How to play Co-op in Rogue Trader

In Rogue Trader, it is possible to play co-op, but there are some caveats you should be aware of. Here's everything you need to know about the process.

How to play Warhammer 40K Rogue Trader co-op

In order to play Rogue Trader co-op, you'll first need to set up a Co-op Lobby. You can do this right from the main menu screen by clicking on the Cooperative Mode button at the bottom left side of the screen.

Doing so will take you to a screen where you can Create a Lobby or Enter a Lobby ID. If you're looking to be the host for your co-op game, then you want to click on Create a Lobby. If not, and you're seeking to join a co-op game instead, then you need to be given the game's Lobby ID.

Create a Lobby

If you're hosting, then clicking Create a Lobby will take you to a screen where you can invite up to five other players into your pre-game lobby. You can do this just by clicking on one of the five open spaces in the middle of the screen.

Alternatively, you can give your friends your lobby's Lobby Code, which is the Lobby ID I mentioned earlier. You can find this code at the top of the Cooperative Mode screen after creating a lobby. Simply hit Copy and paste it to your friends through the message of your choice

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All invites are cross-service through both Steam and Epic Game Store, so you and your friends can play on either and still play together. Once your friends have joined your lobby, choose which save game you'll be playing and launch the game.

Enter a Lobby ID

If you're not planning to host a co-op game and are instead looking to join one, you'll need to be given a Lobby ID for the game you wish to join. As just mentioned, the host of the lobby you're looking to join needs to be the one to give you the ID. Once you've received it, simply go to the Cooperative Mode screen and paste the Lobby ID in the Enter lobby ID box on the right side of the screen.

After doing so, hit Join Lobby and you should now see your name in one of the five open slots in the lobby of your desire. Now, it's up to the host to start the game.

How co-op works in Warhammer 40K Rogue Trader

In Rogue Trader, due to the importance of the story and the lore, there can only be one Rogue Trader in a game. In a co-op lobby, the host is the Rogue Trader, which means everyone else must play as a companion to the Rogue Trader. What does this mean for the integrity of the co-op experience? Thankfully, not too much due to some great additions Owlcat Games included with Rogue Trader's release.

Players who aren't the Rogue Trader will play as the same companions that would normally accompany them. If the host does not have five other companions, then you cannot play co-op with five other people. This is only an issue during the early part of the Prologue, as you start the game solely as the Rogue Trader. In the later half of the Prologue, the Rogue Trader is joined by three others in the story, effectively enabling co-op play the moment they join.

Since the host is the Rogue Trader in the story, they will be the one making all of the dialogue-based decisions. However, that isn't to say that the rest of the party can't participate. Owlcat Games allows other players to vote on dialogue choices in-game, meaning that they do have a say. Ultimately, it is up to the host, but it is nice to have this option.

As far as co-op ship combat, all players will have access to everything relating to ship gameplay. It is up to all players, not just the Rogue Trader, to decide who goes where and controls what during ship combat.

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Custom Co-op Characters

If you're like me, then you have no interest in playing a pre-determined character in co-op play. Well, thankfully, Owlcat Games allows you to create custom characters just after the Prologue comes to an end. Custom characters function exactly like companions do but without the lore-impacting background. Players who aren't the Rogue Trader can customize their own co-op characters for co-op play, though it is the Rogue Trader that has to initiate this process.

To do so, speak to High Factoum Janris Danrok on the Rogue Trader's ship. He will offer numerous dialogue options, but one in particular is of value for this prospect.

Tell him you wish to bolster your retinue with skilled fighters. This will take you (or the host) to the character creation screen, where a custom character can be made. Make as many as necessary for all your co-op participants. Once they're made, and you've joined or hosted a co-op lobby, have the Rogue Trader player designate which players are playing each character. Then, you're done. Enjoy Rogue Trader in all its co-op glory.

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