Paranoia: Red Clearance Edition - RPG Review

A review of the new Paranoia Red Clearance Edition RPG released by Mongoose Publishing. It’s a unique and funny dystopian sci-fi game that’s a lot of fun.
Stay alert! Trust no one! Keep your laser handy!
Useful Links:
Find the PDF on DriveThru RPG - www.drivethrurp...
Find it on Amazon - amzn.to/2AJ2EEh
Mongoose Publishing website - www.mongoosepub...
You can find my own books and fiction here - amzn.to/2Ame7JK

[@cannibalcorpse75]

I don't know how this version works, but a big reason for the computer's crazy behavior in the old version was because of the ultraviolet clearance citizens. They are high programmers and can upload instructions into the computer, often times with competing interests from other high programmers. If two ultraviolets don't like each other, and a troubleshooter team is caught in the middle, god help them.

[@PenDragonx]

Not commenting is treason... Did I do good Mr. Computer sir?!?!

[@1Ring42]

Referring to friend computer as Mr computer is treason

[@LittlyLary]

"Maybe I can kill sombody and take their pencil, then I can fill-out my report!" Great review as always Seth!

[@jonathonbartos5420]

God, one of my favorite one shots I ever played was a Paranoia one shot. We were investigating an email spammer who was sending out junk emails to everyone in the complex. All through the session, the GM would throw little balled up pieces of paper at us while saying "Ding!" at random points in the session. Typical Paranoia shenanigans occurred, and we all went through multiple clones. By the time we reached the guy, he was ready to go on a long motive rant, but my character and another character who reached him just silently raised our guns and shot him, totally flat-faced and weary from the BS. It was hilarious!

[@--enyo--]

This post starts out like you’re addressing this post to Seth as God. 🤣

[@metaparalysis3441]

this is the first pre-made scenario for the paranoia xp game.

[@Lallander]

Mongoose is planning to Kickstart Paranoia: The Perfect Edition soon. It sounds like they're going to fix the problems with this edition. I'm hyped.

[@Alefiend]

Jack-d-NPC's designation doesn't match his clearance level. TREASON!

[@dicewrites]

Awh dang, I'd love to finish the video but that level 2 blue team is knocking on my door.

[@dennisdeal3323]

Played it back in the nineties as a one off. The booklet made it plain. The PC's were not expected to make it to the end or even to the outside. The group did make it to the outside, but not the end. It was an hilarious game session. The different ways in which the computer could screw with a player. The inventive ways the players could troll the computer. The computer is your friend. You are a loyal citizen. RIGHT!?

[@marlinperkins6910]

I always loved how being a mutant, or being in a secret society, was considered treasonous, and how every character started as a mutant in a secret society. Of course the secret societies were usually opposed to one another, so the party started at each other’s throats. It was hilarious madness.

[@jacquesturpinsky8771]

I’m imagining Friend computer as a combination of Good Cop from the Lego Movie and Yes-Man from Fallout New Vegas. “Hey, buddy! It’s me, Friend Computer! Do you think you could fill out this survey in the next ten minutes? Remember, fun is mandatory!”

[@Aardvark892]

By far the best video review of an RPG I've seen so far. Clear, concise, understandable, with a little humor thrown in without the typical over-the-top presentation often taken by youtubers in an attempt to garner attention. Liked and subscribed! I'm off to go watch all of your videos.

[@jcope3886]

A new Paranoia publisher!? Maybe Christmas magic does truly exist.

[@KJ-ud9uf]

I betrayed my friends and became a yellow while they were reds >:) I video taped the stuff they were messing around with (we were in a dead zone and they were blowing stuff up instead of fixing it which was my mission)

[@shayulghul]

Thanks for reviewing Paranoia. We tried to play it when I was younger, but the GM couldn't sell us on it, so we couldn't get past the first 5 minutes. Now, I really want to play this game.

[@meatguyf1375]

I would love to see you review Tales from the Loop, man. It's another "GM doesn't roll" system, and it's actually pretty interesting.

[@catholicphoenix7969]

Great review. I loved the sketches. This works as a simple yet nifty lore video for paranoia. I would have liked for you to describe briefly the basics of the system. That's assuming it's as simple as other games like D&D (roll dice, add numbers, compare to target number).

