I am working on an army book based on some oft-missing fluff from 1st edition as well as some other older GW properties. I think it may work well and offer some fun differences in play style. I have a good bit of the structure and units sketched out.
Quote:
BACKGROUND
The Emperor’s gaze is vigilant upon those whom he protects. But the galaxy is vast and humanity’s psychic evolution early; Large portions of the galaxy exist where no Astropath can see, no human ship can travel safely. These places are known even to the most hardened space farers as “the unknown”, the lost planets the outer rims of the galaxy, the outlands.
But these planetary systems are valuable territory, even potentially moreso than the charted and known systems. Many were settled by humans Orks and Eldar in ancient times, others are populated with ferocious beasts or undiscovered humanoids. The promise of vast resources, lost technology or feral armies from which to cull warriors is too great even for the Adeptus Terra to pass over. Brave and fanatical, the Rogue Trader makes the warp jump from Earth to the edges of the known, looking to claim more of space for the Imperium.
Politics and social constructs of the war-torn Imperium fall by the wayside in the outer systems and often one can find the strangest bedfellows. United by the will to survive, a common respect and a mutual distrust of civilization, Space Pirates of all races fight battles over supplies, territory and resources; for the most part they try to skirt the edges of the Imperium, Eldar and Ork Civilizations, but run-ins are inevitable, no matter the care taken to go unnoticed.
This is a place of refuge and a place of war, often Gangs may come here to find a new hive, perhaps after pilfering the resources of a hive, perhaps on the run from the ever vigilant Adeptus Arbites. Other strangeness abounds as well; beast slavers willing to sell an army of dangerous, never before seen creatures and refugees from time and space, marooned in the 41st Millennia as a result of the chaos powers manipulating the fabrics of time, space and reality. Even the cults of the Geanstealers and Chaos are found, searching for planets in a never-ending hunger for conquest.
No matter their loyalty, the armies that operate here are looked upon with distrust and loathing by their respective civilizations. They live and die by two rules; “The Golden Rule” and “Keep your Friends close and your Enemies Closer”. With limited exceptions, almost anyone out here will fight alongside another, if the price is right…
Expect to see Rogue Trader Retinues, Space Pirates of varying races, fully fleshed out Freebooterz, Genestealer cults and hive gangs.
Since really each of these armies are more like sub-armies, I am working on an army selection system that is not too complex but allows varying combinations of the above groups to suit a variety of playstyles.