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| {{Short description|Science fiction tabletop role-playing game}} | | {{Short description|Science fiction tabletop role-playing game}} |
| {{Italic title}} | | {{Italic title}} |
| {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2013}} | | {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} |
| {{More citations needed|date=January 2012}} | | {{More citations needed|date=January 2012}} |
| {{Infobox RPG | | {{Infobox RPG |
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| ==="Fifth" Edition=== | | ==="Fifth" Edition=== |
| [[File:Paranoia fifth.png|thumb|right|Cover of Fifth edition]] | | [[File:Paranoia fifth.png|thumb|right|Cover of Fifth edition]] |
| '''"Fifth Edition"''' {{efn| {{ISBN|978-0-87431-171-6}} }} was published in 1995 by West End Games. It was the third edition of the game released; two editions were skipped as a joke, and possibly also as a reference to the two major revisions to the game released during the lifetime of the Second Edition with the Crash Course Manual and the Paranoia Sourcebook.{{cn|date=April 2022}} It has since been declared an "un-product"{{efn|compare with "[[unperson]]"}} by the writers of the current edition, due to its extremely poor commercial and critical reception. Almost none of the original production staff were involved, and the books in this line focused less on the dark humor and oppressive nature of Alpha, and more on cheap pop culture spoofs, such as a ''[[Vampire: The Masquerade]]'' parody. It had a lighter and sillier atmosphere and fans and more cartoonish illustrations.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} | | '''"Fifth Edition"''' {{efn| {{ISBN|978-0-87431-171-6}} }} was published in 1995 by West End Games. It was the third edition of the game released; two editions were skipped as a joke, and possibly also as a reference to the two major revisions to the game released during the lifetime of the Second Edition with the Crash Course Manual and the Paranoia Sourcebook.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} It has since been declared an "un-product"{{efn|compare with "[[unperson]]"}} by the writers of the current edition, due to its extremely poor commercial and critical reception. Almost none of the original production staff were involved, and the books in this line focused less on the dark humor and oppressive nature of Alpha, and more on cheap pop culture spoofs, such as a ''[[Vampire: The Masquerade]]'' parody. It had a lighter and sillier atmosphere and fans and more cartoonish illustrations.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} |
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| In his introduction to ''Flashbacks'', a compilation of ''Paranoia'' adventures from the West End Games era, Allen Varney details the management decisions which led, in the eyes of many, to the decline of the ''Paranoia ''line, and cites rumours that the line saw a 90% decline in sales before West End Games went into bankruptcy: | | In his introduction to ''Flashbacks'', a compilation of ''Paranoia'' adventures from the West End Games era, Allen Varney details the management decisions which led, in the eyes of many, to the decline of the ''Paranoia ''line, and cites rumours that the line saw a 90% decline in sales before West End Games went into bankruptcy: |
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| |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080612082821/http://www.costik.com/weblog/2004/02/paranoia-returns.html
| | |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080612082821/http://www.costik.com/weblog/2004/02/paranoia-returns.html
|
| |archive-date = 12 June 2008 | | |archive-date = 12 June 2008 |
| |df = dmy-all | |
| }} - two years after the release of the Fifth Edition. Due to West End Games' financial problems this edition was never completed. In an interview in 1999{{cite web | | }} - two years after the release of the Fifth Edition. Due to West End Games' financial problems this edition was never completed. In an interview in 1999{{cite web |
| | url = http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=731
| | | url = http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=731
|
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| ===''Paranoia XP''=== | | ===''Paranoia XP''=== |
| [[File:Paranoia XP.png|thumb|right|Cover of XP edition]] | | [[File:Paranoia XP.png|thumb|right|Cover of XP edition]] |
