Happiness is Mandatory. Trust No One. The Computer is Your Friend. Trust The Computer.
I think there was sufficient interest in a Paranoia-based game that I'd like to run one at some point. I'm in the process of developing a quick and dirty PBP system based loosely on Fudge-type game mechanics. The goal is interesting character development and fast-paced play.
The original Paranoia allowed for little in the way of choice for character generation; everything was random. This version lets the players do a little customization. However, certain truisms still apply:
- Everyone is a clone.
- Mutations are treasonous.
- Everyone is a mutant.
- Secret Societies are treasonous.
- Everyone belongs to a Secret Society.
- Commie mutant traitors must die.
- The Computer is still Paranoid. Trust The Computer.
For those who don't know what the heck I'm talking about, or why dying is fun, please visit the Wikipedia entry for Paranoia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoia_(role-playing_game)). Then you should immediately report yourself for treasonous activity and proceed to the nearest Termination Booth.
This game is not going to start tomorrow, or probably anytime soon. After I hammer out some basic game mechanics, I have to put together a Paranoia mission. But I have managed to throw together a basic framework for character creation and I'm interested in finding out who wants to play. Knowing which players and their characters will be involved will probably suggest the mission.
The nice thing about a Paranoia game is that it can be short, self-contained, and entertaining. Missions don't have to be long, drawn out games to be fun, which lends itself to posting games. Paranoia thrives on secrecy, which is easily taken care of with PM's and Spoiler tags.
And the best thing about Paranoia is...
[ text deleted for security reasons ]
As a Happy and Loyal Citizen, I point out that I am the first to volunteer in Service to the Computer! All Hail the Computer!
I look forward to being a Troubleshooter! If I find Trouble, I will Shoot it!
Quote from: Viking on May 11, 2007, 10:10:54 AM
As a Happy and Loyal Citizen, I point out that I am the first to volunteer in Service to the Computer! All Hail the Computer!
I look forward to being a Troubleshooter! If I find Trouble, I will Shoot it!
Your loyalty and dedication are duly noted, Friend Citizen. Please accept this voucher for one allotment of Bouncy Bubble Beverage as a token of appreciation. It may be redeemed at any PLC depot simply by turning in the voucher, filling out form BBB-1-42608-LL, and then cross-filing form 1N-Y0R-DRMZ.
Just in case it needs to be spelled out...
Players with no sense of humor and lacking creative response to frustration need not apply.
There is no L00t, nearly everything in the game is more powerful than you are, and your character is going to die more than once.
Ubermunchkins make great laser-cannon-fodder.
I've been curious about this game for years.
Wait... does that mean I need to proceed to the nearest Termination Booth?
Quote from: Alaric on May 11, 2007, 10:53:46 AM
I've been curious about this game for years.
Wait... does that mean I need to proceed to the nearest Termination Booth?
Curiosity is not encouraged at your security clearance, Citizen. Participation is. All you need to know will be revealed on a need-to-know basis.
And no, you don't need to know. ;)
This game sounds crazy...
I'll join, oh glorious Computer.
FORIAMSPAM!
For more information about what playing Paranoia is like, read this (http://www.paranoia-live.net/content.php?article.6).
This article is completely approved for your security level.
Very interesting. I feel confident that I have the right stuff and will swiftly advance along the colour spectrum in service of the great computer.
i think this was the basis of the "treason-hackers" game in an episode of Knights of the Dinner Table.. there was a flash cartoon made, but the website, hoody-hoo.com seems to have been taken down..
Quote from: The Phantom Eyebrow on May 11, 2007, 04:32:18 PM
Very interesting. I feel confident that I have the right stuff and will swiftly advance along the colour spectrum in service of the great computer.
Such confidence in oneself. You must feel that you are so much better than others to think this way. Only a mutant would believe himself to be that much better than the rest of the Glorious Computer's troubleshooters. *files a termination voucher for an obvious Commie mutant traitor*
Friend Citizens, The Computer is deeply touched by your obvious displays of patriotism. Rest assured, once the bugs have been worked out of the Experimental Character Creation System your applications for duty in the Troubleshooters will be processed as quickly as possible.
In the meantime, unfortunately the local Interrogation and Hot Fun Enforcement unit is currently experiencing a backlog of cases and cannot determine which of you is a commie mutant traitor at this time. If you would like to expedite your applications, please turn yourselves in to the nearest Confession and Termination Center for summary execution.
Thank you, and Have a Nice Daycycle!
I bellyfeel this will be a doubleplusgoodthink. The Golden Country awaits! no, wait...2 + 2 = 5? "Do it to Julia!"
