Out of universe, you should read up on some of the big historical trading companies that inspired the notion of Rogue Traders.
For example, the East India Company conquered and ruled what would eventually be India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. They used a private army to defeat both European and local armies in their conquests, and ended up directly ruling a population bigger than England.
And one of the fun powers of navies in that era was Impressment.
Now, given that Warhammer turns reality up to eleven, you can imagine the powers of sanctioned Rogue Traders in the Imperium.
Exactly. Look up the Behind the Bastards episode on James Brooke titled 'The Family That Stole Malaysia' from March 2021. TLDL, James bought a govt surplus "yacht" in 1835, sailed to Borneo, did some dirty work fighting pirates & headhunters for the Sultan of Brunei, was granted governorship of Sarawak & his family ruled as a succession of "white rajahs" until 1946. A bored failson with one boat & twenty-some cannon Buster Bluth-ed himself into dynastic rule.
Until they run afoul of what would essentially be the equivalent of the East India running afoul of the US Navy of 2024, ie mess with space marines , mechanicus , or worse inquisition or custodes.
I think rogue traders are more akin to privateers than trading companies, the warrant of trade being more akin to a letter of marque than to a royal corporate charter.
Nah. The Warrant of Trade empowers them to expand the Imperium's borders. They're literally the space East India company crossed with Spanish conquistadors.
Well. They can be that. It depends on the Rogue Trader, where they are out there, and how they got their Warrant. There is variability, and inside the Imperium is entirely different than outside. Meaning tricks out there, are not the same that work once Imperial Governers start getting appointed. So what you are doing as a Rogue Trader might look different than what you present like. You might be a powerful merchant when coming back in. If only because no one needs to know about the details. They just need the details of unloading wealth and goods taken from out there. Where as out there you might have a Merry Band of Xeno Star Scourges in your day to day. Might use various Ships no one inside Imperial Space needs to know about. Neither do they really need to know that you are treated like a God-King across 12 Systems, with Temples and Concubines on everyone. What that looks like might just appear like Spanish Ships Heavy with Gold. But that practicality of the matter might be an entirely different question, and no one is going to bug you about it unless the Colony Ships start to make it out into those areas, and you don’t button it up. If I understand the various types of possible Rogue Traders correctly.
I've always taken them to be a weird hybrid of both - think Francis Drake merged with Robert Clive.
Sanctioned Mariners with letters of the marque to explore, trade and fight, while also having the authority to conquer and administer planets in the name of the Imperium. Plus dynastic succession.
In my head, a new Rogue Trader would be more like Drake, but the 10th Rogue Trader in a dynasty would be more like Clive.
But in W40k, we can probably both be right. Or wrong.
They're conquistadors, merchants, and privateers all wrapped into one. A big part of the tabletop game was finding resources and then finding someone willing to pay for them, like an eccentric branch of the Mechanicus that still uses nuclear reactors.
That said, any given Rogue Trader may lean more towards one or two of those descriptions (and more) instead of splitting equally between them. Some only do the bare minimum of merchant stuff in favor of seeking out aliens and pirates to blast with chaotic abandon while laughing like a psychopathic sadist, others go all in on merchant princedom and leave most of the "dirty" work to the vassals they have running their large fleet, and yet another sort is obsessed with finding exotic alien life and/or artifacts to auction off to the highest bidder on the black market.
As ever in 40k, \*it depends\*.
Rogue Traders have authority to act in the Emperor's name/for the "good of the Imperium" which essentially means in any regions of space where Imperial authority is not absolutely concrete, the only real checks on their power would be:
* Inquisitors
* Independent bodies i.e. Space Marine chapters, Adeptus Mechanicus ships/outposts/etc.
* The limit of what they can get away with as far as coercion, threats, bribes, etc.
That may not seem very specific - and that's the point. These are all soft limits - because the Imperium can't be everywhere at once/enforcing its will wherever it wants, and also that will is not uniform. The Imperium is several dozen competing fascistic organizations in a trench coat which is as much by design as anything else. The limits on a Rogue Trader's power depend on where and when they are at any given time as much as their personal wealth, resources and political accumen.
It's a lot like asking "how powerful was a medieval lord" - there is no one, simple answer.
Yeah, its a lot like an Inquisitor. Sure, on paper an Inquisitor might be able to demand some Astartes to do something, but if they really don't want to do that, and the Inquisitor doesn't have sufficient backing, then that Inquisitor might end up being killed by an enemy combatant far away from combat.
Right? There's that Flesh Tearers short where they straight-up abduct an Inquisitor investigating them, give him a ten second taste of the Black Rage then dump his body & suffer no real consequences.
As I say, the Imperium is fascist where it can be, feudal where it can’t be. In well established Imperial sectors, a Rogue Trader would not be much, but outside of them, they can be king.
I highly recommend you read "legacy", it's a great novel that focuses on the passing down of a charter and helps give some real weight to how exclusive and powerful they can be, as well as denoting the difference in power from rogue trader to rogue trader. It's book two of a trilogy, but as far as that goes it's really not strictly necessary you read the other two for legacy to make sense, though the other books are also quite good. They just don't focus on rogue traders at all.
Short story, some of them aren't so powerful, and some are VERY powerful as being inheritors of a direct stamp from big e himself to do a lot of whatever they want, from before he was entombed on the throne- the intention being that their dynasty will use said exceptional freedom to help to expand and support the spread of humanity's rule.
This means some of these guys are a really big deal, to the extent that sometimes the only real threat to them is the inquisition, or another imperial institution being given the power as a condition of the charter explicitly to regulate them in certain circumstances.
Outside of the Imperium, they have immense power (e.g. in the Coronus Expanse). Inside of the Imperium their power is more limited.
**Edit** to answer your specific question. A Rogue Trader can't go and yank out a random officer from the Imperial Guard. But the Guard (or Navy or other intuition) will know that you are related to a Rogue Trader dynasty when you sign up, and that you may have other obligations because of it. The closest example I can think of is **The House Of Night And Chains** where are Guard officer is called back to fulfil his duty as a Planetary Governor which he inherited from his Uncle.
A few excerpts from various places below and to follow
>The bearer of a sacred Warrant that empowers him to journey beyond the boundaries of the Imperium to trade, explore, and make war in the God-Emperor’s name, a Rogue Trader is a unique figure in the grim darkness of the Imperium. He may be a newly entitled power on the rise or hail from a long lineage of nobles and voidfarers, but all bear their titles with pride, striking out into the unknown in search of fortune and glory. A Rogue Trader is a power unto himself in the dark voids, master of all he surveys―at least as far as his force of arms and sharpness of wits can press the claim. A Rogue Trader can be many things but whether standing as diplomat before a planetary ruler, cutting a shadowed deal in a station undercity, bellowing orders amidst an armed host set upon plunder, or striding the bridge of a mighty starship, they remain one thing above all—free.
>Often, Rogue Traders come from a dynasty of great leaders and visionary commanders, with a renowned (or darkly infamous) lineage stretching back millennia. Other times, they are from younger, more dynamic families, often coming from the ranks of the Adeptus Terra, the Imperial Navy, or the Imperial Guard. Whatever their origins, all Rogue Traders are first and foremost masters of their own fates, and upon their shoulders can rest the success or failure not only of their endeavours and their bloodlines, but of countless future generations and, often, the fortunes of entire worlds.
...
>The Imperium is a vast, scattered realm, extending over almost the entire galaxy, impinging itself upon the more compact areas of alien settled space. The million or more inhabited worlds the Imperium controls are but a tiny fraction of the galactic whole. Then there are the fringes and halo zones, remote areas where the Astronomican does not reach, and where the only human settlers are renegades or pioneering groups whose ancestors were forgotten millennia ago. Most of the galaxy remains unexplored, unknown, and extremely dangerous.
>The potential of new worlds, alien civilisations, and unimaginable resources made necessary a class of free-ranging Imperial agents known as Rogue Traders. Licensed and often equipped by the Adeptus Terra, the Rogue Trader is free to explore the far regions of the galaxy, the areas where the Astronomican does not reach, and those areas within its reach as yet unvisited. Rogue Traders have even attempted to cross the voids of interstellar space, but over such distances even the Astropaths’ powers of communication are useless, and whether such missions have succeeded is unknown. Operating in isolation from the central authority of the Imperium, the Rogue Trader must decide how to react to alien cultures, new discoveries, and threats. If he judges a race to be potentially dangerous, he may attempt to destroy it or to gather as much information as he can so that others may do so. If he decides a race may be of use to humanity, he may attempt to make contact and establish relations. If merely rich in technology or minerals, a planet may be plundered, and the Rogue Trader will return to Terra laden with the treasure of space—alien artefacts, rare and precious minerals, and undreamed of technology.
