Universeb5 Traveller Ebook.Indd
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UNIVERSE OF BABYLON 5 Credits Contents Author Lawrence Whitaker Introduction Page 2 Editor Charlotte Law Welcome to Babylon 5 Page 4 Layout Will Chapman Characters in the Univers of Babylon 5 Page 23 Cover Image Brandon Bray Careers Page 31 Imagery Empty Room Studios Equipment Page 76 Deckplans Tr a v i s L e i c h s s e n r i n g Space Travel and Ships Page 90 Special Thanks J. Michael Straczynski, Fiona Avery, Isabelle Richard, Telepaths and Psi Corp Page 115 Skye Herzog, Gareth Hanrahan, Ian Belcher Babylon 5 Revealed Page 131 Voices in the Wilderness Page 160 License Page 200 Designation of Product Identity: The following items are hereby designated as Product Identity in accordance with section 1(e) of the Open Game License. Version 1.0a: Any and all Babylon 5 logos and identifying marks and trade dress, including all Babylon 5 product and product line names; any elements of the Babylon 5 setting including but not limited to capitalised names, planet names, alien species names, ship names, organisation names, characters, equipment, setting and historic events, episode descriptions, any and all stories, storylines, locations, plots, thematic elements, documents within the Babylon 5 world, quotes from character or episodes, all artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, illustrations, maps and cartography, likenesses, poses, logos, symbols or graphic designs; any other unspecified incarnations of Babylon 5 creative property, including elements either derived or inferred from the Babylon 5 setting; and website support materials and all future incarnations, online community donations and all free game support items, except such items that already appear in the d20 System Reference Document and are already OGC by virtue of appearing there. The above Product Identity is not Open Game Content. Designation of Open Game Content: Subject to the Product Identity designation above, the following portions of the Universe of Babylon 5 are designated as Open Game Content: all character statistics and creation rules, all new character classes and abilities, all new feats, powers and skills, all rules systems and mechanics, all statistic blocks and paragraphs specifically explaining rules mechanics or special qualities. The use of Product Identity in these circumstances is limited solely to mechanical effects and systems, not to the items previously stipulated as falling under the PI. Printed in the USA. Copyright © 2008 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. BABYLON 5 and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WB SHIELD: TM and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. 1 (s06) 2 INTRODUCTION Prepare to immerse yourself in one of the most detailed science fiction settings ever created. Coming straight from the hit New to Babylon 5? television series, the Babylon 5 space station has been the centre If you have never encountered Babylon 5 before, you are of wars, trials and revolutions that have shaped the entire galaxy. encouraged to start by reading Welcome to Babylon 5, starting Now players will have the chance to create their own epic sagas on page 4, before commencing with the main rules. This will based on the same space station featured in Babylon 5. There give you a good grounding in all the eccentricities that make are few science fiction settings that are as extensive as this and up the grand epic setting of Babylon 5. From there, go on to players now have the opportunity to explore the entire galaxy. Chapter 3 and start creating some characters to begin play with. In many ways, Humans are the easiest characters with which This book takes the popular Babylon 5 setting and translates it to begin playing this game, as they are readily identifiable into the Traveller rules system. To fully use this book you will by players even if they have not seen the television series for need the Traveller core rules and High Guard, the extended naval themselves. Alien characters may be introduced in later games, and ship construction rules; otherwise, the game is complete when players have begun to explore and understand Babylon and ready to play. 5 and have started to learn the very important differences that separate Humans and aliens. How Does The From here, Games Masters can utilise the information in Chapter 8 to create further scenarios and missions for their Universe of Babylon players, gradually introducing new elements of the station into 5 Differ to the d20 his games, straight from the Babylon 5 television series. OGL edition? Playing Babylon 5 The differences are considerable. Traveller uses six-sided dice The Babylon 5 Roleplaying Game is a lot different from other exclusively for resolving game mechanics and the rules for games you may have played before. Combat