Quote from: Panther_Gunn on May 11, 2007, 10:40:26 PM
Such confidence in oneself. You must feel that you are so much better than others to think this way. Only a mutant would believe himself to be that much better than the rest of the Glorious Computer's troubleshooters. *files a termination voucher for an obvious Commie mutant traitor*
Only a traitor would even dream of suggesting that a mutant could possibly advance under the glorious auspices of the Computer. *Counterfiles a termination voucher for this dreadful thoughtcrime *
Quote from: The Phantom Eyebrow on May 12, 2007, 02:09:19 AM
Quote from: Panther_Gunn on May 11, 2007, 10:40:26 PM
Such confidence in oneself. You must feel that you are so much better than others to think this way. Only a mutant would believe himself to be that much better than the rest of the Glorious Computer's troubleshooters. *files a termination voucher for an obvious Commie mutant traitor*
Only a traitor would even dream of suggesting that a mutant could possibly advance under the glorious auspices of the Computer. *Counterfiles a termination voucher for this dreadful thoughtcrime *
As the perpetual Equipment Officer, I have to ask how you obtained that termination voucher? I don't recall seeing a requisition form, filled out in triplicate, and cross-filed in quintuplate on the yellow form with gold thread. Obviously you stole it, which is a crime. Only a Commie (who thinks that everything belongs to everybody) or a traitor would steal, and since you have already admitted to being a mutant earlier, you should just proceed to the nearest Termination Booth. I've already done my duty to the Computer by informing it of your crimes, so I'm sure your escort will be along shortly.
Quote from: Panther_Gunn on May 12, 2007, 09:09:20 AM
Only a Commie (who thinks that everything belongs to everybody) or a traitor would steal..
How do you know about what Commies think? You have admitted that you know treasonous propaganda, by your own words! This has been duly recorded by the ever-present recording devices that Serve The Computer!
You should report to the nearest Confession/Termination Booth immediately, so as to not compound your crimes by requiring us to spend valuable Computer resources in terminating you.
I'm deaply desturbed by the amount of individuality being displayed in this thread. We should all just let the Computer put words in our mouths.
Will all Commie Mutant Traitors please report to Briefing Room D34D to apply for immediate and unconditional pardon. Act now and The Mighty and Benevolent Computer will throw in two entertainment vouchers for an exclusive viewing of a classic pre-Whoops 2D vid. Bring a friend!
We will be showing "Terminator".
Troubleshooter Alpha-Omega 5 at ye service, oh grand Computer! Stay Alert! Trust No One! Keep Your Laser Handy!
-DJ
Quote from: Deaths Jester on May 16, 2007, 08:35:28 AM
Troubleshooter Alpha-Omega 5 at ye service, oh grand Computer! Stay Alert! Trust No One! Keep Your Laser Handy!
"Alpha-Omega? Friend Citizen, where did you get such a unique and totally unauthorized designation? There is no Alpha. There is no Omega. They are treasonous rumors. There is only Beta. I'm sorry, Citizen, but your existence is unauthorized. Please report to the nearest Termination Booth. It is your patriotic duty. Thank you for your cooperation. Have a nice daycycle."
The computer is right of course. This would normally go without saying but it bears emphasis due to the frankly shocking sentiments being expressed here. You, you... individuals... should all do as the Computer says and head down to the Termination Booth now.
I'll mind your coats.
Oh Glorious Computer, Troubleshooter SPAM-A-LOT, reporting for duty!
Quote from: BlueBard on May 16, 2007, 09:39:14 AM
Quote from: Deaths Jester on May 16, 2007, 08:35:28 AM
Troubleshooter Alpha-Omega 5 at ye service, oh grand Computer! Stay Alert! Trust No One! Keep Your Laser Handy!
"Alpha-Omega? Friend Citizen, where did you get such a unique and totally unauthorized designation? There is no Alpha. There is no Omega. They are treasonous rumors. There is only Beta. I'm sorry, Citizen, but your existence is unauthorized. Please report to the nearest Termination Booth. It is your patriotic duty. Thank you for your cooperation. Have a nice daycycle."
The Computer is always correct and all knowing! I do as the computer commands for it is my patriotic duty. *proceeds to the nearest Termination Booth* For a nice daycycle!!!
Panther_Gunn, your PM inbox is full. Clean out all of the treasonous material ASAP before The Computer does an audit!
GAH! It should only be full of official and obviously important edicts from the Glorious Computer! Perhaps some Commie Mutant Traitor has found a way to send me unsolicited advertisements for Happy Energy Bars. Proceeding to the trashcan, oh Benevolent Computer!
And just who would send you these things of the commie and the mutant? Do you have anyone that knows you who are this way? As a Troubleshooter, it is my duty to tell you to proceed to the nearest termination booth, ASAP!
Um... All hail the Computer... Citizen Spyd of sector MAN, clearance Infrared, reporting.
I was instructed by Citizen Jacki-R-BEE to report for reassignment to the Troubleshooters. It is an.. um... honour and I am... proud to commit suici - er, fulfil my duty as a loyal member of the complex as a (*gulp*) Troubleshooter.
I only ask that my crechemate, Mar-I-JAN, be notified so that she can mourn... er, I mean, so that she can be proud of me as I serve the glorious Computer...
Quote from: gdaybloke on May 21, 2007, 01:07:43 PM
Um... All hail the Computer... Citizen Spyd of sector MAN, clearance Infrared, reporting.
