Mr. Welch's Mad Musings: Paranoia

[@FiveofHearts1]

I had a shirt made once that just had Friend Computer on it, and the text "Happiness is Mandatory" It was a little worrying how many people didn't know what Paranoia was who identified with the sentiment.

[@aspektx]

So...how 'bout that Winona Rider?

[@Zeithri]

_Talking about Winona Rider is a Lv 5 Security Clearance._ - sounds of electrical tazer-shockers firing up -

[@ChibiKami]

fantasizing about Wynona Rider is restricted to security level RED and above meeting Wynona Rider is restricted to security level VIOLET and above

[@Barquevious_Jackson]

Brought up way- way- too much. Not even that hot.

[@superhetoric]

​@@Barquevious_Jacksonew

[@irontemplar6222]

I remember Paranoia. I once wore a Red Army Commissars uniform and played the soviet national anthem. I also convinced Friend computer that I was the only non-communist which was hilarious, but also actually true. (Well that my character wasn't one anyway) My character was doing it for the lols, and basically had died so much he frankly didn't care anymore. My party also ended up driving Friend computer to drinking. Oh and after all of this friend computer tried to kill us so hard. That it caused all of us to band together like thieves, and succeed despite the active attempts to kill us. We even managed to get the body count down below the double digits.

[@rosskwolfe]

"They will be shot by the Death Star in self-defense." I burst out laughing every time I hear that.

[@princecharon]

That nearly happened to Luke Skywalker several times.

[@rosskwolfe]

@princecharon Those were point defense towers. The implication of the sentence is "by the main laser".

[@needmorecowbell6895]

Easily one of the greates RPGs ever written.

[@Winterydee]

I think someone has a little crush on Winona Ryder. Aaaaaaaahhhh... yeah I can understand.

[@halkyuusen8626]

After watching this I imagined a crossover between 2001 Space Odyssey and Paranoid, with Friend Computer playing the role of HAL9K and they're on a ship instead of a complex.

[@b.s.864]

And that makes me think of the Game Metamorphosis Alpha and the show The Starlost. Although I don't think either had an A.I. . But Red Dwarf did and that ship's computer was definitely not right in the metaphorical head.

[@Grizabeebles]

Alpha Complex could be anywhere. The location of Alpha Complex is CLASSIFIED. The purpose of Alpha Complex is CLASSIFIED. All maps of Alpha Complex have been altered to conceal the CLASSIFIED rooms and corridors. All rooms and corridors in Alpha Complex have been altered to conceal the information on all CLASSIFIED maps. Alpha Complex is expanding to meet the needs of Alpha Complex. Alpha Complex is perfect. Creating your own map of Alpha Complex is espionage. Espionage is treason. Traitors will be executed.

[@AlainproFredric]

My favorite item( Which I made myself) Scum Be Gone XL, Kills 99%. 99% of what is up to the GM.

[@thedocklighter]

Ah, R&D was always fun: thermonuclear hand grenades (with a blast radius greater than your throwing distance) and wheeled rocket motor personal transportation boots.

[@thesynthpub6511]

Why not combine both, throw the grenade and run out of the blast radius?

[@shallendor]

Paranoia is all about creativity, setting up everyone else to save yourself! Felicia Day's laser pen death with Kegals is the best death of Paranoia, EVER!

[@drjohndee4322]

Lol.... back in the old days we would play paranoia when many of the players could not play for the day. It was fun and a blast.

[@cthulhupthagn5771]

For the longest time I only had 5th Edition. It does sort of emphasize slapstick, but to me more via its art (which was very Toon like). It still hit the same notes. Recently I've picked up the Mongoose boxed sets (core, Acute, Black box) and at a glance, it seems more old school

[@Dwarfman01]

Published in 1984!?!?!

[@thesynthpub6511]

Literally 1984

[@ss-oq9pc]

Your channel is a real hidden gem. You caused me to discover so many games I never heard of. Thanks.

[@ShiceSquad]

I knew this would be good when I saw the box. But that was back in 1991. Now I KNOW it's gonna be my favorite game.

[@reminder9146]

So the game was called... Winona Rider's Paranoia?

