Workers on
that are applied to the character. A worker may only ever
Babylon 5
There is a huge range of characters available to players in
the Babylon 5 RPG, from the loyal EarthForce lieutenant to
the desperate Narn resistance fighter. However, when the
Babylon 5 RPG was being designed, we needed a class that
would cover ‘everyone else’. Thus, the worker was born.
This would be a class that could replicate the shop owners,
reporters, HazMat specialists, etc. . . It was intended to be
used primarily as an NPC class but was made available to
players as we knew there would be many people just dying
for a crack at playing characters such as irate dock workers!
It was never meant to be ‘balanced’ in any way with the
more heroic classes such as the diplomat or soldier and we
presumed that any player starting as a worker would soon
multiclass out of it as they found their place in the universe
– it really was intended more as an NPC class!
With all that said, it soon became clear after the game’s
release that players wanted a little ‘more’ for their worker
characters. It seems that there are more than a few of you
who really want to explore the role of dock workers a little
more closely. As always, we are happy to oblige.
The following rules are an experiment and so we would
really like your feedback on them. If everything works out,
we will update these rules with any changes you suggest and
make them ‘official’. We would also welcome your own
ideas for new professions! They are designed primarily
to flesh out workers a little more and give them skills and
abilities that are focused squarely on their roles in society.
This will increase their power level slightly in relation to the
other classes but power gamers are still advised to stay away
– we are not going to make workers the equals of officers or
diplomats and that is the end of it! However, you should find
that workers are a little more enjoyable to play.
It should be noted that not all professions are balanced
between one another. Some jobs in the galaxy are just better
paid, with better training and better conditions. If it is any
consolation, even the greatest of heroes in the Babylon 5
universe may have humble origins. . .
Professions
When a character first selects a level in the worker class,
he may now immediately choose a profession from the list
detailed below (based on whether he is a white or blue collar
worker). The character must expend at least one skill point
on a Profession skill with the same name as the profession
being selected. If a character wishes to be a dock worker, for
example, he must place at least one skill point in Profession
(dock worker).
Each profession has a list of abilities, skills or benefits
select one profession – while it is possible for a worker to
diversify later in life, this can be accurately reflected in his
future choice of skills. The purpose of the profession is to
reflect a worker’s core knowledge and initial training. What
he chooses to do with these skills and talents in the future is
his choice!
Each profession has a number of traits that differentiate it
from others, as explained below.
Worker Class: This shows whether a worker must be white
or blue collar before being eligible for the profession.
Salary Modifier: Some professions are better or worse
paid than others. This is a multiplier made to all Profession
checks made to gain a weekly wage, as detailed on p47 of
the main rulebook.
Skill Bonuses: This entry reflects a profession’s training.
A character within the profession may add a +1 competence
bonus to all checks made with the skills listed here.
Other Bonuses: Some professions have traits that go
beyond salary and skill bonuses, becoming almost like class
features. Any such abilities will be listed here.
Workers on B5
Expert Level: Once a worker reaches 6th level, he gains a
salary increase, as noted on p42 of the main rulebook. At
this point, he may be fairly described as an expert in his field
and automatically gains the ability listed here.
The professions open to workers within the Babylon 5
roleplaying game are detailed below. Games Masters and
players are free to create their own professions or to disallow
some for certain races, as they feel appropriate.
Dock Worker
Crew on warships get the glory and the freighter captains get
the riches but both rely on the humble dock worker to load
supplies, fuel and ammunition onto their spacecraft before
any voyage can begin. The dock worker is generally poorly
paid and abused by higher levels of management though few
ever get the lucky break that allows them to change careers.
Worker Class: Blue collar
Salary Modifier: x0.5
Skill Bonuses: Technical
Other Bonuses: Dock workers have to be incredibly
resilient to move large weights for extended periods of time.
A dock worker gains a +1 bonus on all Constitution-based
checks.
Expert Level: It is common for new and inexperienced
dock workers to be given the worst jobs and so spend hours
in zero-g lifters or even using their own brute force to move
valuable cargoes. However, once he has worked a few years
dockside, he may be lucky enough to be trained to use space-
going cargo loaders, a far easier and more lucrative side of
this profession. The dock worker automatically gains the
Spacecraft Proficiency feat.
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 Enlisted Serviceman
Not everyone in military service is a dashing pilot,
competent commander or hard-bitten soldier. There are
literally thousands (sometimes millions) of workers in
military service that allow combatants to actually fight by
providing all kinds of logistical and technical support. From
maintaining the vehicles that move supplies to the front line
to providing dental facilities for every other serviceman,
soldier and officer in the service, there is a bewildering array
of ‘jobs’ available in the military, all of which are filled by
enlisted servicemen. While these duties may not carry the
glamour of the soldier or the officer, few fail to realise the
immense importance these men and women have to keeping
the military fully functional.

