Babylon 5 adventures

[Quatar]

Hi

I'm thinking about running a Babylon 5 game (D20, 2nd Ed) for some friends, and right now looking for some adventures, either to run them directly or at least get some inspiration from them to make my own campaign.

However, it appears the whole B5 stuff is out of print, can barely find it anywhere anymore, and it's not on the Mongoose site anymore either, which makes just finding information pretty hard already.

I've not found many published adventures so far, that's possibly because there were never many published for B5?

From what I read, 1st and 2nd edition are pretty compatible, so should be easy to run a 1st edition adventure with some adjustments I think.

I've found so far (that they exist, I don't actually have them yet)
1st edition:
The Athena Strain
The Fiery Trial
Into the Crucible

2nd edition:
Leap of Faith
The Cold Equations
The Final Flight of Santiago
The Ragged Edge

Are there any more that I should keep my eyes open for on ebay etc?
I'm primarily interested in stuff that runs during the 2nd/3rd season of the show, but as I said also looking for inspiration so really any is fine.

 

[Boneguard]

go an check nobleknight.com for 1st and 2nd stuff.

It's one of my favorite seller of OOP RPG stuff.

 

[Quatar]

Thanks alot that's a great selection they have there!

 

[Valarian]

The Cold Equations plus The Ragged Edge covers the second season (2259). This campaign should keep you and your players going for quite a while. I'd recommend those, having run this campaign myself.

I'm not sure that Into the Crucible got published anywhere but the Deconstruction of Falling Stars PDF (a catch-all PDF of unpublished stuff released at the end of the license period). This was a follow-on campaign to The Fiery Trail - taking the characters in to 2259. The Fiery Trail is set in 2258 (1st Season).

 

[lastbesthope]

Into the Crucible did get published, it just says it didn't in "Deconstruction"

LBH

 

[R Arceneaux]

Not having read the two pieces val mentions, if they are tied to the 2nd season then there is a small problem.....

The 1st and 2nd seasons of Bab 5 as aired on TV had very few telepah centered situatations. IF a person, such as myself for example, wanted to play a telepath then they would spend a lot of game time just sitting around doing nothing.

Although just sittin in your cabin waiting for something to happen does mean that there are fewer people shootin at ya

 

[Greg Smith]

The Earthforce book has a short campaign in it.

 

[Quatar]

Yes, I thought about doing the Cold Equation+Ragged Edge as that seems like a nice campaign.

But what bothers me about it is that most of Ragged Edge seems to be happening all over the place just not on B5. So I'm not sure how that will impact the "B5 feeling".

I liked the idea of the Crucible missions, however it seems to progress really slow, just giving like 2 levels over the entire campaign, so I thought about maybe tossing in the Crucible missins inbetween the Ragged Edge missions as side-adventures, but since the characters are rarely on B5 that's somewhat hard to pull off.
They could of course be contacted via radio instead of personal meetings and such, or by a contact away from B5, and I might twist and stretch the timeline a bit to make it work, but it might actually be possible.
But I'm not sure how much "free time" the characters have between the Ragged Edge modules, and how time-pressed they usually are, it might not make sense for them to do something else in between.

There doesn't seem to be much adventure material for Season 3 and later, is there?

I hadn't realised Deconstruction of Falling Stars was sort of the "catch all" book at the end. There might be something nice in there too, I gotta check it out. Thanks.

 

[R Arceneaux]

But how about giving it a try making your own, or should I say letting the players make their own.


Let me throw this out to see what ya think. Give the basic intro to Bab 5 with a brief history etc.

Then select 2 or three cards from a small collection of index cards that you have premade usining the old Bab 5 TV show, movies, and other ideas in general that are logical given the environment of Bab 5.

Each game session select 1 or two more problems to be solved. If the group has not solved the previous provlems then just escalate the proble a little bit more with each passing game session.

