Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

are there any large scale corporations in 40k?
Large enough to field their own private armies?

There are Rogue Traders able to do so.

arent they a mercenary group of mixed races?

Rogue traders are basically free traders (They have a writ from the Emperor that lets them do it) that go back and forth between Imperial space and Xeno space trading and such. They often recruit ex-IG and other races for fighting. Some of them get so big they can field entire armies and fleets.

doesnt it make em untrustworthy to the inquisition?

The Inquisition rely on them in most cases for information and as transport (discreet transport) or couriers.
They carry a writ from the Emperor, like the navigators this lets them act outside the Inquisitions authority.
Also the navigator houses own a lot of land and even planets, they use troops to protect their assets and attack other houses assets. Nne has a pact with the SW chapter who supply them with some marines in return for navigators. I think a navigator house would easily be able to field an army.

I'd imagine that more than corporations as we understand it today, you're have more like the guilds of days of old. The Imperium doesnt' seem to be all that up on free enterprise.

Of course, I could see guilds combining together, sort of like the Hansaetic League.

Why not? It could happen.

I think that most large scale economic activity is controlled by guilds or houses, like House Glaw from the Eisenhorn series. They definitely field their own armies and have enough sway to have control of Imperial Guard units and Imperial Fleet ships.

Since individual governors are given large amounts of leeway as far as how they govern, so long as the tithes make it in on time. It's not out of the question for a corporations to exist and one to have enough power to have an army.

Ailaros wrote:I'd imagine that more than corporations as we understand it today, you're have more like the guilds of days of old. The Imperium doesnt' seem to be all that up on free enterprise.

Depends on the planet. Some planets are almost like modern Earth, others are closer to medieval feudal rules, and everything in between.

Rogue Traders often form huge houses which are basically like corporations where the CEO position is hereditary.

so any race can join the rogue traders?

such as:
-Eldar
-Tau
-Kroot
-Dark Eldar
-Chaos marines
-orks
-Necrons
-Tryranids
-space marines
-dwarfs

Scorpionov wrote:so any race can join the rogue traders?

such as:
-Eldar
-Tau
-Kroot
-Dark Eldar
-Chaos marines
-orks
-Necrons
-Tryranids
-space marines
-dwarfs

Possibly... They would be renegades from those species but pretty much yeah... also there are more alien species than the ones who have a codex, the RT have dealings with them also.

I doubt the Tyranids and Necrons would be interested in trading though.

Scorpionov wrote:are there any large scale corporations in 40k?
Large enough to field their own private armies?

You wouldnt exactly call them corporations. More Trading or merchant houses. Not true nobility. But organised groups who can have extensive commercial holdings and trading fleets. Sometimes specialising in one service or industry. Sometimes more. Definitely the more powerful ones will have mercenaries or semi trained troops to guard facilities and important members of the organisation. But nothing approaching a true professional army like the Imperial guard. Though I guess they would pay ex guardsmen handsomely for their combat skills. Plus the huge majority of members of such houses will be human. As most parts of the Imperium consorting with aliens is illegal and can have you killed and such organisations destroyed. So if any do have aliens working with them they will have to keep them secret to public knowledge.

trade houses (family corperations granted trading rites) such as the trade lords of the Karthargo sector (badab war) have large fleets to protect their trade vessels and other interests.

In hive cities houses and guilds vie for lucrative contracts on production and export, they also have their own milita (necromunda)

Scorpionov wrote:so any race can join the rogue traders?

such as:
-Eldar
-Tau
-Kroot
-Dark Eldar
-Chaos marines
-orks
-Necrons
-Tryranids
-space marines
-dwarfs

Tau, eldar, kroot, and squats all make sence as allies and staff.

Dark eldar and ork are at the limit due to their views on other races.

chaos would have to be in secret, even a rogue trader can still be found guilty and executed by an inquisitor group.

necron and tyranid, don't make any sence as all they want to do is kill/eat all living things.

On the edges of imperial space it more common than in the centre where the imperium has more strict control.

In stable areas these sort of activities are owned by the imperium. They officialy own the planet and get to decide what happens.

On the edges large organisations would be common. They may own agri or mining worlds, or possibly they would have a safe planet for rogue traders to land. These would definately have armies and fleets (ranging from a small group of ships ordered to defend the planet to large fleets for fleets for transporting armies).

Basically, on the edges of the galaxy ther imperium has almost no control so people will do whatever they want. Unless something major happens (chaos incursion, major rebellion, ect..) the imperium won't bother to deal with them. If people here wanted to start a large corporation they would be able to do.

In Ravenor there is a planet on the outskirts of the imperium, where rogue traders restock and sell there goods. There appears to be a large orgasnisation running the few large cities ( the planet is mainly empty rock). They run the planet as a buisness, trading with visitors. There are very few laws (people are killing each other and no one cares) but there are soldiers there to enforce anything the corporation decides.