[@thelastmotel]

Back in the 80s, we ran this without any humour, and it really just becomes an even starker version of Logan's Run

[@shadowheartart3898]

I've always loved the idea and concept behind Paranoia. It sounds so fun and wonky. Unfortunately my sole experience with actually playing Paranoia was a 3 hour session during a vacation, with both the other players and the GM being people I didn't know at all. It was a really weird and uncomfortable session, and I still don't know if that was because of the system or from playing with total strangers

[@arjunchoong8012]

You legit got a red dungaree just for this video? LOL. Think I might just get this and run it next year. :)

[@gareyscott3638]

Gave one of my players some old tech from R&D. Sold it big as a hover stick. It never worked...but he cleaned it off and saw it was a Hoover.

[@MaxWriter]

Very nice. I ran games of 1st and 2nd edition Paranoia to review for Knights of the Dinner Table Magazine. I also got my hands on some of the earlier Mongoose Paranoia books for review as well. I always liked the game and it's a lot of fun though I was never quite ruthless enough for the computer (I mean ... helpful). Excellently done, as usual. I love Jack the Troubleshooter. I look forward to your reviews of some of the scenarios.

[@phildicks4721]

I usually GMed the Computer as a very Capricious in a humourous way. Things like giving the PCs a tiny map printout, then denying them the use of a magnifying glass because it was of a higher security clearence.

[@J.B.90]

One of my favorite of your vids. Finally got a hold of this to run for my wife's B-day party. One small correction for anyone looking to pick this up, there is no pass to the left to distribute stat points, as fun as that would be, but there is a pass to the left and mess with your buddy step of character creation.

[@Melw44]

I rember playing this when it first came out. It had me looking over my shoulder and waiting for the knife in the back. LOL!

[@warhorse03826]

I had a GM that ran Paranoia through CCTV, an old desk intercom, and a dot-matrix printer. randomly surveys would print out during the game and you had a set amount of time to fill them out. "oh, you were involved in combat with communists? the computer is not interested in your excuses. report to the nearest kill-o-matic clinic for recycling. have a nice day." paranoia was always a fun game, up there with Steve Jackson Game's Toon....

[@Keaggan]

The reason it felt so weird was because it's a story game not an RPG. Still a great review 👍

[@Gordo1248]

I would love to see you review some of the adventures for this game :)

[@euansmith3699]

We tried it out. We got as far as the NPC Skill rules, discovered that the rules are "Make [REDACTED] up". Now, I didn't mind making [REDACTED] up in previous versions where there were rules to ignore; but this just seemed lazy. As a result we just lost enthusiasm for the game and haven't played it since. I like the background info and the integration of modern internet garbage in to the setting; but I think I'm going to have to come up with a system that uses as much of the contents of my kickstarter box (cards, dice, background, etc) to get a game that we feel happy with. All in all, this was a very disappointing product for us. This video was great, however. Here, have some experience.

[@phildicks4721]

The reason why players of the old game felt the computer was malicious and evil was because of the rules for gamemasters. The rules actively encouraged the GM to act as capriciously and biased as he or she saw fit. When I GMed, I kept the Computer capricious, but not really malicious or evil and tried to keep things humorous...though I did make the PCs actually stand up and do jumping jacks at the game table for my own amusement(I actually got away with it too). I've met others who played the game, who had GMs interpret the rules as the Computer could basical!y act like an assholish prick.

[@ChadJonesAYelpInTheDark]

Paranoia would make an amazing board game if they did it like Wrath of Ashardalon.

[@djwilliams7935]

I want to try this and Traveller now.

[@robertnett9793]

Character dry-erase-cards .... I mean... there's nothing that embodies the idea of Paranoia more than THIS...

[@SonofSethoitae]

Alpha Complex sounds an awful lot like KZbin these days

[@erc1971erc1971]

I remember Clippy...because in one of my Cyberpunk settings he achieved self awareness and decided to wipe out humans for how they treated him!

[@fireinthedust]

These videos make me so happy.

[@NefariousKoel]

"Red Clearance"? I hope that doesn't mean they wiped the wonderfully ironic Commie references in the new version's dystopia.

