If you have a warped sense of humor as I do, and enjoy games that drive you crazy PARANOIA is the perfect answer. This role-playing game takes place in a future society controlled by a deranged computer. PARANOIA is deliberately designed to make the players feel insecure about the safety of their characters in the game, the reliability of their companions, and the intentions of the gamemaster who represents The Computer The box cover advises: "Stay Alert. Trust No One. Keep Your Laser Handy" This is good advice if you want to survive. In this game, caution often goes unrewarded, items you work hard to obtain are arbitrarily taken from you and if it appears that your character is becoming too important-report to the nearest termination center. The best way to explain what PARANOIA is like as a game is to show what happened in an introductory scenario in which I played. I was one of three players. We were "troubleshooters" serving the needs of The Computer. Our mission was to retrieve equipment, weapons, and robot brains left in an area ambushed by "traitors". All the attacking traitors and all the loyal citizens in the area were killed. Our job was to get the valuable articles and bring them back. Beware! Traitors are everywhere! You must immediately report any treasonous behavior or any suspicion of treasonous behavior to the Computer Failure to do so is treason. Each player was given a laser pistol with reloads, and a utility belt with flashlight to help us achieve our mission. You are assigned equipment. Give thanks for The Computer's bountiful generosity. Preserve this equipment from harm or theft. Only a traitor would be careless with The Computer's precious resources. We had back up assistance in our mission from one security officer, and one security soldier armed with a powerful laser rifle. These two players were run by the referee. Know the enemy! Guard against treason. Serve the Computer. The Computer is your friend! In addition to our weapons and equipment, each player had a security clearance code of red, the lowest level for troubleshooters, belonged to a secret society and had a mutant power. I was a member of the secret society of the First Church of Christ Computer-Programmers. My mutant power was advanced hearing ability. The players didn't know what each others mutant powers and secret society allegiance were. Mutants and members of secret societies are traitors. All good citizens should report traitors to The Computer. We had to retrieve The Computer's items from a remote area of the underground city in which we lived, called Alpha Complex. The area where the ambush occurred was at the end of a long, dark hallway, littered with bodies and debris. I assumed the role of "leader" Of our small group, and ordered the other two troubleshooters to go in front of me on either side of the hallway; just in case we ran into any traitors. The security officer and soldier remained behind. As we approached the ambush area, more traitors, who had also just arrived to try and retrieve the weapons and equipment, opened fire at us with their lasers. The troubleshooter directly in front of me returned fire with his pistol and hit two traitors. But he also accidentally hit an autocar. The car exploded, destroying the valuable robot brain that we were sent to retrieve. We were now in big trouble! His poor aim would be considered treason. As leader, I did the only responsible thing I could. After yelling: "He destroyed the autocar. He's a traitor!," I shot the troubleshooter in the back. Rejoice in the assurance that any, treason among our companions will be discovered and punished. Devote your service to The Computer. Your loyalty will be generously rewarded. Eventually the remaining troubleshooter chased off the traitors by going berserk and charging them in the dark hallway Meanwhi1e, I made a slight tactical withdrawal--I ran back to the security officer for help, unaware of what the other troubleshooter was doing. You must fulfill your mission. The safety of your fellow troubleshooters and the security of Alpha Company depends on you. Although die security officer didn't believe my story of traitors in the area, and suspected me Of sabotaging the mission, he allowed me to lead the soldier back to area of the recent battle. The officer didn't call for reinforcements, and followed carefully from a distance. After a few parting shots in our direction, the traitors retreated, having stolen only a few items. The other troubleshooter stood exhausted, with a captured laser rifle in one hand and his own laser pistol in the other, I immediately grabbed the robot brain from the remaining intact autocar and showed it to the security officer, exclaiming: "We are loyal citizens. We have served The Computer." I had lied, exhibited cowardice, betrayed my companions, was; a traitor, and survived, I received a commendation from The Computer. All internal security agents please turn in your personal effects and report to the food vats, Thank you for your cooperation. Paranoia Scenario: Massacre in D-18 Game Review: Paranoia Back to Table of Contents -- Game News #1 To Game News List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1999 by Dana Lombardy. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com