Does the game require player characters to be humans? Any information or resources about this would be helpful.

For now, yes (and I like it that way).

However, there are 2 (ok no, 3) ways around this:

1. A new "Enemies Without" Supplement is coming out in a few months. It may have new rules for Kroot PCs or something.

2. There are rules to play xenos such as Dark Eldar, Tau or Orks in Rogue Trader. Ask your GM, he might let you use them.

3. Ask your GM for a homebrew. This is risky and unlikely to work, but hey! Have faith in the Emperor brother/sister/unidentified Internet-based lifeform (ex: nerd).

I personally don't think that Xenos PCs match the feel of Dark Heresy, or even that they are vaguely practical: how can you go unnoticed when you have blue skin and hooves?

Thank you for the info. Based on this limitation I have no interest in the format. Are there any 40k RPGs that allow players to pick from other races?

There are rules for aliens in Rogue Trader. But humans hating aliens purely because they are aliens is something the Imperium encourages, so you might not be happy with how NPCs treat you if you are playing one.

Based on this limitation I have no interest in the format.

Why's that?

I have no interest in playing the human cockroaches (that comment is role playing). But the reality is I play the miniatures game and have over 7500 pts between two races, neither of which are human. I have no interest in playing humans myself in any 40k based game. I wish 40k implementations were open sourced like the miniatures game and provided access to creating whatever race mix and theme you want. You know, forge the narrative! The way 40k is typically handled would be like Fields of Glory only allowing players to run European based ancient armies.

How this relates to what I want to do specifically: I was thinking of running a 40k universe campaign with a Lost in Space/Star Trek Voyager twist where an odd mix of individuals from different races get sucked into a remote area of the universe and must form a functional but uncomfortable alliance to survey the new perils they face. In addition, no playable Necrons is a deal breaker.

...and for the record we do not allow the X word in my house because it is culturally insensitive (more role playing).

Thank you for the info. Based on this limitation I have no interest in the format. Are there any 40k RPGs that allow players to pick from other races?

Rogue Trader allows for orks, kroot and I think dark eldar in the expansions. Would also work well with the Lost in Space/Voyager theme since the player characters start out with a warp capable ship and crew.

While still technically human Only War has rules for Ogryn and Ratlings and Dark Heresy has rules for mutants but it really sounds like Rogue Trader is what you are looking for.

Edit:

How this relates to what I want to do specifically: I was thinking of running a 40k universe campaign with a Lost in Space/Star Trek Voyager twist where an odd mix of individuals from different races get sucked into a remote area of the universe and must form a functional but uncomfortable alliance to survey the new perils they face. In addition, no playable Necrons is a deal breaker.

...and for the record we do not allow the X word in my house because it is culturally insensitive (more role playing).

Seriously, no playable Necrons is a deal breaker?! I really hope you're joking. Most necrons are soulless and emotionless. No different than playing a servitor. A necron lord, so one capable of having a personality and motivations of its own, is colossally above the power level of most of the games.

How this relates to what I want to do specifically: I was thinking of running a 40k universe campaign with a Lost in Space/Star Trek Voyager twist where an odd mix of individuals from different races get sucked into a remote area of the universe and must form a functional but uncomfortable alliance to survey the new perils they face. In addition, no playable Necrons is a deal breaker.

...and for the record we do not allow the X word in my house because it is culturally insensitive (more role playing).

What part of 40k do you like ?

Everyone not liking anyone else is a big part of the setting.

The Imperium wants to purge the xenos for being xenos.

Dark Eldar torture everyone mainly because they enjoy it, though it also helps keep Slaanesh at bay.

Craftworld Eldar see non-Eldar as beneath them and will manipulate them in whatever way serves Eldar interests. Millions of dead humans to save a single Eldar is seen as worth it.

The nids want to eat everyone.

The Tau will work with other species long term. But only if those other species serve the Tau.

The Orks will fight anyone because they enjoy fighting. Making the Orks the faction that treat other species closest to how they treat their own species.

As Skarsnik said it sounds like Rogue Trader is the way to go for you. In addition to the races he mentioned you can also play Tau Fire Warriors (and there are pretty good homebrew rules on the forums for Craftworld Eldar).

There is also a career path that would allow you to play mutants as well so gives you plenty of options.

The lost in space theme works as well as the Rogue Trader starts with his own ship so he can have got lost on a warp jump and be trying to find his way back to Imperial Space (or at least charted space if he has a ship full of, excuse the obscenity, Xenos)

Rogue Traders have the potential to be very liberal, which allows you to have Xenos crew or else you can simply have a servitor crew (possibly created by Meat purchased from the Stryxis if you want to continue the alien theme).

