40k lore they trade... I don't know what to tell you haha. You can even have an Ork or Dark Eldar character on your crew. Plus I get the priest, and I think it could be a lot of fun with the right player, it's just a Role that can be dangerous because if you want to play a less Fanatical game, with trading and making deals with other Races, someone playing a Priest/Preacher type is going to have a hard time and probably ruin it if they aren't careful. Having said that.. I don't remember a single thing I said in this video lol. It was a while ago.

[@TheGreystroke]

@@Wandering_Inn agreed trade is a major part of the RT side just the 2 races the books gave us for crew are very unlikely to engage in dialogue that would present the chance of this, the priest characters also shine when one runs into the great enemy as its traits can be very useful

[@Wandering_Inn]

@@TheGreystroke Oh for sure, if i remember correctly my cautions wasn't because the priest is bad mechanically, but can be tricky for players to navigate in roleplay, because they are so black and white, it closes off a lot of interesting fun if the player playing them "goes full lore" xD

[@DragonSynMeli]

missing tau.

[@nephalos666]

Tau character creation is actually in the game. There is a supplement you can download for it as a pdf file. It's about 40-ish pages and includes some lore, the Fire Warrior class rank/skill lists, and Tau weaponry.

[@theindepundit6088]

I am Kroot

[@Capt.Thunder]

This is a very unimaginative take. The missionary doesn't have the authority to unilaterally kill the rogue trader and his crew. This gives you so much freedom to play around with it (as long as you as a player don't sabotage the other players), as you have an in-game excuse to be held in check. You are there as spiritual advisor, not inquisitor. You can lean into the comedy of ineffectually complaining about heresy all the time "But my liege, the God Emperor demands that the mutant, the xenos, the heretic, be Burned in the Holy Fires of His Prometheum! What will you do next, cavort with demons in the night?! Degenerate. Weak. Fornicator." Basically shouting "h3nt4i!" all the time, like the girls in the Japanese cartoons, but more medieval. Or you can lean into the cowardly angle, who is all bark and no bite "Hold me back, I said: hold me back! I really mean it, I'll give that xenos a piece of my chainsword if you don't hold me!!" Or play around with being a doomer chad "Everyone on this ship has fallen and now revels in sin. It is probably too late for them, but I stand as the Emperor's final beacon. I shall seize every opportunity to be a badass for the Emperor, and all that matters is my own spiritual journey; that I die well for my beliefs. I won't even complain when others propose sin, because I was already aware that they were contemptible maggots crawling at my feet; it is in their nature and wholly anticipated, why should I care for their already-damned souls when I can be so much more?" Or the Machiavellian grasping political priest who is in it for expanding his power and the power of the church, and makes under the table bargains to look the other way, or finds creative ways for others to ""repent"' - i.e. "That's a lot of sin you just committed there, would be a shame if the ecclesiarchy were to find out. What are you going to do to uh... 'Redeem' yourself in the eyes of the God Emperor?" He can be an unscrupulous true believer or a charlatan, but both types act similarly. Loads of options. Get good.

[@Wandering_Inn]

I'm afraid I can't remember what I said in this video that you're referring to. I agree those would and could be good characters. I believe this video was intended as a guide for starter campaigns. For people just getting into it. My guess would be I suggested not to pick the missionary as they can cause a lot of friction and table as opposed to purely roleplay arguments. It's possible I wasn't clear enough about that. As I said, this video is pretty old, I'm not sure how much of it I would stand behind today.

[@Capt.Thunder]

​@@Wandering_Inn Fair enough. But yes, while you are correct that Missionaries can be mis-roleplayed, and it's fair of you to warn beginners away from it, you went way too far in dismissing the career. The hierarchical nature of Rogue Trader avoids the problem of the paladin raining on everyone's parade - and even in that example, many people play paladins without that problem. Missionaries do need to be played with the group's fun in mind, but you basically said it was almost impossible to do that. Which is not remotely true.

[@Wandering_Inn]

@@Capt.Thunder It's possible my individual experiences biased me against the role. I can't remember what was in my brain that far back haha

[@arnoldtabor3767]

I have a concept character ... a perpetual ... specifically somone who is 40,000 ish years old born about the turn of the 2nd millennium... who because terra is his home and he cant permanently be killed has ... a few things mentally wrong especially after the unification wars ... also having all thier knowledge from millennia and not being able to use it completely because (some of it probably would be considered heresy) .... just weather or not to say psyker or ad mech with a slight amount of psychic ability... I dont know really how I'd work it

[@nickh3205]

But what about the Tau?