The Universe of Babylon 5

[Terrible Tim]

B5 Traveller, now you are talking!

The Universe of Babylon 5

Author: Lawrence Whittaker
Series: Traveller

Price: £15.00
Format: Softback (160 pages)
Shipping date: December 2008
Ref: ISBN 978-1-906508-01-2 | MGP3811

Bringing the universe of Babylon 5 to the Traveller system, this book is a one-stop resource for Babylon 5 fans. Combining setting information with new rules, players can learn how jump gates and hyperspace works, play Narn, Minbari or Centauri characters and explore the space station that changed the fate of an entire galaxy.

With this book, you can become part of the Babylon 5 saga, creating characters to adventure alongside Sheridan, Garibaldi, Ivanova, G'Kar and Molari as residents of Earth's last, best hope.

Using the Traveller rules, the Universe of Babylon 5 shows you how to create detailed characters with rich backgrounds, skilled and equipped to survive the trials and tribulations of the eponymous space station. The rules allow you to recreate any era of the TV series, contributing your own stories to the five-year plot arc. Battle against the Shadows; evade the schemes of Bester's Psi Corps; verbally and diplomatically spar with the diverse ambassadors of the Non-Aligned Worlds, Centauri Republic, Narn Regime and Minbari Empire. Defy the military might of Earthforce - or ally yourself with it.

Comprehensive rules govern everything from character creation through to Starfury combat with Traveller's tried and tested systems tailored to the unique environment of Babylon 5. All you need is the Universe of Babylon 5 book and the main Traveller rules set - and your own imagination!
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Bringing the universe of Babylon 5 to the Traveller system, this book is a one-stop resource for Babylon 5 fans. Combining setting information with new rules, players can learn how jump gates and hyperspace works, play Narn, Minbari or Centauri characters and explore the space station that changed the fate of an entire galaxy.

With this book, you can become part of the Babylon 5 saga, creating characters to adventure alongside Sheridan, Garibaldi, Ivanova, G'Kar and Molari as residents of Earth's last, best hope.

Using the Traveller rules, the Universe of Babylon 5 shows you how to create detailed characters with rich backgrounds, skilled and equipped to survive the trials and tribulations of the eponymous space station. The rules allow you to recreate any era of the TV series, contributing your own stories to the five-year plot arc. Battle against the Shadows; evade the schemes of Bester's Psi Corps; verbally and diplomatically spar with the diverse ambassadors of the Non-Aligned Worlds, Centauri Republic, Narn Regime and Minbari Empire. Defy the military might of Earthforce - or ally yourself with it.

Comprehensive rules govern everything from character creation through to Starfury combat with Traveller's tried and tested systems tailored to the unique environment of Babylon 5. All you need is the Universe of Babylon 5 book and the main Traveller rules set - and your own imagination!

 

[AKAmra]

Is this a paid infomercial?

I'm looking forward to the Traveller B5 books too. The fact that Mongoose is taking Traveller beyond the OTU was the deciding factor for me when I was choosing which version of Traveller to invest in. I like the Traveller OTU, but I also want the option of branching out into other sci-fi settings without having to use a different core system.

(for constructive criticism, I am disappointed with the the High Guard misprint issues. Mongoose has a reputation for bad editing and book binding quality (also poor maps). I'll be putting off my purchase of High Guard until the corrected edtion is published. I'm sure Mongoose is aware of this, but I'd like to highlight that they need to get past this bad reputation by dealing with whatever issues create them and start putting out books that are consistently high in quality).

 

[AKAramis]

I am hopeful for this product line. It will be the primary decider of my final opinion of MGT... Currently, it's at Useful/usable, good, but not great.

 

[lastbesthope]

(for constructive criticism, I am disappointed with the the High Guard misprint issues. Mongoose has a reputation for bad editing and book binding quality (also poor maps). I'll be putting off my purchase of High Guard until the corrected edtion is published. I'm sure Mongoose is aware of this, but I'd like to highlight that they need to get past this bad reputation by dealing with whatever issues create them and start putting out books that are consistently high in quality).

Matt has said they will offer repacement copies when the corrected printing happens, partly why I decided to pick a copy up this week.

LBH

 

[Terrible Tim]

Mongoose has a reputation for bad editing and book binding quality (also poor maps).

I have only purchased good quality products from Mongoose, no complaints so far .

TT.

 

[rje]

So with B5 making inroads to Traveller, what do you think are the varius special character attributes of the alien races?