Thus for example say you put out there that a small time thug comes on board B5 to check out the turf for their criminal group. IF the play group continues to ignore the small time thug his buddies start to come over and start to orgaganize a crime syndicate on b5 step by step. AKA failure to confront and solve a random situation will only result in the situation becomming worse and worse forcing th group to eventually solve the situation.

As more problems become entangled with each other the situation will become more and more interesting for you and more challenging for the players.

 

[wargame_insomniac]

Hi

Just been looking through my B5 RPG books to see what I have. I've got most of the 1st edition books, 2nd ed rulebook, DM Screen, and Cold Equations.

From what i can see, the Cold Equations/Ragged edge and 1st ed The Fiery Trial are all set in 2259 ie during season 2. Is there any of the published campaigns that cover 2268 i.e. season 1?

Ideally I would like to do a brief campaign set in 2258 to introduce the PC's to B5 universe. A few of the players have seen the show but a couple have'nt. I wanted to rattle through 2258 to give a flavour of the overall storyline before getting stuck in in more detail into 2259.

So ideal situation would be for something I can run for 5-6 lvl 1 players and then go straight into Cold Equations/Ragged Edge. Any suggestions?

When is Leap of faith set?

Final question is whether there is an online resource for 2nd edition? In particular anywhere that has PDF's of either hand-outs or floor plans?

Thanks very much

James

 

[lastbesthope]

Fiery Trial is set in the first season 2258, IIRC. Into the Crucible is set in 2259/Season 2.

Leap of Faioth is set in 2264, says so in the Intro.

LBH

 

[wargame_insomniac]

Thanks LBH

That was a quick reply!! I was worried after the old B5 RPG section of forum had gone that would nt get much response.

In that case I wont bother tyring to get Leap of faith for the moment. I will sit down and have a good read through Fiery Trial. How easy would it be to run it before Cold Equations?

Given that you did nt mnetion it, does that mean that there are no online resources for RPG?

Thanks

James

 

[lastbesthope]

Not sure about Fiery Trial before Cold Equations, never real lined the two up against each other.

What do you mean by online resources? not that I use online stuff much for my gaming, but I do have all the old downloads from the Mongoose website kicking about somewhere on my hard drives.

LBH

 

[wargame_insomniac]

Not sure about Fiery Trial before Cold Equations, never real lined the two up against each other.

What do you mean by online resources? not that I use online stuff much for my gaming, but I do have all the old downloads from the Mongoose website kicking about somewhere on my hard drives.

LBH

Thanks

I have the 2nd ed character sheet but nothing else. Is there a website that had collated any more? Or would you be able to forward me whatever PDF's you have if I PM you my e-mail address?

Is there anywhere that lists out all of the 1st ed and 2ed books and supplements in product code order? So I can work out what I am missing?

Thanks very much

James

 

[lastbesthope]

Someone asked me for the complete product list before, I'll point you at the list I made then, should still be up to date:

http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=568010&highlight=mgp*#568010

As for the other, check your email

LBH

 

[wargame_insomniac]

Thanks LBH on both counts.

That is absolutely brilliant- big help, cheers. Will be busy reading them!



James

 

[lastbesthope]

You're welcome

LBH

 

[wargame_insomniac]

Have been reading fiery trial. I like the way it is structured- it gives a good framework for running campaign in 2258 but with enough flexibility to drop in any alternative or home written scenarios.

I particualrly like the Universe today handouts- I am looking forward to getting those printed off on colour printer- gives a great visual look and allows me to drop in many of the events of season one without going into huge detail. Provides a reference point without tying you down.

I also like the way it hints at the re-awakening of Shadows without directly involving them.

It should nt be too difficult to convert to 2nd ed rules.

Cheers

James

 

[Erik Growen]

I am not sure if this thread is still active but here is the timeline that I put together for a B5 game that I am in the long term process of running (we are at January 2260). It includes all of the episodes for reference - there are a few notes here and there regarding events that impact my game (like the end of Talia for example as they got to know her or meeting Gideon which had no immediate impact but will have one years later when they start Crusade). Hope this is of some use!

