Rogue Trader Into the Storm Explorer's Handbook (Warhammer 40k Roleplay)

258 Pages·2010·69.04 MB·English

THE EXPLORER’S
HANDBOOK

®
®

™

™

™

1

Introduction

ROLEPLAYING IN THE GRIM

DARKNESS OF THE 41ST MILLENNIUM

2

Credits

Lead Developer

Sam Stewart

Written and Developed By

Nathan Dowdell, Andy Hoare, Tim Huckelbery, Jason

Marker, William Thrasher, Ross Watson, and Benn Williams

Additional Writing

Alan Bligh, Tim Flanders, John French, Reason, and Rex Vogen

Editing

Alex Davy and Thaadd Powell

Proofreading

Mark Pollard

Graphic Design

Bryan Schomburg and Kevin Childress

Cover Art

Tiernan Trevallion

Interior Art

A. Ashbaugh, John Blanche, Johann Bodin, Matt Bradbury,

Robin Cary, Sacha Diener, Falk, Zachary Graves, David

Griffith, Prof Herbert, Nikolaus Ingeneri, Henning

Ludvigsen, Aaron Panagos, Marissa Rivera, Neil Roberts,
Erich Schreiner, Sept13, Mark Smith, David Sondered,

Skysoul Studios, Theo Stylianides, Liu Yang

Art Direction

Zoë Robinson

Production Manager

Gabe Laulunen

FFG Lead Game Designer

Corey Konieczka

FFG Lead Game Producer

Michael Hurley

Publisher

Christian T. Petersen

GAMES WORKSHOP

Licensing Manager

Owen Rees

Head of Licensing

Paul Lyons

Head of Intellectual Property

Alan Merrett

Special Thanks

“Dispensing Orbital Justice” Jordan Goldfarb with Robin Dreher,

Ben Mason, Daniel Carroll, and Kristine Beskin. “You Bid Babies?!”

Jordan “Milly” Millward with Keri Harthoorn, Kyle Harthoorn-
Burton, Kieren Smith, and Julia Smith. “Forged in Death” Aric

Weider with Dawn Wildfong, Chris Doyscher, and Amber J. Colby.
“The Wise Guys” David Wiley Holton, Chuck Boyer, Scott Boyer,
Dana Severance, Jared McGee, and Mark Belhumeur. “Furies for
everyone!” David R. Schumpert III esq. with Pierre Wagenseil,
Martin Linde, Adam Schumpert, and David Hudock. “FFG Crew
of the Golden Dawn” Tod Gelle, James Hata, Kyle Hough, Mack

Martin, Thaadd Powell, and Ross Watson.

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Fantasy Flight Games

1975 West County Road B2

Roseville, MN 55113

USA

Copyright © Game Workshop Limited 2010. Games Workshop, Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer 40,000 Role Play, Rogue Trader,
Into the Storm, the foregoing marks’ respective logos, Rogue Trader, and all associated marks, logos, places, names, creatures, races and
race insignia/devices/logos/symbols, vehicles, locations, weapons, units and unit insignia, characters, products and illustrations from the
Warhammer 40,000 universe and the Rogue Trader game setting are either ®, ™, and/or © Games Workshop Ltd 2000-2010, variably

registered in the UK and other countries around the world. This edition published under license to Fantasy Flight Publishing Inc. All

rights reserved to their respective owners. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any

form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

ISBN: 978-1-58994-726-9 Product Code: RT04 Print ID: 780MAY10

Printed in China

For more information about the Rogue Trader line, free downloads, answers

to rule queries, or just to pass on greetings, visit us online at

www.FantasyFlightGames.com

CREDITS

3

Contents

Contents

Chapter I: Advanced Origins

New Home Worlds .................................................................8
Frontier World .........................................................................9
Footfallen .............................................................................. 10
Fortress World ...................................................................... 11
Battlefleet .............................................................................. 12
Penal World .......................................................................... 13
Child of Dynasty .................................................................. 14
Expanding the Origin Path ................................................ 17
New Birthright Options...................................................... 17
Fringe Survivor ..................................................................... 17
New Lure of the Void Options .......................................... 20
New Trials and Travails Options ...................................... 23
Motivation ............................................................................. 25
Lineage .................................................................................. 28
Power and Profit: The Ship and Warrant Path ................. 33
Profit Points .......................................................................... 33
Warrant Age .......................................................................... 33
Fortune & Fate ...................................................................... 37
Acquisition ............................................................................ 38
Sanction ................................................................................. 40
Contacts ................................................................................ 41
Warrant Renown .................................................................. 44

