Just started running a game of Rogue Trader. Wondering what the compatibility level of the different systems are. I know general info about the others. I understand that they are the same basic system, but are of different power levels. Does the Dark Heresy take place in the same sector or have any useful combatible sections that would make it worth while to buy some of those books?

It plays in a nearby sector - when a Rogue Trader gets back to civilized (and imperial) space, it'll likely be the Calixis sector where DH is placed.

Ringarin said:

A Dark Heresy character is considered Rank 6 (5000 xp) with starting Rank 1 Rogue Traders. I switch between Dark Heresy books in Rogue Trader, especially Creatures Anethma. The only real difference in power levels is that Rogue Traders have access to better equipment and their talents are more broad and encompass several Dark Heresy talents.

Of course, with the newest Dark Heresy book Ascension, those Talents are then grouped there for Dark Heresy characters. My group has an Imperial Sanctioned Psyker instead of an Astropath (starting at Rank 6) and it's worked out fine (using the rules in Ascension for Psyker powers between the two systems).

all of the books from DH and Rogue Trader to Death watch are compatible with each other. again the difference in power lv. the starting lv 1 skills availible to RT start at trained lv while they may start at basic for a DH character. to go from DH to RT the character has to be lv 5 with 5000 xp, 4500 for the origin path and the 500 to spend on upgrades. death watch is another power lv in it's self. the career types are centered around the character being a space marine. with around 20 wounds average compared to the standard 11 wounds in rogue trader and DH. but, they are all based off the same system so it is viable to have a mix of characters from different books in the same game.

If you mixand match RT with DH and have the RT characters be rank 1 and the DH characters be rank 5 or 6, then chances are the DH characters will have more skills and talents, but the RT with have higher characteristics.

Rogue Trader characters have few skill/talent list options at rank 1,but startin general with higher stats(each at +5) that get modified during the origin path and then have 2000XP to spend at rank 1 before reaching rank 2 of which most will probably go to characteristics.

My overall suggestion for mixing the two games is as follows:

Dark Heresy to Rogue Trader: Use Rogue Trader Origin Path charts with DH characters and careers. Add +5 to all characteristics. Start with 500 XP instead of 400.

Rogue Trader to Dark Heresy: Reduce all stats by 5 (make base 20+2D10), do not use origin path, start with 400XP.

Another conflict is XP expenditure. Most costs for advancing with skills and talents in RT are 100 or 200XP more than their counterparts in Dark Heresy.

The only major difference between RT and DH is psy powers.

Books-

Creatures- The 1st DH book to buy. Orks, some eldar, genestealers, daemons, beasts....

Discples- A great book if you want to have cults and daemons in your games.

Inquisitor's Handbook- Lots of gear, but note that for the most part the weapons in RT are better. Still there is a great selection of stuff.

Radical's handbook- Great if you want to add heretics or radical inquisitors, or your players want to head that way.

Accention- Some nice gear, but most of it is pure DH.

Dalnor Surloc said:

I would say that if anyone in your group wants to play a character from Dark Heresy, then this book is a must to keep the power levels the same once they reach rank 8.

This is especially true if that character is a Sanctioned Psyker.