I was instructed by Citizen Jacki-R-BEE to report for reassignment to the Troubleshooters. It is an.. um... honour and I am... proud to commit suici - er, fulfil my duty as a loyal member of the complex as a (*gulp*) Troubleshooter.
I only ask that my crechemate, Mar-I-JAN, be notified so that she can mourn... er, I mean, so that she can be proud of me as I serve the glorious Computer...
Message recieved, Friend Spyd-IR-MAN. You'll be getting your directives shortly, just as soon as you pass the Mandatory Background Check and Body Cavity Examination.
"Pssst... Hey, Citizen! C'mere!"
A man you've never seen before motions from a side corridor
"I'm looking for a general list of common equipment and their clearance levels... If you might be in possession of this information, I'd be much obliged. I want to, ah, make sure I don't give out the wrong equipment to the wrong person at the, uh, supply depot. That would be, ah, bad. I sure wouldn't want to accidentally hand out classified gear to a commie mutant traitor."
wink wink
(GM: I can remember enough Paranoia to fake my way through without a manual, but aside from the obvious laser barrels and reflec armor I'm stuck on what's available at what security level. If you have a list, or remember part of a list, please PM me.)
I find your behaviour unusual, citizen. Every loyal citizen knows that if an item is of your security clearance level, it'll be clearly marked according to your clearance level. Knowledge of paraphernalia above your clearance level would imply that you're intimately familiar with such items; have you been utilising equipment above your security level? Cos ya know, that sounds like something treasonous commie mutant scum would do.
(OOC: Pretty much anything can be assigned to a anyone so long as it's the correct clearance colour. In the case of Troubleshooters, this usually means black (Infrared clearance) and red (since Troubleshooters tend to be Red clearance). Of course, since we're only lowly Red clearance, our equipment will likely be of ... appropriate quality... and possibly highly dangerous, if R&D are testing anything interesting).
I'm good. I've already been assisted by a Good Citizen who is anonymous because he's humble like that and helped out of the goodness of his heart, as all loyal Citizens should, and I'm sure The Computer is proud that such a selfless and humble clone is working hard to make life more perfect for Everyone in Beta Complex with no expectation of any sort of commendation or reward for such noble behavior. Do not ask, my Friends, what The Computer can do for you; Ask what you can do for Your Complex. Blah, blah, blah. Let your glowstick so shine that everyone may know you are a point of light in a dark room. Blah, blah, blah. Be all that you can be. The few, the proud, the patriotic, who get more done in a single day than many clones in a lifecycle. Blah, blah, blah. And in conclusion, I sense by the vacant stares on your faces that you are dreaming of serving Your Complex and The Computer with all of your heart and bootsoles. Thank you for your support!
Quote from: BlueBard on May 22, 2007, 02:03:40 PM
Let your glowstick so shine that everyone may know you are a point of light in a dark room.
"Actually, I'd rather not shine my glowstick, as that would use up valuable Computer property! And by staying in the comforting depths of Infrared darkness, I'm guaranteed to not see anything that is beyond my Security Clearance!"
Loyal citizen Numbe-IR-uno, pleased to report for duty oh glorious Computer!
Citizen ArrMatee-IR-RRR, present and Happy, Loyal, Clean, and Ready to Serve the Computer!
Citizen Spam-IR-LOT, ready to serve the amazing Computer!
Friend Citizens! Two of you who have received instructions to report for duty have thus far failed to report. You know who you are. Perhaps you forgot to take your mandatory wakey-wakey supplement. Please report in. The Computer would certainly not wish to 'replace' you, but the assignments must be filled. Other more worthy supplicants will be considered in your place. That is all.
Friend Citizens! It is taking some of you an abnormal amount of time to complete the Experimental Character Creation Testing. If the poor efficiency ratings continue, I'm afraid this incident will go on record and you will have to be penalized. Remember, R&D Testing is part of your Mandatory Bonus Duty. Thank you, and have a nice daycycle!
OOC: My mission plan is shaping up nicely, to the point where we could get at least get a start on things if everyone were already done with their characters. When we do start, it will be in a new thread which I will announce.
The Computer would like to extend its' assurances to the Citizens who have completed the Character Development Experiment that everything is okay, nothing is wrong, the nervous tic you're experiencing is a normal, temporary side-effect that will almost positively fade in time, and that your promotion to the ranks of the Troubleshooters is still entirely possible. The High Programmers are diligently working to solve the, uh, interesting aspects of the new program and expect to get it online as soon as possible.
Delays have been caused by treasonous activity on the part of certain individuals suspected of attempting to sabotage the Troubleshooter Efficiency, Metrics, & Performance Project, but Internal Security fully expects to issue Termination Vouchers for the culprits within a matter of days.
In the meantime remember, Happiness is Mandatory. Trust No One. The Computer Is Your Friend. Trust The Computer.
For all participants in the first ever Paranoia-By-Post game on FR (You know who you are!):
We'll use this thread for OOG kiboshing and comments from folks not actually playing.