[@fsgtadZ]

I died trying to give a (very cooperative) grandfather nurgle a dental exam

[@g3xe49]

Reminds me of Portal and Aperture Laboratories. Will need to check this out

[@userfriendly2737]

G3 XE Indeed, citizen, you do. PARANOIA is fun, and fun is mandatory. Please expect erasure of your clone template should you fail to comply in a sufficiently timely and enthusiastic manner. Thank you and may your daycycle, as always, be filled with servility and satisfaction.

[@stephenclements6158]

You and your Winona fetish! A sign of your good taste.

[@Zane-It]

take a shot every time he says winona rider.

[@GolobulusJohnson-ti9vn]

Only played once and it was a blast.

[@JayHova4x4]

I ran the Paranoia LARP at OwlCon years ago. I hated the Vampire LARP and wanted something opposite, an anti-vampire LARP.

[@RobCrowley85]

So in this game, you just play to see how many ways you can die? Sounds like a night of absolute mayhem and laughs.

[@peterjanssen5901]

So, basically the Netherlands in the Future.

[@endlessboardgame985]

Did you receive a defective batch of hormone blocking chemicals?

[@tssteelx]

Ooofff... wait a second 10:25. Is that the 1981 marvel successes chart? Nice.

[@whitethunderclap451]

Things Mr. Welch is Not Allowed to do During an RPG Video #6,409: I will not make a video with one hand.

[@tukkek]

My problem with games like Paranoia is that you either need people to read the book or have a few sessions under their belts to fully play it as intended. Don't get me wrong: it must be a blast playing it as an unsuspecting first-timer too but you're not going to get the full experience until everyone sitting at the table "gets it". And sure, back in the 80s it might not be too much to expect at least a few of the players to read the book before starting but with the pace of life nowadays, most people don't even read a book per year, let alone a RPG rulebook... And, maybe other groups will differ, but my experience with comedy RPGs are that you play a one-shot once in a while, not an entire comedy campaign in a row to get players acclimated with the complex, unique setting and style. There's a reason why many of the more lore-intensive RPGs always start you off as a complete clueless bloke. In World of the Darkness and Kult, the world *seems* to be exactly like our world and is only through passing sessions that you, bit by bit, discover it's not at all like that. In Planescape most first-time players are going to be typical D&D heroes who are as confused by being teleported to Sigil (willingly or not) as any random person on the street would be. Paranoia is not alone in this regard: other settings also expect a lot from people before they can start playing "right" - and that doesn't make them bad games, necessarily.. it just bothers me that I'll probably never get to play it "as intended" or to its fullest potential because... it's just no small feat to actually get to that point with a band of RPG players that are anything less than full-hardcore dedicated to the hobby.

[@userfriendly2737]

tukkek There was once a magical paradise called P-live that sprang up around a modified IRC program that was specifically designed to facilitate realtime play-by-chat PARANOIA entitled JParanoia, and it did the job marvelously. Sadly, though I am sure if you dig you can still find the client, the wonderful community and domain that formed around scheduling missions with it is now defunct. Still, having nudged you in a direction whereby remote play is possible, mayhap you will one day find the group of dedicated players you and I both seek.

[@midshipman8654]

eh, I dont think it would be too hard to get people into if they dont have a hard preconception of what a rpg “has to be”, like a dungeon crawl or something. just go “this is an overbearing surveillance dystopia with a godlike psycho ai you have to appease. with both comedic and thriller tones”. then give some references like Portal or I have no mouth and I must scream. That seems like it should do it. the general premise is pretty well known. IDK if “lore” is all that necessary.

[@scottjones6860]

For more of a mind-twist I want to place Alpha Complex on a level of the gargantuan Starship Warden, the drifting generation ship from Metamorphosis Alpha. Probably because of the "Alpha" connection. Winona!

[@Mr_Welch]

Scott Jones the best part about Alpha complex is it goes exactly where you needed to go. So if one door opens out into a vast Wilderness and later another door opens into the cold vacuum of space nobody's even going to think twice about that

[@paulvalentine4157]

Paranoia XP is on Humble Bundle Feb 2024.

[@squatchhammer7215]

Paranoia, improv rpg.

