Download as pdf
Download as pdf
You are on page 1of 159
Copyriht © Games, tne. Paranoia is BOXED VERSI back book, a One iS page booklet Questions answered if seltaddressed Should includ coupons) Ple they can be. ‘with 2 few above ’A West End request Preface ‘Paranoia for Players 10" Welcome to. Paranoia 1. bile in Utopia 2. Basic Game Concept 3 Character Creation 4. Atributes and Skills . 5. Diamatic Tactical Combat 6 2 8 Death and Other Untoward Events Computer. Missions Politics, Promotion and Treason 9. Paranoia. Fliquette 10, Entering the Word of Paranoia A Solitaire Adventur. Tos for Traitors Wn Introduction to Gamemastering 1, The History of Alpha Complex 2 What a Gamemester Does. 3.4 Typical Patanota Adventure 4. ating the Tone Right nee = Sate ce eae Sei nee 9, Giant Radioactive Mutant Cockroaches 10, Wrapping Up the Adventure. 8. A Visit fiom the Local Primitives. ae 30 1 [32 32 ‘7 108 1 15 w 12 124 125 12 ry 1 ‘The World of Paranoia 1. Lie in Alpha Complex 2. Security. Clearance 3. The Toubleshooter.... 4 Service Groups 5. Secret. Sccitiex 6 Slaps and Bennies 35 36 7 38 39 2 3 The Rules 1. How to Use the Rules 2. Atvibutes 3. Skills. 4. Combat 5. Optional Combat Rules & Mutant Powers... 7. Non Combat Pens 4B. Treacon and Its Fruits Soe > Player Charts Clearance Red Gamemester Chars Clearance Utvaviolet ‘Character Shact andl Forms ‘Clearance Red LOLG.C. Player Characters Clearance Utraviclet 1O.G.C. Hand Ours Clearance Ultraviolet More 10.G.C. Stuf Clearance Ultraviolee eae 254 34 137 e 65 68 UB 75 <77 | Gamemastering Paranoia 1 Types of Equipment. 78 | 1. Running Game Sessions. 2, Vieapone 79 | 2. Presenting. Adventures. B BOB cece 8) | 3. Packaged Adventures vs, Come 2000) 85 Home-Brew 5. Multicore BS | 4 The Adventure Siewoiype 6 Vehicles 86 | 5 Designing Your Own Adventures © Into the Blender... 1. Using Fist Edition Adventures with Second Editon Rules Credits Design: Dan Gelber, Greg Costikyan and Eric Coldberg Fint Edition Development: Ken Rolston Second Edition Development: Greg Costihyan and Ken Rolston Faiting: Paul Murphy ‘Art Diection: Stephen Crane Graphics: Diane Malz and Kevin Wilkins Cover An: fusin Carroll Interior Ilustation: James Holloway Secret Society Logos: Peter Corles: “esting and Advice: john M. Ford, Bill Herz, Raymond E. Hever, Wesley D. ives, Nick ‘Karp, Doug Kaufman, David Levine, Robert Bran Lioton, Nicholas Martin Quane, Michie! Rocamova, Bill Slaviceal, Curis Smith, Waren Specioy 8. Dennis Sustre, Allen Varney, Lori Walls, arm Weiss, Mavtin Winied, and Erick Wojcik Kindness to Strangers: Bryan Ansell, Denise Causse, Michael Dobson, Philippe Doty, ‘Steve Jackson, and Greg Stafiord ‘Thought Cortvol: The Computer 2 33, 98 99 102 1 105 Fold-Outs PARANOIA ' Attention, Player! Read "Welcome to Paranoia," on page 6a this booklet, When you're fireshed, come back here. Came straight back here. Do not pass Go, Do no! save The Computer. Failure to ‘came back hee is teason. “Thank. ou. NOW, YOU May begin to pl. fue, you hrow nothing. sbout the game Tough, That's Pano for vou ‘Wl, i you insist, you may fead all of Paranoia for Player, which begins cn pate 5 ond ends om page 28 This section Classiied Red. ‘Since you are now 4 “Toublechacte your security clearance is Re and you may read "Paranoia. tor Players ‘without fear of execution. It will wach you a Title bit abou the Paranoia universe and the rules of te game, It aso tells you how to generate your own characiec But dont fRenorate one ye gamemasters frequently use regernrted charmer ose yours for details ‘Whats atte: “raranoa for Players What 1 your «curity cleerance, pleaset eal Vin sony, yu ate pot cleared to read the rest of this book. The fest of this book is clasied Utravioial, Oaly gamemasters may fead iI you read the rst ofthis book, you aie a tahor and subject to summary exertion Gf course, we recognize that mest of you will read it-anywsy, but don't tell your gamemaster # you do, Pretend you haven't Fead it fhe ask, look him eraight athe eye, ‘loss your heart spi ver your shoulder tice fang promse that you have never, ever read he isbok and you have no intention of ever doing so, Weve sure he will believe