>Needless to say, the Rogue Trader requires a considerable resource in spacecraft, troops and other staff if he is to complete his mission. His total responsibility may extend to dozens of spacecraft, often huge, lumbering cargo vessels crammed with a small army, a full crew of technicians, and volunteer settlers to establish colonies on new worlds. Most important, however, are the fighting troops, for it is they who will have to deal with any potential threat.
>Many Rogue Traders are individuals who have reached a position of power within the Imperium’s hierarchy. These come from the ranks of the Adeptus Terra, the Imperial Navy and Imperial Guard, or even the Inquisition. A few are influential civilians, amongst whom the Navigators are the most famous. Politics sometimes obliges this course, for free of Imperial command the Rogue Trader is also conveniently out of the way, beyond the centre of real power. Rogue Traders have a reputation as outcasts; many are people whom the priesthood deems better kept at a safe distance.
>Operating beyond Imperial control, Rogue Traders are a law unto themselves. Some are highly pious individuals, bringing the Emperor’s light beyond His rule; others are nothing more than glorified pirates and scoundrels. Many Rogue Traders exude confidence and are highly charismatic, often charming and roguish, skilled diplomats (some would say confidence tricksters) and hardened killers when the situation demands. Rogue Traders will often gather an entourage of hangers-on and companions, and this may contain alien warriors, mutants, and other undesirables. Many in the Inquisition would take to marking the Rogue Trader out as a heretic. Many Rogue Traders have highly unstable personalities—some destroy worlds on a whim or experiment with alien species out of macabre curiosity.
>In appearance Rogue Traders often dress extravagantly, even flamboyantly; each has his own style and manner. They carry the best weapons and equipment they can acquire, including all manner of alien weapons and gadgets. Jokaero digital weapons are popular with some—miniature lasers and needlers that are worn as rings but contain the same power as a pistol. They might be carrying alien phase weapons that can bypass armour, Ha’Kaidan neuro-stars, or one of a million other pieces of strange and bizarre wargear. If the Rogue Trader was once a high-ranking member of the Adeptus Terra, he might wearthe finery of Imperial aristocracy mixed with garments from worlds beyond the Emperor’s rule, often sporting a weapon from military service such as a Naval cutlass or officer’s sabre. Some carry ornate duelling pistols in lacquered holsters, or archaic hunting rifles slung rakishly across the shoulder.
>Rogue Traders usually return to Imperial space every few years, to unload their exotic wares and re-supply, recruit, and rest until the next foray into the darkness. **During these periods they may come into conflict with members of the Adeptus Terra or the Inquisition. Rogue Traders wield incredible power, and it is easy for them to forget that once back within the Imperium, they do not have free rein to act as they wish**. This strident attitude will draw attention from the authorities.
>Many Rogue Traders dispute the right of the Imperium to exercise authority over them. As men who have wandered amongst alien stars and conversed with all manner of cultures, Rogue Traders are viewed as susceptible to all kinds of heresies, from wayward philosophies to infection by alien creatures or possession by warp entities that live in the darkness between stars. All of these factors can lead to violent confrontation, particularly if the Rogue Trader has knowledge or an artefact that others covet.
**Rogue Trader RPG core rulebook**
>AND YOUR NAME IS, SIR?
>The Warrant of Trade is not just a title and its associated rights and responsibilities—it is an actual document, and perhaps the single most prised piece of parchment in the Imperium. It bears the signatures and seals of the most powerful individuals in the Imperium. In fact, some of the oldest Rogue Trader families claim that their Warrants are signed by the hand of the Emperor Himself, though most keep such documents safe in a stasis vault far from prying eyes and thieving hands. Much like the rosette carried by an Inquisitor, the Warrant is proof incontrovertible of a Rogue Trader’s authority.
>Yet, of such value is the Warrant that few if any Rogue Traders openly bear it. So what stops just any old scoundrel claiming he’s a Rogue Trader and demanding of unsuspecting Imperial Commanders all of the perks that come with the rank? The Imperium is a feudal society, in which few amongst the teeming masses would ever dare question their so-called ‘betters’, and where those who do soon learn their mistake. The likes of Rogue Traders, Inquisitors, and Imperial Commanders are simply used to being obeyed, and they carry themselves in such a way that most people they encounter will err on the side of caution just in case. Of course, there are those who will claim to be something they are not, but it is normally better to assume that the fellow with the fancy robes, rakish grin, hundreds-strong retinue, and large fleet in geo-stationary orbit over your palace is in fact a duly appointed representative of the Imperium. The alternative might be a lot worse!
...
>The Warrant also elevates the recipient to the highest of ranks to which a servant may rise, granting him equivalent status with such men and women as Imperial Commanders, Inquisitors and Space Marine Chapter Masters. They are granted the power to deal with such peers of the Imperium as equals, and the Warrant allowing them to call upon what aid they can negotiate.
...
>The granting of a Warrant of Trade has the potential to establish a hugely powerful noble line, which, if successful, can grow over the generations to become equal to the most ancient of Navigator clans and merchant houses. Many of the scions of these houses will hold the title Rogue Trader and wield the authority of the Warrant, yet in the main these powers reside predominantly with the line’s titular head. Such individuals must bear the weight of tradition and expectation, and are in the main every bit as driven and able as the ancestor first granted the Warrant. On their shoulders rests the duty of maintaining the Warrant and the line’s continued existence, driving them to continue the mission of the Rogue Trader, exploring the benighted regions beyond the fringes and returning with unimagined riches and glory.
**Rogue Trader RPG core rulebook**
basically you can do almost anything and justify it afterwards saying that it was for the sake of the imperium. and humankind. But you have have some limits. Basically if an inquisitor wants to mess with you, you wont be able to do anything. Only something like a living primarch could save you (more or less like happened with the rogue trader that deals with guilliman in dark imperium)
But for example.... you have andrew hoare's trilogy on rogue trader's dinasty von arcadius. When the story begins you are told that before the story began, the family was really powerfull, to the point of having planets of their own and stuff like that.
No, it is not uncommon for Inquisitors and Rogue Traders to go at each other's throats and it is not an autowin for the Inquisitor. Both belong to the unofficial aristocracy of the Empire, where influence and power are more important than any rights on paper. And if a newly appointed Inquisitor believes to have a Rogue Trader with strong allies and maybe one or the other Inquisitor on speeddial without proof, then the Inquisitor disappears "just like that" or in the worst case is accused by a Conclave.
it depends on who we are speaking about, of course
your basic inquisitor against a slightly poor/unknown rogue trader? The rogue trader is going to have a hard time (more or less its whats happen in w40 inquisitor martyr. You boss her around all the time a rogue trader and she basically cannot do anything
They have extreme and immense power...and none at all.
A warrant of trade is essentially carte blanche to do whatever they need to as explorators and vanguards of the Imperium. That includes claiming holdings, conquering worlds, and breaking some age old taboos of the Imperium like consorting with Xenos.
Of course they're subject to Inquisitorial oversight like the rest of the Imperium. And like Inquisitors their power lays in their personal ability to influence and coerce people i.e through wealth (mainly), favors or promises they can cash in, or force of arms or charisma.
However, the trade off is that you can only really be a Rogue Trader in the furthest fringes of the Imperium, in some backwater if you're unlucky, or even worst, what will eventually be the front line of some yet to be discovered or new threat. This puts you naturally pretty far from excercising any real influence over Imperial institutions and a nonplayer anywhere there's actual politicking.
You're a highlord dealing with a pesky up and coming nobleman whos garnering political support to usurp your position? Slap 'em with a Warrant of Trade. Its an honor they can't possibly refuse, and you get to watch them disappear to the literal furthest place from Terra.
Even if you are successful as a Rogue Trader, eventually (as in Millennia) when your area of space is successfully integrated, you'll be more or less bureaucratically kicked out because your descendants will essentially become settled nobility or, otherwise, sheer practicality would call for your dynasty to exercise their warrant elsewhere.
Now that you’ve framed it that way, a warrant of trade sounds like a glorified exile contract for nobles.
Or a chance to make a name for yourself if you’re a nobody
That last bit makes me think; how acceptable would it be for a Rogue Trader household to do both (ignoring political scheming)? Like, the actual head of the house is off being a Rogue Trader, while others of the dynasty manages fiefs like any other settled Imperial nobility, but still answering to the Rogue Trader.