Erik



1st Season
Midnight On the Firing Line January 4 2258
And So It Begins… January 19 2258 (Fiery Trial Module # 1 & Handout # 1)
February 27 2258 (Fiery Trial Handout # 2)
Soul Hunter March 1 2258
Born to the Purple March 23 2258
May 3 2258 (Fiery Trial Handout # 3)
Infection April 6 2258
The Parliament of Dreams April 13 2258
Fiery Trial Module # 2
Mind War April 22 2258
The War Prayer May 4 2258
And the Sky Full of Stars May 16 2258
Deathwalker June 18 2258
Believers June 24 2258
Survivors July 12 2258
By Any Means Necessary July 18 2258
Signs & Portents August 3 2258
TKO August 14 2258
Who Framed Alison Fernandez August 2258
Fiery Trial Module # 3
Grail September 1 2258
Eyes September 6 2258
Legacies September 11 2258
A Voice in the Wilderness September 27 2258
Babylon Squared November 14 2258
The Quality of Mercy November 18 2258
Fiery Trial Module # 4
December 29 2258 (Fiery Trial Handout # 4)
Chrysalis December 30 2258

2nd Season
Point of Departure January 8 2259
The Cold Equations
Revelations January 17 2259
The Ragged Edge Scenario 1
Meet Lt. Gideon EAS Hyperion gambling on B-5
The Geometry of Shadows January 25 2259
Meet Galen w/ Elric of the Technomages
The Ragged Edge Scenario 2
A Distant Star January 31 2259
Meet Dureena and the Thieves Guild
Into The Crucible Module # 1
The Long Dark February 22 2259
The Ragged Edge Scenario 3
Spider in the Web March 6 2259
The Doppleganger Trap (S&P copy)
A Race Through Dark Places March 14 2259
Soul Mates May 4 2259
Into The Crucible Module # 2
The Ragged Edge Scenario 4
The Coming of Shadows June 15 2259
GROPOS June 29 2259
Into The Crucible Module # 3
All Alone in the Night July 4 2259
Acts of Sacrifice July 31 2259
The Ragged Edge Scenario 5
Hunter, Prey August 3 2259
The Ragged Edge Scenario 6
And Now for a Word August 6 2259
There All the Honour Lies August 9 2259
Knives August 11 2259
The Ragged Edge Scenario 7
In the Shadow of Z’Ha’Dum September 24 2259
The Ragged Edge Scenario 8
The Ragged Edge Scenario 9
Confessions and Lamentations November 1 2259 (Markab)
Into The Crucible Module # 4
Divided Loyalties November 24 2259 (end of Talia)
Splinters in the Whirlwind (EFC 143)
The Long, Twilight Struggle November 27 2259
The Ragged Edge Scenario 10
Comes the Inquisitor December 19 2259
The Fall of Night December 21 2259

3rd Season
Matters of Honour January 1 2260
Convictions January 16 2260
A Day in the Strife January 20 2260
Whispers in Darkness (Deconstruction 49)
Passing Through Gethsemane January 25 2260
Snowball (Darkness & Light 131)
Voices of Authority February 13 2260
Dust to Dust February 21 2260
Exogenesis March 11 2260
Messages From Earth March 18 2260
Blood Dimmed Tide (Deconstruction 101)
Point of No Return April 8 2260
The Hunt (EFC 147)
Severed Dreams April 13 2260
Ceremonies of Light and Dark May 1 2260
The Trouble with Drazi
Sic Transit Vir July 3 2260
A Late Delivery from Avalon July 12 2260
Toxic Secrets (S&P copy)
Ship of Tears July 20 2260
Interludes and Examinations August 3 2260
War Without End August 13 2260
Walkabout November 10 2260
Between Hammer and Anvil (S&P copy)
Grey 17 is Missing November 21 2260
And the Rock Cried Out December 7 2260
Shadow Dancing December 14 2260
Z’ha’dum December 21 2260