Chapter II: Koronus Careers

Xenos Characters ................................................................ 46
The Alien in the Imperium ................................................. 46
Kroot .................................................................................... 47
Alien Biology ........................................................................ 48
Kroot Player Characters ...................................................... 48
Kroot Kindreds ..................................................................... 49
Kroot Characteristics ........................................................... 50
Kroot Talents ....................................................................... 50
Kroot Mercenary .................................................................. 52
Orks ....................................................................................... 56
Orks in the Koronus Expanse ............................................. 58
Ork Player Characters ......................................................... 60
Skills and Talents ................................................................. 63
Ork Freebooter ................................................................... 66
Alternate Career Ranks ....................................................... 70
Taking an Alternate Career Rank ...................................... 70
Career Progression ............................................................... 71
Acquisitionist ........................................................................ 72
Augmenticist ......................................................................... 74
Calixian Privateer ................................................................. 76
Drusian Adherent ................................................................. 78
Flight Marshal ...................................................................... 80
Genetor .................................................................................. 82
Gland Warrior....................................................................... 84
Kroot Shaper ........................................................................ 86
Legend of the Expanse ........................................................ 88
Navis Scion ........................................................................... 90
Ork Kommando ................................................................... 92
Ork Mekboy ......................................................................... 94
Transubstantial Initiate......................................................................96
Torchbearer ........................................................................... 98
Xenographer .......................................................................100
Elite Advances ....................................................................102
Using Elite Advances .........................................................102
Agent of the Throne ..........................................................103
Glimpse From Beyond .......................................................105
Rite of Duplessence ...........................................................106
Sanctioned Xenos ...............................................................107

Chapter III: Extended Armoury

Ranged weapons ................................................................110
Las Weapons .......................................................................110
Solid Projectile Weapons ..................................................111
Bolt Weapons ......................................................................112
Melta Weapons ...................................................................114
Plasma Weapons .................................................................114
Flame Weapons ...................................................................114
Primitive Weapons .............................................................114
Launchers ............................................................................115
Grenades and Launcher Munitions ..................................116
Exotic Ranged Weapons....................................................117
Archeotech Ranged Weapons ...........................................118
Xenos Ranged Weapons ....................................................119
Primitive Weapons .............................................................121
Chain Weapons ..................................................................122
Shock Weapons ..................................................................122
Power Weapons ..................................................................124
Exotic Melee Weapons ......................................................124

4

Contents

Force Weapons ..................................................................126
Weapon Upgrades ..............................................................127
Unusual Ammo ...................................................................128
Armour ................................................................................129
Force Fields .........................................................................130
Gear .....................................................................................133
Clothing ..............................................................................133
Drugs and Consumables....................................................133
Tools ....................................................................................134
The Exotic and the Alien ..................................................138
Bionics and Implant Systems ............................................141
Ork Armoury ......................................................................142
Kroot Armoury ...................................................................146

Chapter IV: Starships Expanded

Serving Aboard a Starship ................................................148
Families and Dynasties ......................................................149
New Starship Hulls ............................................................151
Ship Background Packages ...............................................153
Additional Components ....................................................156
Essential Components .......................................................156
Supplemental Components ...............................................158
Archeotech Components ...................................................161
Ship Upgrades ....................................................................162
Example Rogue Trader Vessels .........................................165
Eternal Praetorian .............................................................165
Measured Response ............................................................166
Bounty of Scintilla ............................................................167
Sovereign Venture .............................................................168

