Author Topic: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons  (Read 27477 times)

Offline Psysama

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Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« on: February 11, 2015, 02:39:07 PM »
I have the Babylon 5 rulebook Darkness and Light The Vorlon & Shadow Fact Book.  In it are stats for the Vorlons and Shadows (with racial classes), but the book specifically states:
Quote
These demigods are obviously not suitable as Player Characters in most campaigns; indeed, the Vorlons normally show
up as plot devices or even literal deus ex machinas in most games. However, as episodes like Z’ha’dum or Falling Towards Apotheosis showed, it is possible for the Younger Races to challenge their elders. Insanely dangerous, incredibly difficult and infinitely likely to end with the Younger Races being turned into puddles of protoplasm, but possible nonetheless.
And for the Shadows:
Quote
Like the Vorlons, the Shadows are veritable demigods, with powers and abilities far beyond those of the Younger Races. The Shadows are much more active than the Vorlons and are far more likely to get into direct conflicts with Player Characters. In such cases, the Player Characters are in terrible danger.
If I post the stats here, would anyone be interested in the concept of a player friendly racial class that builds into the core racial class (even if it makes them epic)?
« Last Edit: February 11, 2015, 05:11:39 PM by Psysama »
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Offline Psysama

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2015, 10:37:31 PM »
Vorlon Racial Traits

Strength: +10
Dexterity: +10  Note that while in an encounter suit the Vorlons do not receive this bonus
Constitution: +10
Intelligence: +10
Wisdom: +2

Skills
Interaction with Younger Races: -4 to all social skills
Interaction with Primitive Technology: Vorlons suffer a –10 penalty to Technical, Computer Use and several Knowledge skills when trying to use the technology of the Younger Races.
Appraise: The Vorlons use Appraise on a planetary or social scale, not a personal one. (trinkets mean nothing to them)
Balance: "Outside an encounter suit, Vorlons do not need to make Balance checks under any circumstances; they can fly perfectly and are not affected by shifts in gravity. When confined by a suit, Vorlons can be forced to make Balance checks but the suit cannot be knocked over in normal circumstances thanks to its internal gravity generators."
Bluff: "Vorlons rarely need to bluff. Bluff does fall under the rules about interaction with Younger Races but as so few races understand the Vorlons when they speak openly, a Vorlon lying is a contradiction in terms." A.K.A.: Vorlons don't bluff.
Computer Use: "A Vorlon using primitive computers suffers a –10 penalty to its Computer Use check. Advanced Vorlon computers work normally with this skill."
Diplomacy: "Diplomacy falls under the normal rules for interacting with Younger Races. Admittedly, not getting one’s case across in the most eloquent fashion is less of a problem when one has the massive backing of the Vorlon Empire. Kosh Naranek was rarely an eloquent speaker on the Babylon 5 Advisory Council but he was always listened to and obeyed." A.K.A.: Vorlons are powerful.  People know this so they usually listen to them.
Disguise: "Vorlons cannot use the Disguise skill. Theoretically, a custom encounter suit could be designed to look like a Human, but this is not a use of Disguise. One Vorlon cannot pretend to look like another, though identical encounter suits could feasibly be made (again, not a use of Disguise)."
Drive: "Vorlons do not have any surface vehicles that require the Drive skill."
Gather Information: "Perhaps surprisingly, Gather Information does not fall under the normal rules for interacting with Younger Races. Vorlons have something of a knack for ferreting out secrets and thanks to their telepathy and ability to read psycho-historical patterns and trends, they can gather information swiftly and easily." A.K.A.: "Your secrets are mine!"
Intimidate: "This ability is not affected by the normal rules for interacting with the Younger Races; Vorlons are quite adept at getting their displeasure across." A.K.A.:Vorlons are naturally intimidating.
Knowledge: "This is a vast difference between the Vorlons’ sphere of knowledge and that of the Younger Races. The great unanswered questions of the Younger Races are trivialities to the Vorlons. The Vorlons have been everywhere; they know almost anything."
Medical: "Vorlons can be treated with conventional medicine to a degree, although the best a doctor can hope to achieve is keeping the Vorlon’s core stable while its internal mechanisms repair it."
Perform: ]"The thought of a Vorlon having this skill is just strange."
Profession: "There are no Vorlon professions."
Sense Motive: "Sense Motive falls under the rules for interacting with the Younger Races."
Sleight of Hand: "This skill works normally for Vorlons, even those in encounter suits."
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Offline bhu

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2015, 03:59:53 AM »
Lemme see if i can dig up some info on them

Offline bhu

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2015, 02:26:53 AM »
Stop me of any of this is wrong:

They appear to be not quite incorporeal energy beings

They appear to be immune to inhaled poisons (except Florazine) and environmental exposure, including vaccuum

They are telepathic and can use this to appear as divine beings, though it wears them out quickly if looked on by too many races at once

Telepathically linked with possible racial hive mind

Possibly immortal, looks vaguely cephalopod

Capable of invisibility, mind control, possession and extremely difficult to kill via normal weapons

Touch attack

Apparently Lawful Neutral?