Some ground rules:
- Normal board rules apply. Termination Vouchers will be issued for violators' treasonous behavior and the other players will be encouraged to shoot you in the back. Role-playing is encouraged and interpersonal conflict is inevitable, but don't let it go outside the game and keep it fun. With this group I don't expect that to be a problem.
- If you can't play for an extended period of time, say over 2 days, please post here or PM and let me know. Your character will go on 'autopilot' and I'll take care of him for you while you're preoccupied. People who don't let me know they won't be able to keep up will find that the other, active players will be encouraged to take advantage of your absent-mindedness in sneaky and devious ways. You'll probably be robbed blind and made the fall-guy for the rest of the team's extracurricular activities. The game will not stop cold for one player; inactives will be herded along at laser-point.
- Exception to the second rule is weekends. While you're all encouraged to keep things going over the weekend, I'd be a fool to mandate that. Especially at summer time. Log on if you're bored, but don't expect a lot of progress over the weekend. On the other hand, make sure you catch up with the posts... if you miss something important don't expect me or the other players to point it out to you. You'll find out the hard way when your next clone activates.
- You'll want to keep track of your character's damage and endurance levels, and I will let you know as those change via personally addressed Spoilers. You don't have to, but it will give you a good idea as to whether you're able-bodied enough to do something you want to attempt.
I sent out PM's to make sure everyone was ready to go for the Paranoia game this week.
I've gotten one response that's 'ready to go' and one response that says this week is iffy.
Therefore, I don't have majority.
Therefore, I have to assume this is a bad week unless I get more positive responses.
I'd rather not start the thing at all than have it die the slow death of non-participation, so I'm waiting to hear...
Quote from: BlueBard on June 18, 2007, 11:20:50 AM
I sent out PM's to make sure everyone was ready to go for the Paranoia game this week.
I've gotten one response that's 'ready to go' and one response that says this week is iffy.
Therefore, I don't have majority.
Therefore, I have to assume this is a bad week unless I get more positive responses.
I'd rather not start the thing at all than have it die the slow death of non-participation, so I'm waiting to hear...
Is next week better for everyone?
Or should I delay this indefinitely?
Don't know about anyone else, but I'm ready whenever.
I've heard from everyone but Alaric, so I'm going to go ahead and start without him.
Alaric can join the game at any time by sending me a PM.
Sorry about the delay, folks... as soon as Spam checks in we'll try to keep this thing moving.
Alaric's character has been temporarily yanked from the action; if Alaric returns he can PM me and I'll work him back in to the game. If anyone knows what's going on with Alaric, please speak up... he hasn't been seen on these forums in a bit and we're worried about him.
Quote from: BlueBard on June 28, 2007, 06:40:27 AM
Sorry about the delay, folks... as soon as Spam checks in we'll try to keep this thing moving.
Alaric's character has been temporarily yanked from the action; if Alaric returns he can PM me and I'll work him back in to the game. If anyone knows what's going on with Alaric, please speak up... he hasn't been seen on these forums in a bit and we're worried about him.
Sorry, there's just been a lot going on. I'm going to try to get "Thrilling Adventures" running again next week, but I'm not going to commit to a second game right now. I hope everyone else has fun, though.
Too bad... I liked the way my character was shaping up...
Quote from: Alaric on June 30, 2007, 04:07:44 PM
Quote from: BlueBard on June 28, 2007, 06:40:27 AM
Sorry about the delay, folks... as soon as Spam checks in we'll try to keep this thing moving.
Alaric's character has been temporarily yanked from the action; if Alaric returns he can PM me and I'll work him back in to the game. If anyone knows what's going on with Alaric, please speak up... he hasn't been seen on these forums in a bit and we're worried about him.
Sorry, there's just been a lot going on. I'm going to try to get "Thrilling Adventures" running again next week, but I'm not going to commit to a second game right now. I hope everyone else has fun, though.
Too bad... I liked the way my character was shaping up...
No problem... If you decide later you want back in, I can write you back in easily enough. And hopefully there will be other Paranoia games after this one, if people enjoy them.
Sorry to hear you've had so much going on, Alaric, but it's good to hear from you nevertheless. Hope your life calms down as soon as possible.
Folks... sorry about the minutia of the requisitioning process. It would be faster to get through if we were all face-to-face, but that ain't happening. I'll try to get through it as quick as I can so we can get to the really interesting stuff. It simply wouldn't be Paranoia if I handed you all of your gear on a silver platter, though. Silver platters are Ultraviolet clearance.
Initial approval or denial is influenced by your Bureaucracy skill (how well you fill out forms). Don't have Bureaucracy? Sorry to hear that, Citizen. You get one shot at appealing to get the stuff you were denied... try persuasion or bribery or intimidation or something else. But of course you don't have anything to bribe with yet.
Spam and Phantom Eyebrow, I need your detailed requisition lists either in the thread or by PM, hopefully before I get done with Gday (Spyd). If you don't ask for it, you don't get it. If you don't know what to ask for, ask.
