Warhammer 40,000: What Is A Rogue Trader?

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• Rogue Traders In Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader

• Who Is Rogue Trader Theodora Von Valancius?

• Who Are Rogue Traders In The Warhammer Franchise?

Warhammer 40,000 spreads across multiple pieces of media, from tabletop games to books to video games. In December 2023, we saw the launch of Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, introducing us to a corner of the universe known as the Koronus Expanse. But what exactly is a Rogue Trader, though?

Is Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader Worth It?

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader throws you into the world of Warhammer 40k, but it is worth playing?

Here, we will answer this question and get to the bottom of what a Rogue Trader is and where they came from. This will cover what a Rogue Trader is in the context of the Owlcat Games CRPG, in addition to Rogue Traders throughout other Warhammer 40k media.

Rogue Traders In Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader

As expected, in Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, you play as a Rogue Trader. Within the dictionary of the game, you'll get a pretty wordy explanation of what a Rogue Trader is.

Essentially, these are hereditary nobles with the ability to roam the world and do pretty much anything they want. This is possible with a Warrant of Trade, which is described as a "document that affirms the pre-eminent rights of a Rogue Trader throughout the galaxy."

As a hereditary title, the rights of a Rogue Trader are passed down through the Warrant of Trade.

With a Warrant of Trade, Rogue Traders can travel beyond Imperium borders and have the right to deal with, destroy, or trade with other groups (pirates, mutants, or xenos). Overall, Rogue Traders have the freedom to be "masters of their own fates."

Who Is Rogue Trader Theodora Von Valancius?

In Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, you are a distant relative of Theodora Von Valancius. In the game's teaser trailer, we also learn that the Von Valancius dynasty has been serving the Imperium of Man for millennia.

In this trailer, Theodora herself tells us that the Emperor bestowed the Warrant of Trade on his most loyal followers to explore uncharted planets and spread the Imperium.

Who Are Rogue Traders In The Warhammer Franchise?

Rogue Traders didn't just come about with the 2023 game; they have existed since the 1980s. The original Warhammer game from 1983 had a medieval fantasy theme; however, in 1987, a science fiction version came to be called Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. This tabletop game was the starting point of the 40,000 universe.

In this tabletop game, Rogue Traders are defined in the rule book as freelance explorers employed by the Imperium. These explorers were chosen due to their loyalty and were given a ship and crew in return.

Overall, the title of Rogue Trader refers to loyal Imperium servants granted exploration-based freedom by the Emperor.

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