[@darkside3174]

NefariousKoel They did. Instead of Communists, the new thing to fear are Terrorists. :/ I was disappointed when I found out.

[@NefariousKoel]

That's very unfortunate. Also a bit troubling.

[@DanteTCW]

The damn, dirty Commies are still a secret Society in the game, so sure the Computer is more afraid of Terrorists now, but the Commie threat is still real...beware anyone wearing a furcap!

[@techno_tuna]

NefariousKoel they had always had red clearance, despite the fear of commies. Strange now that I think about it...

[@NefariousKoel]

Good to hear they're still in as a threat. Been on my wishlist, may get it sooner rather than later.

[@goblingravy]

Definitely curious to see your reviews of some of the scenarios. I ran the first one from the main boxed set and wasn't in love with it, but now that I'm running my own campaign my group is having a blast.

[@MechaTrekAD]

It sounds interesting, though I am not sure I would run or play it over the original WEG version. Granted, I am a diehard WEG fan but I still think I would be more likely to import some of the ideas from the Mongoose edition over rather than completely switch from the classic.

[@BrujahsDisciple]

Thank you so much Seth. I've been asking people since the mid 2000s to run this after seeing a KZbin video. After watching this review, I've decided since it must be experienced, I'll be the one to run it.

[@potatoheadpokemario1931]

Not experiencing Paranoia is an act of treason

[@derekburge5294]

So much love for Paranoia and I couldn't kickstart the new one fast enough. Excellent review, good sir.

[@geoffchurchill5492]

Cmoparing friend computer to clippy is definitely treason

[@--enyo--]

Honestly sounds a lot like the Imperium of Man from 40k. 😂 I first heard of this game over ten years ago and instantly wanted to play it. I still haven’t had a chance and really want to. 😢

[@oz_jones]

It's more like Monty Python meets 1984

[@dicewrites]

Ordered the box set as a holiday gift to myself, I have a few of the older edition books and even though I haven't had a chance to try the newest edition I'm sure it will be a blast.

[@DougVehovec]

i love your sketches! can't believe i have never played Paranoia in all the years of gaming. Don't tell the computer!!

[@redsnake188]

Doug Vehovec citizen not telling friend computer would be a treasonous offense

[@Dragonblaster1]

I used to love Paranoia and have purchased the Ultraviolet version of the new version and a GM screen. I look forward to playing it.

[@MrKarma-dp8ud]

You have already been reported, and a group of level 3 blue troubleshooters will be sent to your location shortly. Have a Great Day!

[@jeremiahkool1]

This review is hilarious, great work man. I used to love playing this back in the 80's! :)

[@thomasfoster4370]

9:11 so basically sweepers from the robots movie.

[@Blu3W4r10Ck]

The fact this game isnt more mainstream is treasonous. Friend computer knows what game everyone should be playing.

[@SquirrelGamez]

Trust no one... except the computer!

[@Ryan_Winter]

Being reported for "perceived" thought crime and unpersoned on the grounds of unproven allegations, do we need an RPG to have that experience?

[@PowBolim]

Hey Seth, would You Review the pitfallsandpenguins.com RPG next? It's pay what You want (even Free) with various cool mechanics and Very few people know about.

[@DreamVoxels]

It is a really weird game and the first run can be disturbing about many things I think the main thing that I've found difficult was making player have secret mission and making them go along the mission.

[@mikehill9806]

Hilarious review. I played the original and there was much mirth. Among other adventures we played a space mission where for obvious reasons you had to take all your clones with you. Players were executing their own clones for treason and being stupid.

[@jesternario]

So I have the anniversary version of this game, which uses the XP ruleset. When I saw that they were doing a Kickstarter to make a new version, I didn’t really think it was worth it because all I had heard of it was they were only going to add a box set with free dice and dry erase character sheets. As of this post, I have just purchased the box set on Amazon and will receive it next week. Your review of the new edition was the deciding factor. Thank you for reviewing it.

[@finalbladex8382]

Fun is mandatory

[@thegameoverclub]

Another triumph! great review of Paranoia Seth :) Thanks for all the fantastic reviews. I can't wait to get my copy now.