4th Season
The Hour of the Wolf January 7 2261
Whatever Happened to Mr. Garib January 8 2261
The Athena Strain
The Summoning January 17 2261
Falling Towards Apotheosis January 20 2261
The Long Night January 23 2261
Into the Fire January 25 2261
Epiphanies January 26 2261
Illusion of Truth February 14 2261
Atonement June 2 2261
This is Pandora’s Box (Thirdspace 80)
Racing Mars June 18 2261
Lines of Communication June 21 2261
Conflicts of Interest July 7 2261
Rumours, Bargains & Lies July 9 2261
Moments of Transition July 11 2261
Breaking Points (EFC 152)
No Surrender, No Retreat September 2 2261
The Exercise of Vital Power September 7 2261
The Face of the Enemy September 21 2261
Intersections in Real Time September 24 2261
Between the Darkness & the Light September 27 2261
Endgame November 1 2261
Rising Star November 2 2261
The Deconstruction of Falling Stars November 5 2261

5th Season
No Compromises January 4 2262
The Very Long Night of Londo January 10 2262
The Paragon of Animals February 12 2262
A View From the Gallery March 10 2262
Learning Curve April 15 2262
Strange Relations May 20 2262
Secrets of the Soul June 3 2262
In the Kingdom of the Blind June 4 2262
A Tragedy of Telepaths June 16 2262
Phoenix Rising June 19 2262
The Ragged Edge June 30 2262
Day of the Dead July 1 2262
The Corps is Mother… July 14 2262
Meditations on the Abyss September 12 2262
Darkness Ascending September 18 2262
And My Dreams, Torn Asunder October 1 2262
Movements of Fire and Shadow October 3 2262
The Fall of Centauri Prime October 10 2262
Wheel of Fire December 5 2262
Objects in Motion December 9 2262
Objects at Rest December 20 2262
Sleeping in Light December 8 2262

Interim 2264
Leap of Faith (Freedom Station 95)

2265
Slipping Between the Fingers (Legend of the Rangers 79)



November 10 2266
Legacy of War 1 (S&P copy)
November 25 2266
Legacy of War 2 (S&P copy)
December 3 2266
Legacy of War 3 (S&P copy)
December 22 2266
Legacy of War 4 (S&P copy)

Crusade
A Call to Arms December 2266
War Zone January 1 2267
January 4 2267
Legacy of War 5 & 6 (S&P copy)
Racing the Night February 24 2267
The Needs of Earth April 22 2267
The Memory of War April 26 2267
The Long Road May 4 2267
Visitors From Down the Street May 10 2267
The Well of Forever May 19 2267
Each Night I Dream of Home May 28 2267
Patterns of the Soul June 4 2267
June 8 2267
Legacy of War 7 (S&P copy)
The Path of Sorrows June 11 2267
Ruling From the Tomb June 15 2267
The Rules of the Game July 5 2267
July 13 2267
Legacy of War 8 & 9 (S&P copy)
Appearances and Other Deceits August 7 2267
To the Ends of the Earth September 3 2267
Value Judgements October 24 2267
End of the Line December 28 2267
January 2268
Legacy of War 10 (S&P copy)
March 2268
Legacy of War 11 (S&P copy)
June 2268
Legacy of War 12 (S&P copy)
July-August 2268
Legacy of War 13 (S&P copy)
August-September 2268
Legacy of War 14 (S&P copy)

 

[wargame_insomniac]

Thanks Erik

Do you have that timeline saved as a file? If so would you mind sending it to me? It would be most useful if i ever got around to running a B5 RPG campaign (so far my local grou is not keen on the idea but I aim to quietly swing them around to the idea).

Thanks

James