Hi everyone, I was thinking about some fun to play Rogue Trader endeavours that could be played without the assumption of an excuse that makes the Rogue Traders involvement in the whole situation strictly necessary. So I guess maybe if the RT and his/her retinue is stranded in the wilderness, or at outside the purviews of civilised society, they would be forced to fend for themselves. But where does the Loot come in? We're trying to make a profit here! .

So I thought a good old fashioned Tomb raid would fit the criteria, and since Nercrons are the best fleshed (not literally of course) out race that builds elaborate Tomb systems they seemed the obvious choice. But my question is : Is it possible to actually loot a nercron tomb, all maddening danger aside? Or are the tombs almost empty save the nercrons themselves and their scarabs, and tomb spiders and what not? Can one actually take a piece of nercron machinery or does it fade away? Thanks in advance for any answers.

To the best of my knowledge, Necron tombworlds hold nothing save the Necrons themselves; inanimate, inert, and waiting for the triggers that indicate life has returned in sufficient numbers to warrant its destruction once more. For that matter, your characters would not even know what a Necron is yet if you're going with the current RT timeline, as the first reported raids aren't for another few decades. If you're gung-ho on having them raid a tomb, the Egarians were big on mazes and such.

If it isn't possible any Rogue Trader worthy of a warrant will find a way to make it possible.

I suspect any Necron tomb would also contain the race's weapons and other sundry equipment. As for if it fades away, as far as I know that only happens if the Necron using the equipment is severely damaged during a period of activity. Still, something must be responsible for vanishing wounded Necrons. Destroy that or get the equipment out of its range and the Rogue Trader can worry about other complications arising from Necron technology.

There's actually some information about that in the Deathwatch adventure "The Emperor Protects". It seems the Necrons are guarded by tomb spiders, however their weapons can be taken and work. The Alpha Legion equipped a Xenos Cult they tried to use to awaken the Necrons with Gauss guns and (badly statted) phase blades.

Seems I was beaten to it. The Emperor Protects has an adventure involving a tomb. Very useful information, some stats, as well as some potential "loot".

Additionally, Deathwatch makes reference to something called "The Honored Dead" that are valued by Rogue Traders and the like. These are, thinly veiled, necron caskets. You could go with something like that. Otherwise the best source of profit would be selling the location to the AdMech I'd think.

Attila-IV said:

I'm thinking enough engines that you rip the entire structure of the tomb from the planets surface

If the GM is doing his job right, the cost of looting a Necron tomb world will be at least one fate point, each.

Sometimes its best to let sleeping Necrons lie; they are very dangerous opponents. I haven't seen any official stats, but they should make a battle servitor look like a wind-up toy.

Cheers,

- V.

Vandegraffe said:

Making a Necron Tomb the perfect thing to drop onto your enemies stronghold. Those that survive the impact won't survive the Necrons waking up and wondering why they are on the wrong planet.

In an Ultramarine book, Nightbringer, the people on Pavonis were mining a strange metal that would regenerate as they took it from the ground. In fact, after losing his arm to the awakened Nightbringer, a replacement cybernetic arm was created that regenerated any damage it took. He felt that he was tainted by the xenos metal, but Honsou of the Iron Warriors enjoyed taking and using the artifact.

3rd edition Necron Codex says Inquisition specifically raids Necron tombs to get C'Tan artefacts like C'Tan Phase Blades (which were used by Callidus assassins in 3rd edition Codexes). The same Necron Codex fluff parts also seem to insinuate that most Necrontyr ruins found are actually quite empty and do not have Necrons guarding them. So I think you are well within your rights to put all kinds of alien artefacts to the tomb.

You know the saying about eldar?

"Ask not the Eldar a question, for they will give you three answers, all of which are true and terrifying to know."

Along similar lines I would say about the Necrons:

"Raid not the Necron tombs, for there are many artefacts, all of which are dangerous and terrifying to touch."