[@LifeUntilLove]

I'm really glad you enjoyed this game. Personally, it was one of my worse RPG experience. You really need to enjoy chaos, frustration, and very mean-spirited gameplay. If that is your thing, then this might be for you.

[@anthonyparks505]

this is a fantastic overview of paranoia, thank you for this

[@Troommate]

We all love friend computer and friend computer loves us :D . . . Totally not a Traitor...

[@danguillou713]

Awesome. Tangent time. My favorite game world is Glorantha. It has elves, trolls and dwarves, but they are really weird and alien. Elves are in fact mobile plants with a forest-wide hive mind. And dwarves believe that the entire world is a machine that used to be perfect but is now broken, due to mishandling or even sabotage by other sentient races. They also believe that they are not sentient living creatures, but rather semi autonomous repair drones. Thing is, as long as dwarves toil on productibly in their subterranean cities and have no wrong thoughts, they don’t age. However, dwarf society has become infected by viral memes, or ”heresies”, that threaten the stability of dwarf society, and more importantly the progress of the long term world repair and reconstruction project. These are things like ”Individualism” - the thought that individual dwarves have intrinsic worth, or ”openhandism” - the idea that non-dwarves under proper supervision might contribute meaningfully to the world repair and reconstruction. So dwarf society is written - probably intentionally - to mimic the experience of playing Paranoia. But you’d have to ask Sandy Petersson… Thanks for another great video!

[@DrFranklynAnderson]

“Paranoia is a game where the world is run by Clippy” Good grief, and this is a comedy game??? That setup sounds more horrific than Call of Cthulhu and all the World of Darkness games combined!

[@Kissamiess]

Exemplary work, citizen! Have a commendation point.

[@bAtACt1X]

search algorithm, addvertisment, etc.... basicly all kinds gatekeepin and cashgrapping have safed us from supereval AI until now. (and even from a better version of the net once existing) Clippi is a perfect match i would say. Maby ad som lightzeffekts and sunglasses. and gets even mor acurat fantasy

[@LuciMorgonstjaerna]

I enjoy your reviews and your lists. Have you thought about just sitting and talking about a game day? just tell us how your game day went, what the adventure was, and what happened, play-by-play or something? I'd watch that.

[@ADiceySituation]

Basically, Paranoia is 1984 as presented by Monty Python. Funny, horrible, and downright wacky

[@jaysw9585]

This is a nice review, but the red clearance edition is an absolute pain to play. Some of the rules are very wonky. The cards are difficult to control or understand and the character creation is poorly written. Fear not though because the Perfect Edition just came out and is a 1000x better. It clarifies rules, removes the cards, goes back to dice rolling and the art helps illustrate the game for the GM. It deserves a look.

[@thomasfoster4370]

the setting being called alpha complex means that there may be other complexes in existence. either named with the greek alphabet or the radio initials.

[@oz_jones]

Nosense, there is only Alpha Complex. Are you a traitor?

[@thomasfoster4370]

@@oz_jones no, I'm the Delta Complex ambassador. the big screen-eye said I was given immunity from being neutralized and that any who tried would be deemed "mutant commie traitors" and dealt with thoroughly

[@grumpygiant9813]

So I was on the fence on whether or not to purchase this edition of Paranoia, and your review convinced me to snag it. You cracked me up! This was a perfect way to review Paranoia.

[@tehphoebus]

Great review. Perfect combination of info and fun!

[@solahaze8948]

I would say "Is it just me or is this anti-commie environment very commie?" but that is the obvious point. However, the Computer demands redundency.

[@AnonymousAlcoholic772]

Hands down my favorite rpg. I even have an imaginary Skippy the wonderbot follow me around as I feed it 10000 oval ball bearings.

[@dirus3142]

Jack didnt say the computer is your friend, that is treason!

[@zidahya]

Imagine not living in the US and all the "print on demand" models are so not an option, because shipping is more expensive than a real book wood be.

[@Nebulorum]

Commenting as requested by the cortex. Wonderful video computer.

[@kendannon4435]

For some reason I'm concerned with the fabric quality of their jump suits.

[@jakarnilson]

Darn. I was hoping we'd get to meet Jak-D-NPC-2 through 6...

