So, I got Rogue Trader at Gencon on Thursday, but I've only really skimmed through the book until today. I'm still only partway through it, but so far, it's pretty sweet. Some of the major changes from Dark Heresy:
Characters start off generally more badass than their DH counterparts, but not so much so that they could instantly kill them outright. Well, outside of orbital bombardment, but I'll get back to that later.
Gone are keeping track of individual gelt and ammo, instead you have a wealth value that goes up or down based on your successes, and is used as a stat you check to see if you can appropriate various bits of equipment. The more badass, the harder it gets, but once you have a gun or specialty ammo, it's yours, the end. You might be limited off your ship, but your ship is restocked at every port, though GMs are encouraged to step in if players use hundreds of rare bolter rounds for extended trips in the periphery.
There aren't too many stock ships overall, thus encouraging players to make theirs custom-made to their own tastes (and means). So far, the system in space reminds me a lot of Battlefleet Gothic, which it likely should, especially since many of the hulls are pulled straight from the Imperial Fleet list.
Psykers are....less dangerous this time around, the entire system has been modified. Now, when making tests to activate powers, you takes your psy rating as a bonus to your willpower check (5 points per rating, max 8). If you use only half of your power (rounded up), you don't attract attention. If you use your normal power, you roll on the first table, and if you attempt to push your power, you take a penalty...
The tables have changed slightly, I don't think it's as likely to summon an unbound daemon (funny thing happened at Gencon, actually), but overall, it's fairly similar. It is possible to start a Psyker with 55 Willpower without buying a single upgrade, by the way.
Overall, a pretty cool book so far. I like the new purchasing system, that most characters can use high end equipment right from the get-go, and that it's possible to fly around the cosmos with a Cruiser-class ship.
Rogue Trader
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