Rogue Trader Explorator preview up

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**BrookM**

Read all about it here!

More previews to come.

**Alpharius**

Thanks for the head's up on this, and all the FFG 40K RP stuff.

For whatever reason, if you weren't sending out the updates, I might forget it is around!

**reds8n**

Hmm mixed news here

“Project Sailboat”

I’ll let you in on a little secret: one of the best things about being a game developer is that you get to use a lot of silly codenames. The codename for Rogue Trader was “Project Sailboat,” and under that name, I led a team of writers and designers to build the Rogue Trader role-playing game from scratch.

Naturally, we had a solid foundation already established in Dark Heresy to stand on, but we were breaking new ground in a lot of areas. It’s hard for me to stress just how massive a project it is to build a 400-page core rulebook for a role-playing game!

I’m sure most of you are already aware of this, but it’s good to repeat sometimes: Rogue Trader is its own game, NOT an expansion for Dark Heresy...

...which brings me to my next point. I knew that I wanted to build in a strong theme of ambition and freedom into the Rogue Trader game. I knew, in my head, that I wanted to craft something really huge. Not huge as in size (although a 400-page book is pretty big!), but huge as in comprehensive, encompassing all aspects of the Warhammer 40,000 setting, from gear to starships to the Warrant of Trade itself. I am very pleased and proud of what we were able to accomplish, but looking back...the game’s themes had taken such root in my mind that I made a classic mistake.

My own personal ambition grew beyond the limitations of my medium...in short, I wanted too much. When it comes to putting together a roleplaying game book, there is only so much room, depending on the book’s page count. We had entire chapters about Starships and Navigator Powers and much, much more...but there wasn’t enough room for everything!

Reluctantly, I had to acknowledge that there simply wasn’t room in the core rulebook for some things I desperately wanted to include. Certain concepts I’ve talked about before in my designer diaries—vehicle rules and ship roles, for instance—ultimately, had to be set aside. You see, these concepts are good, they are REALLY good, and they deserve a proper presentation. I think the Rogue Trader fans (like yourself, dear reader!) deserve that as well. In the end, we turned this into an opportunity to take those elements and give them a better presentation in the forthcoming sourcebooks for Rogue Trader.

We have many more books planned for the Rogue Trader line, and they’re going to be packed with great content (including detailed, expanded vehicle rules and ship roles), so keep your eyes open!

In closing, I want to say a few words about the writers, artists, and playtesters who worked very, very hard to make the Rogue Trader core rulebook a reality. These people went above and beyond to provide some truly high-quality content for this book, and I am grateful to each and every one of them. Gen Con 2009 is just around the corner, and I can’t wait to see this book on the shelf.

Navigators. Lunar-class Cruisers. The Harlequin’s Kiss. Arch-Militant bodyguards, Explorators with enhanced bionic frames, and Warrants of Renown. The cannibal tribes of the planet Grace and the drifting space-hulk graveyard of the Processional of the Damned.

All these and more will be revealed in their full glory in just a few weeks at Gen Con 2009.
I hope I will see you there

**The Crippler**

I’m sure most of you are already aware of this, but it’s good to repeat sometimes: Rogue Trader is its own game, NOT an expansion for Dark Heresy...

This seems to have always been one of the points that was the most unclear about this game. The real question is:"How different is it?" I'm sure all the Dark Heresy owners want to know if FFG is moving on from that sytem to something of their own design.

**BrookM**

Same system, different features and additions.

**Nyarlathotep**

although a 400-page book is pretty big

Ha, that's more like a brochure.. Anyone play RIFTS?

**Ahtman**

The way I understand it is the power levels are shifted up a bit. A level 1 RT character would about equivalent to a level 6 Dark Heresy character. The men are more manly and the women are more..er..manly as well. More Indiana Jones in space and less "did that shadow move? *everyone dies*"

**H.B.M.C.**

People keep saying that the dairy from the designers state that the two games are no longer compatable with one another. That the ability to mix DH and RT has been dropped.

I've read that thing three times and I cannot see where it says that.

**BrookM**

People like to overreact and jump to conclusions on the most whimsy of indications. From the start FFG has been stating that this wouldn't be an expansion to DH, that it would have new features (ships) but that it would be compatible with your DH characters.

**TimHuckelbery**

RT and DH are very compatible as promised, trust me. Or download a sample adventure here to see what you think:
http://new.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite_sec.asp?eidm=78&esem=4
Those attending Gen Con will be able to check it out in person too.
-Tim

**H.B.M.C.**

Thanks Tim. It's amazing how something goes from a random comment on a board to the gospel truth about a feature being cut from the game.

Thanks for clearing that up.