Owlcat Showcases WH40K Rogue Trader Combat Ahead of Next Week's Launch

As we’re approaching the launch of the highly-anticipated cRPG, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, Owlcat Games is slowly ramping up the promotion to amp up the hype. In the latest video, the developer highlights the game’s ground combat mechanics. Here’s what you can expect.

Latest WH40K Rogue Trader Trailer Shows Ground Combat Mechanics Ahead of the December 7 Launch

If there’s one studio that deserves to be the first to create a proper cRPG title set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, that’s Owlcat Games. The guys and girls from this relatively young team have proven that they are more than capable of crafting high-quality cRPG with their two Pathfinder games. And now, they are ready to put into our hands their take on the immensely popular Warhammer 40,000 universe.

The game’s story follows one of the titular rogue traders and is set in the Koronus Expanse. This region is described as “the backwater sector rife with opportunities for explorers and adventurers”. However, in terms of gameplay, what’s noticeably different from Pathfinder games is the full focus on turn-based combat. The game is designed from the ground up with TBC in mind. Hence, there is no real-time combat.

In the latest promo trailer, the developer Owlcat Games focuses on showing various ground combat systems. Each companion has various stats, skills, and traits that can improve their ranged and melee combat, with support for both types of playstyle. Furthermore, the cover system seems to be really important and something you will definitely want to take into consideration. Next, the game has a unique Heroic Acts and Desperate Measures system. These are powerful abilities which you get access to depending on your momentum. However, Desperate Measures have severe negative effects. Hence, you will need to choose wisely when and how to use them.

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the combat systems you can expect in the game. We advise you to see some of them in action by watching the trailer below. Finally, if you are interested in reading more, with in-depth explanations of some of these mechanics, check out the official blog post. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader launches on Thursday, December 7th, 2023. The game will be available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.