The Beta Quadrant Sourcebook, Revisited
By Jim Johnson, Project Manager
Art by Wayne Miller
A tetryon surge has somehow returned my old cadet datapad to me, mostly intact save for a cracked screen and some lingering temporal radiation (I’m sure it’s fine). In reviewing the notes contained in the battered casing, I’m reminded of one of the first supplements produced for Star Trek Adventures, the Beta Quadrant Sourcebook, released in 2018.
Cover art by: Tobias Richter
If you missed picking up The Beta Quadrant Sourcebook, let’s briefly review its contents. After a short briefing from Narendra Station, Chapter 2 provides an overview of the United Federation of Planets along with a selection of sidebars related to various events from across the Star Trek timeline. That’s followed up by a discussion of some key Federation worlds, including Andoria, Benzar, Earth, and Vulcan. Next, the Klingon Empire and the Romulan Star Empire are detailed along with select worlds from each empire. Information on the Orion Syndicate and the (pre-Star Trek: Strange New Worlds) Gorn Hegemony follows thereafter.
Chapter 3 introduces 14 new species to first edition gameplay, including Ardanan, Benzite, Bolian, Deltan, Efrosian, Klingon, Rigellian Chelon, Rigellian Jelna, Risian, Xindi-Arboreal, Xindi-Primate, Xindi-Reptilian, Xindi-Insectoid, and Zakdorn. Most of these species were updated for second edition in the new Species Sourcebook, while the remainder were updated as part of this conversion process.
Chapter 4 provides a selection of NPC statistics blocks for starships from a variety of spacefaring civilizations, including Klingon, Romulan, Orion, Gorn, and civilian vessels. Chapter 5 provides a wealth of character NPC stat blocks for several regions, including the Romulan Neutral Zone, the Briar Patch, and the Klingon border. Brief advice on playing Orion and Gorn player characters is also provided.
The book closes with lore and insights into the Shackleton Expanse, along with plot components usable with missions and campaigns set in the Expanse (this chapter was a companion piece to the free Living Campaign in progress at the time, and served as a preview of what was to come in the Shackleton Expanse Campaign Guide).
Now, with the release of the game’s second edition, we’re taking the opportunity to update the Star Trek Adventures first edition material we weren’t able to include in the second edition core rulebook or supplements. Nathan Dowdell, the 2d20 Systems Developer, revised the game components of this sourcebook that did not make it into a second edition supplement and compiled that information into a document. We now provide that document, for free!
I hope this updated information proves useful to you and your crew and helps enhance your Star Trek Adventures missions and campaigns. What material from The Beta Quadrant Sourcebook do you plan to use in your games? What ideas or suggestions do you have for your fellow players and gamemasters? Share your insights with your fellow fans at the official Modiphius Discord!
And if you haven’t bought the book yet, the digital edition remains available for sale. The second edition revision document will be added to the download package for the book as well as the Star Trek Adventures download page. If you’ve bought it, you should receive the free download right away. If not, reach out to support@modiphius.com and they will help you out.
I’m reminded of one of the first supplements produced for…hang on, I’ll get back to you later. The tang of tetryons is in the air and the me from an hour ago just staggered into my office…
The Beta Quadrant Sourcebook PDF:
Thanks for reading this article, and thank you for your interest and support of Star Trek Adventures! Keep frequencies open for news about other upcoming Star Trek Adventures product releases. Live long and prosper!
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