B5 PBEM

**Aroooo** · Jan 30th, '04, 02:59 PM

Okay folks... I have not gotten any new takers in a few days for my B5 game at HeroCentral (for those just joining, no, its not set up there yet - in case you looked). So, with a head count somewhere around 8 or so, its off to the races.

A few warnings:
1) I've never run a PBEM before, so you'll have to be easy on me for while.
2) I quit smoking last week, so if I come off cranky or worse on anyone, appologies up front

3) I am possibly the worse speller on the planet, so keep that in mind too.

Now, before I set up the game at HC, here's the 64,000 credit question:

What kind of B5 game would you like to play in?

I asked this of some of my f-t-f group who will be joining us, and I got a bunch of "I don't knows" out of them. Some possibilities are Station inhabitants, IPX freelancers, Earthforce personnel, etc.

Another question is when do you want to play? Meaning, when in the B5 timeline? 1st thru 5th season, post 5th season, etc.

Some basic character ground rules:
100 point base plus 100 disads
Only one telepath in the group
Any of the main alien races are okay

Any questions, feel free to ask. But ask here, so everyone gets the benefit of the answers.

Lets have a setting chosen within a few days, so I can start planning and you can start working on characters.

If anyone has run a pbem before, feel free to give advice.

Aroooo

**Drakkenkin** · Jan 30th, '04, 03:16 PM

I have to say that I have never played in PBEM either so it will be a new experience for us both.

All this may depend on the setting, but

*How about a Techno-Mage? I would def. understand if you say no. They seem like a 'Stay hidden' group of people.

*Can any of the PC have ships and will they be purchased with points or money?

*Equipment will be purchased with money correct?

Now that I think about some of this if not all will depend on the setting of the campaign, and may need to be put on hold till we get that nailed down.

till then.
Drakknekin

**Aroooo** · Jan 30th, '04, 03:38 PM

Def. no Techno-Mages as PCs this time. Sorry. Besides, I don't think you could build one for just 200 points

Equipment is money, not points.

Depending on the campaign setting, I'll either give the group a ship to adventure in (ala IPX exploration team) or do with money and perks for the appropriate character type.

Oh, and in case this wasn't obvious from the beginning, I'm using the write-ups from my B5 site as a base (races, prof. packages, etc.). I'll be using a lot of what we do in the game to expand on that work, with appropriate credit given. For example, I may use some PC writeups to build package deals out of.

Aroooo

**Tim** · Jan 30th, '04, 05:02 PM

Hiya,
I've never really played in a PBEM before either so you won't get any complaints from that quarter.

As for what, I've always been partial to Rangers. As for when, post 5th season, to Crusade period.

So start thinking of a character(s) to fit the possible game points.

**Drakkenkin** · Jan 30th, '04, 08:17 PM

Originally posted by Tim
Hiya,
I've never really played in a PBEM before either so you won't get any complaints from that quarter.

As for what, I've always been partial to Rangers. As for when, post 5th season, to Crusade period.

So start thinking of a character(s) to fit the possible game points.

I think I would like it to be post 5th season. Maybe durring the plague time frame.

My main reason for this is that there seem to be SO much going on during BB5 time frame I would be worried that the PC would get over shadowed by the main event that were going on, or that there would be something that the PCs could not do because it would interfere with the BB5 story ark. Besides that any time frame would work for me.

As for rangers... I don't really know much about them other then them being like the holy knights of BB5. You see I missed the mini series they had about them. I'm still kicking my self!

Drakkenkin

**Kalieris** · Jan 31st, '04, 08:21 AM

Just to chime in, I've only briefly played in a PBEM once before, so no complaints here either.

I agree with not wanting to end up doing something contradictory to the existing story arc, but don't have any preferences either way besides that. Y'all will need to be a bit patient with me as I get up to speed on the B5 universe. I stopped actively watching after Delenn grew hair, lol, but have been reading to try and catch up.

You mentioned having a B5 site? Can I get the address?

Happy Saturday,

Kali

**Drakkenkin** · Jan 31st, '04, 08:27 AM

Originally posted by Kalieris
You mentioned having a B5 site? Can I get the address?