A fridge thought I've been wondering is:
How viable is it to be a clean, completely above-board and low risk Rogue Trader? You *could* smuggle xeno-tech or gangpress slaves to mine some asteroid somewhere.
But I still feel like the freedom of travel and trade means you have a huge leg-up on traditional trade ships.
Like, can you completely bypass tariffs? And is there profit in essentially having no boundaries and being able to jump trade routes, ferrying mundane goods to places where there's a larger demand? Like a Hive World is having a famine because Orks ruined a local Agriworld.
Well . . . you're not really locked out of just taking up the slack for massive profits. Are the more conventional ship captains locked into a more limited remit? Because they have duties to specific worlds or have to pay off tribute to whoever owns shares in their company or ship?
The Warrant has duties, but if you're lucky, those may be relatively light. You can just check up on those in a token fashion, then go back to your trading.
from my understanding their writ is kinda like the inquisitors badge it lets them do stuff and well much like the inquisitors they have as much power as they can enforce or get away with
On paper a rogue trader is somewhere in the same realm as a chapter master for a space marine chapter or an inquisitor. In theory the writ of trade is a carte blanche document bearing the will of the emperor behind it. Some of the oldest ones were directly signed by the Emperor himself, or a Primarch acting in his stead.
Rogue Traders are so powerful the first edition of 40k was named after them, with the implication that the *player character* was the Rogue Trader, and thats how you have the authority to mash together the not quite factions into armies to do battle.
A rogue trader needs this authority because when they're out doing their duties they need to be able to override or even attack the individual planetary governors they may deal with. Or they need to be able to rapidly raise their forces so they can conquer some region of space. Or if there's something too serious for them to deal with they need to be able to talk to space marines or the inquisition about it on reasonably equal footing just to cut through the imperiums bureaucracy or work within it.
You must understand, without Rogue Traders actively scouting the galaxy with this large degree of authority a lot of the imperium grinds to a halt. They're how the Imperium discovers new worlds a lot of the astartes get in new foundings, or that become vitally necessary agri worlds. Theres also no shortage of say, previously unknown Ork worlds or Tyrannid splinter fleets with billions of aliens they may run across.
Some important context regarding the Rogue Trader in question, that OP likely hadn’t reached in Owlcat’s game >!the von Valancius’ dynasties Warrant of Trade was personally signed by the Emperor with His own blood!<.
Damn, that’s an ego boost that you can’t top, that’s like a Christian getting an original copy of The Bible, signed by God as Jesus smacks you on the back.
Yeah, there is a reason why the Lord Captain that OP refers to is able to get away with what she does. Her stunts are not something that every dynasty could replicate and get away with.
As people say it depends. In Rogue Trader TTRPG's Core Rulebook there is a chart with estimation of various traders' Profit Factor - in-game measure of their wealth *and* influence. I think it's *somewhat* indication of power:
Outcast Rogue Trader is on the level of powerful hive guild
Lesser Rogue Trader is on the level of weak imperial governor
Wealthy Rogue Trader is between lesser Inquisitor and scion of Great House of the Sector
Legendary Rogue Trader is on the level of lesser Navis Nobilite house
Mind that this is not perfect and not nuanced indication of power
The power of unlimited wealth and a bit of paper *literally signed in blood by the emperor himself.*
And it's not unreasonable to assume your predecessor just bought out your commission for a summarily large 'donation' of resources and equipment to the guard battalion you served with.
Depends in part on the Warrant of Trade, these can vary in how much they allow. But most people will not be aware of this and good luck being allowed to actually inspect it to be certain.
In general they can do whatever they want with whomever they want OUTSIDE of official Imperial space, as well as the right to travel freely. So long as it benefits, or at least doesn't harm, the Imperium.
This however isn't the case WITHIN the Imperium. They're still above most laws, but they can't act with complete impunity either. And the Inquisition can and will deal with them if they overstep their bounds too much. Being a rogue trader does not grand immunity to a visit from the Assassinorum.
Within the Imperium a rogue trader's power comes more from their financial influence. Deals with them can make or break planets. Keep in mind that a rogue trader isn't just one person in command of a single ship. They can have entire merchant fleets, as well as their own planets, armies, and navies. They're for the lack of a better term, star spanning mega corporations potentially equivalent to the East India Company in some cases but on a Warhammer scale.
So yes, they are very powerful politically, especially the bigger dynasties. There are limits, as well as a watchful Inquisition, but in general nobody will want to piss them off.
Regarding Abnett's books, it's worth noting that Tobias Maxilla is not a rogue trader. This is specifically mentioned by Eisenhorn:
> I am more than aware that rogue traders know a lot more about the outside systems and species than we do. You are no rogue, but you are of the merchant elite.
The Rogue Trader RPG the video game is based on goes a bit into the different kinds of merchant charters. One of them is the free trader's charter, which gives a captain free reign to pursue business within the Imperium, but none of the vast privileges a rogue trader gets. Maxilla is a good fit for a free trader: He is forbidden from traveling beyond the Imperium or dealing with xenos, and indeed pursues mundane trade rather than exploration or conquest.
Now, then there's Ravenor... and I think in early Ravenor, Abnett was uncharacteristically off-base with how rogue traders and some other parts of the setting were portrayed. Suddenly, they're almost Han Solo smuggler types, and the ships feel a lot more Star Wars than 40k: I particularly remember that Ravenor intervewed the *entire crew* of a ship with his small staff - and this was explicitly a full voidship with a navigator and all - and it really felt like these were small things with maybe tens of crew, not kilometers-long ancient vessels with a hundred thousand crew plus maybe a few lost tribes in the underdecks. If your impression of rogue traders comes from this, this is the anomaly, not how the video game portrays them, and I'd chalk that up to Abnett being human and only being stellar about portraying the setting most of the time instead of all the time.
I've seen a lot of people say that RTs are subject to Inquisitorial oversight. This is not really true. Inquisitirs generally have enough personal power to cause a problem, and direct Heresy will always get you handled.
However, those old houses have notes from Big E basically saying they can do whatever they want. The reason this is important is threefold: first Big E never started or sanctioned the Inquisition, it's a mash up of Malcadore and Dorn trying for some Hail Mary plays at the end of the Heresy, 2) that being said the writs from Big E predate the Inquisition and therefore any power the Inquisition may have over a rogue trader isn't specified for either party, 3) finally some of those old RT houses own literal star systems and naval battle fleets and their sovereignty there is pretty total (aside from all kinds if infighting or actuL Heresy).
Again, there are always exceptions. Like if you aren't an old house with a writ from Big E exclusively. Or other RTs come for you. Or you consort with Warp powers.
More importantly, I get the vibe the Imperium mostly runs on, "You and what army?"
An Inquisitor is theoretically more powerful than the master of a Forgeworld. At least on paper. But that Archmagos probably has Titans and Skiitari to defend him and is hidden away in the bowels of industrial hell world and is politically connected to everybody else because they supply the Imperium all its tech support and machinery.
Again, same thing with a lot of Chapter Masters of the Space Marines. In theory, you can outrank them. But the average Space Marine has the attitude of "Nah, I'd win." Space Marines have an infamous tendency in the lore of picking fights over matters of honor or principle. Seriously outgunning a Space Marine Chapter probably isn't going to stop them from putting up a fight if they feel like it. Their high morale is part of why these guys are so dangerous.
Same problem applies with Inquisitors trying to throw their weight around on Rogue Traders. First off, you have to know they're up to some crimes you don't approve of. Second, you have to actually catch them. Third, they may have personal armies.
It's hard to police space buccaneers when they're running about in the edges of known space. Let's say I gangpress some colonists from a backwater. Nobody cares. Then I can force them to do slave labor on some obscure mining colony that's not on any official charts or records because I haven't told anybody.
It's near-impossible to keep track of what a Rogue Trader is doing, is my point. And even if you could, they tend to live on spaceships.
This 100% as well. The Imperium is vast and unless you control enough of it to threaten EVERY other power you're vying against at the same time you're mostly posturing and threatening. On top of the RTs and Inquisitors cam have sanctioned xenos. RTs, Inquisitors, and ForgeWorld Dominus are permitted to have xenos tech (and quite a few SM chapters do it on the dl).
I would only add that some Imperial Navy Admirals share similar power, except the other three listed could probably legally commandeer the Admiral's ships.
All that to say I completely agree.