[@mistery8363]

what's your opinion on the kickstarter edition?

[@notbloodylikely4817]

I enjoyed this review of Winona Ryder but what's with all the weird references to Paranoia?

[@Mr_Welch]

Needed to 0ad run time

[@byronswain7569]

Nice Lucas reference :D

[@bookwormbryan]

Great video! Do you have any thoughts on the more recent Paranoia: Red Clearance Edition?

[@Mr_Welch]

Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to take a look at it

[@thomasdiener9068]

I've had a Yen to mash this up with Necromunda, Where your entire Gang is your Clones.... (ala Bennett/Guinan 's Dark Horse Comic series"Heartbreakers") www.bigredhair.com/books/heartbreakers/about/ I'm two steps Closer since purchasing the French Company "Raging Hormones" figs 'The Toughest Gurls in the Galaxy' One of these Years...... Tank Girl meets Paranoia via Necromunda... Oh, Yes, my precious !!

[@alexanderk1206]

Too much of Wynona Ryder. Otherwise great video thx.

[@jameskosakoski2992]

So funny…

[@bstrange4685]

Had a blast with with this game. Was hoping you would cover it. Thanks.

[@RPGGamer]

Great bit of nostalgia, I love me some Paranoia, back in the 80's-90's I picked up absolutely everything I could for it, even if I didn't really play it that much, the books were hilarious just to read. I've put up a video about it myself over on my channel along with a bunch of other Retro RPG's. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oV7ZdnueaLJ4ptU The computer is your friend, trust no one and keep your laser handy.

[@MrCheshireify]

I think you failed to denote Paranoia XP, Paranoia's 25th Anniversary, and the New Paranoia game.

[@manarayofhope2374]

For me it was Lohan

[@TobeWilsonNetwork]

Probably Ana Torv or Jessica Chastain for me oddly enough , at least in the early years.

[@jeffweskamp3685]

@@TobeWilsonNetwork In my early years, my crush was Alyssa Milano. Now it's Taylor Swift and Natalie Dormer

[@DonzaDJN]

So, Space Station 13 the TTRPG~

[@Morachnyion]

i didnt know you had your own musings channel Glen.. you are now subscribed.

[@Melvinshermen]

This is basic Brave new World meet brazil

[@Morachnyion]

you also need a REALLY creative game master to run this.

[@userfriendly2737]

Brian Dean Or just the one for whom this setting lands. I'm a middling GM at best, and apart from this system, the only reason I ever run is lack of someone better. But, when it comes to PARANOIA the demands and nature of the setting just click for me, and I'm suddenly on another level as a storyteller.

[@WeWillAlwaysHaveVALIS]

@@userfriendly2737 I feel that, Paranoia is just my jam.

[@userfriendly2737]

We'llAlwaysHave VALIS As per CPU proclaimance 17-9-FU-18.17, you have been censured for improper presentation of Computer related materials. The appropriate representation of the title of our reality to communist outsiders is well-defined as full capitalization. Have a pleasant daycycle, citizen.

[@qazwer333]

Oh boy, GM Powertrip simulator. This game is garbage. I said it. My first major problem is it actively try's to hide main rules from the players(Even asking how to roll things can cause the gm to just kill their character suddenly.) The gm has zero rules and is expected to run the game like a meat grinder. Zero role playing, zero stakes. It encourages the players to act like Immature, selfish children.It has a terrible setting which is summed up as "fuck if i know".Asking questions or revealing you read the other parts of the book means the gm can kill you. Why get invested when you can die from asking the wrong question. In addition, every other player wants the other player's dead. Messing with the gm will cause unavoidable death #201,234,000. It is almost as terrible as Via the new legends with how evil and perceive everything is. 0/10 i would rather try to play phoenix command again.

[@Grizabeebles]

I've been at one or two tables where Paranoia is run more like "Logan's Run" or "THX 1138". As Mr. Welch said, Friend Computer has betrayed its original mission (maybe?) and created a communist society of mutants - which makes FC a traitor. Thus, following FC's instructions is aiding and abetting treason. Which is also treason. That's why rules-lawyering is pointless -- claiming you followed the rules is an admission of guilt.