Telekinetic flight



Offline Psysama

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2015, 02:31:19 AM »
Yeah, but two things.
One:  there is no "possibly."  They ARE immortal.
Two:  Most of that stuff is covered by the racial class.
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Offline Psysama

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2015, 02:38:46 AM »
Now that you put it that way...ummm how high of a level adjust would it be to play this race?  20?
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Offline bhu

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2015, 03:07:20 AM »
Does the book have a cr  for them?

Offline Psysama

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2015, 10:54:18 PM »
No it does not.  There are some Signs and Portents variant rules that adjust the hit points to D&D standards.  Using that:

Kosh Naranek
15th Level Vorlon
Hit Points: 169
Initiative: +6 (+6 Dex)
Speed: 30 ft.
AC: 21 (+11 Reflex)
Attacks: +20 melee or +21 ranged
Special Qualities: Aspect (Kosh) x3, Flight, Phasing,
Telepathy, 50 Technology Points
Saves: Fort +14, Ref +11, Will +15
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 22, Con 20, Int 24, Wis 22, Cha 16
(22 when dealing with Younger Races)
Skills: Appraise +25, Bluff +12, Computer Use +25,
Concentration +23, Diplomacy +12, Gather Information
+24, Intimidate +12, Knowledge (alien life)+16, Knowledge
(history) +16, Knowledge (Sector: Babylon 5) +16, Knowledge
(law) +16, Knowledge (star systems) +25, Medical +15, Pilot
+15, Search +16, Sense Motive +27, Technical (organic) +25
and Telepathy +21.
Feats: Race Tutor (Minbari), Race Tutor (Human), Mental
Fortress, Skill Focus (Gather Information), Skill Focus (Sense
Motive)
Telepathy: Kosh has the following telepathic abilities: Angel
Guise, Communication, Surface Scan, Deep Scan, Mind
Shield, Mind Mirror, Pain, Sense Telepathy, Warning, Danger
Sense, Locate Mind, Second Sight, Soul Riding, Dreamwalk,
Jamming, Nerve Stimulation, False Memory Implantation,
Reality Fabrication. He functions as a P15.
Encounter Suit: Kosh’s encounter suit gives him the following abilities:
DR 15/–
Force Field (level 1; 1 TP to activate, +5 Disturbance)
Translator (allows Vorlon to speak any known language)
Cloak (level 2; 2 TP to activate; +10 to the DC to detect the Vorlon)
Blast (level 2; 4 TP to activate; 2d10+25 damage)

I don't know how much that helps (or if it helps at all)...
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Offline bhu

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #8 on: February 25, 2015, 01:55:54 AM »
Well it's definitely epic level for a d20 modern campaign

Offline bhu

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #9 on: March 04, 2015, 03:02:31 AM »
VORLON

Class Skills
 The Vorlon's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Concentration (Con), Decipher Script (Int). Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (any)(Int), Psicraft (Int). Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Language, and Use Psionic Device (Cha).
Skills Per Day at 1st Level : (6 + int)x4
Skills Per Day at Each Additional Level : 6 + int

Hit Dice: d6

Code: [Select]
[b]   BAB  Fort    Ref    Will  Abilities[/b]
1. +1    +2     +0     +2    Vorlon Body, 1st Aspect, Psionics
2. +2    +3     +0     +3    Mature Vorlon Body
3. +3    +3     +1     +3    +1 Int, Mystic Defenses
4. +4    +4     +1     +4    +1 Dex, Blindsight 60 ft.
5. +5    +4     +1     +4    More tentacles!
6. +6    +5     +2     +5   +1 Cha, 2nd Aspect
7. +7    +5     +2     +5    +1 Dex, Improved Flight
8. +8    +6     +2     +6    +1 Int, Holy Aspect
9. +9    +6     +3     +6    +1 Dex, +1 Cha
10.+10   +7     +3     +7    +1 Cha, More tentacles!
11.+11   +7     +3     +7    +1 Int,
12.+12   +8     +4     +8    3rd Aspect
13.+13   +8     +4     +8    +1 Dex, +1 Cha
14.+14   +9     +4     +9    Phasing
15.+15   +9     +5     +9    +1 Dex, +1 Int
16.+16   +10    +5     +10   Phasing
17.+17   +10    +5     +10    +1 Dex, +1 Cha, Improved Flight
18.+18   +11    +6     +11    Phasing
19.+19   +11    +6     +11    +1 Dex, +1 Int
20.+20   +12    +6     +12    +1 Dex, +1 Int, +1 Cha

Weapon Proficiencies: A Vorlon is proficient with Simple Weapons and the Three Edged Sword.  They are also proficient with all Armor and Shields except the Tower Shield.