you. ‘G09. Almost forgot to mention ~ dont read the adventure Ino the Outdoors With Gu and Camera” on poges 107 tough 14) rety peaset This tine we really mean it. An adventure isa story which the gamemaster puts your characters through. If you know al the surprses and the details of the plot in Advance, t's not going o be very interesting ‘elie you play . Preface pissizt series once Attention, Gamemaster! Oh, fortunate one! Beloved of The ‘Computor, you ae cleave forall data, Read Paranoia or Players’ 30 you know what your players know. Then, read the resto the book Dant feel that you have to memorize enerything,faranol sa game of reeavheeing improvisaion, and i you forget rae or miss an important deval, we suagest you just bluff itout-tf you're a novice, “An inreduction to Gamemasiering” (oages 29 thoush 34) teaches youthe Borics Il you'r experienced, "Came- mastering Parerow” tpeges 91 through 106) piosices advanced suggestions and advice for how: to maintain the proper atmosphere of igiorance ane feer, and reduce your players {quivering submission. Rookies dont need to worry about the advanced st, though learn the basics and yet going ‘We include rules for character generation in “eparanaia for Piyers” Hewover the first few times you play, we suggest you use pre-generated characters Foli-OutD provides ‘Six regenerated character sheets: fold it out Cotitoff hack up the sheets and hand them ‘out to your players. Ifyou don't want to ruin this geat work of at, rusting that it will one day have the same resale value 2s a Shakespeare fs folio or Fantastic Four #, fel free te photocory the character sheets and cu Lup your copies. ‘We also elude a complete, ready to run riniepic adventure. “Into the Outdoors with Gun and Camera.” Again, we suggest thatthe fist time you run Paranoia, you use this adventure Paranoia isan unusual game, and iy using our adventure, you'll see how to do things, ale on, you can devise your own "ised stores forthe delight and tormentaton of your players. Wi the Fold-Ous Other publishers just give you # chintzy book. We give you more than jst peges with Stuff on ‘em: we give you six (count ‘em) nifty Fold Outs too, There aretwe-panel pages you an fold ouc (eit) so thar one panel extends fut from the booklet. = See! Is absolutely true; The Computer is your friend. You'e’ in yood manipulatory appendages with West End "The Fald-Outs are printed with all sors of Useful things you use during play, ike: Fold-Out A: This is printed with lots of charts and tables you use in the game. Fold-Out 8: Gostwon. More chars and tables Fol&-Out C: This is printed with a blank chatacter sheet ard some forms. Fold-Out D: This & printed with the pre- generated player-characters which vou" su posed to use in “Into the Outdoors with Gan {nd Camera’ You can phctecopy them if you wars Fold-Outs E and F: These ave printed with » slew of mags, rosters, and documents the jjamemastor can use when running “Int the Outdoors with Gun aad Camera" You're Supposed to yank them out slice them up and hand the maps and documents to your players at appropriate moments in the game. The rosters yOU use yOURe to keep track of bots, ‘hon player characies and other nuisances a {you play. Again, photocopy this stuff if you prefer, Isn't this wonderfulz Aren't you happy? Failure tobe happy s treason. The Computer i your friend Wi The Die Paranoia is played using a 20-ided die tt you bought the boxed version of the game you ot one with it. If you bought the book ver- Son, you can get 20-sided dice at most hob- by stores — or you can zend ut one dollar for postage and handling and we'll end you one see page 135) Paranoia for Players PARANOIA THE FOLLOWING IS SECURITY (CLEARANCE INFRARED — CLEARED FOR ALL CITIZENS. May 1 be of assistance? Sure. Why don't you tell me how this game works? V'm sorry, citizen, That information is not available at this tim. What do you mean, it's rot available? You are not yet a Toubleshooter. Therefore your security clearance is infrared. The rules are security Clearance Red. You are not cleared to know the rules. At your service HUbt Most games are real eager to teach you the rules, Not Piranoia. in