Recommended B5 d20 Books for "solid fluff"

[Travellingdave]

Looking to tap the B5 grognards out there.

Since Mongoose is ending the B5 license, I was thinking about picking up a couple of B5 d20 books to flesh out background fluff to go with the Universe of B5 books for MGT.

Which 4 d20 books would you recommend to give the best collection of background information for the B5 universe and why?

 

[tneva82]

The Babylon 5 Station Guide <- Contains information about station itself. I expect most B5 campaigns feature that one heavily so info about that is always useful.

Babylon 5 Galactic Guide <- Tons of information about variety of planets across the galaxy.

Those would be 2 I would definetly choose.

 

[Travellingdave]

Thanks!

I was looking at the Galactic Guide as well. It seemed like a natural pick.

 

[B_Steele]

I would suggest "Heroes and Aliens" and "The Rim".

Along with any of the Lurker's Guides, but the above two have helped many people flesh out there campaigns, if fan-based emails can be trusted.

-Bry

 

[rust]

I would recommend the Lurkers Guide to Gaim as a description of an
alien species that goes beyond the typical concept of aliens and could
add some fascinating ideas to any science fiction setting - a species
that can develop into whatever it considers necessary or useful to sur-
vive is too interesting to miss. :wink:

 

[lastbesthope]

All of the above, Psi Corps from 1E, and EF Campaign guide for EF fluff.

LBH

 

[Travellingdave]

Thank you guys for all the suggestions. I'm compiling a list.

 

[AndrewW]

Thank you guys for all the suggestions. I'm compiling a list.

Are you checking it twice¿

 

[Greg Smith]

There is a lot of material in quite a few books, so know what your campaign involves might be an idea before picking up books.

The Galaxy Guide is superb.

The station guide is good, but if you know the series it probably won't tell you a lot new.

The Rim is a good book for exploration. The Lurkers Guide to Gaim is a great alien book as is the League of Non-Aligned Worlds book.

 

[qstor]

I like the Narn, Rangers, Centauri and Minbari books from 1E. I think they're all good for background.

I second the Psi Corps and Galactic Guide. Depending on what time period you're thinking of setting your game in you might want the Crusade book too. I like the Drac book for 2e too.

Mike

 

[dmccoy1693]

Yea, I'm going to get some stuff, but deciding what to buy (and what my budget will allow) are rather tough. I'm just glad I bought deconstruciton of falling stars a while ago so that's one thing less I have to buy now.

Quick question for msprange: If we buy a b5 book now, will we be able to download it later? I mean will it just be not allowed to sell any additional copies of it or is it going to be deleted from DriveThruRPG's hard drives?

Just want to know if I should make several backups right away or do I have time to do it when its convient.

 

[Travellingdave]

Thanks again for all the feedback. May I ask if anyone thinks that the B5 d20 Core rulebook is worth considering or is most of that info repeated in the Universe of B5 MGT book?

Also, does anyone know if any of the published material postdates the Crusade material (i.e. post 2267)?

 

[tneva82]

Thanks again for all the feedback. May I ask if anyone thinks that the B5 d20 Core rulebook is worth considering or is most of that info repeated in the Universe of B5 MGT book?

Also, does anyone know if any of the published material postdates the Crusade material (i.e. post 2267)?

Pretty sure only the legends of the rangers is set past crusade.

 

[Da Boss]

Thanks again for all the feedback. May I ask if anyone thinks that the B5 d20 Core rulebook is worth considering or is most of that info repeated in the Universe of B5 MGT book?
?

The book I have is a substantial tome that covers most of what you want as background (In colour as well) - I have not as yet seen the traveller version but I got the impression it was a smaller work (in BW) and much less background - happy to be corrected.

The edition I have covers the first season of the show as well with plot ideas and what ifs and areas to clear up. I also have the Centauri handbook and lurkers guide to the Gaim - both good reads.

 

[Lorcan Nagle]

Thanks again for all the feedback. May I ask if anyone thinks that the B5 d20 Core rulebook is worth considering or is most of that info repeated in the Universe of B5 MGT book?

Also, does anyone know if any of the published material postdates the Crusade material (i.e. post 2267)?

Pretty sure only the legends of the rangers is set past crusade.

Legend of the Rangers - as in the TV movie, is actually set between B5 and Crusade. Not sure about the sourcebook though.

 

[tneva82]

Legend of the Rangers - as in the TV movie, is actually set between B5 and Crusade. Not sure about the sourcebook though.

Schaisse. Could have sworn it happened shortly after the Drakh plague. Wonder where that came from.

In that case no supplement post-Drakh plague.

 

[Lorcan Nagle]

I don't think it's ever said explicitly in LotR, but the B5 timeline puts it 1 year before A Call to Arms.

there are a few bits of fiction set after Crusade - the lost Tales, The last book of the Psi-Corps Trilogy, much of the Legions of Fire Trilogy, some JMS-penned short stories, and probably a few other things I've forgotten.

 

[Greg Smith]

Had Legend of the Rangers gained a series, JMS was planning to conclude the Crusade story arc in his new series (IIRC).

 

[Travellingdave]

I've been told the Drakh sourcebook outlines the Centauri occupation and the First Drakh war up until 2278. I'm not sure how much detail there is though.