| Following the bankruptcy of West End Games, the original designers of ''Paranoia'' banded together and purchased the rights to the game from West End in order to regain control of the line. The designers in turn granted a license to [[Mongoose Publishing]] to produce a new version of the game, with the result that ''Paranoia XP''{{efn| {{ISBN|978-1-904854-26-5}} }}, written by [[Allen Varney]], [[Aaron Allston]], Paul Baldowski, Beth Fischi, [[Dan Curtis Johnson]] and Greg Costikyan, was published in 2004. In 2005, [[Microsoft]] requested that the 'XP' be removed. As such, the name was shortened to just ''Paranoia''. This edition of the game has received a much warmer critical reception, as well as selling well.{{cn|date=April 2022}} | | Following the bankruptcy of West End Games, the original designers of ''Paranoia'' banded together and purchased the rights to the game from West End in order to regain control of the line. The designers in turn granted a license to [[Mongoose Publishing]] to produce a new version of the game, with the result that ''Paranoia XP'',{{efn| {{ISBN|978-1-904854-26-5}} }} written by [[Allen Varney]], [[Aaron Allston]], Paul Baldowski, Beth Fischi, [[Dan Curtis Johnson]] and Greg Costikyan, was published in 2004. In 2005, [[Microsoft]] requested that the 'XP' be removed. As such, the name was shortened to just ''Paranoia''. This edition of the game has received a much warmer critical reception, as well as selling well.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} |
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| This edition also introduced three different styles of play, with some game mechanics differing between the various modes to support the specific tone being sought-after: | | This edition also introduced three different styles of play, with some game mechanics differing between the various modes to support the specific tone being sought-after: |
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| While ''Paranoia XP'' kept Communists as the big bad scapegoat in spite of the [[Cold War]] being long over, the updated edition integrates several 21st century themes into its satire. Troubleshooters carry PDCs (Personal Digital Companion) that are reminiscent of [[Personal digital assistant]]s (PDA0s and [[smartphone]]s and can try to acquire gear by bidding on CBay (an obvious pun on [[eBay]]). New threats to Alpha Complex include [[file sharing]], [[phishing]] scams, [[identity theft]] and [[weapons of mass destruction]]s. [[Consumerism]] in Alpha Complex has been tooled into its economy and has taken on an element of patriotism, echoing sentiments expressed after [[9/11]] along similar trends. A mission pack released in 2009 titled ''War On (Insert Noun)'' lampoons government initiatives like the [[War on Drugs]] and the [[War on Terror]]. | | While ''Paranoia XP'' kept Communists as the big bad scapegoat in spite of the [[Cold War]] being long over, the updated edition integrates several 21st century themes into its satire. Troubleshooters carry PDCs (Personal Digital Companion) that are reminiscent of [[Personal digital assistant]]s (PDA0s and [[smartphone]]s and can try to acquire gear by bidding on CBay (an obvious pun on [[eBay]]). New threats to Alpha Complex include [[file sharing]], [[phishing]] scams, [[identity theft]] and [[weapons of mass destruction]]s. [[Consumerism]] in Alpha Complex has been tooled into its economy and has taken on an element of patriotism, echoing sentiments expressed after [[9/11]] along similar trends. A mission pack released in 2009 titled ''War On (Insert Noun)'' lampoons government initiatives like the [[War on Drugs]] and the [[War on Terror]]. |
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| In writing the new edition, Varney, Goldberg and Costikyan reached out to and actively collaborated with the ''Paranoia'' online fan community through an official blog{{cite web |last1=Costikyn |first1=Greg |title=Paranoia Blog |url=http://www.costik.com/paranoia |access-date=28 August 2021}} {{Dead link|date=August 2021}} and through Paranoia-Live.net.{{cite web |title=Paranoia Live |url=http://www.paranoia-live.net:80/news.php |website=www.paranoia-live.net |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407035636if_/http://www.paranoia-live.net:80/news.php|archive-date=28 August 2021}}{{cite web | | In writing the new edition, Varney, Goldberg and Costikyan reached out to and actively collaborated with the ''Paranoia'' online fan community through an official blog{{cite web |last1=Costikyn |first1=Greg |title=Paranoia Blog |url=http://www.costik.com/paranoia |access-date=28 August 2021}} {{Dead link|date=August 2021}} and through Paranoia-Live.net.{{cite web |title=Paranoia Live |url=http://www.paranoia-live.net:80/news.php |website=paranoia-live.net |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407035636if_/http://www.paranoia-live.net:80/news.php|archive-date=28 August 2021}}{{cite web |
| | url = http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_4/25-Player-Prompted-Paranoia
| | | url = http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_4/25-Player-Prompted-Paranoia
|
| | title = Player-Prompted Paranoia | | | title = Player-Prompted Paranoia |
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| | date = 2 August 2005 | | | date = 2 August 2005 |
| | publisher = The Escapist magazine | | | publisher = The Escapist magazine |
