A PLAYER’S AID TO BUILDING

AND FIGHTING STARSHIPS

John Casteele (free product) 2

 CREDITS
Lead Developer Managing RPG Developer
Ross Watson Michael Hurley

Written & Designed by Publisher

Sam Stewart Christian T. Petersen

Editing
GAMES WORKSHOP
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Leigh-Anne Reger

Graphic Design Licensing Manager

Owen Rees
Kevin Childress

Cover Art Licensing & Acquired Rights Manager

Erik Mogensen
Matt Bradbury

Interior Art Intellectual Property Manager

Alan Merrett
Clint Langley and Matt Bradbury

Art Direction Head of Legal & Licensing

Andy Jones
Zoe Robinson

Production Manager
Gabe Laulunen

Fantasy Flight Games

FANTASY 1975 West County Road B2
FLIGHT Roseville, MN 55113
GAMES USA

Copyright © Game Workshop Limited 2009. Games Workshop, Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer 40,000 Role Play, Rogue Trader,
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 The Noble Art step, and page references are included to refer back to the
core rulebook.
However, creating the ship is really only the first step. Once

of Shipbuilding all the nuts and bolts are in place, the GM should sit down with
his players and the entire group should determine their ship’s
history. The easiest place to start devising its history is the
“The Guard tanks crush foes beneath their treads, the mighty Titans result the group rolled on Table 8–2: Past Histories. Obviously,
lay waste to worlds, but our voidships establish our ascendency over if a ship was wrested from a space hulk, or contains strange and
the very stars.” exotic xenos technology, it will factor greatly into the ship’s
story. However, other aspects of the starship’s construction can

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–Aspyce Chorda, against the pirate reavers of Iniquity be just as important. For example, a starship’s Machine Spirit
Oddity can prove an excellent story point. What adventures
In ROGUE TRADER, the party’s starship is more than a mere resulted in a frigate having a nose for trouble, and what travails
means of transportation. It is intended to be an additional did the stoic light cruiser have to endure? Beyond that, even
member of the party, with a design that is unique to its a starship’s Components can provide story hooks, especially
Rogue Trader and his crew. More than that, a starship also if those Components are xenostech or archeotech in origin.
has its own quirks, idiosyncrasies, and personality traits. What dark deals did the ship’s former captain make to outfit
Sometimes these make sense, like the cruiser that bristles his vessel with a ghost field, and could it be a source of trouble
with martial pride and eagerly engages its foes. However, if the Inquisition suddenly takes an interest?
sometimes the strangest combinations—a skittish warship A good background story helps bring a ship and its crew
or a wrothful transport with a death cult in Hold 24— to life, and also provides the GM with any number of plot
can make for the most interesting background stories and hooks and building blocks for further adventures.
roleplaying opportunities. On the last page, this supplement has a “cheat sheet” for
This supplement is intended to aid the players and GM in starship combat, for quick references in the heat of battle.
the starship creation process, by breaking it down into a step- Note: A copy of the ROGUE TRADER Core Rulebook is
by-step process. Charts detail the available choices at every required to use this supplement.

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 Starship STEP 3: DEVELOPING
PERSONALITY
Construction Roll once on Table 8–1: Machine Spirit Oddities (ROGUE
TRADER page 197) and once on Table 8–2: Past Histories

Summary (ROGUE TRADER page 198).

Be sure to record each on the starship character sheet, and
make note of the affects they will have during the starship’s

T
o begin constructing a ROGUE TRADER starship, follow construction, as well as the affects they will have on the
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these steps: end result.

Table 1–2: Machine Spirit Oddities and

Past Histories
STEP 1: DETERMINE SHIP Machine Spirit
Roll Oddities Past Histories
POINTS 1
A Nose for
Reliquary of Mars
Determine how many ship points are provided by the Trouble
starship’s Warrant of Trade. Blasphemous
2 Haunted
Tendencies
3 Martial Hubris Emissary of the Imperator
STEP 2: SELECT STARSHIP 4 Rebellious Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
5 Stoic Turbulent Past
HULL 6 Skittish Death Cult
Select one starship hull from the selections on pages 194– 7 Wrothful Wrested from a Space Hulk
196 in the ROGUE TRADER Core Rulebook: 8 Resolute Temperamental Warp Engine
9 Adventurous Finances in Arrears
Table 1–1: Ship Hulls 10 Ancient and Wise Xenophilous
Space
Hull Class Provided SP
Jericho-class pilgrim
Transport 45 20
vessel
Vagabond-class
Transport 40 20
merchant trader
Hazeroth-class
Raider 35
privateer
Havoc-class merchant
Raider 40 35
raider
Sword-class frigate Frigate 40 40
Tempest-class strike
Frigate 42 40
frigate
Dauntless-class light
Light Cruiser 60 55
cruiser
Lunar-class cruiser Cruiser 75 60

When selecting the hull, make sure it costs less Ship Points
than the Explorers have available. To properly outfit their
vessel, the Explorers will likely need at least five or more
extra Ship Points after they have selected their Hull. Once
the hull has been selected, take note of how much Space the
hull provides for the starship’s Components.