Vorlon Body: The Vorlon loses all other racial bonus and gains outsider traits (basically darkvision 60 foot) with the Native Subtype. It is a medium sized outsider with base flight speed of 30 foot and average Maneuverability.  It gains a Deflection Bonus to AC equal to it's Charisma Modifier, and a Natural tentacle attack doing 1d4 plus Str damage.  Vorlons do not age naturally, and are immune to aging effects.

Aspect: Beginning at 1st Level the Vorlon may choose one Aspect, and it gains an additional Aspect at Levels 6 and 12.  It may choose an Aspect more than once.  Vorl (+4 Wis), Kosh (+2 Wis, +2 Cha), Kesh (+2 Racial Bonus to all Saving throws), Morh (+4 Int), Fiac (Bonus Metapsionic Feat), Uler (+2 Int, +2 Cha), Kail (If you multiclass into a Prc capable of Casting Divine Magic, your Vorlon and Class Levels stack for purpose of determining Caster Level.  If you take this multiple times you gain a Metamagic Feat as a Bonus Feat each time after the first.), Olos (+4 Cha).

Psionics: The Vorlon manifests spells as if it was a Psion of the same level, except that it only knows two powers per Vorlon level and can only choose from the Psion list and the Telepathy Discipline. If the Vorlon multiclasses into Psion or a prc that advances psionic manifestation, it's Vorlon Levels stack with it's new class levels for purposes of determining manifester level, power points, etc.
 
Mature Vorlon Body (Ex): At 2nd Level the Vorlon becomes immune to all Poisons (except Fluoxetine), and gains Energy Resistance equal to it's Charisma Modifier against Electricity, Fire, and Cold.

Mystic Defenses (Ex): At 3rd Level the Vorlon gains DR 10/Magic and it's Natural attacks are Magic for purposes of overcoming DR.

More tentacles!  At fifth Level the V0rlon gets 3 Tentacle attacks with a Full Attack, and at 10th Level this goes up to 6 attacks.

Holy Aspect (Ps): At will the Vorlon may use False Sensory Input as a Psilike Ability with a few changes.  They are limited to one illusion of choice: other races perceive them as their equivalent of gods of angels, or some other religious entity.  t may be used against multiple opponents (all of whom must be within 15 ft. of each other), but this is tiring.  Each round the power is maintained against multiple entities, the Vorlon must make a Fortitude Save (DC is 10 plus number of targets) or be Fatigued.  If he fails the Save when already Fatigued, he is Exhausted instead.

Phasing (Ps): At Level 14 the Vorlon gets Psionic Ethereal Jaunt as a Psilike Ability 1/Day.  It gains an additional daily use at levels 16 and 18.

Improved Flight: At Level 7 the Vorlon's Flight Speed increases to 40 ft., and Maneuverability increases to Good.  At Level 17 the Vorlon's Flight Speed increases to 50 ft., and Maneuverability increases to Perfect.
« Last Edit: March 27, 2015, 02:53:02 AM by bhu »

Offline bhu

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #10 on: March 04, 2015, 03:03:05 AM »
your thoughts on skills and proficiencies?

Offline Psysama

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #11 on: March 04, 2015, 11:24:55 PM »
The skills are perfect, I like it!
As for proficiencies:
club, mace, heavy crossbow, light crossbow, quarter staff, and 3-edged sword (Vorlon Racial weapon)

Reasoning behind Vorlon Racial weapon:
"The Vorlons have a saying: understanding is a three-edged sword. Your side, their side, and the truth."

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #12 on: March 05, 2015, 03:32:42 AM »
armor?

Offline Psysama

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #13 on: March 05, 2015, 05:48:54 AM »
Vorlons don't seem the type to dodge hits, and seeing as psi-casting isn't effected by armor, I'm going to have to say Heavy Armor.
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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #14 on: March 05, 2015, 05:42:16 PM »
shields?

Offline Psysama

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #15 on: March 05, 2015, 09:29:28 PM »
Probably no for tower shields, but for any other shield yes.
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Offline bhu

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #16 on: March 07, 2015, 02:56:51 AM »
Okay lemme go through their psychic powers and see if theres any 3.5 psionics that have comparable effcts.
« Last Edit: March 07, 2015, 02:58:36 AM by bhu »

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #17 on: March 08, 2015, 04:46:09 AM »
Would it be fair to say they're similar to a psion with access to the Telepathy discipline?

Offline Psysama

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #18 on: March 08, 2015, 04:26:55 PM »
Yes, precisely  :D
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Offline bhu

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Re: Babylon 5: Shadows and Vorlons
« Reply #19 on: March 10, 2015, 03:15:30 AM »
Okay so in some manner i need to shoehorn in:

Ability Score Bonuses
Aspects
Immortality
Fllight
Phasing
Psionics
Massive Racial Skill Penalties
Defenses

Have I missed anything?