Astra militarum as a private military contractor?

[Bionicman]

Who says they have to be loyal to the Imperium? Maybe they have gone rogue, have overtaken a solar system and bought, disarmed or ambushed the garrisoned planetary forces.

 

[in this case prepare to get purged, heretic!]

[recon0321]

So could a Rogue Trader have ties with some mechanicium forces? Maybe he found a mysterious STC And now receives arms and material from a forge world?

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Sure, the Rogue Trader can have ties with the Mechanicus. The rulebook for Fantasy Flight Games' RPG specifically describes scenarios in which the Mechanicus hires a Rogue Trader to provide transportation to their Explorators as they search for archeotech and STC fragments. Be careful when writing the fluff, however; "ties to the Mechanicus" are an easy explanation for why a group has high-tech weapons, and if you overuse it, others will likely dismiss your unit as YET ANOTHER "special snowflake," and you as "Matt Ward 2.0".

[recon0321]

Yea I was thinking the RT already has his household troops which I assume would be considerably equipped?? So maybe the AM gives him access to say some grav chutes and assault vehicles? Or a baneblade? I don't want this to be the "loophole" where I can have whatever I want..also the wiki says that RT sometimes have guard units..which also stated they normally don't return to service so they will become part of the RT fleet. As they explore new worlds and settle them parts his troops are left behind to protect the new planet and collects tithes which in part will go back to fill the RT coffers...thoughts?

[ElectricPaladin]

So, the thing about the AM codex is that provided you are willing to exercise some discipline and theme your force appropriately, it can do a pretty good job of representing pretty much any non-Astartes military. You can do an (unusually non-y) PDF, a knight household's support team, a rogue trader's private army, the boarding/assault team of an Imperial Navy vessel, an Astartes chapter's militarized chapter serfs - whatever you want. The models are pretty generic, even. I don't think anyone is really going to come down on you hard. Just do your homework and make sure your explanation is cool.

[recon0321]

Awesome thanks everyone time to get the fluff down also one last thing any idea how to kitbash a RT..

[Bjorn Firewalker]

In my opinion, a Baneblade costs too much- not only to purchase, but also to maintain and to sustain combat readiness- for a private military company. If a Rogue Trader manages to find an abandoned Baneblade, he'll immediately seek to return it to the original owner (for a significant financial reward, of course), or find a buyer; he will NOT want to use it himself, as that means he himself must pay the maintenance fees. If the Baneblade isn't sold, it'll take up precious cargo space aboard his ship- space a Rogue Trader will want to use for items that CAN be sold.

[ElectricPaladin]

Awesome thanks everyone time to get the fluff down also one last thing any idea how to kitbash a RT..

 

I'd say start with the comissar kit. He's got lots of bling. Then pirate it up a bit. Take off some of the more obviously military junk - though this is obviously a kind of military-minded Rogue Trader we're talking about, so it makes sense that he'd have some - and add some more esoteric stuff. Maybe get a 3rd party cybernetic arm or leg? Or both? Maybe use some kits from other factions to give him some alien or ancient tech he's picked up along the way, like an Eldar power sword or a Tau pulse carbine (counts-as bolt pistol)?

 

If you really wanted to go all out, you could use the Inquisition rules instead. That opens up all sorts of interesting possibilities, like xenos tech and entourage members, pet psykers, stuff like that... You'd need an HQ for the AM side of your army... or you could skip it and go Unbound, which would make sense mechanically since this is a less professional army than a "real" AM detachment.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

To kitbash a Rogue Trader, modify the model for a Lord Commissar or other Imperial Guard officer, e.g., Creed- the uniform already looks ridiculously aristocratic, as befits the nobility that a Rogue Trader is a member of. Feel free to add parts from an Eldar or other xeno species- the rulebook for the RPG specifically states some Rogue Traders openly carry xeno weapons, as a sign of their power and presumably, martial prowess- how else was an Eldar weapon acquired?

 

Just remember to remove any and all Chaos icons from the parts you use. The Inquisition has authority over Rogue Traders as well, and that is one organization whose attention a Rogue Trader will NOT want to attract.

[ElectricPaladin]

To kitbash a Rogue Trader, modify the model for a Lord Commissar or other Imperial Guard officer, e.g., Creed- the uniform already looks ridiculously aristocratic, as befits the nobility that a Rogue Trader is a member of. Feel free to add parts from an Eldar or other xeno species- the rulebook for the RPG specifically states some Rogue Traders openly carry xeno weapons, as a sign of their power and presumably, martial prowess- how else was an Eldar weapon acquired?

 

Just remember to remove any and all Chaos icons from the parts you use. The Inquisition has authority over Rogue Traders as well, and that is one organization whose attention a Rogue Trader will NOT want to attract.

 

I think you're probably right, but tell me... is the Ordo Xenos as they exist in modern 40k (as opposed to the less uptight 40k that Rogue Traders were invented in) really that much less likely to freak out about an Eldar power sword than the Ordo Malleus is about a power sword that obviously used to belong to a Traitor Marine?