Quote from: BlueBard on July 10, 2007, 02:14:08 PM"And this final item... This is one of our finest inventions yet. This is a Steam-Powered Exoskeleton! Just like the heavy-duty exoskeletons used in construction work, except this one doesn't need batteries or an external power supply! It can function in any terrain, on or off the complex's power grid, even... Outside." He pauses a moment for dramatic effect.
"This beauty is powered only by water and a small quantity of radioactive material to produce superheated steam. The steam in turn drives the hydraulic systems of the exoskeleton. Sheer genius!"
Great.....and me without my asbestos underwear! :P
Given the volume of the Portable Morale Booster, ArrMatee would have been better off throwing out the wrapper, dividing the Happiness Energy Bar in half, and wedging THAT in his ears.
ArrMatee still has two more Energy Bars once he finds that out to be the case...
Ok, I gotta give g'day extra points for just how far he was willing to take the "hold your breath" thing. kudos. :D
Panther_Gunn, your inbox is full.
And,
[spoiler]You are already strapped in; You may act when ready[/spoiler]
Yay! I get to prompt a crisis situation! Quick postings all around!
Wow, seven pages and no one is dead yet? BB, you're slipping. :twisted:
Quote from: Glitch Girl on August 05, 2007, 07:25:45 PM
Wow, seven pages and no one is dead yet? BB, you're slipping. :twisted:
Yeah, I'm disappointed too. I had high hopes for the docbot thing, but the players don't seem to have gotten into the spirit of things just yet. I'll have to provide some extra motivation.
Everyone *knows* that most Paranoia deaths happen *away* from the home.....to be more easily blamed on someone else! :D
Dang, the dice blew another chance at whacking a player.
But then it should come as no surprise that a clone -trying- to commit suicide would botch it up...
I think that not knowing whether our engrams were safely stored away to allow our next clones to be activated has, in part, made me that much more cautious about dying.
Of course, in a Paranoia game, I also try to keep my clones alive as long as possible. I mean, I can't imagine a clone wanting to die unless things just got too painful to bear. Which I have seen happen. One of the funniest moments that I've ever seen in a Paranoia game was when the players were so hosed, one of the players volunteered his clone to confess to being a traitor, and proceeded to recite the longest series of far-fetched treasonous crimes, both real and made-up, that I had ever had the pleasure of witnessing.
The Computer: "Continue with your confession, Citizen. This is fascinating. Other Citizens, please terminate this traitor as soon as he is finished confessing."
Hello Citizens!
Your Benevolent High Programmer is just getting back from vacation this week; Bear with me and we'll get this session back online!
Exactly why Spam-R wanted to shoot himself, I don't know, but he succeeded thanks to his ability to outmuscle ArrMatee-R.
Quote from: BlueBardArrMatee and Spyd wind up wrestling over the laser pistol; neither is able to wrest it from the other's grasp and, fortunately, nobody accidently fires it which might be very, very bad.
Someone want to yield? Or do we enter the realm of dirty tricks?
Dirty tricks! Dirty tricks! :D
line from Knights of The Dinner Table
sara: i use my registered mutant power of future sight to gain any insight as to the outcome of this battle
BM: you see a trail of ashes coming out of a red boot.
sara: oh no, that means one of us will die.
shortly, brian fires up his unregistered flame powers and is blown to bits by dave with a mortar
BM: all that is left is a pile of ashes ontop of a red boot.
sara: my future vision came true!
I don't know about the rest of you... maybe my Paranoia GM style just sucks... but does it seem to any of you that the humor factor is sort of getting lost through the mechanics of posting? The slow pace of posting does somewhat interfere with setting up an atmosphere of fast-paced desperation.
I want this to be funny, not just the GM bashing the PC's. Any suggestions as to what I/we can do differently?
Contrary though it sounds, maybe I need to actually be harsher on the characters than I have been. Maybe it will take more extremely outrageous situations to bring out extremely outrageous behavior from the players.
Quote from: BlueBard on August 16, 2007, 10:29:49 AMMaybe it will take more extremely outrageous situations to bring out extremely outrageous behavior from the players.
And scrubbing out Spam's mouth *wasn't* extremely outrageous???
And, no, that was *not* a long-time fantasy fulfillment in action. At least, as far as *you* know. :D
First off, your style of Paranoia GMing does not suck. I've been enjoying it quite thoroughly.
I think that part of the problem may come from the comparatively slow rate of player posts. Much of Paranoia relies on what players do to one another. Hence, if I say that I'm grabbing something away from Player X, and Player X doesn't respond with an immediate action, things kinda fizzle.
Now, apart from that, you may wish to be clear about how you envision things happening, in a broad scale. There are definitely different styles to running Paranoia, with differing levels of clone death factor. At one extreme end is the philosophy that it's not a real Paranoia game unless at least two players have suffered clone deaths before getting to PLC. At the other end, clone death is only the most extreme form of punishment, because various infractions can be punished by a wide variety of means. (Demerits, extra Mandatory Bonus duties, reporting to Internal Security for brain-scrubbing, etc.)