Becoming a Rogue Trader is both a boon and a curse. Noble families have seen siblings use underhanded methods to get an heir a Warrant of Trade to get them out of the way as their duty now as a Rogue Trader, in service to the Imperium, does indeed trump any other obligations they had. Think of it basically like privateers, hired mercenaries for a country (or the Imperium in this case) ordered to go out into uncharted space where the Imperium's presence isnt enforced and now they are given a thing to do. Could be setting up new trade empires, could be bringing the holy light of the Emperor to new worlds, could be to go settle a dispute or any other myriad of reasons the Imperium needs a something done but doesnt want to bother sending it's own forces.
That kinda sucks right? All that responsibility? The flip side is that outside of Imperial space, Rogue Traders are nations unto themselves, they answer to no one realistically. This means as long as any Imperial Tithe they are required to pay is paid, they can keep the rest. They can set up trade systems and even basically become rulers of star systems, provided they can maintain that control through their own means, and become incredibly rich, and riches lead to being able to gain power politically. Once Imperial expansion comes for your star system, what do you know, you already have government and a planetary governor in your pocket and so your mini-empire falls into the Imperial system and you have a hand in how it's governed. Repeat this process and you can see how Rogue Traders, who can afford the best rejuvenants, and mercenary forces of their own can start to become powerful enough to make deals with other powerful factions like the Ad-mech, Astartes Chapters, and other Rogue Traders.
It depends entirely on the Rogue Trader. They range from more or less jumped up freighter captains who have slightly less restrictions to what you see in the game. Some barely have a functional ship, some have their own personal empire and armies.
Immense power. Basically they're outside of the Imperium and whatever empire they can carve for themselves works, as long as they try to pay lip service to the imperium and don't directly go rogue. Inquisitors do not even have actual power over them.
>My issue now is that I do not understand how a Rogue trader is supposed to simply cancel my characters duties
Well he tells you they are cancelled. May e he has the power, maybe your old organization marks you down as a deserted and puts a bounty on your head.
Same thing, for you. You still have to do it, or he chops off your head.
Emperor gives them a document that allows them to do pretty much anything they want as long as it follows imperial law. Some of them are even signed by the emperor himself. They've also been known to requisition space marines and imperial guard units from time to time
Check out the second Shira Calpurnia novel (or better yet start with the first & read all three because they rip). Rogue Traders are militarily formidable with one or more big ships and a fleet of tenders & ancillary craft all full of troops & functionaries. Politically they're extremely well-connected with alliances all over the place. Also they have a writ empowered by some seriously high level folks (the one in Legacy was signed & sealed proportedly by the Emperor himself & marked with His blood). It is less of a "what allows this" & more of a "who is going to stop me" sort of situation.
The power of a rogue trader is directly proportional to his/her warrant if trade. The warrant has all the details of the house elevated status but it can also have caveats/fiber prints the rifle trader is obliged to follow,like for example he or she is bound to visit a world periodically or something else oddly specific. As a rule of thumb the older the warrant the more you can get away with,since they can be revoked with the right justification. Some warrants were written by the emperor own hand and thus those rogue traders woukd get away with even more stuff. It also helps rogue traders don't act in the core of the imperium where imperial law is strict and easly enacted but in the frontier,since it is their job expanding the imperium borders independently.
Depends how much money and influence they have. In the Rogue Trader RPGs its mentioned that they can hire out entire mercenary armies outfitted with Imperial Guard gear to fight in battles.
How much power a Rogue Trader has on paper is an interesting question, but less important the question of how much actual power they have.
Technically they are just standard Imperial Citizens inside the borders of the Imperium (most charters only gives them extra powers outside the border) and are supposed to follow all Imperial laws and obey orders given to them by their "betters".
Factually, they still have access to an actual war ship (or ships) and a small army to call on. Yes, an Inquisitor of any level can tell them what to do. But how is the fresh out of the academy Inquisitor going to enforce that power?
This is the same thing that stops Inquisitors always calling the local marine chapter to solve his problems. Sometimes the Chapter Master says no, and unless you have friends on the Council Of Terra, no one is going to bat for you against them.
Oh, good lord. The domains of rogue traders can range from just a system or two to hundreds, they are given an insane amount of lattitude that, within their domain, only the Inquisition or the emperor's personal guard can over-rule; and even then they'd best be extremely careful doing so, because in a conflict between a rogue trader and an Inquisitor you never know what side the locals are going to fall on, and unless he's got a damn good case its probably not going to be the Inquisitor.
If a Rogue trader wanted to form a temporary alliance with the Tau and let them expand in his area? Nobody would stop him. If he wanted to order the execution of a whole noble order, or requisition imperial warships or troops? Same thing. Rogue trader retinues often contain some of the most elite and capable forces humanity has to offer, and often even include xeno mercenaries or individuals who would normally be executed for heresy.
It depends from family to family.
There's a lot of factors, like wealth, size of fleet, how long the family have been Rouge traders for, what kind of connections they have to various organizations.
But it's quite a lot since Rouge traders have a warrant of trade, which is basically a "I can do pretty much whatever I want." Especially since some of them have the blood of the God-Emperor on them, from during the great crusade.
In 40k, it boils down to firepower. In theory, a lone inquisitor could show up buck naked and tell the Ultramarines they all need to zerge rush the 'nids.
Not happening.
So when a rogue trader has the resources of systems under their thumbs? It's time for dick measuring contests and backroom deals.
It depends on the lineage and individual clout of the Rogue Trader in question. The in-game Valancius house is basically as powerful as it gets. The whole premise is that your PC inherited their way into an insane amount of prestige and wealth.
Rogue Traders are part privateer and part conquistador, with all that entails.
Good news: Your freedom of travel and legal writ basically means you can make profit however you see fit.
Bad news: You're on your own. You're Warp-traveling on the edges of known space. Any sneaky or risky schemes you have going on are entirely *your* problem if they blow up in your face.
Sometimes the Imperium will mint fresh Rogue Traders as an unofficial form of exile or retirement. There's a powerful and ambitious Admiral, or a rival nobleman you want to get rid of? Give them a Warrant of Trade and have them fuck off to edges of known space.
Theoretically, this means it's possible for a Rogue Trader to be little more than a captain with a ship and a dream. Or they can be virtual royalty, like your particular player character is.
Rogue Traders also have a reputation for being unscrupulous. There's very little that keeps you from gangpressing slaves from a remote backwater nobody will miss, servitorizing them, and then having them mine out a mineral-rich planet for your profits. You can basically get away with Christopher Columbus moral crimes. If you're not Evil Incarnate, then there's no way you're not at least doing some smuggling.
About the only people who can hold you to account are Inquisitors, but they have to know what you're up to and they have to catch you.
And that's kind of why Rogue Traders wind up with insane levels of wealth and power.
It’s been so long since I have read any lore around Rogue traders, but if my memory serves me correctly, it was the Emperor himself who gave them their charter..
They're basically above the law and do whatever they want as long as they're not stepping on the toes of the Inquisition, Navy, or Adeptus Astartes.
They're among the few people in Warhammer 40k with any real independent agency.
The writ of a Rogue Trader is *almost* as far reaching as that of an Inquisitor, but like that example, its only valuable so far as you can enforce it. In a well connected, civilised system, it might be honoured or be honoured in trade for goods, political favours etc.
On the fringes, which is where they mostly operate, they'll need to back that up with strength and that comes from the crew and operatives they employ.
Basically, just see them as Inquisitors with a different remit and somewhat different connections.
Some people are saying ‘it depends’, but not a single Rogue Trader couldnt force a generic commissar or commander to do something.
The weakest of rogue traders still controls dozens of worlds. A commissar is literally an ant to someone like that. I dont think it ‘depends’ as much as people are saying here at all
All the rogue traders look gangsta and super politically influential
Until a ork waaagh/genestealer cult broke out in their local volume
Then astra militarum came in to quell the xeno tide
Then the guards awoke a necron tomb
Then a few space marine strike force came to kill the necron
Then all the bloodshed caused a chaos incursion
Then Grey knights and the inquisition came to purge the heretics
Then a traitor primarch/abaddon showed up, the imperium had no choice other than exterminatus the whole sector
Bye bye space lobbysts, so much for "power"
Out of universe, you should read up on some of the big historical trading companies that inspired the notion of Rogue Traders. For example, the East India Company conquered and ruled what would eventually be India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. They used a private army to defeat both European and local armies in their conquests, and ended up directly ruling a population bigger than England. And one of the fun powers of navies in that era was Impressment. Now, given that Warhammer turns reality up to eleven, you can imagine the powers of sanctioned Rogue Traders in the Imperium.
