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Paranoia RPG Returns in New Edition

Posted by michael on from the i-speak-without-fear-of-contradiction dept.

Allen Varney writes "The classic tabletop roleplaying game PARANOIA, originally published by West End Games in the 1980s, returns in a new edition this August from Mongoose Publishing. PARANOIA, the game of a darkly humorous future, is set in an underground Alpha Complex ruled by an insane Computer. I am writing and (re)designing the main rulebook, under direction from original PARANOIA co-designer Greg Costikyan, with contributions from novelist and game designer Aaron Allston. I'd be happy to answer questions from Slashdot's gamers."

1 of 363 comments (clear)

  1. What I loved about Paranoia by cyranoVR · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The Paranoia rule book (2nd Edition) actively encouraged the gamemaster to ignore the rules. It was one of the few RPGs I played (AD&D, Mechwarrior, various GURPS) that emphasized having fun above all else. I hope the new edition stays true to this spirit!

    That - and I loved the wry satirical and self-referencing tone in which 2nd Edition was written. Sometimes I would sit and just read the rulebook for fun! Reading it as a teenager, I learned a lot about both pop-culture and serious political thought ("Imagine a world designed by Orwell, Sartre, Kafka, Stalin and the Marx Brothers...")

    Basically, if The Onion did a sci-fi RPG, it would be Paranoia.

    Can't wait to see the new edition!

    and remember...THE COMPUTER IS YOUR FRIEND! ALL HAIL FRIEND COMPUTER!