Kali

here's the address for Aroooos BB5 site:

http://www.aroooo.com/rpg_stuff/b5/index.php

Drakkenkin

**Aroooo** · Jan 31st, '04, 03:20 PM

I wouldn't worry too much about that. Even if we set the campaign early on, B5 (the show) only saw (showed?) the big picture. Each season covered a year, and each season only had 22 episodes. Thats averages around 2 episodes per month. There's lots to do in between

Aroooo

**Drakkenkin** · Jan 31st, '04, 06:15 PM

Aroooo, do you have any thoughts or ideas on what you would like to run? I know as a GM, some time some setting, or basic story arcs, can be more fun for a GM to run then others. I would think you would have some input into when and what is to be run too.... WELL I know you have the end all say. Your the GM for crying out loud!

I'm just trying to say that... well...I don't really know how to say what I would like to say :/ , but I would like to play in the best story possible and I think that comes form the GM being as totally interested in the telling of the story as the players are in hearing (being) the story.

Drakkenkin

**Aroooo** · Feb 1st, '04, 05:59 AM

Here are some of my thought on what I don't want to run, if that's any help

I don't want to run a Psi Corps game - I like them as the antaagonists better. I don't want to run a heavy EarthForce game (i.e. military sci-fi type). I think that would not gell well in a PBEM. Now a group of EF scouts/explorers may be another thing. I also don't want to replace the B5 command staff with PCs and run through all 5 seasons

Some options I've been toying with are a group of IPX explorers looking for Shadow tech, set during 1st or 2nd season. A group of EF specialists looking for a solution for the Drakh plague, obviously set during Crusade. A distant third would be a Ranger patrol set during the Interstellar Alliance, set after 5th but before the teep war. And finally, PCs as inhabitants of B5 - but don't know what twist to take. That would depend on the characters backgrounds/occupations.

Hope that helps

Aroooo

**Tim** · Feb 1st, '04, 07:13 AM

Originally posted by Aroooo

Some options I've been toying with are a group of IPX explorers looking for Shadow tech, set during 1st or 2nd season.Aroooo

Ohh. Could be fun, and VERY dangerous for the PCs.

Originally posted by Aroooo

A group of EF specialists looking for a solution for the Drakh plague, obviously set during Crusade.Aroooo

This one is my favorite, as a Ranger could still be on the crew. so I like Rangers.

Originally posted by Aroooo

A distant third would be a Ranger patrol set during the Interstellar Alliance, set after 5th but before the teep war. Aroooo

Interesting. A lot you can make up as little is said about this period.

Originally posted by Aroooo

And finally, PCs as inhabitants of B5 - but don't know what twist to take. That would depend on the characters backgrounds/occupations.
Aroooo

Mongoose Games B5 game actually goes thru the episodes and gives plot ideas for tangential matters the GM could explore without interfering with the main plot.

Aroooo [/B][/QUOTE]

**Aroooo** · Feb 1st, '04, 07:25 AM

I can work with one telepath - either alien or a human rogue. If we don't do a Range specific game, I can handle one PC Ranger. More than that and their mystique gets lost

(I've always wanted to do a human Ranger teep, but thats asking too much LOL.)

I love Mongoose's source material. Whatever we do, B5 will be the base of operations.

Aroooo

**Drakkenkin** · Feb 1st, '04, 05:51 PM

Aroooo, I think I like the two you listed first the best. The IPX or EF options. I've been trying to think of what type of setting in the BB5 world I would like to play in but my brain just comes up empty with respect to ideas.

I was thinking exploration would be the number one thing I would like to have in the game. I also think having a bit of 'political intrigue' would be nice. The later seems to fall in suite with all the stories in the BB5 world.

Given the above, I think I would like either an IPX job (looking for old world tech) or working for the EF (looking for the cure) would be the best, but the PC that I have been thinking of would work in almost any setting.

Drakkenkin

**Mastermind** · Feb 2nd, '04, 07:33 AM

I would personally like to play during the Shadow War. I wanted to play an Narn. Can I?

Do you have Hero Designer. I can send you my character or should I post him here?

**Aroooo** · Feb 2nd, '04, 07:43 AM

Originally posted by Mastermind
I would personally like to play during the Shadow War. I wanted to play an Narn. Can I?

Do you have Hero Designer. I can send you my character or should I post him here?

Yes, you can play a Narn. Yes, i have HD, so you can email me your character.

As to Shadow War, do you mean generally around 3rd season timeframe, or were you looking to have a part in the 'big picture' so to speak?

Right now I'm leaning toward a an IPX survey team sort of adventure myself. Has a lot of flexibility (both for characters and plotlines).

Aroooo