Chapter V: Vehicles

Vehicle Classifications .......................................................170
Vehicle Characteristics .......................................................171
Driving and Flying ............................................................171
Vehicle Combat ..................................................................172
Aerial Combat ...................................................................174
Attacking in Aerial Combat ..............................................176
Shooting Vehicle Weapons ...............................................177
Sample Vehicles .................................................................179

Chapter VI: Expanded Psychic Powers

New Navigator Powers .....................................................189
New Astropath Powers ......................................................193
Theosophamy .....................................................................197
New Discipline and Techniques .......................................197
The Theosophamy Discipline...........................................197
Astropathic Choirs .............................................................199
Astropaths and Navigators in Starship Combat .............200

Chapter VII: Enhanced Game Mechanics

Social Interaction Challenges ...........................................204
Using Interaction and Lore Skills in Social Situations ..204
Meta and Background Endeavours ..................................207
Meta Endeavours ................................................................208
Background Endeavours ....................................................210
Making Background Endeavours .....................................211
Sample Meta Endeavour ....................................................214
Component Endeavours ....................................................216
Expanded Acquisition Rules .............................................221
Making Multiple Acquisition Tests ..................................221
Attracting Unwanted Attention ........................................222
Using Profit Factor ............................................................223
Ship Roles ...........................................................................224
Rank One ............................................................................224
Rank Two ..........................................................................225
Rank Three .........................................................................226
Rank Four ...........................................................................229

Chapter VIII: Port Wander

The Guardian of the Maw ................................................234
In and Around Port Wander .............................................235
The Ruling Factions ..........................................................241
Notable Persons of Port Wander ......................................242
The Law on the Port ..........................................................248
The Planets of Rubycon II ...............................................249
The Maw and the Fleet .....................................................252

5

Introduction

Introduction

“I only ask for two things in life. A stout ship, and the light of the
Emperor to sail her by.”

–Rogue Trader Elizabeth Orleans

T

he Koronus Expanse is a place of adventures and
danger in equal measure. Xenos, pirates, heretics, and
worshippers of Dark Gods await those who venture

through the Maw, and ancient horrors lurk amongst countless
lost and undiscovered worlds in the depths of the Expanse.
Many brave and foolhardy Explorers have set off from Port
Wander to try their luck and wrest their fortune from the
Koronus Expanse with a stout ship and their Warrant of
Trade. Few return.

INTO THE STORM is an essential guide to those who wish

to make their fortune in the 41st Millennium and live to
enjoy it. Functioning primarily as a rules expansion for
Rogue Trader, this book examines and expands on all aspects
of an Explorer, from the weapons he wields and ships he
pilots, to the Endeavours he pursues and adventures he
undertakes. With this book, an Explorer can ensure he is
properly prepared to face the travails that await him in the
grim darkness of the far future.

The book begins with rules for expanding the Origin

Path of character creation. New home worlds and options
for replacing choices along the Path allow for a much wider
range of customisation and new, unique characters. From
there, the INTO THE STORM introduces two new Career
classes, the mercenary Kroot and the bloodthirsty Orks,
and numerous Alternate Career Rank options, allowing
players to further sculpt their characters in response to their
adventures in the Expanse.

The book continues with new selections of equipment,

some of which are commonplace and essential to Imperial
life, and others that are rare and even unique to the
Expanse. New rules for starships and vehicles follow,
providing Rogue Traders with transports ranging from
the humble Rhino APC to the mighty gun-cutter. New
powers and abilities for Navigators and Astropaths are
also provided, including rules allowing them to use their
formidable powers in space combat.

Finally, the INTO THE STORM provides new rules for using

Profit Factor, Endeavours, and taking on important positions
in the hierarchy of a starship. The book closes with an in-
depth examination of Port Wander: last Imperial port before
the Maw, and gateway to the Koronus Expanse. Here players
will find a location brimming with potential adventure and
intrigue, as well as a location for repairing, refitting, and
resupplying before returning to the dangerous Expanse.

6

Introduction

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