[HELP] Paranoia

[Dean Fellithor]

my Friend Petey plans to Host a game of Paranoia, I however know nothing about it.

could you please give me a quick Briefing of what it's about?

~Dean

[wibblefish]

Try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoia_(role-playing_game)

Broadly though:
Your character is part of a team of special operatives
You'll likely be given a job that involves killing traitors
Odds are very good some members of your own team will be trying to kill you, so it's usually best to get them first...

It can be great fun
Very much needs to be played (and reffed) with a sense of humour.

[Brother_Franklin]

1) Paranoia is the best RPG ever. Please, enjoy it a lot. (Even more so with the new shiny XP rules.

That's all you really need to know. However, you probably want more.

The basics are you are living underground in a society where Friend Computer rules everything. You've recently been promoted from InfraRed to Red status and you are now a part-time trouble-shooter (you find trouble and you shoot it.) Your prime directive is to find and kill traitors, that is mutants and secret socitey memeber. Oh, by the way your a mutant and secret society member.

Tips for beginers
The game rules are treasonus don't try to know them.
The mission is not important, consentrate on personal advancment through color rank, secret society rank, and blackmail.
You more or less suck at everything, so don't try so much to win, but to have fun.

Advanced Tips
Learn all the rules, but never let on that you have. Don't argue if the GM deviates from the rules.
Finding a way to complete the mission can be grand for your personal advancement.
Pretend like your there to have fun, then the GM will be distracted while you figure out how to win- ie escape the complex, destroy the computer, rise to Blue clearance or higher where you are *safe*.

Any questions?

[Winterwind]

You also possess several backup clone copies, whom you start playing when your initial character dies.

Note I wrote "when" instead of "if".

The mere purpose of the colour codes (=security clearance levels) is too be always too low in your case. No matter how high your clearance, it will not be sufficient.

Be happy. Not being happy is an offense punishable by death. Are you happy, citizen?

[Badgerish]

the first principle of Paranoia is that you are a troubleshooter (i.e. you find trouble and shoot at it).

a) your job is to find commie mutant traitors and shoot them!

b) when you create your character, you will choose or be assigned a mutant power and a secret society membership

i can't see any problems with a) + b), can you?

meta-gaming is teason.
the punishment for treason is death. :xykon:

knowing what a tree is, is meta-gaming.

thus, the response to seeing a tree in paranoia is "what is that giant green and brown thing!"*

first tip: remember the colour sequence of the rainbow
middle tip: don't sweat death. it's often better than the alternative
PnP tip: if playing face-to-face, name tags really work well
final tip: de-briefings are always easier when there is only one person left to tell the story :smallcool:

* (often followed by "and why is it rolling this way?")

[Nerd-o-rama]

my Friend Petey plans to Host a game of Paranoia, I however know nothing about it.

could you please give me a quick Briefing of what it's about?

~Dean
I'm afraid you're not cleared for that, Citizen.

Citizens Wibblefish, Brother_Franklin, Winterwind, and Badge-R-ISH, please report to the nearest Execution Terminal for providing an Infrared with data beyond his security clearance. Your next clones will also be asked to report for execution for having names almost impossible to cast into standard form. Troubleshooter Nerd-O-RMA will also be executed for his failure to parse them.

Love,
~The Computer

[Brother_Franklin]

I'm afraid you're not cleared for that, Citizen.

Citizens Wibblefish, Brother_Franklin, Winterwind, and Badge-R-ISH, please report to the nearest Execution Terminal for providing an Infrared with data beyond his security clearance. Your next clones will also be asked to report for execution for having names almost impossible to cast into standard form. Troubleshooter Nerd-O-RMA will also be executed for his failure to parse them.

Love,
~The Computer

I thank you friend computer for your continued vigilance. And before I cheerfully report to execution, I would like to report that citizen Dean-FTR is obviously a mutant traitor using some kind of mind control to illicit information from higher ranked citizens. Thanks agian for your nobel leadership, and the 31 perfect flavors.

[Kurald Galain]

Citizen Gala-I-NNN-3 speaking.

Thank you for applying for voluntary mandatory bonus duties. The Computer is sure you will be happy in your new job as a troubleshooter. Failure to be happy is treason, which is punishable by summary execution.

