MongooseMatt
First Post
Hi guys,
The latest installment for the Babylon 5 RPG, The Zocalo, is now out in your local games stores and book shops.
This book originally started as the 'equipment' book for Babylon 5, something that has been often requested - however, Shannon Kalvar grew the project to be much, much larger than this simple premise. . .
The first chapter looks at the Zocalo itself, making this area on Babylon 5 a living, breathing place in which to set encounters and, perhaps, act as the main meeting area in your campaign. Many of the current stores are fully fleshed out and the GM is given plenty of tools to create his own unique businesses in this place. The process of shopping, negotiation and actually finding what you are looking for is also well documented, together with associated trade unions - players may well end up spending an entire game session just stocking up for their next interstellar trip!
Despite the best efforts of Mr Garibaldi, criminal elements are all too present on Babylon 5 and the traders in the Zocalo will likely have to deal with them. The Shady Dealings chapter looks into this aspect of the Zocalo in more detail. The various gangs of Babylon 5 are detailed, along with their efforts at blackmail, smuggling and bypassing of security.
The largest chapter, by far, in this book is Goods & Services - the area players will certainly be leafing through first. There are a wide range of products now available to those travelling to Babylon 5 and all can be found (perhaps with some difficulty) in the Zocalo. First up are Ancient Artefacts, strange items that have come from the ruins of dozens of worlds, and the GM is given plenty of rules to create his own, very unique items that may become the basis of an entire campaign themselves. There are some examples of artefacts provided as well, such as the Aging Sword, Embedded Eye, Hand of Stars and the infamous Healing Machine.
Much of the equipment that has appeared in the B5 RPG has been concentrated on that produced by the Earth Alliance. However, we now have Racial Templates for equipment, allowing you to modify practically any device into that produced by another race, from the Abbai to the Vree.
Commercial Services are given a lot of attention, allowing players to hire anyone from a broker to passage on the next starship leaving the station. They may even hire someone to play the money markets for them.
Computers come next, aided by a complete computer construction system, allowing you to design any type of computer in the galaxy, from wrist-mounted devices to mainframes, as well as include varfious types of software.
Professional Services tie directly into the Profession skill and players now have access to everything from an Accountant to a Tour Guide.
Professional Equipment gives players plenty of 'toys' to get their teeth into and includes such items as Alien Masks, sedative pills, Centauri Holo-Projectors and Ship Recognition Systems.
Luxury Goods and Services are next and will allow players to either become very thrifty or splash out on the very best Babylon 5 can offer. They will also have access to ancient trinkets, B5 Memorabilia (seriously!), botanicals, clothing, drugs, entertainment, furniture, liquor, Minbari decorative crystals and much more. . .
Station Services cover everything from Business and Trading Licences (suitable for enterprising players) to station quarters and storage.
Finally in this chapter, Shannon has added Weapons and Armour, no doubt a staple for many players. From Comet Grenades and Gaim Blast Rifles to Arm Shields and the Noble's Brooch, there are plenty of items here to equip the largest party setting out on another expedition to some long, lost forgotten world.
The book wraps up with some wise words from Shannon and a complete index.
The Zocalo is available now from all good games stores and book shops, priced at $24.95.
The latest installment for the Babylon 5 RPG, The Zocalo, is now out in your local games stores and book shops.
This book originally started as the 'equipment' book for Babylon 5, something that has been often requested - however, Shannon Kalvar grew the project to be much, much larger than this simple premise. . .
The first chapter looks at the Zocalo itself, making this area on Babylon 5 a living, breathing place in which to set encounters and, perhaps, act as the main meeting area in your campaign. Many of the current stores are fully fleshed out and the GM is given plenty of tools to create his own unique businesses in this place. The process of shopping, negotiation and actually finding what you are looking for is also well documented, together with associated trade unions - players may well end up spending an entire game session just stocking up for their next interstellar trip!
Despite the best efforts of Mr Garibaldi, criminal elements are all too present on Babylon 5 and the traders in the Zocalo will likely have to deal with them. The Shady Dealings chapter looks into this aspect of the Zocalo in more detail. The various gangs of Babylon 5 are detailed, along with their efforts at blackmail, smuggling and bypassing of security.
The largest chapter, by far, in this book is Goods & Services - the area players will certainly be leafing through first. There are a wide range of products now available to those travelling to Babylon 5 and all can be found (perhaps with some difficulty) in the Zocalo. First up are Ancient Artefacts, strange items that have come from the ruins of dozens of worlds, and the GM is given plenty of rules to create his own, very unique items that may become the basis of an entire campaign themselves. There are some examples of artefacts provided as well, such as the Aging Sword, Embedded Eye, Hand of Stars and the infamous Healing Machine.
Much of the equipment that has appeared in the B5 RPG has been concentrated on that produced by the Earth Alliance. However, we now have Racial Templates for equipment, allowing you to modify practically any device into that produced by another race, from the Abbai to the Vree.
Commercial Services are given a lot of attention, allowing players to hire anyone from a broker to passage on the next starship leaving the station. They may even hire someone to play the money markets for them.
Computers come next, aided by a complete computer construction system, allowing you to design any type of computer in the galaxy, from wrist-mounted devices to mainframes, as well as include varfious types of software.
Professional Services tie directly into the Profession skill and players now have access to everything from an Accountant to a Tour Guide.
Professional Equipment gives players plenty of 'toys' to get their teeth into and includes such items as Alien Masks, sedative pills, Centauri Holo-Projectors and Ship Recognition Systems.
Luxury Goods and Services are next and will allow players to either become very thrifty or splash out on the very best Babylon 5 can offer. They will also have access to ancient trinkets, B5 Memorabilia (seriously!), botanicals, clothing, drugs, entertainment, furniture, liquor, Minbari decorative crystals and much more. . .
Station Services cover everything from Business and Trading Licences (suitable for enterprising players) to station quarters and storage.
Finally in this chapter, Shannon has added Weapons and Armour, no doubt a staple for many players. From Comet Grenades and Gaim Blast Rifles to Arm Shields and the Noble's Brooch, there are plenty of items here to equip the largest party setting out on another expedition to some long, lost forgotten world.
The book wraps up with some wise words from Shannon and a complete index.
The Zocalo is available now from all good games stores and book shops, priced at $24.95.