In general, I think that desperate actions come about when the alternative to not doing desperate actions is worse. Even with high-accuracy cloning technology, I can't imagine clones wanting to die. Hence, ludicrous and outrageous actions will result when clones are forced between choosing one of several treasonous actions, or dying.
Example:
Troubleshooters must report to Mission Briefing. However, the Mission Briefing Room's entrance is down a Green-level corridor.
The Computer: Report to Mission Briefing immediately, Citizens! Do not proceed down the Green-level corridor!
In the above situation, there's no way for the players to avoid treasonous activity. Not traveling down the corridor means that the Troubleshooters are failing to obey orders - reporting to Mission Briefing means that they're violating Security Clearances.
In a Paranoia game, I expect that players will try to keep juggling as many difficulties as they can before juggling further difficulties is simply impossible. That's when true ludicrousness results.
What might you have expected to see happen by now, BB? If I had a clearer picture of what you're not seeing happen, I could better offer suggestions of how to make it happen.
You're doing a fine job BB. From my own point of view I can only apologise for not posting regularly enough.
I don't really know Paranoia the game but perhaps you are being too nice to us. I was full sure that my head was going to be crushed like a pumpkin back there. Not that I'm advocating killing us TOO easily... ^_^
RE: The head/smashed pumpkin thing...
Honestly, I'd kind of forgotten about the exoskeleton when I told you that everyone had covered their ears. But never let it be said that I won't exploit a player who volunteers suggestions for Bad Things To Happen. I aim to please.
However, the SPE doesn't cover the user's hands, so that's only flesh and bone smacking against a skull ultimately. I reluctantly decided it wouldn't kill Numb, but I figured a KO would be OK.
I can't really put my finger on what's not working for me. I'll have to give it some thought.
Quote from: gdaybloke on August 16, 2007, 12:13:41 PM
Spyd graciously offers to compose an impromptu sonnet in honour of Shoot-O's strong leadership, and flicks on the PMB in preparation...
Flick on the PMB to do what, exactly? The PMB has a number of functions; I might point out that you've only tested one of them so far. A shameful lack of efficiency on your part.
Quote from: Panther_Gunn on August 16, 2007, 11:18:05 AM
Quote from: BlueBard on August 16, 2007, 10:29:49 AMMaybe it will take more extremely outrageous situations to bring out extremely outrageous behavior from the players.
And scrubbing out Spam's mouth *wasn't* extremely outrageous???
And, no, that was *not* a long-time fantasy fulfillment in action. At least, as far as *you* know. :D
Good times... good times...
RE: G'day Bloke's Song.
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
and what is going on here?
Quote from: Mitanker on August 28, 2007, 05:14:48 PM
and what is going on here?
In reference to what?
This is actually the Out-Of-Character and Kibbitzing thread, the real game is in a different thread. Not sure if you were asking about the activity in this thread or what. This is a good place for out-of-character interactions that would just clutter up the game thread.
However, if you aren't a player and you have a comment, this is the perfect place for it.
So... How may I help you today, Friend Non-Citizen?
QuoteSuddenly, a heavily armored barrier slams down at either end of the corridor. Additionally, a reinforced door slides into place across the entrance to the stairwell, trapping everyone (except ArrMatee) in the corridor. As this realization sinks in, you all begin to hear a loud hissing noise within the corridor.
And thus begins our gentle introduction in the topic of 'Dealing With The Computer - 101'...
Lesson Number One: Always consider the practical effects of Murphy's Law.
Lesson Number Two: Something always happens, but it's rarely what you thought would happen. Unless you're taking Lesson Number One into account.
Lesson Number Three: This information is not available at your security clearance.
I always expect to be Terminated when dealing with the Computer. Anything else is a bonus.
Lesson Number Four: You are in error citizen, the duck is not on fire.
yanno, i never expected to, but i ran across a copy of Paranoia, 5th edition that belongs to a friend of mine. now this game makes a lot more sence... to the extent that it 'can' make sence, anyway. --procedes to the nearest termination booth for possesion of information above his clearence level--
Quote from: Lord Elcorion on September 10, 2007, 05:36:42 PM
yanno, i never expected to, but i ran across a copy of Paranoia, 5th edition that belongs to a friend of mine. now this game makes a lot more sence... to the extent that it 'can' make sence, anyway. --procedes to the nearest termination booth for possesion of information above his clearence level--
Thank you for your cooperation, Commie Mutant Scum! Have a nice daycycle!
^_^ Heh, now that's more like what I was expecting from a game like this! However, I will point out in mitigation that I did request water or foam suppression systems...
Quote from: The Phantom Eyebrow on September 11, 2007, 12:03:08 PM
^_^ Heh, now that's more like what I was expecting from a game like this! However, I will point out in mitigation that I did request water or foam suppression systems...
The Computer likes to be helpful like that.
Just curious to know a player's (or observer's) perspective on what's going on in the Paranoia game.
From my perspective, the chaos level is ramping up nicely. I'm probably going to have to drastically change my outline due to unfolding events, but that's okay. I hope to be able to be creatively chaotic.
