Let me start this by saying that I hope that I'm wrong. But, it doesn't seem like Rogue Trader is really a stand alone game. To be sure, it does have the complete 40k RPG rules set in the book and, in fact, there are several subtle differences from Dark Heresy on how the rules work. Yet there is a conspicuous lack of support for the line -- only 2 support products (GM screen and adventure book) published so far and the 3rd game in the 40k RPG line is scheduled for an August release. Given that, and the compatibility with Dark Heresy, it seems that Rogue Trader is more of a "side game" or a supplement for Dark Heresy.

What do you think?

KidChainsaw said:

I think there are a lot of impatient people out there... just because there's nothing on the release schedule doesn't mean there's nothing being developed.

I'd call it a spinoff. You could use it as a stand alone game and probably have everything there you needed to run it, but you would do well to pick up some of the supplimental material for Dark Heresy if you want to get your full mileage out of it. (just increase a few stats on monsters/npcs and add a couple more talents and you're pretty much ready to go)

That is fair, though, considering I'd never have given it a second look if not for DH and I imagine many other people fall into that same boat.

I think you're setting the bar a little high for the folks at FFG. Thusfar, I've actually been quite impressed with the speed at which they turn out new material. Two supplements in a little over half a year is nothing to dismiss.

Just as they have not stopped supporting DH in favor of RT, I don't expect them to it when DW comes out. I imagine, were I FFG, I would be busy enough getting DW out without worrying about what comes next. I expect, in the months following its release, we'll hear more about what they have planned. (My money's on a ship supplement next...)

As Sam Stewert stated in his interview with Dark Reign, there is more coming, with several things in various stages of production, all for Rogue Trader. Just because nothing has been announced yet (Lure of the Expanse was at the printers before it got announced), doesn't mean nothing is coming. As a playtester for RT, I can guarantee that more is coming, and it's good stuff too.

MILLANDSON said:

That is welcome news.

I'd like to always know what the *next* book planned is, even if they don't give us a date. I know you're under NDA, but FFG is not.

Nojo509 said:

But Sam Stewert is He has to answer to people ultimately higher than himself. He has stated as such.

But yea, they basically have decided not to announce a product until it's gone to the printers, because then they can take a rough guess at when it'll reach stores. It's been shown before that, with FFG announcing stuff way in advance (the last Release Schedule), it just resulted in people complaining because they ended up not hitting release deadlines due to printing delays and the like.

I prefer this approach, personally. FFG is well known for missing deadlines - sometimes by an outrageous amount of time - and it does nothing but get people frustrated to see one release date after another soar past with no product to show for it.

I think I would prefer a release of products underdevelopment, perhaps with an indication of anticipated order of release to being left in the dark.

Valadrim said:

Sadly, as said by Sam Stewert and Ross Watson... that's not going to happen.

I am far happier with FFG's approach to their game lines then certain other game companies.

Case in point: When FFG releases a new book for DH or RT they are generally very good products, great artwork, good quality paper and full colour printing, solid hardcover binding and ink that doesn't smear off after reading it twice. They also have well thought out contents. The books come out when they are finished.

By contrast, Wizards of the Coast fell into the "we release a new D&D book every month, regardless of if it is ready or not" theme and the quality of those books (ok, the binding was fine, but the CONTENTS!) just kept going further and further down. That was during the 3.5 days. Now that they are in the 4th ed. era it is even more sad. You could play their current game using index cards and text messages and be no less bored.

If I am going to shell out $30-50 per book to fuel my gaming addiction, to say nothing of mineatures, printing supplies, time writing, food/drink at the sessions and so on then I am going to be far happier having a good quality game suplement book sitting on the shelf than a rushed botch-job. Sure, it is EXCITING to get a new release, but I rather preffer to still be excited by the book two weeks later, a month later, a year later...

One of the hard parts about writing new books for RT is the sheer scale of the game. Space is very, VERY big... And you are explorers! What would be a vital game aid for one group might be worthless to the next. I think they are putting in the time to try developing truely new material for the game that will have a little something for anyone who plays. Sure, we all want more stats on certain aliens, wargear, ships and components and so on, but what exactly is the priority? What about new adventures, new settings, new background developments? New and distinctive career paths?

So for myself I shall wait patiently for the new books to go through the production process and then torment the local game store staff daily with undignified phone calls until the book arrives!

MILLANDSON said:

That's absurd. They're going to risk the word-of-mouth to die off without giving us something to talk about in anticipation. Worse, they're risking the public forgetting about Rogue Trader during this news gap and focusing on Deathwatch instead.

This is way too far in the other direction of people getting angry about missed release dates. Now we're going to get mad about the total lack of any idea what's coming out.

Just because you don't want something to catch fire, that doesn't mean you should sink it in the pond.

To reply to the original question, I think Rogue Trader is its own game. This, of course, may stem from the fact I don't play Dark Heresy at all, nor own a single book for it. Although I'm quite a 40k fannatic, crawling around in hives rooting out heritics didn't really strike my interest back when it came out. But when this arived, the idea of having a party that freedom a Warrent of Trade gives and the ability to interact with all of the best and words of the 41st mellenium was attractive. And other then the Hunting Rifle question, at no point after picking up the Rogue Trader book did I feel like I needed a DH book to make a compleate game out of it.

In many ways, I think the more accurate comparison would not be D&D and it's supplements, but rather the various WoD subgroupings, particularly back in 2nd ed when each book had compleate core rules. Sure Vampire and Werewolf were compatable, but nobody argue one was a spin off or extension of the other.

Psychopomp said:

I agree, lack of focus seems to kill Rogue trader. (just look at this forum)

if you havent noticed they are planning the RT line like the dark heresy line, a GM screen, 3 adventure book, more supplemented and equipment/career rank book, demons, monsters, 3 part adventure, probably a pirate book to rival RH, and a jump up to epic level book, itll be the same for DW when it gets out they are just making sure all are out before getting out the supplements