The group I GM for has started to obtain a good deal of wealth, and in the process are learning about the 40k world. The party's rogue trader happened to stumble upon a short writeup online about titans, and immedietely wanted one. Now I figured it wasn't particularly likely, as after appropriate mods, they had to roll less than a 05. But of course, one natural 01 later, the party is now searching for their titan.

I explained that there was a forgeworld with an ancient, decrepit titan legion that was recently attacked from orbit and ended up with a heavily damaged Warhound. The legion doesn't have the means of repairing their damaged titan in their current state and are requesting the titan be taken to another legion or forgeworld for repairs. A rogue trader ship that is able to provide this service will be able to call upon the legion for support in the form of the repaired titan, though the legion retains the right to refuse missions requests they feel are too trivial or suicidal.

I'm wondering if this is too big of a prize for the party, as they're barely rank 3 at the moment. And if it is, what kind of complications could I use surrounding the forge and the titan without simply taking the titan away from the party?

Although I'm sure there will be decenting opinions, I don't think its nessisaraly a problem as you have it set up, so long as it's clear that the Titan is the Ad-Mech's not the Rogue Traders. Its not so much sold or on loan as it is allied with the Rouge Trader. Have the Titan's Precept reinforce the point. He's there to help, but he expects equal treatment and some amount of say in what's going on. It's worth remembering that Titan Legion Precepts have a large amount of autonomy even from the magi of their Forge World, much less any other athoritiative body.

That being said, the Warhound isn't really going to be involved in much of the same things the characters are, at least in terms of encounters. He's really more of a piece they can play, or an ace at the negotiating table then say a shiny toy or big gun. Let the characters use it in a strategic way, don't try to squeeze it on to the same battlefield, so to speak.

For continous services, the Admech would likely expect the Rogue Trader to continue to provide something to benefit them, particularly if he puts the Titan at risk. Sugest to your RT that he spend some energy locating archeotech and other things to send back to the Forge World to remind him of his good intentions.

If I recall the background fluff correctly, transporting Titans also require specialised- or at least heavily modified- starships and landing craft. The Rogue Trader will also have to pay for a ship with a specialised component- I don't think that the equivalent of a Main Cargo Hold plus the Lighter Bay components would be unrealistic. This will probably mean getting a transport and building it to do nothing but carry the Titan. Well, and troops, I personally would put a barracks in too, because what will a Titan ever be used for where ground troops and vehicles won't help?

In theory, there's no reason a successful Rogue Trader won't have the resources to maintain a Titan. In practice, it's going to be unlikely that a Rogue Trader will run into reasons for using one often enough to make it worth all the hassle. I can envisage that, after restoring the Titan and setting up the transport ship, the RT has fun with it while running a loss, then he- or his successor- finally decides to just donate it back to the Titan Legions in return for some high-level political favours plus the loss of a major Profit Factor sink.

O hai upkeep costs!

So... what'd you use a titan for?

1. Planetary defense. Maybe some high up official is going haywire: "YOU WHAT???! Gave away our TITAN?!"

2. Invasion of, well, planets. Probably the response would be some similar outbursts from generals and admirals in the sector.

3. Fear. Like the atom bomb. "I'ma gonna TITAN ya arses if ya all ain't backin' the hell down! I ain't jivin, no sir!"

+ some other similar things. Its no pony that can grass in the backyard.

I guess the quite so ambitious rogue trader will attract himself alot of attention. Is that the point, maybe? Sense of achievement? It should end in tears in some way

Thanks for the ideas everyone. I completely forgot about the special transport ships, as I thought Warhounds would be small enough to fit in the normal hold. I'll definietely be making the princeps into a major NPC,and will probably have some interesting conflicts with the personalities of some of the bridge crew.