Remember: Stay alert. Trust no one. Keep your laser handy.

A typical mission will involve investigating and terminating commie activity, mutant activity, secret society activity, secret mutant commie society activity, and/or <classified> activity. Rumors that the typical mission goals are obtuse, self-contradictory, or physically impossible are treasonous. Succesful completion of a mission will result in bonus credits and/or promotion. Failure to complete a mission is treason.

For a typical mission you will be equipped with the latest gizmos created by our Research and Development department, the manuals of which are not available on your security clearance. Your resonsibility on the mission is to (1) test the equipment, (2) return it unharmed, and (3) <classified>. This includes experimental grenades. Failure to test and return equipment is treason.

It is possible that you will find a commie, mutant, or secret society member in your troubleshooter team, who may be given treasonous rumors, treasonous equipment, secret missions that conflict with the rest of the team and/or The Computer's mission, and/or <classified>. Should you find such a traitor, you are expected to terminate him. Should you be such a traitor yourself, you are expected to report to the nearest execution booth. Failure to do is treason.

The above information is available at ORANGE clearance and above. Should you be of RED or lower clearance, such as most troubleshooters, having read the above constitutes treason, which is punishable by summary execution.

Praise The Computer! The Computer is your Friend!

[Duke of URL]

You also possess several backup clone copies, whom you start playing when your initial character dies.

Note I wrote "when" instead of "if".

The mere purpose of the colour codes (=security clearance levels) is too be always too low in your case. No matter how high your clearance, it will not be sufficient.

Be happy. Not being happy is an offense punishable by death. Are you happy, citizen?

With six clones per player (the original and five backups) a Paranoia GM should be striving for a mortality rate of, oh, say 500% or so in an adventure. Somebody should survive to the post-mission briefing, after all.

[Winterwind]

Somebody should survive to the post-mission briefing, after all....to be executed, I presume? :smallwink:
At any rate, do not use a formulation like "and unfortunately my fellow troubleshooters died". That might imply you are unhappy. And failing to be happy is treason.
And even more importantly, be wary when you complain to the Computer that somebody is in any way harmful to the society. You might get that individual to get executed that way. But first, you'll be accused of being unhappy. Well, obviously, since you are complaining. And failing to be happy is trason.

Be alert.

[DrummingDM]

I'm afraid you're not cleared for that, Citizen.

Citizens Wibblefish, Brother_Franklin, Winterwind, and Badge-R-ISH, please report to the nearest Execution Terminal for providing an Infrared with data beyond his security clearance. Your next clones will also be asked to report for execution for having names almost impossible to cast into standard form. Troubleshooter Nerd-O-RMA will also be executed for his failure to parse them.

Love,
~The ComputerOh, Friend Computer, Troubleshooter Joshua-R-4, is delighted to see your wisdom imparted in such a diplomatic and just manner. Truly, it is a delight to serve the Computer.

[Duke of URL]

...to be executed, I presume? :smallwink:

Not just that. :smallbiggrin:

Debriefing is one of the most fun parts of the game -- ideally, you'd have a few survivors, to allow for a nice combination of blaming the dead guy(s) and intra-party backstabbing. Over-zealous or arbitrary executions should be used sparingly, just enough to make the players jittery, but not so much that they think you're picking on them.

Likewise, an occasional ignoring or even rewarding of blatant treason will make the players' heads spin.

[Winterwind]

I know, I was just kidding. Trouble-shooters are not always executed.

Yeah. Not always. :smallcool:


...of course, the players' minds are a different matter entirely. :smallbiggrin:

[earlblue]

Sounds like an easy game...

Just shoot anything that moves... and doesn't... and toss in a few grenades/fireballs/exploding thingies for good measure.

I had players who did that quite often.

But if you really want to freak people out, pump up your listen and spot skills (or whatever is the equavalent) and everytime somebody do or say anything, do a skill check. EYE-ball them... listen to them...:smallsmile:

OBeQuiet UWannaBe

If your character knows the name of the game, surely s/he must be a meta-gamer...

