Or does it not even work out? And if so what would be the rank equivlent? because i read somewhere a rank 1 rogue trader character = rank 5 DH but not too sure.

That's about right. A rank 1 ascension (rank 9 Dark heresy) character is more on a par with a rank 1 deathwatch character.

Of course it will work to mix characters from each system, fluff wise they can easily meet up and do stuff together.

Game mechanics is a tougher question, as the system actually differs quite a lot when it comes to character building. I tried mixing characters from RT and DH at some point and after much work and rule examination I found that the by far easiest way to handle it was simply to give RT characters double xp compared to DH characters and then they progressed somewhat equally. It is not perfect but its simple and it works as long as your players want to make it work. So a 8000 xp DH characters mathces a 16000 xp RT characters (including starting xp).

I havent tried mixing with DW, but my initial investigations suggest that they should get four times xp compared to DH characters.

I believe that the main reason that there are so big differences in character development is that the goals of how much xp needed in each system is different, but the amount of skills and talents remain mostly the same across the systems, so the systems that has higher XP scale simply takes more XP to get the same talents.

This is of course a pure rule point of view, in a role playing game you can do what you like. ;-)

In practise, while a Rank 5 DH character has the same amount of XP as a Rank 1 RT character, the former will end up having a wealth of skills and Talents over the latter.

This is in part because the latter generally have wider Weapon Talent skills (ahem, Universal as opposed to just Las), and an extra +5 to all of their characteristics. While the Origin Path can also end up bringing more to the RT character than things like Divination and Homeworld do to the DH character, but it's pretty variable there and the whole issue is best left off to the side.

So, if you want to help balance things, I'd say it'd help to make the DH player buy the first bump for all of his Characteristics, that can eat up about half their XP there. While some judicious spending on weapon talents would help with some more. From there it'd be best to look at how much XP you have left, and how the character stacks up with the rest of the crew.

IT's a great pity that we're lacking some sort of package like the one in the Blood of Martyrs (or was it Ascension?) web enhancement, that basically gives you a package for the Sister of Battle that brings them up to Ascension level -without- just dumping a slew of skills on them.

I would not mix.

The idea that a 5000xp Dark Heresy character is about equivilent to a Rank 1 Rogue Trader character is very, very dodgy. I know what the books say, but if you actually create two characters from each of the systems, you'll notice that they turn out radically different.

They are compatible for use in the same system, but I would only mix for the purposes of NPCs. Just like I wouldn't take a Space Marine from Deathwatch into a group of starting Rogue Traders.

I would focus on converting/porting from one system to the other, to have things come out about equal, rather than just mixing.

so you're saying that dark heresy characters scale much more quickly then RT ones? What if instead of running ascension games, when they get to that point, I make then rogue traders? that a good idea?

jpomz said:

Well the characters in RT operate very differently than in DH. The Ascension level play covers being Interrogators/Inquisitors and their party quite well, it's just a bit of a step up from regular grunt work in DH. RT on the other hand is much more of a sandbox game, and it can take some work to keep your players on task with their limitless power.

It doesn't work. Dark Heresy characters will tend to be more capable than a RT character of the same XP. Early on this might be slightly compensated for by the fact that a RT higher base stats help them be a bit more of a general all rounder, but this doesn't last and Dark Heresy characters will then outstrip RT ones (particularly in their particular specialty).

The non-PC elements of both systems tend to be compatible though (Psykers, and RT insistence on providing no money costs for items aside).

My recommendation:

Take your favorite DH Careers (I hope Imperial Psyker is not one of them or you will have a lot of work ahead) and re-write their splats to work with Rank 1 to 8 from RT. Then, just make the characters in the same way any other RT character is made. That way, for example, your Rank 1 Cleric or Adept will be the same as a Rank 1 Arch-Militant or Void-Master.