| }} {{Dead link|date=August 2021}} In addition, Varney ran an online game, the ''Toothpaste Disaster'',{{cite web |last1=Varney |first1=Allen |title=ParanoiaLexicon |url=http://paranoia.allenvarney.com |website=paranoia.allenvarney.com |access-date=28 August 2021}} where players took the role of High Programmers documenting the titular disaster in a [[Lexicon (game)|Lexicon]] format. Many ideas established in the ''Lexicon'' game were written into the rulebook. Later, some of the best players and writers from the game and a few other places were formally integrated as the Traitor Recycling Studio to write official ''Paranoia'' material; their first credited work was the mission supplement ''Crash Priority''.{{cite web|url=http://www.costik.com/paranoia/public_html/paranoia/oldarchives/2004_08_01_blogchive.html | | }} {{Dead link|date=August 2021}} In addition, Varney ran an online game, the ''Toothpaste Disaster'',{{cite web |last1=Varney |first1=Allen |title=ParanoiaLexicon |url=http://paranoia.allenvarney.com |website=paranoia.allenvarney.com |access-date=28 August 2021}} where players took the role of High Programmers documenting the titular disaster in a [[Lexicon (game)|Lexicon]] format. Many ideas established in the ''Lexicon'' game were written into the rulebook. Later, some of the best players and writers from the game and a few other places were formally integrated as the Traitor Recycling Studio to write official ''Paranoia'' material; their first credited work was the mission supplement ''Crash Priority''.{{cite web|url=http://www.costik.com/paranoia/public_html/paranoia/oldarchives/2004_08_01_blogchive.html |
| |title = Crash Priority (Official PARANOIA Blog) | | |title = Crash Priority (Official PARANOIA Blog) |
| |access-date = 2009-06-04 | | |access-date = 2009-06-04 |
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| |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120114104732/http://www.costik.com/paranoia/public_html/paranoia/oldarchives/2004_08_01_blogchive.html
| | |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120114104732/http://www.costik.com/paranoia/public_html/paranoia/oldarchives/2004_08_01_blogchive.html
|
| |archive-date = 14 January 2012 | | |archive-date = 14 January 2012 |
| |df = dmy-all | |
| }} | | }} |
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| |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081227220004/http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=37965
| | |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081227220004/http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=37965
|
| |archive-date = 27 December 2008 | | |archive-date = 27 December 2008 |
| ⚫ | }} They stated that the ''XP ''material would "maintain a 90% compatibility rating with the new ''Paranoia ''books".{{cite web |
| |df = dmy-all | |
⚫ | }} They stated that the ''XP ''material would "maintain a 90% compatibility rating with the new ''Paranoia ''books".{{cite web | |
| |url = http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/news/news_item.php?pkid_news=319
| | |url = http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/news/news_item.php?pkid_news=319
|
| |title = Babylon 5 & Paranoia - Last Chance for Books! | | |title = Babylon 5 & Paranoia - Last Chance for Books! |
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| |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110616200551/http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/news/news_item.php?pkid_news=319
| | |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110616200551/http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/news/news_item.php?pkid_news=319
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| |archive-date = 16 June 2011 | | |archive-date = 16 June 2011 |
| |df = dmy-all | |
| }} | | }} |
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| [[Marcus L. Rowland]] reviewed ''Paranoia'' for ''[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]]'' #65, giving it an overall rating of 7 out of 10, and stated that "I like Paranoia, but I'm not sure that I'd want to run it as a prolonged campaign. It's the sort of concept which works well as light relief from a 'serious' RPG campaign, and will definitely appeal to 'hack and slay' merchants. Dedicated rule lawyers and wargamers will hate it. Overall, a lot of fun for a minimum of three or four players."{{cite magazine| last =Rowland | first =Marcus L. | author-link =Marcus L. Rowland | title =Open Box |magazine=[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]] | issue =65 | pages =8 | publisher =[[Games Workshop]] | date = May 1985 }} | | [[Marcus L. Rowland]] reviewed ''Paranoia'' for ''[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]]'' #65, giving it an overall rating of 7 out of 10, and stated that "I like Paranoia, but I'm not sure that I'd want to run it as a prolonged campaign. It's the sort of concept which works well as light relief from a 'serious' RPG campaign, and will definitely appeal to 'hack and slay' merchants. Dedicated rule lawyers and wargamers will hate it. Overall, a lot of fun for a minimum of three or four players."{{cite magazine| last =Rowland | first =Marcus L. | author-link =Marcus L. Rowland | title =Open Box |magazine=[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]] | issue =65 | pages =8 | publisher =[[Games Workshop]] | date = May 1985 }} |