I was thinking a little complication could occur with the forgeworld that they get the titan repaired at. That after repairing the titan, that particular mechanicus sect may claim some ancient and poorly worded Rite of Salvage, in which any machine they fix is there's to keep, regardless of the reason for the repairs.

i almost ended up in a similar situation but my guys decided that for the attention it could cause and the amount of people that would probably try and steal it or attack them for it it was better left alone

Let's not forget that the machine-spirit of a Titan found in an old warehouse maybe somewhat temperamental, even after having been repaired. You never now what it has been through and how it will behave when powered up... The possibilities are endless (though I would go for an occasionnal misbehaving of the weapon targeting systems myself).

also one thing to remember is that there are the upkeep rules, aftert they use there warhoud for the first time you could have them make upkeep tests to see when it is next available to use, and also Everytime it gets damaged there gonna have to side track to a new forgeworld and get it repaire wich is a whole new set of aquisition checks. not saying they shouldent have the use of one, they definetly should not own one unless thay can wrestle is from the control of the mechanus and train there own guys to pilot it wich is very unlikely as the precep would not join them. then as mentioned beffor they have to overcome the machine spirit, and somehow get that on side. though having acess to one is not so bad but the cost of maintaining just the amunition alone is way outside even the scope of the profit factor rule, let alone spare parts for all the minute systems that only high ranking techpriests know how to fix. its a logistical nightmare unless you keep 100% good relations with the mechanicus and alot of your time is dedicated to chaneling funds into it.

Inquisitor Lord Gregor Firedrake

For information on titan legion princeps i suggest the book ( Titanicus ) by Dan Abnett for a thorough description of the level of modifications a titan commander has to go through. The modification is NOT something a RT could pull off as it is a FULL body conversion into a amniotic fluid tank with special sensory linkups ( a modified MIU ) to tie directly into the titans machine spirit. These are materials and secrets the Ad mMech wont give to anyone ever. So having a titan does no good without a princeps to run it...yes you could have a crew to understand how to operate the different stations on the titan bridge BUT it wont power up without its princeps in position jacked in directly to the titan spirits heart. A titan primceps usually dies when his titan is destroyed due to neural feedback ( whatever damage is done to the titan IS felt by the princeps inside his amniotic casket.

This sounds like Monty Hall gaming at its finest!

I can fully understand the desire to have a Warhound, but what can the Warhound do that a well aimed main armament blast cant do? And even if you do not do it, the mere threat of turning a world to slag should sway the non-insane. Sure sure, you can use it to go in and do surgical strikes, but can't you use murder-servitors and battle servitors for that? Or even a regiment of household troops?

The game is about PROFIT, and if the expense of keeping the Warhound outweighs the earnings or potential earnings, what use is it? If it takes up a cargo hold which could be used to earn you profit and the Warhound is rarely used, it is a drain on the dynasty. Think of it on a business level and the Warhound is not a wise decision.

In a similar vein, I keep reading posts of people slagging it out with warships, until one is destroyed. I agree it is fun to do, but it is probably the worst way to make a profit. You risk serious damage to your vessel for one. Now, if you can sweep in, grab the ship without destroying it, you have landed a massive profit. An extra ship is what, a 30-60 profit item?

I do like Warhounds though. Is there not a Warhound called a Reaver that might be more logical?

For something small like a Warhound, you can probably fit into a cargo bay (since its only 20-30 meters tall - high gothic cathedral style cargo bays could be 50-100m tall! Mass-wise its probably not much more than 3 Leman russes or a single Baneblade.

As for letting the PC's have one- sure. Remember they can cause way more destruction to a planet with lance strikes or directed asteroid collisions than a warhound could ever hope to match.

And if you need to reign them in/destroy it, then thats what lascannons or Railguns are there for.

SJE

Warhound

+ a system

???

= Profit!

Just wanted to give everyone an update on what happened with my players and their Warhound.

The explorator (who conveniently had to miss two sessions) was sent to the titan legion to prep the titan and begin all of the rituals necessary, both technical and legal, to pass ownership of the titan to the rouge trader vessel. The set up is as follows:

-The rogue trader does not own the titan, it is still property of the forgeworld and attached titan legion and can only be piloted by one of only a few handpicked princeps.

-The titan legion has provided a small transport craft for the titan that acts as both storage and repair bay for the titan and only the titan. The ship is not warp capable but is designed to attach to the rouge trader ship in such a manner that the geller field can envelop both. The ship is too large to fit in the rogue trader's hangers and as such, when not in warp travel, must detach from the rogue trader ship. (This makes it an additional target during naval combat)

-The rogue trader has the right to requisition the use of the titan. This request is not to be denied unless there are extenuating circumstances, such as the princeps or the representative magos deeming the request suicidal or trivial (this is left in such a way that there are numerous loopholes the players may attempt to use in order to get around a denied request)