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===1st edition=== | |
===1st edition=== |
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'''1st edition '''({{ISBN|978-0-87431-025-2}}) - written by [[Greg Costikyan]], Dan Gelber, and [[Eric Goldberg (game designer)|Eric Goldberg]] - published in 1984 by West End Games. In 1985, this edition of ''Paranoia ''won the [[Origins Award]] for ''Best Roleplaying Rules of 1984''. This edition, while encouraging dark humour in-game, took a fairly serious dystopian tone; the supplements and adventures released to accompany it emphasised the lighter side, however, establishing the freewheeling mix of slapstick, intra-team backstabbing and satire that is classically associated with a game of ''Paranoia''. | |
'''1st edition '''{{efn| {{ISBN|978-0-87431-025-2}} }} was written by [[Greg Costikyan]], Dan Gelber, and [[Eric Goldberg (game designer)|Eric Goldberg]] - published in 1984 by West End Games. In 1985, this edition of ''Paranoia ''won the [[Origins Award]] for ''Best Roleplaying Rules of 1984''. This edition, while encouraging dark humour in-game, took a fairly serious dystopian tone; the supplements and adventures released to accompany it emphasised the lighter side, however, establishing the freewheeling mix of slapstick, intra-team backstabbing and satire that is classically associated with a game of ''Paranoia''. |
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===2nd edition=== | |
===2nd edition=== |
| [[File:Paranoia2nd.jpg|thumb|Cover of 2nd edition]] | | [[File:Paranoia2nd.jpg|thumb|Cover of 2nd edition]] |
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'''2nd edition''' ({{ISBN|978-0-87431-018-4}}) - written by [[Greg Costikyan]], Dan Gelber, [[Eric Goldberg (game designer)|Eric Goldberg]], [[Ken Rolston]], and Paul Murphy - published in 1987 by West End Games. This edition can be seen as a response to the natural development of the line towards a rules-light, fast and entertaining play style. Here, the humorous possibilities of life in a paranoid dystopia are emphasised, and the rules are simplified. | |
'''2nd edition'''{{efn|{{ISBN|978-0-87431-018-4}} }} credited to Costikyan, GGelber, Goldberg, [[Ken Rolston]], and Paul Murphy was published in 1987 by West End Games. This edition can be seen as a response to the natural development of the line towards a rules-light, fast and entertaining play style. Here, the humorous possibilities of life in a paranoid dystopia are emphasised, and the rules are simplified. |
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====Metaplot and the Second Edition==== | |
====Metaplot and the Second Edition==== |
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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]] |
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'''"Fifth Edition"''' ({{ISBN|978-0-87431-171-6}}) - published in 1995 by West End Games - was in fact the third edition of the game released. (The game skipped two editions 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.) It has since been declared an "un-product" (cf. "[[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.{{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}} |
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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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| Art director Larry Catalano left West End in 1986. Catalano’s successor fired (illustrator) Jim Holloway and brought in a succession of increasingly poor cartoonists. (Writer/editor) Ken Rolston left shortly thereafter for unrelated reasons. In Ken’s wake, developers Doug Kaufman and Paul Murphy in turn briefly supervised the PARANOIA line. After they too departed, editorial control fell to—how do I put this tactfully?—people with different views of the PARANOIA line.{{cite book | | Art director Larry Catalano left West End in 1986. Catalano’s successor fired (illustrator) Jim Holloway and brought in a succession of increasingly poor cartoonists. (Writer/editor) Ken Rolston left shortly thereafter for unrelated reasons. In Ken’s wake, developers Doug Kaufman and Paul Murphy in turn briefly supervised the Paranoia line. After they too departed, editorial control fell to—how do I put this tactfully?—people with different views of the Paranoia line.{{cite book |
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| title = Paranoia: Flashbacks | |
| title = Paranoia: Flashbacks |
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| last = Varney | |
| last = Varney |
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| date = 16 April 1999 | |
| date = 16 April 1999 |
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| publisher = Steve Jackson Games | |
| publisher = Steve Jackson Games |
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}} [[Scott Palter]] of West End expressed hopes that the Third Edition would be published that summer; however, he also disclosed that court proceedings had been begun by the original designers in order to reclaim the rights to the game. The designers would ultimately succeed in purchasing the rights to the game, putting an end to any possibility that the final West End Games edition would be released. | |
}} [[Scott Palter]] of West End expressed hopes that the Third Edition would be published that summer; however, he also disclosed that court proceedings had been begun by the original designers in order to reclaim the rights to the game. The designers did succeed in purchasing the rights to the game, putting an end to any possibility that the final West End Games edition would be released. |
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A single adventure has surfaced which contained a summary of the third edition rules.{{cite web | |
A single adventure has surfaced which contained a summary of the third edition rules.{{cite web |
