How is the story and companions? I'm pretty sure I won't pick up this game until an EE comes out but still curious.
I like I'm not hearing about a lot of gay/cringe shit like bear sex 3.
I'm not done yet but I am close to the ending.
The game is fun, it's very much structured like WOTR.
However the story does not really do it for me, it feels awfully constructed, has also similar beats (Act 3 is basically Act 4 in WOTR, Act 4 is basicallys act 5 in Wotr and so on) Act compared to Wotr and I don't think I like rogue trader as a setting. (Love 40k though I play the wargame)
What is the strength of such factions in lore looked at from a strategic perspective feels bland in detail in my eyes. The Imperium has to be the Imperium, the Chaos factions have their usual shenanigans, the Dark eldar torture people, the aeldari are shitty elves just like they always are etc.
meaning basically what happens is what is to be expected. It's fine if you you like a story in 40k that does not hold much sueprises but I would not recommend to play it for the great story.
However I think they nailed it, which is actually a reflection of that, the factions in the setting. The Imperium and their Dogma, the Drukhari and Eldar, the Mechanicus and even Necrons are a joy to behold and seem to be implemented in a way that shows care for the setting.
I love the depcition of chaos, Tzeentch is the big player this time around and it's a blessing to have, the first game know to me, to not have every Chaos space marine scream in my ears all the time about killing and insanity but to see them Preach and be Psykers and have even the less prominent factions for this story be portrayed very nuanced.
I really don't like the focus on Rogue traders it's not what I play 40k for. The story supports different way of playing, with three convictions (paths) going through but looking at it realistically these seem to be tacked on and the changes up until the last point of the game are rather miniscule. I have behaved like a heretic the whole game, with torture victims a Chaos shrine and all openly visible in my voidship and none, apart from the three (four?) characters that are incompatible with the heretic route, commented on that at all. And those three choose to see it as "too much" like a second before the ending. It's Jarring.
If you want to play a game in the setting with the setting being really well implemented then this game is for you. It's fun, some of the mechanics are a bit outlandish, the combat becomes somewhat tedious, the mini games (Ship combat and colonisation + the whole warp map shenanigans) are the best iteration yet of owlcat minigames bit they are still borderline shit.
If you are Patient this is a good game to play, as a game I like Wotr and Kingmaker more.