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| In the April 1988 edition of [[Dragon (magazine)|''Dragon'']] (Issue 132), [[Jim Bambra]] thought that the second edition had marked improvements compared to the first edition: "The first edition of ''Paranoia'' promised hilarious fun and a combat system that didn’t get bogged down in tedious mechanics. It soon found a following among gamers looking for something different in their role-playing adventures. Still, a close inspection of the combat system revealed that it was slow moving and cumbersome. The mechanics were hard to grasp in places, making it difficult to get into the freewheeling fun. Now, all that’s changed. The ''Paranoia'' game has been treated to a revamp, and this time the rules are slick. All that tricky stuff which made the combat system such a pain to run has been shelved off into optional rules. If you want the extra complications, you’re welcome to them, or you can do what most people did anyway and simply ignore them." Bambra did express reservations about the suitability of the game for an on-going campaign, saying "It doesn't lend itself easily to long-term campaign play. This game is best treated as a succession of short adventure sessions in which players get to enjoy themselves doing all those despicable things that would spoil a more 'serious’ game." However Bambra concluded with a recommendation, saying "As a tongue-in-cheek science-fiction game, this one is hard to beat."{{cite magazine | last= Bambra | first= Jim | author-link = Jim Bambra | date= April 1988 | title= Role Playing Reviews: Playing it for Laughs |magazine= Dragon Magazine | volume= XII | issue= 132 | pages= 8–9 | publisher = TSR, Inc. | location = Lake Geneva WI | issn= 0279-6848}} | | In the April 1988 edition of [[Dragon (magazine)|''Dragon'']] (Issue 132), [[Jim Bambra]] thought that the second edition had marked improvements compared to the first edition: "The first edition of ''Paranoia'' promised hilarious fun and a combat system that didn’t get bogged down in tedious mechanics. It soon found a following among gamers looking for something different in their role-playing adventures. Still, a close inspection of the combat system revealed that it was slow moving and cumbersome. The mechanics were hard to grasp in places, making it difficult to get into the freewheeling fun. Now, all that’s changed. The ''Paranoia'' game has been treated to a revamp, and this time the rules are slick. All that tricky stuff which made the combat system such a pain to run has been shelved off into optional rules. If you want the extra complications, you’re welcome to them, or you can do what most people did anyway and simply ignore them." Bambra did express reservations about the suitability of the game for an on-going campaign, saying "It doesn't lend itself easily to long-term campaign play. This game is best treated as a succession of short adventure sessions in which players get to enjoy themselves doing all those despicable things that would spoil a more 'serious' game." However Bambra concluded with a recommendation, saying "As a tongue-in-cheek science-fiction game, this one is hard to beat."{{cite magazine | last= Bambra | first= Jim | author-link = Jim Bambra | date= April 1988 | title= Role Playing Reviews: Playing it for Laughs |magazine= Dragon Magazine | volume= XII | issue= 132 | pages= 8–9 | publisher = TSR, Inc. | location = Lake Geneva WI | issn= 0279-6848}} |
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| In ''[[The Games Machine]]'' #3, John Wood enjoyed the "darkly humorous" artwork of the second edition, and complimented the writers for a better-organized set of rules. He concluded, "The new edition is far more suitable for those with little or no RPG experience, and is excellent value for a complete system (just add a 20-sided die)."{{cite magazine|last=Wood|first=John | date=February 1988|title=Paranoid Psychotics|magazine=[[The Games Machine]]|publisher=Enfield|issue=3|pages=80}} | | In ''[[The Games Machine]]'' #3, John Wood enjoyed the "darkly humorous" artwork of the second edition, and complimented the writers for a better-organized set of rules. He concluded, "The new edition is far more suitable for those with little or no RPG experience, and is excellent value for a complete system (just add a 20-sided die)."{{cite magazine|last=Wood|first=John | date=February 1988|title=Paranoid Psychotics|magazine=[[The Games Machine]]|publisher=Enfield|issue=3|pages=80}} |