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| title = Down the Tubes | |
| title = Down the Tubes |
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| access-date = 2007-08-28 | |
| access-date = 2007-08-28 |
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| last = Hepler | |
| last1 = Hepler |
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| first = Chris | |
| first1 = Chris |
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| author2=Jennifer Brandes | |
| first2=Jennifer |last2=Brandes |
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| archive-url =
https://web.archive.org/web/20070828035939/http://www.tasteslikephoenix.com/articles/tubes.html
|archive-date = 2007-08-28 | |
| archive-url =
https://web.archive.org/web/20070828035939/http://www.tasteslikephoenix.com/articles/tubes.html
|archive-date = 2007-08-28 |
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}} | |
}} |
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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]] |
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'''''Paranoia XP''''' ({{ISBN|978-1-904854-26-5}}) 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'', 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. | |
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}} |
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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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| title = Sell me on Paranoia 5th... | |
| title = Sell me on Paranoia 5th... |
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| access-date = 2010-03-31 | |
| access-date = 2010-03-31 |
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| author = Allen Varney | |
| author = Allen Varney |website=forum.rpg.net |
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}} and therefore may have given it short shrift in the main rulebook, although later supplements for ''Paranoia XP'' did provide more support for Zap play. | |
}} and therefore may have given it short shrift in the main rulebook, although later supplements for ''Paranoia XP'' did provide more support for Zap play. |
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Long-time ''Paranoia'' artist [[Jim Holloway (artist)|Jim Holloway]], called "the master of the fun-filled illustration", drew the cover art and much of the internal art for the game until 1986. His art for the series generally portray comedic scenarios that capture the essential "deathtrap" feeling of Alpha Complex. ''Paranoia XP'' marked his return to the line as well; he has designed every cover of the XP edition, and many books contain both his classic and new ''Paranoia'' art. | |
Long-time ''Paranoia'' artist [[Jim Holloway (artist)|Jim Holloway]], called "the master of the fun-filled illustration", drew the cover art and much of the internal art for the game until 1986. His art for the series generally portray comedic scenarios that capture the essential "deathtrap" feeling of Alpha Complex. ''Paranoia XP'' marked his return to the line as well; he designed every cover of the XP edition, and many books contain both his classic and new ''Paranoia'' art. |
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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|PDA]]s 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=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 |
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===Red Clearance Edition=== | |
===Red Clearance Edition=== |
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The most recent edition (at the time of writing) from Mongoose Publishing was announced through [[Kickstarter]]{{cite web | |
The most recent edition from Mongoose Publishing was announced through [[Kickstarter]]{{cite web |
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| url =
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1990654819/paranoia-rpg
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| url =
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1990654819/paranoia-rpg
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| title = Re: Paranoia RPG Rebooted | |
| title = Re: Paranoia RPG Rebooted |
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}} 24 October 2014. In a departure from previous Mongoose editions, RED Clearance Edition utilises a d6-based dice pool system as well as using cards for equipment, mutant powers, secret societies, and combat actions. The base game was primarily designed by [[James Wallis (games designer)|James Wallis]], and released in March 2017. Additional writing for the new edition was initially provided by [[Gareth Hanrahan]], while the first major expansion, Acute PARANOIA, was written by various writers and funded through Kickstarter{{Cite web | url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1990654819/acute-paranoia-a-box-full-of-treason-and-summary-e |title = ACUTE PARANOIA: A box full of treason and summary executions}} in 2018 for an early 2019 release. | |
}} 24 October 2014. In a departure from previous Mongoose editions, RED Clearance Edition utilises a d6-based dice pool system as well as using cards for equipment, mutant powers, secret societies, and combat actions. The base game was primarily designed by [[James Wallis (games designer)|James Wallis]], and released in March 2017. Additional writing for the new edition was initially provided by [[Gareth Hanrahan]], while the first major expansion, Acute PARANOIA, was written by various writers and funded through Kickstarter{{Cite web | url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1990654819/acute-paranoia-a-box-full-of-treason-and-summary-e |title = Acute Paranoia: A box full of treason and summary executions}} in 2018 for an early 2019 release. |
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==Reception== | |
==Reception== |