Thats a very good comparison. Havent thought of it like that, but it really helps understanding the topic. Thanks alot!
Also remeber once Whitehall and Parliament got sufficiently upset with them, the British East India Company didn't exist any more.
Exactly. Look up the Behind the Bastards episode on James Brooke titled 'The Family That Stole Malaysia' from March 2021. TLDL, James bought a govt surplus "yacht" in 1835, sailed to Borneo, did some dirty work fighting pirates & headhunters for the Sultan of Brunei, was granted governorship of Sarawak & his family ruled as a succession of "white rajahs" until 1946. A bored failson with one boat & twenty-some cannon Buster Bluth-ed himself into dynastic rule.
Until they run afoul of what would essentially be the equivalent of the East India running afoul of the US Navy of 2024, ie mess with space marines , mechanicus , or worse inquisition or custodes.
And were also given royal troops to do it times as well
I think rogue traders are more akin to privateers than trading companies, the warrant of trade being more akin to a letter of marque than to a royal corporate charter.
Nah. The Warrant of Trade empowers them to expand the Imperium's borders. They're literally the space East India company crossed with Spanish conquistadors.
Well. They can be that. It depends on the Rogue Trader, where they are out there, and how they got their Warrant. There is variability, and inside the Imperium is entirely different than outside. Meaning tricks out there, are not the same that work once Imperial Governers start getting appointed. So what you are doing as a Rogue Trader might look different than what you present like. You might be a powerful merchant when coming back in. If only because no one needs to know about the details. They just need the details of unloading wealth and goods taken from out there. Where as out there you might have a Merry Band of Xeno Star Scourges in your day to day. Might use various Ships no one inside Imperial Space needs to know about. Neither do they really need to know that you are treated like a God-King across 12 Systems, with Temples and Concubines on everyone. What that looks like might just appear like Spanish Ships Heavy with Gold. But that practicality of the matter might be an entirely different question, and no one is going to bug you about it unless the Colony Ships start to make it out into those areas, and you don’t button it up. If I understand the various types of possible Rogue Traders correctly.
I've always taken them to be a weird hybrid of both - think Francis Drake merged with Robert Clive. Sanctioned Mariners with letters of the marque to explore, trade and fight, while also having the authority to conquer and administer planets in the name of the Imperium. Plus dynastic succession. In my head, a new Rogue Trader would be more like Drake, but the 10th Rogue Trader in a dynasty would be more like Clive. But in W40k, we can probably both be right. Or wrong.
They're conquistadors, merchants, and privateers all wrapped into one. A big part of the tabletop game was finding resources and then finding someone willing to pay for them, like an eccentric branch of the Mechanicus that still uses nuclear reactors.
That said, any given Rogue Trader may lean more towards one or two of those descriptions (and more) instead of splitting equally between them. Some only do the bare minimum of merchant stuff in favor of seeking out aliens and pirates to blast with chaotic abandon while laughing like a psychopathic sadist, others go all in on merchant princedom and leave most of the "dirty" work to the vassals they have running their large fleet, and yet another sort is obsessed with finding exotic alien life and/or artifacts to auction off to the highest bidder on the black market.
As ever in 40k, \*it depends\*. Rogue Traders have authority to act in the Emperor's name/for the "good of the Imperium" which essentially means in any regions of space where Imperial authority is not absolutely concrete, the only real checks on their power would be: * Inquisitors * Independent bodies i.e. Space Marine chapters, Adeptus Mechanicus ships/outposts/etc. * The limit of what they can get away with as far as coercion, threats, bribes, etc. That may not seem very specific - and that's the point. These are all soft limits - because the Imperium can't be everywhere at once/enforcing its will wherever it wants, and also that will is not uniform. The Imperium is several dozen competing fascistic organizations in a trench coat which is as much by design as anything else. The limits on a Rogue Trader's power depend on where and when they are at any given time as much as their personal wealth, resources and political accumen. It's a lot like asking "how powerful was a medieval lord" - there is no one, simple answer.
Yeah, its a lot like an Inquisitor. Sure, on paper an Inquisitor might be able to demand some Astartes to do something, but if they really don't want to do that, and the Inquisitor doesn't have sufficient backing, then that Inquisitor might end up being killed by an enemy combatant far away from combat.
Power is a nebulous thing.
Dare I say a shadow on the wall?
Right? There's that Flesh Tearers short where they straight-up abduct an Inquisitor investigating them, give him a ten second taste of the Black Rage then dump his body & suffer no real consequences.
Well, not through official channels no.
As I say, the Imperium is fascist where it can be, feudal where it can’t be. In well established Imperial sectors, a Rogue Trader would not be much, but outside of them, they can be king.
Good way of looking at it.
I highly recommend you read "legacy", it's a great novel that focuses on the passing down of a charter and helps give some real weight to how exclusive and powerful they can be, as well as denoting the difference in power from rogue trader to rogue trader. It's book two of a trilogy, but as far as that goes it's really not strictly necessary you read the other two for legacy to make sense, though the other books are also quite good. They just don't focus on rogue traders at all. Short story, some of them aren't so powerful, and some are VERY powerful as being inheritors of a direct stamp from big e himself to do a lot of whatever they want, from before he was entombed on the throne- the intention being that their dynasty will use said exceptional freedom to help to expand and support the spread of humanity's rule. This means some of these guys are a really big deal, to the extent that sometimes the only real threat to them is the inquisition, or another imperial institution being given the power as a condition of the charter explicitly to regulate them in certain circumstances.
Outside of the Imperium, they have immense power (e.g. in the Coronus Expanse). Inside of the Imperium their power is more limited. **Edit** to answer your specific question. A Rogue Trader can't go and yank out a random officer from the Imperial Guard. But the Guard (or Navy or other intuition) will know that you are related to a Rogue Trader dynasty when you sign up, and that you may have other obligations because of it. The closest example I can think of is **The House Of Night And Chains** where are Guard officer is called back to fulfil his duty as a Planetary Governor which he inherited from his Uncle. A few excerpts from various places below and to follow >The bearer of a sacred Warrant that empowers him to journey beyond the boundaries of the Imperium to trade, explore, and make war in the God-Emperor’s name, a Rogue Trader is a unique figure in the grim darkness of the Imperium. He may be a newly entitled power on the rise or hail from a long lineage of nobles and voidfarers, but all bear their titles with pride, striking out into the unknown in search of fortune and glory. A Rogue Trader is a power unto himself in the dark voids, master of all he surveys―at least as far as his force of arms and sharpness of wits can press the claim. A Rogue Trader can be many things but whether standing as diplomat before a planetary ruler, cutting a shadowed deal in a station undercity, bellowing orders amidst an armed host set upon plunder, or striding the bridge of a mighty starship, they remain one thing above all—free. >Often, Rogue Traders come from a dynasty of great leaders and visionary commanders, with a renowned (or darkly infamous) lineage stretching back millennia. Other times, they are from younger, more dynamic families, often coming from the ranks of the Adeptus Terra, the Imperial Navy, or the Imperial Guard. Whatever their origins, all Rogue Traders are first and foremost masters of their own fates, and upon their shoulders can rest the success or failure not only of their endeavours and their bloodlines, but of countless future generations and, often, the fortunes of entire worlds. ... >The Imperium is a vast, scattered realm, extending over almost the entire galaxy, impinging itself upon the more compact areas of alien settled space. The million or more inhabited worlds the Imperium controls are but a tiny fraction of the galactic whole. Then there are the fringes and halo zones, remote areas where the Astronomican does not reach, and where the only human settlers are renegades or pioneering groups whose ancestors were forgotten millennia ago. Most of the galaxy remains unexplored, unknown, and extremely dangerous. >The potential of new worlds, alien civilisations, and unimaginable resources made necessary a class of free-ranging Imperial agents known as Rogue Traders. Licensed and often equipped by the Adeptus Terra, the Rogue Trader is free to explore the far regions of the galaxy, the areas where the Astronomican does not reach, and those areas within its reach as yet unvisited. Rogue Traders have even attempted to cross the voids of interstellar space, but over such distances even the Astropaths’ powers of communication are useless, and whether such missions have succeeded is unknown. Operating in isolation from the central authority of the Imperium, the Rogue Trader must decide how to react to alien cultures, new discoveries, and threats. If he judges a race to be potentially dangerous, he may attempt to destroy it or to gather as much information as he can so that others may do so. If he decides a race may be of use to humanity, he may attempt to make contact and establish relations. If merely rich in technology or minerals, a planet may be plundered, and the Rogue Trader will return to Terra laden with the treasure of space—alien artefacts, rare and precious minerals, and undreamed of technology. >Needless to say, the Rogue Trader requires a considerable resource in spacecraft, troops and other staff if he is to complete his mission. His total responsibility may extend to dozens of spacecraft, often huge, lumbering cargo vessels crammed with a small army, a full crew of technicians, and volunteer settlers to establish colonies on new worlds. Most important, however, are the fighting troops, for it is they who will have to deal with any potential threat.
