In my Rogue Trader setting, the Rogue Traders honor an unwritten code. This code has provided some really interesting adventure twists.

The Basics of the Code= The Code is designed to protect the bearer of an Imperial Warrant of Trade from undue loss of life and profit, in order to preserve the future possibilities of expanding the God-Emperors might. It is assumed that a Rogue Trader is doing his utmost to further the power of the God-Emperor, and therefore, amongst his peers, is given some leeway in his activities. A Rogue Trader will consort with Xenos in order to further profit and eventually eradicate them. A Rogue Trader is expected to always follow the Warrant of Trade to do the Emperors bidding. The invoking of the Rights is conducted in a time-honored code amongst Rogue Traders. It involves the parties involved first establishing the validity of the Warrants (if they are in question), then establishing the meeting area, and duration of the effect of the Right.

Example= Two Rogue Trader vessels are about to engage in combat. Rogue Trader "A" decides that it is possible that both parties would benefit more from cooperation. He then has his Astropath invoke the Right of Parley. In the invocation is a brief message stating the Rogue Traders Warrant details ("I am Captain Cerberus, of the Cerberus Dynasty, holders of the Imperial Warrant since 23k...") and the request of parley and how parley will insure greater profits for both. Rogue Trader "B" then broadcasts his particulars, and accepts or denies.

Grounds for Acceptance or Denial= A Rogue Trader who is the target of another invoking a Right is not required to accept it. If the invoker is inferior in firepower, then the Right is normally accepted, inferior meaning that the one can easily cripple or destroy the other. The loss of profit from a fight can often be more than the profit from the endeavor. If the Rogue Traders are of equal strength, it is also normal to accept the right. If the invoker is far superior in firepower, it is normally accepted by the inferior. If the Rogue Traders in question have a history of violence to one another, the right is usually denied. If the invoker has a history of violating ANY of the rights, it is usually denied.

PROFIT TRUMPS ALL RIGHTS! If a Right will endanger existing profit, it is not normal to invoke it or accept it.

HE RIGHTS=

The Right of Parley= A Rogue Trader may request an in-person conference with other Rogue Traders, to discuss issues of importance. Even the worst enemies will honor the Right of Parley. This right may only be invoked in a non-combat time period, or 30 minutes after the last discharge of weapons. The Right of Parley is broadcast to other known Rogue Traders, who respond by either accepting the terms or boradcasting altered terms. The shortest normally accepted term for a parley is 2 hours, which gives 1 hour of travel time, and 1 hour of negotiation time. However, shorter time periods are allowed if all parties agree.

The Right of Secrecy= A Rogue Trader may swear another Rogue Trader to secrecy in a matter. This can include activities witnessed, the location of objects, whatever the parties agree too. Secrecy can not be violated directly, but can be circumvented by using coded maps, tall tales, whatever, so long as the Secrecy if not directly violated.

The Right of Rectitude= Since the Emperor is never wrong, and the Warrant of Trade is a Sacred Trust from the Emperor, anything a Rogue Trader does to ultimately further the grasp of the god-Emperor is deemed correct. The Right of Rectitude states that a Rogue Trader will not "nark" to the authorities about the activities of another Rogue Trader. The authorities can be any law enforcing body, be it Imperial or Xenos. This does not preclude advising such authorities on activities in a given area, so long as the Rogue Trader is not directly implicated. However, if a Rogue Trader or group of Rogue Traders deems another Rogue Traders activities to be outside of the Warrant, he or they may enforce the Law of the Emperor as they see fit. Amongst Rogue Traders, this right is nebulous, but does have several accepted requirements. The questionable activities of the Rogue Trader must show a trend which clearly does not lead to the furtherance of the God-Emperors might; the activities must never knowingly involve the Forces of Chaos; the activities must never endanger an Imperial World.

The Right of Sanctuary= A Rogue Trader in distress may invoke the Right of Sanctuary. This right requires another Rogue Trader to provide the invoker basic life support and protection from danger. This right is considered fulfilled once the invoker has food, water, and air, and the means to protect himself. This can mean repairing a crippled vessels life support systems, putting food in the cargo holds, and making certain that it has basic defensive capabilities. It can also mean leaving a Rogue Trader on a life sustaining world with his personal arms to protect himself.

Let me know what you think. There is possible room for other rights.

"Parley, y'say ... well, now, here's the thing. The Code, it'd be more in the way of a set o' guidelines than aught else. Ain't that right, lads?"

It does look interesting though, I've had a go at writing a warrant for my players and I may have to steal some of that, especially the codes of secrecy.

Like you, it focuses on the RT's mission to seek out habitable worlds and expand the emperor's influence. Anything he finds, steals or otherwise obtains is allowed to be sold to fund future exploits.

It also says that if the RT spends more than 1 terran year on a colonised planet, when he has the means to leave he is considered in breach of his duties and his successor immediately inherits everything.

Guidelines or Code. It does look to be something old fashioned, semi practical thing that the Empire of Men would embrace. I like the idea and am considering to implement a code like that.

What initially produced "The Code" was when my group encountered a rival, and deemed it more profitable to make a deal, rather than shoot up both ships. We discussed the need for a way for Rogue Traders to avoid unneccesary loss of profit. Hence, the Code.

I do like the Spending a year on a world clause. However, efforts to colonize might take more than a year. so perhaps it should be 7 years.

I would also think there were ethical issues with press ganging anothers crew members, set prices for ransom of notables, and so forth.