Worker Class: Blue collar or white collar

Salary Modifier: x1.5
Skill Bonuses: Any two related to the worker’s service
duties
Other Bonuses: Every serviceman, no matter what his
intended role, will receive at least preliminary basic training
in weapons and tactics. At 1st level he has a base attack
bonus of +1. Note that his base attack bonus for later levels
does not increase – he only enjoys this bonus at 1st level.
Workers on B5

Expert Level: By the time he reaches expert level, the

serviceman has begun his rise through the enlisted ranks and
has gained a great deal of experience in both his service and
the leadership of those around him. When expert level has
been reached, the serviceman may select one of the following
from the officer’s class features; Branch Specialisation (as
appropriate for the branch the serviceman is in), Rallying
Call, Way of Command.
Firefighter
Whether it is on board a large commercial transport, the
Babylon 5 diplomatic station or in the depths of the poorest
inner city, there stand men and women who perform acts of
heroism each and every day as part of their jobs. Firefighters
and other emergency workers are placed to save the lives
of other citizens in times of tragedy – as well as fires, such
people will also be present during natural disasters, terrorist
attacks and war.
Worker Class: Blue collar
Salary Modifier: x1.0
Skill Bonuses: Survival, Technical
Other Bonuses: Firefighters gain a +1 circumstance bonus
to all Fortitude saves.
Expert Level: Firefighters who survive their duties and
do not leave the service become resilient and capable
individuals who can overcome any odds, a rare trait among
workers. At this level they gain a bonus feat chosen from the
following list; Endurance, Great Fortitude, Nerves of Steel,
Toughness.
Performer
The different races of the galaxy all have very different
approaches to entertainment but their performers all share
some common traits. The ability to play to an audience,
even indirectly, is paramount but the most successful soon
learn how to sway everyone they meet. The path of the
performer is rarely a lucrative one and many struggle for
years. However, those with real talent can soon look forward
to untold riches.
Worker Class: White collar
Salary Modifier: x0.75
Skill Bonuses: Bluff, Diplomacy, Perform
Other Bonuses: The Perform skill is always counted as a
class skill.
Expert Level: By the time he reaches this level of
experience, the performer can command progressively larger
wages for appearances and performances. At this point, the
performer’s salary modifier changes to x4. At 10th level, this
increases to x10.
Teacher
Every civilised society relies on the passing of information
to the ignorant, instructing the populace to fulfil useful roles
among their people. Often undervalued in the Earth Alliance,
the Minbari have elevated the greatest of their teachers to
almost sacred levels where they are greatly respected.
Worker Class: White collar
Salary Modifier: x1.0
Skill Bonuses: Knowledge (any three)

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Other Bonuses: None
Expert Level: The teacher may instruct any other
character in skills he possesses, even those that are
not part of a teacher’s normal courses. He may give
another character skill ranks in a skill the teacher has
at least 5 ranks in. This takes one month of solid
training and costs the learning character 250 XP
(500 XP if it is a cross class skill for him), at the end
of which one rank in the skill is granted. This may
be done multiple times at a cost of one month and
250/500 XP per rank – the maximum number of ranks
that may be possessed by the student (including both
those ranks taught and those already possessed) equal
the number of ranks possessed by the teacher. The
student may never gain more ranks in this way than
he is normally permitted for both class and cross class
skills.
Technician
The heroes of the galaxy fight in wars, make great scientific
discoveries and perform acts in incalculable charity. But
someone has to make sure ships continue to sail through
space, computers function and waste disposal systems
carry on disposing waste. This is the role of the humble
technician, workers who perform their maintenance tasks all
but invisibly to everyone else around them.
Worker Class: Blue collar or white collar
Salary Modifier: x1.5
Skill Bonuses: Knowledge (any one technically or
scientifically based), Technical
Other Bonuses: The technician’s training allows him
to modify items, given time and resources. By making a
Technical check (DC 20), the technician can perform one
of the following modifications to a piece of equipment, as
appropriate; Grant a +2 bonus to damage rolls; Increase
range increment by 20 ft.; Reduce weight by 1 lb. (minimum
of 1 lb.); Increase ammunition capacity by 50%; Increase
Damage Reduction by +1; Increase Speed by 25%; Increase
acceleration and deceleration by 1. This may only be done
on items worth 100,000 cr. or less and takes 1 day per 2,500
cr. of the original item. This costs 10% of the original item’s
value. Only one modification may be made to each item.
Expert Level: By this time, the technician has mastered
his craft and has learnt several related disciplines allowing
him to apply his knowledge to a variety of situations. When
performing modifications to equipment and vehicles, the
technician no longer has a limit on the original value of the
item, nor on how many modifications may be performed
on it. However, each type of modification (for example,
an increase in Damage Reduction) may only be performed
once.
Thug
Not every worker in the galaxy is involved in what may be
called ‘gainful employment’. There will always be those
who, lacking any other skill or talent, find it easier to prey
on the weak and take orders from the strong. These are
the people who form criminal gangs, extortion outfits and
Workers on B5
smuggling rings throughout the galaxy, avoiding the long
arm of the law, and taking advantage of those who cannot
fight back.
Worker Class: Blue collar
Salary Modifier: x1.0
Skill Bonuses: Intimidate
Other Bonuses: The Intimidate skill is always counted as a
class skill. In addition, the thug also gains a +1 competence
bonus to all attack rolls made in melee combat.
Expert Level: When a thug reaches expert level, he will
start to carry some weight in the criminal underworld. He
gains three 1st level workers with the thug profession that
remain relatively loyal to him. They gain a new level (which
must be in the worker class) with every other new level the
thug himself attains. They will generally be loyal to the thug
and will obey most orders that are not obviously suicidal.
If asked to perform a task that is especially dangerous,
they will refuse and leave they thug’s ‘employment’ at the
first opportunity. If the thug loses one of his underlings,
either through death or desertion, he will only have them
replaced when he reaches a new level. The thug must equip
his workers but need not pay them a regular salary, as it is
assumed that they are paid through credits gained via illicit
means – however, he should be aware that if they are well
rewarded for their actions, they may well begin to change
their views on what constitutes ‘suicidal’ or ‘especially
dangerous’ actions.