Paranoia, you con't know who your friends are. You don't know who your enemies are. You don't know how your equipment works, You dont know the rules ‘Ohne thing you know: everyone is out to get Slay alet! Tust no one! Keep your laser handy’ ignorance and fear, fear and ignorance. Those are our watchwords The back cover copy says something about 2 computer. ‘The Computer is your friend! Trust The Computer. In Paranoia, you ply a Foubleshootarin sr vice to The Computex You are The Computer's trusted agent How dt get to be Troubleshooter? You turned in a fiend for treason. He was ceecuted for betraying The Computer. The Computer revered you fr your frat. What is a Troubleshooter supposed to do? Yourjcb isto root cut traitors and execute them. In other werd find touble.- and then to shoot 1 What's «traitor A tetris an evil and malevelent human ‘who hes bessyedhis fiend The Computer and Seeks to destoy The Compute, humanty, ‘Aloha Complex and ie a we wow it ators must be unmasked and destroyed ‘All muzant ae valtors. They are genetical ly imperect. They have no place in utopa. They must be eliminated. IN members of vecret societies are uators They belong to orzarizations rot offically sanctioned by The Compute They conspire against The Computer They must be destroyed By the way. YOU area mutant. And a member of¢ secret socley. os Sen matantt That ight ll Toubleshootes would be cage’ © unmask you as a baler and execute You, You work wih many Toubleshooters All a them carry powerful weapons et me get this straight. 1'm a trator The Punishment for treason is death. My Job is {o hunt down and kill ators I work with ‘ther people, who have the same orders. ll of them want to kill me. Not exactly. All of them wantto kill ators ‘They dov't know you're @ Commie mutant walter. yet ‘Ane if they find out thet Ir a mutant, hey ‘all mer ‘They'll ty. OF cours, if you convict them cf reason fs, then they wil be executed, and you may survive. OF course fale accusations OF treason are thernselves treason. Sol want to prove that they're traitors before they can prove that I'm a tealtoe. And if | sont. | le. Precisely, Watch out Taitors ae everywhere! By the way: dead traitors cannot testify 0 their own innocence —or aguinst you. It i= best 10 shaot first and ask questions later. Stay alert! Tust no one! Keep your laser handy! ‘Are you sure this is going to be fun? Certainly, eitzen! Of course it willbe fun ‘The Computer says s0, and The Computer is your friend. Can you doubt The Computer? Doubting The Computer is teason. Not No, certainly nt. If The Computer says this will be fun, then this certainly will be fun. Only a Commie mutant traitor could believe otherwise. Excellent, citizen! You're geting the idea. You have just been promoted to security clearance Red. Welcome to Paranoia. PARANOIA Greetings, Citizen Youare a citzen othe far future. Your home is Alpha Complen Humanity has advanced greatly since the bad od days ofthe 20th Century. There is no ‘war. There i no famine. There is no disease. Alpha ‘Complex is 2 utopa, run by a benevolent and omniscient computer. The Computer is your friend. The Computer pro- vides for your needs. The Computer ensures that each and every ciizen of Alpha Complex is happy Failure to be happy is treason. Tieason is punishable by summery execution. You are happy — aren't yout We thought, You are a clone According © legend, humans once reproduced by rutin, lke vile rims. Ths temo longer tus, Humane are frown in clone banks by The Computer There is no longer any need for the messy rar dommes: of love, romance ard childkirh. The Computer makes certein that every human is enotcally perfect in every respect. ‘Seo what love The Computer hac fr is cchizenst The Computer is your friend. Tus The Comoute: Fach human is part ofa clone family of six tsereticell identical siblings. This iso that no tone is ee" lonely. Aso, Tre Computers wel Suave of the importance of making backups iincate of accidental loss or erasure The Corn. puters wise: The Comaute is benevolent. The Computer is your tend “The Computer provides everthing for the happy citizens of Alpha Complex. It provides food. Il revides