If there are any misclarifications and misdirections needed, comments to be taken out of context and used against you, suggestions to be sadistically twisted into something creatively outrageous, etc, please feel free to share.
It inspires me.
;)
Oh, I'm just happy to help contribute to the level of all-consuming chaos that is about to descend on this sector of Beta Complex. Things have officially reached a level of chaos where dying doesn't seem like all that bad an option.
Not that my clone is going to commit suicide, mind you. His tactics are just going to get a lot more desperate. Which is kind of the point, in a Paranoia game.
At some point, when this Paranoia game finally winds down, I'd be extremely interested in finding out what all the PMs have been about. In hindsight, much of the fun comes from being able to see what everyone was independently trying to do...
Paranoia isn't about completing missions, it's about surviving, or conversely, dying in the coolest was possible. The fact that we've been stuck in a corridor for over a week of RL time is right on schedule!
QuoteSpyd begins scuffling around on the floor in the dark, in an effort to fund the downed infrared
"Excuse me, can I offer you a small loan at 18.9 percent interest?"
Quote from: BlueBard on October 04, 2007, 11:28:23 AM
QuoteSpyd begins scuffling around on the floor in the dark, in an effort to fund the downed infrared
"Excuse me, can I offer you a small loan at 18.9 percent interest?"
"I would gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today."
Gday sure does make the entertaining typos. I still remember when he left the letter "L" out of "The Clockwork King"...
Sometimes, even infrareds need a payday loan!
Quote from: BlueBard on November 06, 2007, 10:43:30 AM
"Light! Light! LIGHT! GET LIGHT!" the clones voices rise to a shriek as they scramble forward toward ArrMatee.
Quote from: Viking on November 06, 2007, 11:34:48 AM
ArrMatee turns off the hottorch. And then moves against a wall.
oh, this is *not* going to end well.......
:roll:
Quote from: BlueBard on November 12, 2007, 11:57:30 AMBeing a Troubleshooter, your psyche is strong enough to cope with such things. Theoretically.
Obviously, the Orange-level Citizen went to the wrong bunk when he roused Spam from his sleep. That can be the only explanation.....because the Computer always knows what it's doing. :thumbup:
A proposal...
What say we put the Paranoia game on Hiatus until after the first of the year? Give it a rest until after the holidays?
I could go either way, but maybe folks will find it easier to participate and be ready to come back to it fresh if we take a break.
Or lose interest entirely, in which case I'd prefer to give it a mercy killing as opposed to dragging out the torture like with 'My Secret Identity'.
When I originally wrote my synopsis for this game, I utterly failed to take into account what would happen if someone actually set off the Energy Suppression Grenade. Especially under the circumstances in which it was set off. When that did happen, I had to rethink a few things, but I have a basic plan for the ensuing chaos. The real problem, I think, is that Paranoia just isn't Paranoia without gratuitous firing of energy weapons.
Which is coming. But I seem to be having difficulty helping the players muddle through without them for the moment. Total darkness is a pretty paralyzing peril, apparently. I have a rather drastic plan to 'fix' things, but it's not time to spring it yet.
Anyway, if anyone would like to take a break, please let me know. Otherwise, we now return you to your regularly scheduled dose of Paranoia.
What? Someone set off the Energy Suppression Grenade? I have no idea who that could have been! Nope! ArrMatee still has it stowed safely in his backpack. Though, quite frankly, it being an R&D item, I wouldn't be surprised if it did nothing at all when activated... :P
All joking aside, I'm happy with whatever. You can always count on me to be ready to post in this game. But without fairly regular participation (like, say, each player posting once a day), I fear that it may indeed be dying a slow death.
The utter lack of power is a severe handicap, I'll admit. Lots of Paranoia hijinks really depend on electrical equipment functioning.
Fun Fact Time with Citizen Spoil-U-PLT!
Fun Facts about the Energy Suppression Grenade:
WARNING! Under NO Circumstances should Citizens below Ultraviolet clearance read the following censored text. Unless of course, you are a commie mutant traitor. In which case, please read and then report to the nearest Termination Booth.
[spoiler]As conceived, the ESG is supposed to simply suppress the flow of electrons temporarily.
Instead, what it ACTUALLY does is [text deleted for security reasons]. This results in all electrical power being drained from every unshielded power source within range. The sudden, massive drain of current also overloads any local power grid, blowing all types of fuses and tripping all circuit-protection mechanisms.
I'm not revealing too many secrets here, as it will all come out sooner or later.[/spoiler]
Have a Nice Daycycle, Citizen!
O-Kay.
Christmas is over and New Year's is around the bend. I need a show of hands... Who is interested in continuing the Paranoia game in 2008? And I mean a real commitment to continuing, not just posting every blue moon.
I need to know whether to keep the game alive or not and whether or not to advance the plot.
(Hey, I made a rhyme!)
I, of course, am always interested in continuing a fun game. You can count me in.
(*shoots Viking on suspiscion of his being a clone*)
Quote from: gdaybloke on December 26, 2007, 11:49:51 AM
(*shoots Viking on suspiscion of his being a clone*)
I guess I'll take that as "I'm in"?
