Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader

About this board game

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is a story-based skirmish game for two players, with sessions lasting about 120 minutes. Released in 1987, it presents the first edition of Warhammer 40,000 in a form built around Game Master-written plots and flexible, free-form rules.

Rather than limiting players to a narrow set of predefined forces, Rogue Trader provides rules for various races alongside algorithms for calculating the cost of homemade units. Players can shape their forces with a wide range of gear, vehicles, and troop types, creating battles that reflect their own ideas and scenarios.

The game also encourages players to combine Games Workshop models with miniatures from other companies. Inventing rules and units is part of the experience, making the system especially open to personal interpretation and creative campaign ideas.

• Story-based skirmishes guided by a Game Master
• Rules for various races and a system for costing homemade units
• A broad selection of gear, vehicles, and troop types
• Encouragement to use models from other companies and create original content
• Extensive background and free-form rules

Some players consider Rogue Trader the best edition because of its massive amount of background material and its willingness to leave room for experimentation. Its approach places narrative setup and player invention at the center of the game.

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader was later re-implemented by the second and third editions of Warhammer 40,000. It was also expanded by publications including Book of the Astronomican, Warhammer 40,000 Compendium, Warhammer Siege, Warhammer 40,000 Battle Manual, and several Realm of Chaos and Ork-focused titles.