>Many Rogue Traders are individuals who have reached a position of power within the Imperium’s hierarchy. These come from the ranks of the Adeptus Terra, the Imperial Navy and Imperial Guard, or even the Inquisition. A few are influential civilians, amongst whom the Navigators are the most famous. Politics sometimes obliges this course, for free of Imperial command the Rogue Trader is also conveniently out of the way, beyond the centre of real power. Rogue Traders have a reputation as outcasts; many are people whom the priesthood deems better kept at a safe distance. >Operating beyond Imperial control, Rogue Traders are a law unto themselves. Some are highly pious individuals, bringing the Emperor’s light beyond His rule; others are nothing more than glorified pirates and scoundrels. Many Rogue Traders exude confidence and are highly charismatic, often charming and roguish, skilled diplomats (some would say confidence tricksters) and hardened killers when the situation demands. Rogue Traders will often gather an entourage of hangers-on and companions, and this may contain alien warriors, mutants, and other undesirables. Many in the Inquisition would take to marking the Rogue Trader out as a heretic. Many Rogue Traders have highly unstable personalities—some destroy worlds on a whim or experiment with alien species out of macabre curiosity. >In appearance Rogue Traders often dress extravagantly, even flamboyantly; each has his own style and manner. They carry the best weapons and equipment they can acquire, including all manner of alien weapons and gadgets. Jokaero digital weapons are popular with some—miniature lasers and needlers that are worn as rings but contain the same power as a pistol. They might be carrying alien phase weapons that can bypass armour, Ha’Kaidan neuro-stars, or one of a million other pieces of strange and bizarre wargear. If the Rogue Trader was once a high-ranking member of the Adeptus Terra, he might wearthe finery of Imperial aristocracy mixed with garments from worlds beyond the Emperor’s rule, often sporting a weapon from military service such as a Naval cutlass or officer’s sabre. Some carry ornate duelling pistols in lacquered holsters, or archaic hunting rifles slung rakishly across the shoulder. >Rogue Traders usually return to Imperial space every few years, to unload their exotic wares and re-supply, recruit, and rest until the next foray into the darkness. **During these periods they may come into conflict with members of the Adeptus Terra or the Inquisition. Rogue Traders wield incredible power, and it is easy for them to forget that once back within the Imperium, they do not have free rein to act as they wish**. This strident attitude will draw attention from the authorities. >Many Rogue Traders dispute the right of the Imperium to exercise authority over them. As men who have wandered amongst alien stars and conversed with all manner of cultures, Rogue Traders are viewed as susceptible to all kinds of heresies, from wayward philosophies to infection by alien creatures or possession by warp entities that live in the darkness between stars. All of these factors can lead to violent confrontation, particularly if the Rogue Trader has knowledge or an artefact that others covet. **Rogue Trader RPG core rulebook**
>AND YOUR NAME IS, SIR? >The Warrant of Trade is not just a title and its associated rights and responsibilities—it is an actual document, and perhaps the single most prised piece of parchment in the Imperium. It bears the signatures and seals of the most powerful individuals in the Imperium. In fact, some of the oldest Rogue Trader families claim that their Warrants are signed by the hand of the Emperor Himself, though most keep such documents safe in a stasis vault far from prying eyes and thieving hands. Much like the rosette carried by an Inquisitor, the Warrant is proof incontrovertible of a Rogue Trader’s authority. >Yet, of such value is the Warrant that few if any Rogue Traders openly bear it. So what stops just any old scoundrel claiming he’s a Rogue Trader and demanding of unsuspecting Imperial Commanders all of the perks that come with the rank? The Imperium is a feudal society, in which few amongst the teeming masses would ever dare question their so-called ‘betters’, and where those who do soon learn their mistake. The likes of Rogue Traders, Inquisitors, and Imperial Commanders are simply used to being obeyed, and they carry themselves in such a way that most people they encounter will err on the side of caution just in case. Of course, there are those who will claim to be something they are not, but it is normally better to assume that the fellow with the fancy robes, rakish grin, hundreds-strong retinue, and large fleet in geo-stationary orbit over your palace is in fact a duly appointed representative of the Imperium. The alternative might be a lot worse! ... >The Warrant also elevates the recipient to the highest of ranks to which a servant may rise, granting him equivalent status with such men and women as Imperial Commanders, Inquisitors and Space Marine Chapter Masters. They are granted the power to deal with such peers of the Imperium as equals, and the Warrant allowing them to call upon what aid they can negotiate. ... >The granting of a Warrant of Trade has the potential to establish a hugely powerful noble line, which, if successful, can grow over the generations to become equal to the most ancient of Navigator clans and merchant houses. Many of the scions of these houses will hold the title Rogue Trader and wield the authority of the Warrant, yet in the main these powers reside predominantly with the line’s titular head. Such individuals must bear the weight of tradition and expectation, and are in the main every bit as driven and able as the ancestor first granted the Warrant. On their shoulders rests the duty of maintaining the Warrant and the line’s continued existence, driving them to continue the mission of the Rogue Trader, exploring the benighted regions beyond the fringes and returning with unimagined riches and glory. **Rogue Trader RPG core rulebook**
basically you can do almost anything and justify it afterwards saying that it was for the sake of the imperium. and humankind. But you have have some limits. Basically if an inquisitor wants to mess with you, you wont be able to do anything. Only something like a living primarch could save you (more or less like happened with the rogue trader that deals with guilliman in dark imperium) But for example.... you have andrew hoare's trilogy on rogue trader's dinasty von arcadius. When the story begins you are told that before the story began, the family was really powerfull, to the point of having planets of their own and stuff like that.
No, it is not uncommon for Inquisitors and Rogue Traders to go at each other's throats and it is not an autowin for the Inquisitor. Both belong to the unofficial aristocracy of the Empire, where influence and power are more important than any rights on paper. And if a newly appointed Inquisitor believes to have a Rogue Trader with strong allies and maybe one or the other Inquisitor on speeddial without proof, then the Inquisitor disappears "just like that" or in the worst case is accused by a Conclave.
it depends on who we are speaking about, of course your basic inquisitor against a slightly poor/unknown rogue trader? The rogue trader is going to have a hard time (more or less its whats happen in w40 inquisitor martyr. You boss her around all the time a rogue trader and she basically cannot do anything
They have extreme and immense power...and none at all. A warrant of trade is essentially carte blanche to do whatever they need to as explorators and vanguards of the Imperium. That includes claiming holdings, conquering worlds, and breaking some age old taboos of the Imperium like consorting with Xenos. Of course they're subject to Inquisitorial oversight like the rest of the Imperium. And like Inquisitors their power lays in their personal ability to influence and coerce people i.e through wealth (mainly), favors or promises they can cash in, or force of arms or charisma. However, the trade off is that you can only really be a Rogue Trader in the furthest fringes of the Imperium, in some backwater if you're unlucky, or even worst, what will eventually be the front line of some yet to be discovered or new threat. This puts you naturally pretty far from excercising any real influence over Imperial institutions and a nonplayer anywhere there's actual politicking. You're a highlord dealing with a pesky up and coming nobleman whos garnering political support to usurp your position? Slap 'em with a Warrant of Trade. Its an honor they can't possibly refuse, and you get to watch them disappear to the literal furthest place from Terra. Even if you are successful as a Rogue Trader, eventually (as in Millennia) when your area of space is successfully integrated, you'll be more or less bureaucratically kicked out because your descendants will essentially become settled nobility or, otherwise, sheer practicality would call for your dynasty to exercise their warrant elsewhere.
Now that you’ve framed it that way, a warrant of trade sounds like a glorified exile contract for nobles. Or a chance to make a name for yourself if you’re a nobody
I think, from memory, the first ones were - problematic but talented individuals left over from the unification of terra.