is utterly deadly character generation, skill use, combat and starships are very – yet while it is common in other games for one or more players different. However, Traveller is an ideal rules-fit for Babylon 5’s to choose characters who are combat experts, such characters subject matter and the rules themselves are relatively simple and are not central in Babylon 5. In fact, while such characters intuitive to use. are possible (and even desirable in certain campaigns), they will prove to be by no means necessary in most scenarios. The If you are a seasoned Traveller player coming to Babylon characters who wield the true power in Babylon 5 are those 5 for the first time, then you will find the rules follow the who can successfully manipulate others, construct a network standard conventions established in the core rules and High of contacts, possess detailed knowledge in specialised or highly Guard. Character generation, for example, uses the typical technical subjects and are able to communicate with hitherto career structure, tailored to the Babylon 5 universe. Ships are unknown alien races. Being the fastest shot in the galaxy is no designed to High Guard specifications and all of the other guarantee of survival. mechanics, including skills, are those found in the core rules and its supplements (with some tailoring herein to certain It will not be an unusual gaming session if you make 10 times Babylon 5 specifics). as many skill throws as attack rolls. Characters will test their knowledge, hide in dark places and engage in high diplomacy If you are a seasoned Babylon 5 gamer new to Traveller – do with sentients of other races. Other games allow characters to not be alarmed! Traveller is, at its heart, a very straightforward perform actions of truly heroic proportions, diving through rules-set designed for science fiction adventure. If ever a science blazing gun fire to avert some disaster fundamental to their fiction setting was compatible with the Traveller rules, then mission. In Babylon 5, that will not always be possible. If an Babylon 5 is it. agent of an alien government has you cold at gunpoint, just as in real life, you would be ill-advised to make a break for it or The book gives comprehensive guidance and examples for using the draw your own weapon. He will simply shoot you. Traveller rules for Babylon 5 games but you will find it necessary to refer to the core rulebook from time to time. Character generation is, This is not to say heroism does not have a place in Babylon 5 perhaps, the best example of this in action but The Universe – far from it. Because of the higher stakes and greater likelihood of Babylon 5 contains all of the essential components for of being killed, any combat can become truly heroic in nature. creating fully rounded Babylon 5 characters. All the When every shot aimed in your direction can have lethal classic Traveller professions are represented, as are consequences, the choices you make within combat can mark the unique professions found in the you as a hero, be you a diplomat or a soldier. However, heroism TV show. has many different forms and they all Introduction Introduction make an appearance in Babylon 5. Characters can demonstrate There comes a time when moral or political courage when standing up to their enemies, defy cruel leaders with their words or make great personal you look into the mirror sacrifices without ever going near a weapon. Battles can be and you realise that what incredibly exciting in Babylon 5 but most of the drama will take place between characters and their interactions. you see is all that you’ll This is a game where players should always think first and shoot ever be. Then you accept second. Do not be surprised to discover that the most powerful it… or you kill yourself. characters in the game may not be those with the greatest amount of credits or the most advanced weaponry. It will likely Or you stop looking into be the character who can bring the greatest amount of pressure, mirrors. No, nothing can political or otherwise, to bear on his enemies. be changed. - Londo Mollari 3 4 WELCOME TO BABYLON 5 And so it begins. - Kosh Babylon 5 is the name of the five-mile long space station located in neutral space and orbiting Epsilon III. Its precursors, Babylons 1, 2 and 3 were destroyed; Babylon 4, within hours of coming online, simply... disappeared. Built by the Earth Alliance in the 2250s, Babylon 5’s goal is to maintain peace amongst the various alien races by providing a sanctuary where grievances and negotiations can be worked out among duly appointed ambassadors. A council made up of representatives from the five major space-faring civilizations - the Earth Alliance, Minbari Federation, Centauri Republic, Narn Regime and Vorlon Empire - work with the League of Non-Aligned Worlds to keep interstellar relations under control.