shelter. It provides eniertain- ‘ment Itpovides challenging and meaningil work, provides for the spiritual and psychological needs of each of is ciizens. It fxiets to cone YOU. But... Alpha Complex is a war. thas been atwarfor alot recorded history. There is con Stan danger of inltrtion by the enemy. The enemy are. the “Commies” Taltorous elements within Alpha Comper, such as mutants and secret societies. assist the Com nies, These dangerous elements must be rooted out ard destioyed. Enemies are ‘exerywhere! Stay alert! Tust.n0 one! Keep your laser handy! Security Clearance Exe citzen of Alpha Complex has secure ty clearance: Your clearance is Red. Security Clearances comespond tothe electromagnetic Spectrum: Beneath you In satus are the un- washed masses, the labores and drones of Security cleorance Inrared; above you i tatu, ae Orange, Yellow, Green, Biv, indigo Violet and Uitaviolet. Ulraviolet she highest satus. {tis whispered that there ae clearances above Ultraviolet, but rumors are treason. ‘The Computer determines each citizen's clearance with complete impartiality Higher ‘clearance means seater responsibility italso brings benefits — larger quarters more xinacy, 2 greater choice In food. The needs of all citizens are cared for, but those who sacrfice the most forthe sake of society and thelr flow beings ae rewarded most seat Citizens of higher clearance are_more knowledgeable and more capable than you, and have advanced because they hae selfiss- Ii served the greater goed. You should defor © higherclearance citizens at al times. Failure to do so is treason, Citizens are expected to wear clothing ofthe samme coloras the security clearance. Inared Gtizens wear black. Its said that Ultraviolet Citizens (alko known as High Programmers) ‘wear white, but you have never seen anyone ‘wearing white. Indeed, you have never seen {white wall or 2 white piece of equipment because of the security laws. You must wear red at al tres Failure to doo is treason, In order to make sure thet only citizens of the requisite competence, judgment. and reliability hve access to resticted areas, Alpha Complex is divided into colored. areas. Citizens may only enter areas. of their Clearance or lower You must sty within black (iared) and Red areas at all ties, Failure to do so fs treason. ‘The Computer ic your iriend, Service Groups All citizens belong to ane of eight service groups. Each service sroup serves an impor tant role in Alpha Complexe urEaucracy. Each has its own particular responsibilities. Each conslanlly struggles withthe others for fonding. equipment, and personnel. Some times the stuggle become: vilont. Charsces may obiain special equiprent information ot personal influence through their service sroups Internal Security (n'Sec) is responsible for ‘weeding out tailors and Commies and mai taining oder. it combines the functions of law fices, secret police, ane moritors of politcal ‘rthodony lec s corcally hated and feared by citizens inall other services. Is agents are everywhere Technical Services (lech) maintains robo, sthicls, communications hardware industrial fend production systers, and various electronic {and mechanical service systems In pracice ‘een Services’ and Power Services’ espor- sibilities overlap, Vicious bureaucratic rvaley {nd infighting develops ewer which group thee suited to serve The Computer in disputed jurisdictions Housing Preservation and Development and Mind Control (HPD & IMC) is responsible for primary human services — housekeeping, Creche: management, education, entertai- rent recreation, and retirement management. “Tiss the lages, the leas: prestigious, and the least poliealy eiable service group. But «dispensers of propegnnda, HPD & MAC can ‘Sway the emotions ofthe masses, making icin some ways the most powerful ‘The Armed Forces (ry) proect Aloha Comm loc against external mason by Commie mu- fant ieitor. They also supplement intemal Security agains internal rests ug, well trained, wel-ecuinped members of elte units Tike the vaunted Vulture Squadrons frequers- ly serve as bodyguards and handle high- priorty missions within Aloha Complex. Production, Logistics and