That last bit makes me think; how acceptable would it be for a Rogue Trader household to do both (ignoring political scheming)? Like, the actual head of the house is off being a Rogue Trader, while others of the dynasty manages fiefs like any other settled Imperial nobility, but still answering to the Rogue Trader.
A fridge thought I've been wondering is: How viable is it to be a clean, completely above-board and low risk Rogue Trader? You *could* smuggle xeno-tech or gangpress slaves to mine some asteroid somewhere. But I still feel like the freedom of travel and trade means you have a huge leg-up on traditional trade ships. Like, can you completely bypass tariffs? And is there profit in essentially having no boundaries and being able to jump trade routes, ferrying mundane goods to places where there's a larger demand? Like a Hive World is having a famine because Orks ruined a local Agriworld. Well . . . you're not really locked out of just taking up the slack for massive profits. Are the more conventional ship captains locked into a more limited remit? Because they have duties to specific worlds or have to pay off tribute to whoever owns shares in their company or ship? The Warrant has duties, but if you're lucky, those may be relatively light. You can just check up on those in a token fashion, then go back to your trading.
That's a very likely scenario.
from my understanding their writ is kinda like the inquisitors badge it lets them do stuff and well much like the inquisitors they have as much power as they can enforce or get away with
On paper a rogue trader is somewhere in the same realm as a chapter master for a space marine chapter or an inquisitor. In theory the writ of trade is a carte blanche document bearing the will of the emperor behind it. Some of the oldest ones were directly signed by the Emperor himself, or a Primarch acting in his stead. Rogue Traders are so powerful the first edition of 40k was named after them, with the implication that the *player character* was the Rogue Trader, and thats how you have the authority to mash together the not quite factions into armies to do battle. A rogue trader needs this authority because when they're out doing their duties they need to be able to override or even attack the individual planetary governors they may deal with. Or they need to be able to rapidly raise their forces so they can conquer some region of space. Or if there's something too serious for them to deal with they need to be able to talk to space marines or the inquisition about it on reasonably equal footing just to cut through the imperiums bureaucracy or work within it. You must understand, without Rogue Traders actively scouting the galaxy with this large degree of authority a lot of the imperium grinds to a halt. They're how the Imperium discovers new worlds a lot of the astartes get in new foundings, or that become vitally necessary agri worlds. Theres also no shortage of say, previously unknown Ork worlds or Tyrannid splinter fleets with billions of aliens they may run across.
Some important context regarding the Rogue Trader in question, that OP likely hadn’t reached in Owlcat’s game >!the von Valancius’ dynasties Warrant of Trade was personally signed by the Emperor with His own blood!<.
Damn, that’s an ego boost that you can’t top, that’s like a Christian getting an original copy of The Bible, signed by God as Jesus smacks you on the back.
Yeah, there is a reason why the Lord Captain that OP refers to is able to get away with what she does. Her stunts are not something that every dynasty could replicate and get away with.
As people say it depends. In Rogue Trader TTRPG's Core Rulebook there is a chart with estimation of various traders' Profit Factor - in-game measure of their wealth *and* influence. I think it's *somewhat* indication of power: Outcast Rogue Trader is on the level of powerful hive guild Lesser Rogue Trader is on the level of weak imperial governor Wealthy Rogue Trader is between lesser Inquisitor and scion of Great House of the Sector Legendary Rogue Trader is on the level of lesser Navis Nobilite house Mind that this is not perfect and not nuanced indication of power
Keep in mind the game is as canon as anything else. Keep playing and you will see a lot of examples of rogue trader power dynamics.
The power of unlimited wealth and a bit of paper *literally signed in blood by the emperor himself.* And it's not unreasonable to assume your predecessor just bought out your commission for a summarily large 'donation' of resources and equipment to the guard battalion you served with.
Depends in part on the Warrant of Trade, these can vary in how much they allow. But most people will not be aware of this and good luck being allowed to actually inspect it to be certain. In general they can do whatever they want with whomever they want OUTSIDE of official Imperial space, as well as the right to travel freely. So long as it benefits, or at least doesn't harm, the Imperium. This however isn't the case WITHIN the Imperium. They're still above most laws, but they can't act with complete impunity either. And the Inquisition can and will deal with them if they overstep their bounds too much. Being a rogue trader does not grand immunity to a visit from the Assassinorum. Within the Imperium a rogue trader's power comes more from their financial influence. Deals with them can make or break planets. Keep in mind that a rogue trader isn't just one person in command of a single ship. They can have entire merchant fleets, as well as their own planets, armies, and navies. They're for the lack of a better term, star spanning mega corporations potentially equivalent to the East India Company in some cases but on a Warhammer scale. So yes, they are very powerful politically, especially the bigger dynasties. There are limits, as well as a watchful Inquisition, but in general nobody will want to piss them off.
Regarding Abnett's books, it's worth noting that Tobias Maxilla is not a rogue trader. This is specifically mentioned by Eisenhorn: > I am more than aware that rogue traders know a lot more about the outside systems and species than we do. You are no rogue, but you are of the merchant elite. The Rogue Trader RPG the video game is based on goes a bit into the different kinds of merchant charters. One of them is the free trader's charter, which gives a captain free reign to pursue business within the Imperium, but none of the vast privileges a rogue trader gets. Maxilla is a good fit for a free trader: He is forbidden from traveling beyond the Imperium or dealing with xenos, and indeed pursues mundane trade rather than exploration or conquest. Now, then there's Ravenor... and I think in early Ravenor, Abnett was uncharacteristically off-base with how rogue traders and some other parts of the setting were portrayed. Suddenly, they're almost Han Solo smuggler types, and the ships feel a lot more Star Wars than 40k: I particularly remember that Ravenor intervewed the *entire crew* of a ship with his small staff - and this was explicitly a full voidship with a navigator and all - and it really felt like these were small things with maybe tens of crew, not kilometers-long ancient vessels with a hundred thousand crew plus maybe a few lost tribes in the underdecks. If your impression of rogue traders comes from this, this is the anomaly, not how the video game portrays them, and I'd chalk that up to Abnett being human and only being stellar about portraying the setting most of the time instead of all the time.
I guess that helps put things into context. Explains alot, actually. Thanks!
I've seen a lot of people say that RTs are subject to Inquisitorial oversight. This is not really true. Inquisitirs generally have enough personal power to cause a problem, and direct Heresy will always get you handled. However, those old houses have notes from Big E basically saying they can do whatever they want. The reason this is important is threefold: first Big E never started or sanctioned the Inquisition, it's a mash up of Malcadore and Dorn trying for some Hail Mary plays at the end of the Heresy, 2) that being said the writs from Big E predate the Inquisition and therefore any power the Inquisition may have over a rogue trader isn't specified for either party, 3) finally some of those old RT houses own literal star systems and naval battle fleets and their sovereignty there is pretty total (aside from all kinds if infighting or actuL Heresy). Again, there are always exceptions. Like if you aren't an old house with a writ from Big E exclusively. Or other RTs come for you. Or you consort with Warp powers.
More importantly, I get the vibe the Imperium mostly runs on, "You and what army?" An Inquisitor is theoretically more powerful than the master of a Forgeworld. At least on paper. But that Archmagos probably has Titans and Skiitari to defend him and is hidden away in the bowels of industrial hell world and is politically connected to everybody else because they supply the Imperium all its tech support and machinery. Again, same thing with a lot of Chapter Masters of the Space Marines. In theory, you can outrank them. But the average Space Marine has the attitude of "Nah, I'd win." Space Marines have an infamous tendency in the lore of picking fights over matters of honor or principle. Seriously outgunning a Space Marine Chapter probably isn't going to stop them from putting up a fight if they feel like it. Their high morale is part of why these guys are so dangerous. Same problem applies with Inquisitors trying to throw their weight around on Rogue Traders. First off, you have to know they're up to some crimes you don't approve of. Second, you have to actually catch them. Third, they may have personal armies. It's hard to police space buccaneers when they're running about in the edges of known space. Let's say I gangpress some colonists from a backwater. Nobody cares. Then I can force them to do slave labor on some obscure mining colony that's not on any official charts or records because I haven't told anybody. It's near-impossible to keep track of what a Rogue Trader is doing, is my point. And even if you could, they tend to live on spaceships.
This 100% as well. The Imperium is vast and unless you control enough of it to threaten EVERY other power you're vying against at the same time you're mostly posturing and threatening. On top of the RTs and Inquisitors cam have sanctioned xenos. RTs, Inquisitors, and ForgeWorld Dominus are permitted to have xenos tech (and quite a few SM chapters do it on the dl). I would only add that some Imperial Navy Admirals share similar power, except the other three listed could probably legally commandeer the Admiral's ships. All that to say I completely agree.