If my day-to-day schedule gets back to normal after next week (which it should, with all of the Christmas craziness over with), I should be ready to get back to it.
Point of trivia:
I have actually been exposed to tear gas. It was part of my training when I was in the Navy. However it was long enough ago that I remember very little of the experience.
I vividly remember being in the 'gas chamber' and having to remove my gas mask. I suppose it was to teach us that it is possible to function, as long as you hold your breath and get the heck out of it as quickly as you can.
I don't remember much else, though. None of the sensations of being exposed. So if my depiction of being exposed to tear gas is unrealistic, I just have to say --
nyaah, nyaah, nyaah.
your pretty close. i was in army boot camp, all the armed forces gas you as part of the training. one thing i remember is that it makes yours nose run like crazy, and your eyes and throat feel like they're burning, on top of watery eyes and the coughing. i don't remember it being so much of a "you can still function" type exercise so much as a "this can and will happen to you on the battlefield, so don't panic when it does," exercise.
I'm so glad that all of my exposure to the armed forces has merely been through the window of RPGs...
-AHEM-
Everyone should be taking advantage of the time in between clone activation and Mission Re-Briefing, or immediately afterward. Anyone who is not should rethink their strategy. Since Paranoia is new to some of you, allow me to offer some suggestions:
- Check in with your Service Group and/or Secret Society contacts. They may have information, resources, and/or secret missions to offer. Don't just go to say 'Hi!'. They won't offer you anything you don't ask for, so ask for something reasonably specific.
- Get 'insurance'; this can take the form of bribery, blackmail, unauthorized 'extra' gear, etc.
- Do something to make yourself look good... or at least less bad. If you think you are suspected of anything, prepare a way to deflect it. Don't forget that what your previous clone did continues to reflect on you, since you are them, even if you didn't do whatever it is you did. Got that?
If you can't think of something, wait until after the Re-Briefing; something may suggest itself.
I'm guessing that all new skills any of us had picked up along the way are no longer there, as it was after the "physical".
Oh Illustrious GM:
What should we do if someone inadvertently reveals information that they should not have known, e.g., stuff that was included in Spoiler tags?
Do we view it as a ret-con, or has the offending character just committed treasonous activity that can be reported to the Computer?
Quote from: Viking on February 19, 2008, 02:07:25 PM
Oh Illustrious GM:
What should we do if someone inadvertently reveals information that they should not have known, e.g., stuff that was included in Spoiler tags?
Do we view it as a ret-con, or has the offending character just committed treasonous activity that can be reported to the Computer?
This is Paranoia. I leave it to your imagination. Since the remark was made "in-game" that makes it fair game. However my comment was not made "in-game" and therefore was more of a warning. The only PC who knows for sure what was in the packet is Spyd-R. If he doesn't act on it, the rest of you risk treasonous behavior yourselves by doing anything.
I might point out that none of you have lasers yet, so any summary punishment will have to wait. Maybe you should just file that under "suspicious behavior" for the moment.
Just be careful folks... Spoiler text is addressed for a reason. I don't normally put anything truly damaging in them, but they're still not intended for common knowledge. I use them because they're easier to track than PM's and so any non-players reading along can get a sense of what's going on. If you accidentally read them, just don't let on "in-game". Keep it to yourself and don't directly act on it and there's no harm done. Indirectly acting on it... well, that's Paranoia.
Regular abuse of Spoiler text will result in "in-game" penalties, however...
Quote from: BlueBard on February 21, 2008, 01:41:30 PMYou guys are, ah, supposed to react to that. Brownnose. Fast-talk. Bribery. Whimper like a little girl. Something.
ooc: Being a good and obedient Citizen, I was planning on letting our illustrious Team Leader....well, lead. If he asks for my assistance, I will cheerfully give it. :D I'll also probably stick my nose into things if I see a rather juicy opening, of course. :lol:
"Elec-O flips the breaker switch. The resulting power surge overloads the regulator and fries the failsafes on the Proton Bomb hidden directly under DTH sector. A miniature sun blooms briefly on the planetary surface and knocks the Earth out of orbit. Eventually it ricochets off of Jupiter and heads out into deep space. Everyone dies."
No, not really. Just bored waiting for posts.
Is anyone other than Viking still interested in playing this?
'Cause I could just skip all the spoiler text if nobody else is involved.
FYI...
A couple of weeks ago my work laptop basically died. And, as is typical for this company, they have yet to replace it. I'm working off a desktop I built myself with old hardware.
To make a long story short, I don't have copies of any of my more recent notes on the Paranoia game because they were - naturally - on the dead laptop. I recovered some of the files, but I'm not organized yet and don't know what I managed to save and what I didn't. I do have copies of my older notes, though.
Now, flying by the seat of my pants running a game doesn't bother me. I make a great deal of it up as I go along anyway and don't worry overmuch about continuity and/or game mechanics except to advance the plot. This note is by way of saying that, well, I'm going to be worrying even less about continuity than I normally do.
;)