[@dataworld44]

Hey Seth, great review! Any plans to review the newer Perfect edition? .. it would be treason not to!

[@marcz2903]

I think the tagline for this game should be "stay alert, trust no one, finish your paperwork."

[@oddsketch9969]

Clippy is my friend. Hail Clippy.

[@guntisveiskats6053]

(shivers, remembering)

[@jackphoton]

Paranoia = (Logan's Run x 1984) to the power of Brazil.

[@FordPrefict42]

Your commentary about the society also puts me in mind of City Of Ember.

[@davidwright7193]

The computer is your friend in exactly the same way that the Holy Roman Empire was Holy, Roman and an Empire. The first edition games masters handbook made that fairly clear. Ok, ok I am already going....

[@RyuKato]

Did you ever end up reviewing the other paranoia content? I can't seem to find the videos

[@asaskald]

I never roll dice when I run a game. When your players assigned skills amongst each other I laughed hard. The stereotypes were so funny. Especially the Celtic artsy player.

[@kensvideos1]

Still waiting for rhose campain storys/reviews.

[@CallyA]

Huh... Paranoia HUDs are new. In Paranoia XP, they were PDAs.

[@nyarparablepsis872]

Love the comparison between clippy and friend computer

[@Jeromy1986]

I imagine a very unhelpful Yes Man from New Vegas.

[@auldcrow1461]

Love your vids Seth!

[@phoxfire]

"Oh i'm gonna abuse this..."

[@Plaugue1122]

Fun looking game I'll try it after Cyberpunk

[@Number1masksfan]

If you like the dm roll dice try the game Blades in the Dark

[@iPuzzlePirate]

In the older Paranoia games the computer wasn't considered breaking down, but it was very punitive and I could see some GMs taking that too far. In the older Paranoia games, people would often say, "All hail The Great Computer!" and if others failed to respond in kind, it was treason! In the older Paranoia games, the Ultraviolet level was also called something like a "High Programmer." In older Paranoia games, players could occasionally hack the computer its self. In older Paranoia games, paint was a very valuable resource. I'm looking forward to this new Paranoia version.

[@timbuktu8069]

I am a big fan of The Prisoner, a Secret Agent/Sci-Fi TV series. Would Paranoia be a good fit? The basics of the show are: a top level secret agent quits his job. He is captured and ends up in "The Village" where he is referred to as Number 6. The show is his attempts to either escape or take control of his life.

[@Xalerdane]

I off-handedly imagined Friend Computer as sounding like Claptrap a few days ago. Now I can’t stop.

[@Brainfracture]

Getting a bit late to the party here. Stumbled upon your review by looking for information about the "newest" edition. Very, very well done I have to say. Well spoken, humor, nice editing, clear information and not too long. Thx for this.

[@roguishpaladin]

So...what's good ol' Jack-D-NPC doing in an Ultraviolet corridor, anyways...? I think there's 2 reasons most people don't see Paranoia campaigns. The first is sheer lethality. It's not uncommon for a player to go through all six clones during an adventure, and not unheard of for a player to go through all six clones in the briefing room. The zaniness that comes along with the game comes with the consequence of also putting PCs in a lot of deadly situations. The second reason is that party cohesion over multiple sessions becomes more difficult given the paranoia theme of Paranoia. Most parties figure out a balancing point whereby they can coexist, but this is far more difficult in a Paranoia game. So long as reporting other characters to the computer is an advantageous option, characters will bee motivated to do it. There are ways to mitigate for these, of course - I think it was 5th ed. which had suggestions for how to make a campaign more feasible - but default Paranoia, or at least the old systems, were perceived as best ddone in a one-shot.

[@edatthegovernance]

Clippy and Autocorrect overdrive! That's the perfect way to think of Friend Computer! Awesome video Seth.

[@visageliquifier3636]

I'm not sure if the game was first or not, but it always reminded me a lot of Stanislaw Lem's "Memoirs Found in a Bathtub".

[@walkerofthewaste3440]

Wait what's Jak's clearance?

[@jesternario]

Shouldn’t that be Jak-R-NPC-01? Guess some one messing around with the naming schemes at the cloning vat again.

[@Cyberfender1]

Ad in Dr. Strangelove, and gaming gold!