[Winterwind]

Just shoot anything that moves... and doesn't... and toss in a few grenades/fireballs/exploding thingies for good measure.In a game where your equipment tends to be highly experimental stuff, with effects like "range 200 metres, destroyes everything in a range of 250 metres", that's not exactly a wise move. :smallwink:

[daggaz]

OH MY GOD!!!

Where do I get a copy of this game?!!! *DROOL*

[Duke of URL]

OH MY GOD!!!

Where do I get a copy of this game?!!! *DROOL*

There's an official "Paranoia XP (http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/series.php?qsSeries=19)" out there to buy (Mongoose Publishing) and an unofficial d20 conversion (http://www.geocities.com/miksector/cpu.html) floating around out there too.

[Kurald Galain]

Just shoot anything that moves... and doesn't... and toss in a few grenades/fireballs/exploding thingies for good measure.
Nope. You will be executed for damaging and destroying valuable Computer material.


If your character knows the name of the game, surely s/he must be a meta-gamer...
Yep. Besides, if you say you're paranoid, you probably aren't happy, now are you?!


"range 200 metres, destroyes everything in a range of 250 metres", that's not exactly a wise move. :smallwink:
Yep. Tacnuke grenade, anyone?

[Golthur]

...to be executed, I presume? :smallwink:
Debriefings always go easier when you're the sole survivor. That way, you can blame the appropriate (and deceased) Commie mutant traitors for any "malfeasance", and play up your own heroism.


Be alert.
Trust no one.
Keep your laser handy.

[Wolf_Shade]

Now I want to play this, sounds like a lot of fun.

[Duke of URL]

Debriefings always go easier when you're the sole survivor. That way, you can blame the appropriate (and deceased) Commie mutant traitors for any "malfeasance", and play up your own heroism.

Then you'll have to explain 1) what the multicorder captured, or 2) why YOU allowed the multicorder to be lost or damaged.

Also, your implications that the team The Computer put together was filled with Commie Mutant Traitors has been noted, citizen. Along with the rather suspicious circumstance of you being the only survivor...

[BRC]

The bootlicking skill is your best friend
nothing is more dangerous then experimental equipment
Happiness is mandatory, so be sure to smile!

[Ralfarius]

The above information is available at ORANGE clearance and above. Should you be of RED or lower clearance, such as most troubleshooters, having read the above constitutes treason, which is punishable by summary execution.
*Ralf-R-IUS swears as a flamethrower pops up from the top of the briefing console, incinerating him in one blast.*

[puppyavenger]

sgih I love that game.

[Machete]

First time I've heard of it. Did some reading.

I am impressed at the potentia lof this game for many uses.
Yesss.

[Mike_Lemmer]

I've seen the development process for Paranoia scenarios:

1. Research a book on Socialist Experiments Gone Horribly Wrong.
2. Laugh ass off.
3. Add killer robots/mutants/wildlife liberally.
4. Create Mandatory Malfunction Effects for experimental equipment.
5. Give each PC a reason to kill/frame everyone else.
6. Cackle. "Let's see them get out of this!"

For example, "Stealth Train" and "Hunger", both by Dan Curtis Johnson, are based off actual events in communist Russia & China. Only one of them involved millions of deaths before being converted into Paranoia adventures.

The best Paranoia mission scene of all time, though? "Me and My Warbot Mark IV: Something Falls Off." An epic game of blamedodging, scapegoating, and subterfuge repair at its finest. And without a single enemy to waste!

(Those come in the next scene: "Commie Saboteurs on Skateboards")

[BRC]

I actuall GM a paranoia group, my next mission will involve the group(none of whom read the forum) operating an experimental tank in a live-ammo simulation, oh yes, and since the route they are following for the test ends near a PLC warehouse that the R&D lab needs to ship some explosives to, would the troubleshooters mind if they just strapped the explosives onto the back of the experimental tank? good, okay off you go!

[TO_Incognito]

I've played in exactly one game of Paranoia; it actually went quite well. Geoffrey-R-USH might even have survived until debriefing if he hadn't used Matter Eater to consume the experimental flamethrower he'd been issued, and then lied about it. I actually rolled a natural 19 on that chutzpah check, too...