Are the narn significantly stronger than humans? Are the minbari smarter, or have a higher incidence of psionics? What's the lifespan of each? Are they all male-female, or do some have more complex genderings?

 

[dmccoy1693]

So with B5 making inroads to Traveller, what do you think are the varius special character attributes of the alien races?

Are the narn significantly stronger than humans? Are the minbari smarter, or have a higher incidence of psionics? What's the lifespan of each? Are they all male-female, or do some have more complex genderings?

My guesses:
Narn: +2 Str, -2 Int
Centari: +2 Soc, -2 Str
Minbari: +2 End, -2 Soc

Justifications:
Minbari were difficult to kill during the Earth-Minbari war, but every single one of them appeared socially inept. While Delenn was wise and tolerant of other races, many others of her race were anything but. But I think it was more their religious teachings then their genetic makeup.

Have you seen a Centari lift anything of any real weight during the show? The guards, sure, but as londo said, "I think they choose guards for the amount of bone in their head." I think they're relatively weak. But they are minipulation masters so I'd give them a Soc bonus.

Narns displayed a real lack of judgement as a race during the show. They demonstrated no battle tactics, no thought to hide when their numbers were getting cut down but kept charging in, a true problem to hold back when ordered to do so, and a need to fight whatever came their way. But they are stronger then just about any of the other races.

 

[Da Boss]

I would think they will have different stats for the various castes for the Minbari

for instance the Warrior caste - deidicated, strong, agile and durable, not concerned with social nicieties or lesser races, very arrogant and honour driven. (Samurai)

re the Centauri - no evidence to show they are weaker than humans - they have a very manpulative and highly structured society / culture. They are great at parties...............

Narn - good summary

Both Minbari and Centauri have telepaths - Narn do not - all slain by the Shadows.

 

[dmccoy1693]

I would think they will have different stats for the various castes for the Minbari

for instance the Warrior caste - deidicated, strong, agile and durable, not concerned with social nicieties or lesser races, very arrogant and honour driven. (Samurai)

Well the Warrior caste simply has a high Str/Dex requirements to get into those careers. But Warrior or Religious, Minbari are difficult to kill.

re the Centauri - no evidence to show they are weaker than humans - they have a very manpulative and highly structured society / culture.

No evidence against it either. They need a negative for balance purposes.

They are great at parties...............

But in purple, I am STUNNING! *collapse as he becomes one with his inner self*

 

[lastbesthope]

Are they all male-female, or do some have more complex genderings?

Off the top of my head, the Pak'mara and the Gaim should have complex genderings. Basedon show evidence.

LBH

 

[pasuuli]

How about lifespan, castes, and senses then, for the Big Three (Minbari, Centauri, Narn). When might each start to take aging penalties? Is the Minbari caste system part of their genetic makeup as a species, or is it cultural? Do they all see just like humans? How's their hearing? Can they sense life force, or EM fields, or things like that?

They're not just humans in rubber suits.

 

[dmccoy1693]

well I imagine that Minbari, with their tiny little ears, have a denser atmosphere on their homeworld. This would mean that on a place like B5, they'd have a harder time hearing.

 

[Loz]

So with B5 making inroads to Traveller, what do you think are the varius special character attributes of the alien races?

Are the narn significantly stronger than humans? Are the minbari smarter, or have a higher incidence of psionics? What's the lifespan of each? Are they all male-female, or do some have more complex genderings?

My guesses:
Narn: +2 Str, -2 Int
Centari: +2 Soc, -2 Str
Minbari: +2 End, -2 Soc

Justifications:
Minbari were difficult to kill during the Earth-Minbari war, but every single one of them appeared socially inept. While Delenn was wise and tolerant of other races, many others of her race were anything but. But I think it was more their religious teachings then their genetic makeup.

Have you seen a Centari lift anything of any real weight during the show? The guards, sure, but as londo said, "I think they choose guards for the amount of bone in their head." I think they're relatively weak. But they are minipulation masters so I'd give them a Soc bonus.

Narns displayed a real lack of judgement as a race during the show. They demonstrated no battle tactics, no thought to hide when their numbers were getting cut down but kept charging in, a true problem to hold back when ordered to do so, and a need to fight whatever came their way. But they are stronger then just about any of the other races.

You're not far off!

 

[dmccoy1693]

Stuff

You're not far off!

WAHOO!!! And I didn't even crack a d20 book version of it.