New Babylon 5 RPG, but $45!!!

[TechnoViking]

I saw the new Babylon 5 RPG out at my LGS. Even though it is D20 system, it looked fairly well designed. The main problem I see is that it costs $45+tax.

Yes, it is full color with plenty of graphics from the show, but does that justify $45?

Has anyone picked it up, what do you think.

Mike

[Mark Taylor]

I got the old "Babylon Project" game when it came out. It was very disappointing. I wonder if this incarnation is any better?

[Space Cadet]

Like I said in a previous post back when news of the new B5 RPG
first came out, for $45 the bloody thing had better be gold-trimmed.

Space Cadet :cool:

[Stormraven]

Being a big B5 fan, I forked out the money for it. Here's my review:

Layout: It looks lovely, with a lot of very nice graphics and very readable text. The fact that there's a Typo on just about every page is more than a little disappointing, though.

System: They've made a few changes from the d20 system, mostly with regard to HPs, and making combat more dangerous, which work out well, IMO. The section on Telepathy looks good, short of actively playtesting it, and they've got stats on most of the aliens you could run into on B5 - or run.

The system section is actually a small part of the book. Most of the book is general background and a fairly in-depth look at Season 1, including plot hooks.

Score: 5 of 10. (7 of 10 if you're a B5 fan) It's good. If you like B5 and want to RP in that universe, it's very good. But it has too many jarring typos to be great, and they didn't address some issues that I'd like to have seen addressed, such as Telekinesis (including the psychosis) and they didn't even seem to consider the pilot itself, aside from referencing the events.

[tesuji]

my thoughts are that a chunk of the 45 went to licensing.

Me, i have the BP RPG and so i dont see any good reason to pick up another incarnation of a show-based rpg, which almost invariably turn into (if not start as) "neat stuff for show fans" focused rather than "its a great rpg" focused. I might get tempted IF i browse through it and find stuff worthwhile for a scifi rpg, but probably not.

[Sketchpad]

I got the B5 d20 RPG last week ... and, while the book is big and colorful, I have to say I'm a bit disappointed. First thing is the hp system. I dislike the idea of gaining 1-3 hp/level for all your classes. The Soldier gets 3 IIRC, while the worker gets 1? I know they're trying to make it deadlier, but honestly, they could scale up the weapons. Plus, you don't get a Con bonus ... which I also think is flawed.
The Graphic Design of the book is okay (I'd give it a 6 of 10). The use of Stills are nice, though I think I would've liked to see some drawn/painted art in it.

Overall, I'd give it a 5 of 10. I'm a B5 fan and, while I like it better than BP, I think it could've been better :)

[Lupus]

Man. With those changes, sounds like d20 is just the wrong system to use. I'm one of these peopel who really likes D&D, and thinks it's a great system... for a particular genre and style of play.

I can't imagine B5 being properly done with d20. And with the changes mentioned above, it sounds like the game designers couldn't, either.