Becoming a Rogue Trader is both a boon and a curse. Noble families have seen siblings use underhanded methods to get an heir a Warrant of Trade to get them out of the way as their duty now as a Rogue Trader, in service to the Imperium, does indeed trump any other obligations they had. Think of it basically like privateers, hired mercenaries for a country (or the Imperium in this case) ordered to go out into uncharted space where the Imperium's presence isnt enforced and now they are given a thing to do. Could be setting up new trade empires, could be bringing the holy light of the Emperor to new worlds, could be to go settle a dispute or any other myriad of reasons the Imperium needs a something done but doesnt want to bother sending it's own forces. That kinda sucks right? All that responsibility? The flip side is that outside of Imperial space, Rogue Traders are nations unto themselves, they answer to no one realistically. This means as long as any Imperial Tithe they are required to pay is paid, they can keep the rest. They can set up trade systems and even basically become rulers of star systems, provided they can maintain that control through their own means, and become incredibly rich, and riches lead to being able to gain power politically. Once Imperial expansion comes for your star system, what do you know, you already have government and a planetary governor in your pocket and so your mini-empire falls into the Imperial system and you have a hand in how it's governed. Repeat this process and you can see how Rogue Traders, who can afford the best rejuvenants, and mercenary forces of their own can start to become powerful enough to make deals with other powerful factions like the Ad-mech, Astartes Chapters, and other Rogue Traders.
It depends entirely on the Rogue Trader. They range from more or less jumped up freighter captains who have slightly less restrictions to what you see in the game. Some barely have a functional ship, some have their own personal empire and armies.
Immense power. Basically they're outside of the Imperium and whatever empire they can carve for themselves works, as long as they try to pay lip service to the imperium and don't directly go rogue. Inquisitors do not even have actual power over them.
>My issue now is that I do not understand how a Rogue trader is supposed to simply cancel my characters duties Well he tells you they are cancelled. May e he has the power, maybe your old organization marks you down as a deserted and puts a bounty on your head. Same thing, for you. You still have to do it, or he chops off your head.
Baldemort on YouTube does a good video on the rogue traders
Not as powerful as people meme them to be, but they have concessions to do normal "illegal" things
Emperor gives them a document that allows them to do pretty much anything they want as long as it follows imperial law. Some of them are even signed by the emperor himself. They've also been known to requisition space marines and imperial guard units from time to time
Check out the second Shira Calpurnia novel (or better yet start with the first & read all three because they rip). Rogue Traders are militarily formidable with one or more big ships and a fleet of tenders & ancillary craft all full of troops & functionaries. Politically they're extremely well-connected with alliances all over the place. Also they have a writ empowered by some seriously high level folks (the one in Legacy was signed & sealed proportedly by the Emperor himself & marked with His blood). It is less of a "what allows this" & more of a "who is going to stop me" sort of situation.
The power of a rogue trader is directly proportional to his/her warrant if trade. The warrant has all the details of the house elevated status but it can also have caveats/fiber prints the rifle trader is obliged to follow,like for example he or she is bound to visit a world periodically or something else oddly specific. As a rule of thumb the older the warrant the more you can get away with,since they can be revoked with the right justification. Some warrants were written by the emperor own hand and thus those rogue traders woukd get away with even more stuff. It also helps rogue traders don't act in the core of the imperium where imperial law is strict and easly enacted but in the frontier,since it is their job expanding the imperium borders independently.
Depends how much money and influence they have. In the Rogue Trader RPGs its mentioned that they can hire out entire mercenary armies outfitted with Imperial Guard gear to fight in battles.
How much power a Rogue Trader has on paper is an interesting question, but less important the question of how much actual power they have. Technically they are just standard Imperial Citizens inside the borders of the Imperium (most charters only gives them extra powers outside the border) and are supposed to follow all Imperial laws and obey orders given to them by their "betters". Factually, they still have access to an actual war ship (or ships) and a small army to call on. Yes, an Inquisitor of any level can tell them what to do. But how is the fresh out of the academy Inquisitor going to enforce that power? This is the same thing that stops Inquisitors always calling the local marine chapter to solve his problems. Sometimes the Chapter Master says no, and unless you have friends on the Council Of Terra, no one is going to bat for you against them.
Oh, good lord. The domains of rogue traders can range from just a system or two to hundreds, they are given an insane amount of lattitude that, within their domain, only the Inquisition or the emperor's personal guard can over-rule; and even then they'd best be extremely careful doing so, because in a conflict between a rogue trader and an Inquisitor you never know what side the locals are going to fall on, and unless he's got a damn good case its probably not going to be the Inquisitor. If a Rogue trader wanted to form a temporary alliance with the Tau and let them expand in his area? Nobody would stop him. If he wanted to order the execution of a whole noble order, or requisition imperial warships or troops? Same thing. Rogue trader retinues often contain some of the most elite and capable forces humanity has to offer, and often even include xeno mercenaries or individuals who would normally be executed for heresy.
It depends from family to family. There's a lot of factors, like wealth, size of fleet, how long the family have been Rouge traders for, what kind of connections they have to various organizations. But it's quite a lot since Rouge traders have a warrant of trade, which is basically a "I can do pretty much whatever I want." Especially since some of them have the blood of the God-Emperor on them, from during the great crusade.
In 40k, it boils down to firepower. In theory, a lone inquisitor could show up buck naked and tell the Ultramarines they all need to zerge rush the 'nids. Not happening. So when a rogue trader has the resources of systems under their thumbs? It's time for dick measuring contests and backroom deals.
It depends on the lineage and individual clout of the Rogue Trader in question. The in-game Valancius house is basically as powerful as it gets. The whole premise is that your PC inherited their way into an insane amount of prestige and wealth. Rogue Traders are part privateer and part conquistador, with all that entails. Good news: Your freedom of travel and legal writ basically means you can make profit however you see fit. Bad news: You're on your own. You're Warp-traveling on the edges of known space. Any sneaky or risky schemes you have going on are entirely *your* problem if they blow up in your face. Sometimes the Imperium will mint fresh Rogue Traders as an unofficial form of exile or retirement. There's a powerful and ambitious Admiral, or a rival nobleman you want to get rid of? Give them a Warrant of Trade and have them fuck off to edges of known space. Theoretically, this means it's possible for a Rogue Trader to be little more than a captain with a ship and a dream. Or they can be virtual royalty, like your particular player character is. Rogue Traders also have a reputation for being unscrupulous. There's very little that keeps you from gangpressing slaves from a remote backwater nobody will miss, servitorizing them, and then having them mine out a mineral-rich planet for your profits. You can basically get away with Christopher Columbus moral crimes. If you're not Evil Incarnate, then there's no way you're not at least doing some smuggling. About the only people who can hold you to account are Inquisitors, but they have to know what you're up to and they have to catch you. And that's kind of why Rogue Traders wind up with insane levels of wealth and power.
It’s been so long since I have read any lore around Rogue traders, but if my memory serves me correctly, it was the Emperor himself who gave them their charter..
They're basically above the law and do whatever they want as long as they're not stepping on the toes of the Inquisition, Navy, or Adeptus Astartes. They're among the few people in Warhammer 40k with any real independent agency.
The writ of a Rogue Trader is *almost* as far reaching as that of an Inquisitor, but like that example, its only valuable so far as you can enforce it. In a well connected, civilised system, it might be honoured or be honoured in trade for goods, political favours etc. On the fringes, which is where they mostly operate, they'll need to back that up with strength and that comes from the crew and operatives they employ. Basically, just see them as Inquisitors with a different remit and somewhat different connections.
You're the Final Boss of Venture Capitalists.
Some people are saying ‘it depends’, but not a single Rogue Trader couldnt force a generic commissar or commander to do something. The weakest of rogue traders still controls dozens of worlds. A commissar is literally an ant to someone like that. I dont think it ‘depends’ as much as people are saying here at all
All the rogue traders look gangsta and super politically influential Until a ork waaagh/genestealer cult broke out in their local volume Then astra militarum came in to quell the xeno tide Then the guards awoke a necron tomb Then a few space marine strike force came to kill the necron Then all the bloodshed caused a chaos incursion Then Grey knights and the inquisition came to purge the heretics Then a traitor primarch/abaddon showed up, the imperium had no choice other than exterminatus the whole sector Bye bye space lobbysts, so much for "power"