As for Necrons well you'd have to homebrew a path and come up with a really good reason why an ordinary Necron would become self-aware and also decide not to work with the Necrons. The main Rogue Trader rules do mention creating your own home brew paths so it is possible and even permissible in the main rules.

Clarification: I need Necron stats because I intend to use a small force of Necrons who are independent of the party as an on again off again nemesis, and on rare occasions temporary collaborator. I am also toying with the idea of a lone Praetorian as a NPC crew. I have a back story that would work and it makes for interesting dynamics when encountering other Necrons. I have a slightly different take on Necron mythos from established cannon, it makes them a bit more complex than mindless killbots, which I know is not popular among the 40k mainstream. Hasn't anyone heard of Seven of Nine? Also remember that much of what is presented about other races is through the human perspective, and we know from experience how flawed that is.

Humans will be in the "world" minority in this campaign, and when they do bump into others of their race, in this remote area of space, they may not always like what they see... (queue dramatic music). Because there are five players I was going to limit race choices to two humans and no more than one of any other race. There will be some race limitations, obviously there cannot be a Tyranid PC (even though a Licid would be cool). The players are into the idea, I am not trying to shove a soulless agenda down their throats! LOL

I have a cinematic vision for this and it seems like rogue trader is where to start. Thank you for the advice!

Clarification: I need Necron stats because I intend to use a small force of Necrons who are independent of the party as an on again off again nemesis, and on rare occasions temporary collaborator.

The most detailed depiction of Necrons in the WH40KRP line is in the Deathwatch supplement The Outer Reach .

Black Crusade and its supplement Tome of Fate also have quite a bit of Necron stuff I believe.

Tokhuah, I would recommend one of the human characters be the Rogue trader.

Edit: Nevermind, broken links.

Thank you for the suggestions. I hope I can make this interesting...

I have a back story that would work and it makes for interesting dynamics when encountering other Necrons. I have a slightly different take on Necron mythos from established cannon, it makes them a bit more complex than mindless killbots, which I know is not popular among the 40k mainstream. Hasn't anyone heard of Seven of Nine? Also remember that much of what is presented about other races is through the human perspective, and we know from experience how flawed that is.

I like the newcrons. As for the flawed human perspective, there is published stuff from the perspective of the other species (the codexes come to mind), and I'm not aware of any of the other species liking humans except maybe the Tau. And even they want the other species to serve the Ethereals.

Humans will be in the "world" minority in this campaign, and when they do bump into others of their race, in this remote area of space, they may not always like what they see...

Good.

Question is: Which race will be crewing the ship ?

How this relates to what I want to do specifically: I was thinking of running a 40k universe campaign with a Lost in Space/Star Trek Voyager twist where an odd mix of individuals from different races get sucked into a remote area of the universe and must form a functional but uncomfortable alliance to survey the new perils they face. In addition, no playable Necrons is a deal breaker.

It really seems to me that Rogue Trader might be more up your alley. Rogue Trader fits the Star Trek feel much more than rooting out heresy and murdering Xenos that threatens the Imperium of Man in service to Terra's Holy Inquisition.

Though with that said, as another player who plays two 40k armies that are non-human, I've found Dark Heresy really enjoyable. It's because you play those armies that you can go: "Oh ****." when you know that's what you're up against. You play those armies. You know their fluff. You know what you're up against and how screwed you are for it.

I have no interest in playing the human cockroaches (that comment is role playing). But the reality is I play the miniatures game and have over 7500 pts between two races, neither of which are human. I have no interest in playing humans myself in any 40k based game. I wish 40k implementations were open sourced like the miniatures game and provided access to creating whatever race mix and theme you want. You know, forge the narrative! The way 40k is typically handled would be like Fields of Glory only allowing players to run European based ancient armies.

How this relates to what I want to do specifically: I was thinking of running a 40k universe campaign with a Lost in Space/Star Trek Voyager twist where an odd mix of individuals from different races get sucked into a remote area of the universe and must form a functional but uncomfortable alliance to survey the new perils they face. In addition, no playable Necrons is a deal breaker.

...and for the record we do not allow the X word in my house because it is culturally insensitive (more role playing).

That's a prima Rogue Trader campaign setup if ever I saw one.

Also, just because there isn't a splat book for a specific Xenos PC doesn't mean you can't use either other character stats or NPC stats as inspiration for creating your own.