Commissary (PLC) is responsible for agricultural and industrial production and allocation of resources. it prepares food and stores and distibutes all ‘cansumer aoads, PICs oaly marginally more prestigious than HPD & MC. Power Sersices (Power) maintains the power Plot and the primary hobitat engineoring Systems of Alpha Complex — raf, a, wats, And woete, Disputes wth Technical Services Tel « biter valry between the to groups Research and Design (R&D) develons new technology and equipment for uso by The Computer and citizens of Alphe Compies. RRDe bald advances are better known for their imaginative conception than their reliability, The Computers unrestrained in ts fnihusiastie suppor for RED‘. visionary projec. Central Processing Unit (CPL) is the central supervisory ard administative authority of ‘Alpha Complex. An entrenched bureaucracy handles records egulations, hursan wxource enginesting, utopian engineering jusie, and executive Operations, Certain CPU agents Shuigned dvectly by The Computer to projects Of special interest enjoy unparalleled Sutonomy and discretionary powes Tees REPORT FOR TERMINATION. LN are em re Troubleshooters All player characters belong tothe Trouble. shooters an die service unit composed of citizens from all service groups. Touble shooters go wherever The Computer orders, Lolving, whatever pecblems. The Computer vraris solved. Being 0 Toubleshooter is the most dangerous ob availabe 10 any citizen, Butt also one ofthe few ways acitzen may rapidly rise to higher status If you are lucky and serve The Computer wel, you may dream of ene day joining the ranks ofthe High Progammers But you must beware; the Toubleshooter’ 0 is perilous, and there are tailors everywhere ‘Mutant Powers ‘Yur chereciet asa mutant power. This can bbe agreatadvantage. This can abo be a great danger since having mutant power season, However, your power may help you sty alive as you ty to advance in service 10 The Computer ‘Some citizens are registered) mutants. A registered murantisa citizen who learns that though na faut of his own, he is possessed ‘ola treesonous muant power and selflessly Confesses is faw to The Computer. in it ‘wiedem and benevolence, The Computer Fergives thoxe who make fil confession, and permits such mutants 1 lve. However, The Computer recqices registered mutans to wear Luniorms with yellow stipes at all times. (Qelow clearance mutants wear a black bordered yellow stripe) Registered mutans are ot subjecto summary execution when they Use their powers. PARANOIA Certain powers are considered so dangerous to The Computer that revealing them results in immediate execution. & character would not feveal such 3 power to The Computer unless he had a death wish. Repistered mutans are sel-acknowledged trator, but theirexstence is tlerated by The Computer, Dedicated registered mates may eventually overcome the stigma of theit Excessive knowledge ofthe us, functions, and imilabons of muzant poner seasonous. Mutant ponerc are daser bed in considerable ‘detail on pages 68 trough 71. Those pages bre clasitied Ultraviolet. Fora player 10 rea those pages would be treason. Not that we can Mop you. The Mutant Power ables pinted on Fol Out A. Wis clasiied Red.wYou may read it Itlists the nares ol the most common mutant powers. Powers which are so teasonous that revealing them to The Computer causes im mediate termination are marked with an asiersk (1 Secret Societies You belong toa secret society. This can be very excting, Thi can also be very dangorous, because being a member ofa secret society 's treason, However, your secret society may help you advance and provide equipment dtp "araarable” your secant Giher citizens may be mambers of ether secret societies. Some of these other secre! Socteties may be bitter enemies of your own, You may have many secret enemies Naturally, the doctrines, organization and beliefs oF secret societies is restricted informa- tion, Excessive knowledge ofa secret society implies membership in it, and is punishable by summary execution. You can gain such Knowledge by reading the Ultraviolet material on pages 42 through 51. OF couse, ding so Is treason, ‘The Secret Society