Paranoia
[caption id="attachment_890" align="aligncenter" width="475" caption="Paranoia RPG"]
[/caption]The Role Playing Game
Current Publisher: http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/rpgs/paranoia.html
RPG Geek: http://rpggeek.com/rpgfamily/378/paranoia
RPG Net: http://index.rpg.net/display-entry.phtml?mainid=2217
RPG Net: http://index.rpg.net/display-entry.phtml?mainid=755
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoia_(role-playing_game)
There is but one version of this game, the current one. Previous editions that do not exist include the 1st, 2nd and 5th. Knowledge of the 5th edition is considered more treasonous than normal (*). This game is a creation of the computer, your friend.
Catch-22 meets 1984!
Paranoia is an adventure role-playing game set in a darkly humorous future. A well-meaning but deranged computer desperately protects the citizens of an underground warren from all sorts of real and imagined traitors and enemies.
You will play the part of one of the Computer's elite agents. Your job is to search out, reveal, and destroy the enemies of the Computer. Your worst fear is that the Computer will discover you are one of those enemies. (RPG Net, for WEG version)
A Computer Game (Treasonous): The Paranoia Complex
[caption id="attachment_892" align="aligncenter" width="256" caption="The Paranoia Complex"]
[/caption]World of Spectrum Link: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0003615
Review: http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/paranoiacomplex.htm
1984 may have passed without a hint of the doom, gloom and general unpleasantness that was prophesied for it. But now you have the chance to experience what could have been within the confines of your MFI computer desk. How? Just play this latest release from Gremlin, Paranoia Complex, and you'll see what I mean.
The idea is that you're a resident of the Paranoia Complex, an area under the control of Friend Computer. Not, as you might initially think, a lovable, dependable Speccy but a power-crazed, Big Brotheresque machine, something the YS proletariat are very familiar with ...
Looks pretty awful but if you must you can download it from WoS. If downloaded please report to the nearest suicide booth afterwards for an appointment.
The Textual Adventure
[caption id="attachment_893" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Paranoia Text Adventure"]
[/caption]IFDB Link: http://ifdb.tads.org/viewgame?id=04quwg97k5ng9nqd
As Philo-R-DMD, you will die several times during the adventure. A new clone will be activated to take the place of the one that died, in a different location. The new Philo-R will usually have to retrace some of the old Philo-R's path; hopefully he won't make the same mistakes as his predecessor. Simply complete the mission before expending all six of your clones. Remember... stay alert, and keep your laser handy.
PARANOIA is based on a solo adventure by Sam Shirley in the Jan/Feb 1977 issue of "SpaceGamer/FantasyGamer" magazine, which in turn is based on the Paranoia roleplaying game. It was implemented in C on a Vax 11/780 by Tim Lister, which is how I got hold of it. Just for kicks (and the programming practice) I ported it to Inform. Note for all you IF fans: it's not very interactive. It's not a proper IF game. It beats up the Inform parser in a dark alley. But it will make you appreciate all the other IF games more.
The Mandatory Card Game
[caption id="attachment_894" align="aligncenter" width="386" caption="The Cfonomrpduter Is Your Friend"]
[/caption]BGG Link: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/18961/paranoia-mandatory-bonus-fun-card-game
Serve The Computer… die a lot. Thwart traitors… die a lot. Save Alpha Complex from imminent destruction… die a lot.
Welcome to Paranoia: The Mandatory Card Game. A light hearted death-fest for 3-8 players set in the multi-award winning world of Paranoia.
But, you say, you’ve never played Paranoia. Don’t worry, Citizen, this DNCPCG (definitely not collectible paranoia card game) is the perfect primer to the delightfully lethal world of Alpha Complex. Created by Steve Gilbert, co-author of Me and My Shadow Mark IV, Paranoia: The Mandatory Card Game will have you nuking your buddies before you can say, “The Computer is my friend.”
So how do you play? Excellent question, Citizen!
You and the other players are elite Troubleshooter agents for The Computer, trained to root out traitors, mutants and enemy agents. Your friend, The Computer, is going to send your Troubleshooter team on a series of happy fun missions critical to the survival of Alpha Complex (aren’t they all). Your greatest fear is that Friend Computer will find out you are one of its enemies. So strap on your laser, and your hand flamer, and your plasma-cannon, and venture forth to rid Alpha Complex of the mutinous, but equally well-armed traitors surrounding you.
Playing time: 60 minutes (that you’ll never get back for the rest of your life, so quit your whining)
Stay Alert! Trust No One! Keep Your Laser Handy! (from BGG)
Good enough to have got an expansion.
The Novels
Paranoia actually got made into literature. Published by West End Games, they may be considered a little biased.
[caption id="attachment_897" align="aligncenter" width="184" caption="Nobody Knows The trouble I've Shot"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_899" align="aligncenter" width="188" caption="Title Deleted for Security Reasons"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_898" align="aligncenter" width="201" caption="Stormshooters and Troubleknights"]
[/caption]So we have three novels;
- Nobody Knows The trouble I've Shot
- Title Deleted for Security Reasons
- Stormshooters and Troubleknights
All can be found second hand on Amazon and Abebooks. Probably eBay as well. A rummage around the internet found that prices varied wildly. The last novel listed is a crossover between Paranoia and TORG, another RPG. I suspect if you really like Paranoia, and everyone does Friend Computer, you will enjoy the novels. Enjoyment is probably mandatory.
The Comic Book Series
Comic Vine Link: http://www.comicvine.com/paranoia/49-4679/
[caption id="attachment_900" align="aligncenter" width="193" caption="Paranoia Comic 1"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_901" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Paranoia Comic 2"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_902" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Paranoia Comic 3"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_903" align="aligncenter" width="193" caption="Paranoia Comic 4"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_904" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Paranoia Comic 5"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_905" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Paranoia Comic 6"]
[/caption]I believe Friend Computer felt that six was the perfect number of comics. A trip to eBay is in order, now!
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoia_(role-playing_game)
http://www.paranoia-live.net/news.php
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?filters=0_0_10122_0
http://www.crd-sector.com/
http://www.omegacomplex.com/
Notes
* - All treasonous activity is treasonous.
fnord.
x
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