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The Ordo Xenos does have radical factions, for the same reason the Ordo Malleus has radical factions. These radicals openly dress as xenos (Sandy Mitchell's novel 'Innocence Proves Nothing' has a radical Inquisitor wear Eldar armor) and use xenos weapons (including Tau pulse rifles).

 

How likely is the Ordo Xenos to "clean house" and eliminate these radicals? That depends on the Inquisitor (see the short story 'Traitor's Gambit', in the 'Ciaphas Cain: Defender of the Imperium' omnibus, for details on what Inquisitors do to captured xeno weapons). I'm sure a sufficiently charismatic Inquisitor can convince others "the ends (defending an Imperial world from Eldar corsairs) justify the means (using Eldar weapons against their makers)," and thus, avoid being labeled a "radical."

[recon0321]

Hmmm lot to think about what about the MT cape bitz? Ok so no baneblade good reasoning behind it tho..ok on to different question...since this is a exploratory fleet with admech I could add a knight or two correct? Also how does everyone feel about the grav chutes desert buggies from FW...

[Bjorn Firewalker]

If the Adeptus Mechanicus insists on bringing the Knights along, the Rogue Trader will bring them along- provided he is suitably compensated for the precious cargo space the Knights are occupying. You might even include Baneblades and a Titan or two- bear in mind, as these war machines are worth their weight in gold, the Rogue Trader will make the Mechanicus PAY THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD, to transport them.

[recon0321]

So the official house troops will be MT and the guard unit maybe just gave their helmets painted in the house color....similar to the UN troops we have today

[ElectricPaladin]

An important thing we're missing here is that your collection and even your list does not need to reflect your actual army. My main Imperial force is Knights of Blood - renegade-but-loyal Blood Angels successors - but my collection also includes Sisters of Battle and Inquisition. And I own a Knight. And my renegade, not-supported-by-a-forge-world Knights of Blood collection includes a fellglaive and a storm eagle. It doesn't matter that maybe my fellglaive and my storm eagle are the only such vehicles owned by my ragtag Knights. It doesn't matter that their alliance with an Inquisitor or my Sisters of Battle would be a crazy once-in-a-century thing. That's the altar on which narratives are forged! Don't worry too much. You can - and should! - certainly try to further that narrative with the stuff you buy and the way you paint it, but don't get too stressed.

[WarriorFish]

Perhaps the easiest way would be to make them an Inquisitor's army, and he just so happens to lend them out for favours or his own nefarious means? You still get to do what you like, the Inquisitor would basically be their CEO and radical or not who's to say the Inquisitor doesn't find that it's a nice earner (of resources or favours!)? Or maybe he's researching battle techniques so uses the regiment to pick them up so is keen to get them into as many battlefields as possible by any means?

 

The galaxy is your oyster! :D

[Brother Paen]

Love this idea. Always wanted a PMC force. Give them a slightly military , yet totally Corporate uniform. (its good advertising) It may also carry its own intimidation factor once their reputation grows. A company colored Valkyrie flying in "supplies" or VIPs would look cool. Wheeled Tauroxs and wheeled  hellhounds  seem appropriate.  I think a Knight on payroll is a good answer for  Superheavy support. I can imagine Vendettas on call. 3 Basilisks or Wyverns available seems basic with maybe a Deathstrike as a failsafe. I think Conscripts could be hired local militia, used to move out and draw fire or engage and tie up enemy. Ohhh the imagination runs. Well, Good luck, cant wait to see what comes of this.

[walter h]

Loves this concept. PMC, is a great idea. I would suggest however, that you could use the Inquisiter,rules ,but the inquisiter stat be the trader a CEO, of his own ship. Goods ,or services are within the merchant realm. The CEO, might be from a house that lost most of their holdings leaving him,or her to the purchase of a ship, this would allow for a Knight , although not a BaneB. The choice of using a Corporate logo,would be excellent ,as a sigil on the shoulder pads, and in the house colors. Overall I will be following your progress.

[recon0321]

Anyone have any ideas on a logo?

[Teetengee]

Maybe a series of three letters incorporating some imperial symbol?

[WarriorFish]

A sword would fit, and they exist aplenty on current GW transfer sheets too. That or a fist, something with an "attack" theme, or perhaps "protect" so a shield?

[Teetengee]

A shield with some name or letters (just scribble script on most models) would mimic well the security firms of today.
Although if you are calling them ATLAS, perhaps a map, or a planet with a fist or shield on it. (Look to world eaters for a starting point with a little cutting).

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Trying to cut away the fanged maw enclosing the world in the World Eaters logo, will be an absolute PAIN IN THE .

[Bjorn Firewalker]

I thought about copying the image for this item from 'Scarface', Brian De Palma's 1983 movie, to a transfer sheet. Hell, Al Pacino's character will work fine as a Rogue Trader and owner of a private military company, and "The World Is Yours" (meaning "We Will Deliver The World To Our Employers") an excellent company motto.

[recon0321]

Hmm all excellent ideas! If I did follow the inquisitor route it would be appreciate to have a squad of space marines?

 

Thinking maybe just the letter A I like the world idea but damn that would be hard to accomplish maybe using a 3rd party helmet or berets? Haha pig iron has these cool ball cap heads!