abe is printed on Fold utA. Ieis clasified Red, and liss the most common secret societies. Traitors ‘Mutarts and members of secret societies are triton. All good ctizens should report traitors to The Computer. You are a mutant and « member of a secre society. Good ctizens trould be quite eager to report you to The Computer Thanks to The Compute, you will tften be surrounded by good citizens. PARANOIA rier secion Mi Ina roleplaying game the players play the roles o important characters in’ story. The gainemaster provides the seting and plo. ‘while the characters played by the player are fee to choose treir awn actions as tey solve the problems thrown across thei path by the gamemaster. ‘The players ale dependent on the sgamemaster for al knowledg? about the se {hg and circumstances ofthe game adventure Normally the gamemester will inteduce a ‘game session withthe detail of the mission nd any. necessary background information “Then the adventure begins. The gamemaster describes the settings and non-player Characters ancountered “by the player ‘characters When a player wishes his character to perform an action, he describes te action to the gamemaster The gamemaster determines the chance of succest forthe player character’ action, tak ing into account the player characters skills, alates, the dliculty of the action, and ary father relevant crcumsances The gamemaster (onthe player, atthe waremasirs option) may then make adie oll to asst in determining the player characters degree of success or failure in this ection, “hs is the Basic flow of the game: the sgamemaster describing the setting, playess Choosing and describing their intended ac {ions tothe garermste and the gamemaster judging the succes ofthe actions using the fame rules and common sense “The drama ofthe game comes in the presen lation by the gamemaster and in the role- playing of the piayess. A good gamemaster tries to make the setting ac vivid 3s possible; he portays the nor-playe characters with description and colortl dialogue. He places the characters in dramatic and challenging situations where they must wse wit and skill to save themselves from death o” betrayal ‘A geod player tries to enter imaginatively into his characte to kee his action consis tent with his pesonaliy an abies. 1 pays cloce attention to he gamemaster’s descrip tions and dislogue and uses evry available resource to safeguard his characterand enable Fim io advance to higher status inthe service of The Computes Eee) Example of Play To give you an idea of what Paranoia i ll about, here's what you might hear you were Siting in a room where a game was being played. Background: Dan isthe gamemaster (Gia) sented atthe head ofthe table. Frc, Greg. Ken nd Lori are playing the roles of four brad: 2. Basic Game Concepts Tew agents of The Computer who have just received thet fist assignment —to visit the hrysterious Outdoors to find oul what happened to another group of agents wo have disappeared. Ei, Greg. Ken and Lon have of Coune seen trese and wildlife, but the Cherectes they are playing hove lived Underground al thetr lives and have just ‘merged fem 3 heaviy-guatded security door into the ight oF day. Dan (GM) ‘consulting his notes and laying a ‘map before the players. Well, this i a rough sketch cf what you see as you femerge from the security door. A narrow path leads away from the door Everything Around you ts unimaginabiy bizare — iroen stuff everywhere. none oi with any fpparent ‘unetion: tall brown polos with mare green stuff on top. Kon: Lim Tees, | supp. Dan: Now, now, we. Toubleshooters have ever seen trees bere, have we? Ker: Oh, right | got it Dan: And another thing. No ceiling. Repeat. Na ceiling, Eric: Cahhaknh! No ceiling2! Dan: Right. Now what do our intopid agents ‘dor Terie; Fscream, clutch the door jamb and ty ‘to squeeze back inside. regs ake notes. (Greg's agent sa secret spy forlnternal Security, and the notes are bo- Ing taken the scandalous behavior of the new agents) Lori I join Eric's character scrabbing a the ‘doot Ken: [pull my laser and try to look compe: Tent, (Ken's characters secret society mis: Sion {sto assessinate Greg, Ker's secret