[earlblue]

In a game where your equipment tends to be highly experimental stuff, with effects like "range 200 metres, destroyes everything in a range of 250 metres", that's not exactly a wise move. :smallwink:

Duh!? :smallbiggrin: PARANOIA

Since when is a paranoid person wise?:smalleek:

OBeQuiet UWannaBe

By the way... how come you know about the :smalltongue: 'highly experimental stuff':smalltongue: ? You were not shot at yet? Let me rectify that.

[Dean Fellithor]

1. Research a book on Socialist Experiments Gone Horribly Wrong.
2. Laugh ass off.
3. Add killer robots/mutants/wildlife liberally.
4. Create Mandatory Malfunction Effects for experimental equipment.
5. Give each PC a reason to kill/frame everyone else.
6. Cackle. "Let's see them get out of this!"
7. ???
8. Profit! $$$

You forgot something.

[Tekraen]

Paranoia is actually a very easy game to play.

First, you [Deleted due to security reasons]

And that's about all! Friend Computer wants you to be happy.

Are you happy, Citizen?

[NamelessArchon]

Paranoia is a liberal mix of Orwell, Huxley and your favorite FPS video game.

Imagine a utopia where the needs of every citizen are provided for. Where everyone is happy, clean and well-cared for at every moment of their lives, which are spent in glorious, well-rewarded service to the good of the community and the race of man. Nice, isn't it?

Now, let people (randomly) rewrite the software that keeps it all running smoothly. Encourage others to form (dangerous) secret societies armed with explosives and possessed of wildly divergent (and conflicting) agendas. Watch as clone backups experience genetic mutations that result in strange, abberant (dangerous and funny) powers. Toss in a liberal dash of (explosive, tempermental, and ludicrous) mad science and a pinch of Murphy's Law (it already went wrong anyway). Stir in laws that state breathing treason is punishable by summary execution, and then go on to rule that anything that is NOT functioning like the original perfect utopia is treasonous. That's pretty much the essence of Paranoia. You're hosed BEFORE, DURING and AFTER you get hosed.

Now, report for summary execution - you have just been exposed to numerous elements of treasonous propaganda, and significant amounts of information well in excess of your RED security clearance. Both of these are treason.

Welcome to Paranoia, sucker citizen, and remember: PURGE The Computer is your friend.

[Nerd-o-rama]

You forgot something.
Overuse of quotes from a [deleted for security reasons] show that aren't really applicable is treason. Mocking capitalism is communism is treason. Please report to the nearest termination booth for execution.

[deleted for security reasons],
~The Computer

[Drglenn]

Drink Bouncy Bubble Beverage (B3), It's mandatory!

my team leader is addicted to B3

also our happiness officer tried to put out a fire on her belt (possibly caused by our team leader, but in no way due to the happiness officer 'pushing' his mutant power) with B3 causing a 'new clone please' moment

[Azerian Kelimon]

And remember this: If you get to White, you must be congratulated. You have won an unwinnable game.

PS: What I've mentione actually happened to A FULL TEAM, once. And yes, I can talk about it, because I'm a white.

[Drglenn]

Wow, a white. I've heard through the wine-constituent growth pods that you get REAL food, what's that like?

[Kurald Galain]

And remember this: If you get to White, you must be congratulated. You have won an unwinnable game.

The actual term is "Ultra-violet". It is actually achievable if you're good enough at computer hacking...

Also, thread necromancy is treason.

[SurlySeraph]

Wow, a white. I've heard through the wine-constituent growth pods that you get REAL food, what's that like?

That information is above your clearance level, citizen.

[Azerian Kelimon]

What I can say *Takes listeners to the spy free, computer free zone created for personal use*, is that most of it is a lie. A few things are the truth, though:

1) You're more or less untouchable. White's can requisition technology for 6 packs. So, unless a fellow white wars with you, which is pointless and insane, since it means jeopardizing your position, you survive through anything.

2) You actually get useful gizmos. They actually work, but then again, you go onto few, few missions. Though it gives you a sort of "I'm the best at what I do, and what I do ain't pretty" status.

3) You can actually programme the computer, but it's so massive and in such a state of disrepair that fixing it is more or less impossible.