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 STEP 4: SELECTING
POWER AND SPACE
ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS When adding Components to a starship, the Explorers
must be aware of their starship’s available power and
Choose one and only one Component from each of the space. Both are fixed stats (power is provided by the
categories. Plasma Drive Component, while space is provided by
Make note of how much power is provided by the Plasma the Hull Component). Most Components require a
Drive. Then, note how much power the other Components certain amount of both to operate. The total required
use, how much space all the Components use, and how many power and required space of all Components should
Ship Points were spent on the Components. not exceed the available amounts (see the penalties for

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doing so in ROGUE TRADER page 191).

Table 1-3: Essential Components

Essential Components Appropriate Hull Types Power Space SP
Drives
Jovian Pattern Class 1 Drive Transports 35 Generated 8 -
Lathe Pattern Class 1 Drive Transports 40 Generated 12 +1
Jovian Pattern Class 2 Drive Raiders, Frigates 45 Generated 10 -
Jovian Pattern Class 3 Drive Light Cruisers 60 Generated 12 -
Jovian Pattern Class 4 Drive Cruisers 75 Generated 14 -
Warp Engines
Strelov 1 Warp Engine Transports, Raiders, Frigates 10 10 -
Strelov 2 Warp Engine Light Cruisers, Cruisers 12 12 -
Gellar Field
Geller Field All Ships 1 0 -
Warpsbane Hull All Ships 1 0 +2
Void Shields
Single Void Shield Array All Ships 5 1 -
Multiple Void Shield Array Cruisers 7 2 -
Ship’s Bridge
Combat Bridge Transports, Raiders, Frigates 1 1 -
Light Cruisers, Cruisers 2 2 -
Command Bridge Raiders, Frigates 2 1 +1
Light Cruisers, Cruisers 3 2 +1
Commerce Bridge Transports 1 1 -
Armoured Command Bridge Raiders, Frigates 2 2 -
Light Cruisers, Cruisers 3 2 -
Ship Master’s Bridge Cruisers 4 3 -
Life Sustainers
M–1.r Life Sustainer Transports, Raiders, Frigates 3 1 -
M–1.r Life Sustainer Light Cruisers, Cruisers 4 2 -
Vitae Pattern Life Sustainer Transports, Raiders, Frigates 4 2 -
Vitae Pattern Life Sustainer Light Cruisers, Cruisers 5 3 -
Crew Quarters
Pressed-crew Quarters Transports, Raiders, Frigates 1 2 -
Pressed-crew Quarters Light Cruisers, Cruisers 2 3 -
Voidsmen Quarters Transports, Raiders, Frigates 1 3 -
Voidsmen Quarters Light Cruisers, Cruisers 2 4 -
Auger Arrays
M–100 Auger Array All Ships 3 0 -
M–201.b Auger Array All Ships 5 0 -
R–50 Auspex Multi-band All Ships 4 0 -
Deep Void Auger Array All Ships 7 0 +1

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 STEP 5: SELECTING Once Components are selected, tally their required power
and space, add that to the required power and space of the
SUPPLEMENTAL Essential Components, and make sure the total is less than
or equal to the starship’s available power and space. Lastly,
COMPONENTS redeem any remaining Ship Points for Profit Factor.
Choose any number of Supplemental Components to finish
constructing the starship. Each Supplemental Component
costs a certain amount of Ship Points, and players should
make sure they do not spend more Ship Points than they
have available.
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Table 1-4: Supplemental Components

Supplemental Components Appropriate Hull Types Power Space SP
Macrobatteries
Thunderstrike Macrocannons All Ships 2 2 1
Mars Pattern Macrocannons All Ships 4 2 1
Mars Pattern Macrocannon Broadside Light Cruisers, Cruisers 4 5 1
Sunsear Laser Battery All Ships 6 4 1
Ryza Pattern Plasma Battery All Ships 8 4 2
Lances
Starbreaker Lance Weapon All Ships 6 4 2
Titanforge Lance Weapon All Ships 9 4 2
Titanforge Lance Battery All Ships 13 6 2
Cargo and Passenger Quarters
Cargo Hold and Lighter Bay Raiders, Frigates, Light Cruisers, Cruisers 1 2 1
Compartmentalized Cargo Hold Raiders, Frigates, Light Cruisers, Cruisers 2 5 1
Main Cargo Hold Transports 2 4 1
Luxury Passenger Quarters All Ships 2 1 1
Barracks All Ships 2 4 2
Augments and Enhancements
Augmented Retro-thrusters Raiders, Frigates 3 0 2
Augmented Retro-thrusters Transports, Light Cruisers 4 0 2
Augmented Retro-thrusters Cruisers 5 0 2
Reinforced Interior Bulkheads Transports, Raiders, Frigates 0 2 2
Reinforced Interior Bulkheads Light Cruisers, Cruisers 0 3 2
Armour Plating* Transports, Raiders, Frigates 0 1 2
Light Cruisers, Cruisers 0 2 2
Armoured Prow* Cruisers 0 4 2
Tenebro-Maze* Transports, Raiders, Frigates 1 2 2
Light Cruisers, Cruisers 2 3 2
Additional Facilities
Extended Supply Vaults All Ships 1 4 2
Crew Reclamation Facility All Ships 1 1 1
Munitorium Transports, Raiders, Frigates 2 3 2
Munitorium Light Cruisers, Cruisers 3 4 2
Temple-shrine to the God Emperor All Ships 1 1 1
Librarium Vault All Ships 1 1 1
Trophy Room All Ships 1 1 1
Observation Dome All Ships 0 1 1
Murder-Servitors All Ships 1 1 2
*This component may not be selected more than once per vessel.

