This is the year 3 sourcebook for the Babylon 5 d20 game. It describes the state of the galaxy in 2260, and related campaign materials. Like the previous year 2 supplement (The Coming of Shadows), and like the core rulebook of the game, it is dominated by an episode guide, describing the 22 episodes of series 3 of the show, offering ways to tie a B5 campaign to the events of the TV series - a valid approach to presenting the B5 universe, but not necessarily one I like.
This is a 144-page full-colour softcover book. There are four chapters. I should note that the editing in this book is really good, with only a few mistakes slipping in (a diagram showing arcs of fire for B4 is missing - this is probably the worst mistake). This improvement is noteworthy primarily because I've complained about the quality of editing in Mongoose products before.
Chapter one provides updated statistics for the major characters, and adds stats for a few new ones. For instance, we now learn that Marcus is 9th level at the start of 2260. Perhaps most suprising is the very slow rate of progress shown by the key characters - apparently Sheridan gained one level in 2259, Ivonova 2 and Garibaldi 1. Still, I get the feeling that level isn't really an important statistic in the B5 game, so this probably doesn't matter.
What is of more concern is that some of the characters have Feats taken from the Minbari Federation Factbook, and not reprinted here. This means that that other book (which I don't have and won't be getting) is necessary for full use of this one, which is a policy I really don't like. Sorry, but I'd prefer sourcebooks of this sort to be self-contained.
Chapter 1 runs to 11 pages.
Chapter 2 is the episode guide. As with previous books in the series, it has 21 subsections, one for each of the episodes in the season (there was a 2-part episode, which has a single section dedicated to it). Each episode is given a detailed synopsis, followed by some exposition. For instance, the Death of Personality is expanded on. Each episode is also presented with three or so plot hooks, showing how PCs can be brought into the action.
The policy that Mongoose have adopted to B5 campaigns, which is to tie them to the periphery of the series, is implemented well here. I happen to believe it would be better to run a game after the series ends, or in the distant past, or otherwise away from the main action, but that's just me. Just because I would have done things differently should not be taken as a criticism of the way things actually have been done. Chapter 2 spans the bulk of the book, at 107 pages.
Chapter 3 gives some rules additions, such as a detailed description of the method by which Death of Personality is implemented, Prestige Classes for the Anla'shok Ranger and the Prophetess, and the use of telepathy for tracking in hyperspace. This is sloid material, and well-designed and presented. Chapter 3 runs to 15 pages.
The last 6 pages, chapter 4, are spent providing some new equipment and ships. There are servicable stats for several types of Shadow vessel (by which I mean that the stats here can be used, but they probably don't give the whole picture, which I imagine is being saved for the "Shadows and Vorlons" sourcebook), and Centauri Blockade Mines, among others.
There is one huge omission in this book, which I expect is detailed in the Minbari Book: the White Star is not detailed here. This single omission is unforgivable, and essentially removes any utility I had for this book (admittedly, only because Mongoose made the Ranger class available in their web enhancements for the game).
This book is very much like the previous year 2 sourcebook, and is about as useful. It's well done as far as it goes, but suffers greatly from the fact that I wouldn't implement the galaxy guide as it is done here. The absence of the White Star is a crippling blow to the utility of the book, and there is, once again, no updated political map of the galaxy, which would have been very useful.
Given the expense of the B5 line, and the limited usefulness of this book, I don't think I can recommend it, except perhaps to dedicated B5 GMs who are also lukewarm fans of the show (if such a beast exists).
No comments:
Post a Comment