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 Starship • Starboard: Starboard side only.
• Keel: All directions.
Each Weapon Component may be fired at a target at half

Combat the weapon’s range or less at a +10 bonus, at a target no

further than the weapon’s range at no bonus or penalty, or at
a target up to twice the weapon’s range at a –10 penalty.

Summary Macrobatteries score one additional hit for every degree

of success on the hit roll. Lances score one additional hit for
every three degrees of success on the hit roll.

S
tarship combat is conducted over a series of rounds, Reduce the number of hits a starship suffers each turn

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with each starship taking one turn during that round. by the number of void shields. Then, roll damage for the
In space combat, the rounds are referred to as Strategic remaining hits. Add all macrobattery hits together and
Rounds, and the turns are referred to as Strategic Turns. subtract the starship’s armour from the result. The remaining
value is how much damage the starship suffers to its hull
integrity. The damage rolled for lances is applied directly to
COMBAT SEQUENCE the starship’s hull integrity without subtracting armour.
• All starships in the combat roll Initiative, rolling 1d10
and adding their ship’s Detection Bonus.
• The starship with the highest Initiative result goes first,
EXTENDED ACTIONS
then the next highest Initiative order, and so forth. Any crewmember who did not make a Manoeuvre Action or
• During a starship’s turn, the crew must make one Shooting Action can take an Extended Action at any point
Manoeuvre Action and one Shooting Action. Any during their ship’s turn:
Explorers not participating in either action may make • Active Augury: Scans for hidden enemies.
one Extended Action. • Aid the Machine Spirit: Temporarily boosts the vessel’s
• Play then passes to the next starship in the combat. Once attributes.
all ships have taken a Strategic Turn, the next Strategic • Disinformation: Calculated lies encourage the crew to
Round of Space Combat begins. fight harder.
• Emergency Repairs: Quickly repair damaged parts of
the ship.
MANOEUVRING • Flank Speed: Overpowers the ship’s engines, sometimes
A starship’s basic Manoeuvre Action is when it moves forward with dangerous consequences.
a number of Void Units equal to its Speed Value. It then may • Focused Augury: Scan a particular vessel to learn its
turn up to 90 degrees if the ship is a transport, raider, or secrets.
frigate, or 45 degrees if the ship is a light cruiser or larger. • Hail the Enemy: Contact an enemy vessel to intimidate,
The ship may modify this Manoeuvre Action by performing mock, or make deals.
one of the following Manoeuvres, each of which requires a • Hit and Run: Send raiding parties to an enemy vessel
Pilot (Space Craft) + Manoeuvrability Test: to cripple it.
• Adjust Bearing: Test to allow the ship to turn sooner. • Hold Fast!: Inspire the crew to reduce their lost
• Adjust Speed: Test to allow the ship to speed up or Morale.
slow down. • Jam Communications: Stop an enemy ship from using
• Adjust Speed and Bearing: Test to speed up or slow long range communications.
down while turning sooner. • Lock on Target: Use scanners to improve the accuracy
• Come to New Heading: Test to turn twice. of weapons.
• Disengage: Test against other starships’ Detection ability • Prepare to Repel Boarders!: Rally the crew to fight
to flee from battle. against impending enemy boarding actions.
• Evasive Manoeuvres: Test to make the starship harder • Put your Backs into It!: Inspire (or terrify) the crew to
to hit. work harder.
• Triage: Reduce the number of dead crew from combat.
SHOOTING
During a starship’s Shooting Action, one crewmember may
direct the firing of all of the starship’s Weapon Components.
To fire the weapon, the crewmember tests Ballistic Skill.
Each Weapon Component can fire in a direction indicated
by its firing arc (see ROGUE TRADER page 219).
• Prow: Fore on ships smaller than light cruisers. Fore,
port, and starboard on ships light cruiser size and larger.
• Dorsal: Fore, port and starboard.
• Port: Port side only.

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