Paranoia: How Many Troubleshooters

[Mike]

Welcome to Paranoia
Paranoia is a story telling game set in a darkly humorous future. Each player takes on the role of a Troubleshooter working for the Computer in Alpha Complex. In Paranoia, everyone is out to get you, and everyone is a traitor. Life is cheap, and death comes easily—but only if it’s funny.

Player List
Akiva
Angry Geek
Buckett
Caz
Joel
Kyle
Mrs. Darcs
Pdyx
Ronster
Runanide
Tahlvin
Zombie

And we are full.

[Mike]

[Mike]

Character Creation Guidelines
You have the option of creating the basics of your troubleshooter, or you can leave it to me, and I’ll surprise you with something. Or anything in between. Here’s what you can do.

Name
Everyone will begin the game as a brand new Red clearance troubleshooter, and you will all be on your first clone, since your primary qualification for service is not dying before being promoted. So your name will be in the form of [Name]-R-[XYZ]-1. Names typically have some humor value to them, and it is in your best interest to have a first name that is easy to pronounce and remember. If you want your name to be reflective of your character’s personality, that happens a lot but is not required.

Some examples:
Soup-R-MAN-1
Butch-R-BLK-1
Anne-R-KEY-1
Wolv-R-INE-1
Sue-R-RAT-1
Sland-R-USS-1

Service Group
The list is up above. What service group have you been assigned to?

Physical Description
A quick description of physical appearance. This can be detailed if you like, or can be as simple as “he looks like Steve Buscemi.” It’s not a hard, fast rule, but due to strictly controlled rations and the daily medications pumped into everyone in Alpha Complex, most Infrared and Red clones are on the scrawny side, obesity is almost completely unheard of among clones below Blue clearance, and facial hair is typically absent. Your uniforms are going to generally be the standard Red coveralls over a black or Red t-shirt. Hair is almost always uniformly short. There are exceptions to all of the above, but they are rare. Don’t be afraid to be that rare exception, just know that it makes you stand out.

Traits/Skills/Quirks
Positive or negative, these are all things that will have some game effect. For example:
Really strong.
Quick to anger.
Basic medical skills.
Confident.
Dumb as a bag of bolts.
Expert driver.
Panics when she has to fill out forms.

These can be in list form or just a narrative of your personality and abilities. Whatever works. At a minimum, you should pick two or three skills that you are proficient in: hand-to-hand fighting, filing paperwork, bot repair, ass-kissing, hiding, pistols, etc etc. And at least one or two quirks that will (probably) cause you trouble.

Background
Totally optional. Fresh troubleshooters have very little history. But if you have something notable you want to mention, go for it. Maybe a significant accident or event. Maybe the menial job you did there as an Infrared clone before your promotion. Typical menial jobs: Food Vat Specialist (PLC), Unarmored Infantry (Armed Forces), Test Subject (R&D), Tool Caddy (Tech Services), that sort of thing. Maybe a formative education experience. I don’t know. Put in anything or nothing.

Things you have no control over
Some members of your team may have a mutant power or belong to a secret society or have some sort of contraband equipment. Whether or not these apply to you and the exact nature of them is something I will decide, and I will send you anything you might need to know.


Remember, you don’t have to do any of the above if you don’t feel like it. I’m happy to make you a character if you want. Or if you want to give me something as basic as, “I’d like to play someone wimpy and cowardly, assigned to Armed Forces”, I can work with that.

[Mike]

I just sent out the last of the characters. I need to change a few pronouns and send out the stuff through email, and we should be on our way.

[Cazmonster]

Friend Computer, is it wrong to squee loudly? I squeed myself when I saw the messages today.

[Mike]

I wouldn't say "wrong" necessarily, but depending on the context, it could be... concerning. I'd recommend that you report to Emotional Therapy for a full evaluation. Have a great day!

[Mike]

And we are underway!

Actually we started Tuesday night, and I'm just putting the finishing touches on the first responses from the group. You guys are awesome. It's going to be slow for me as we get started, because I'm realizing some procedural things I need to get set up.

Also, I'm going to forget who all of you are. I'm setting up so that when I send you an email, it will go to your character name. Easier for me to keep track of the action and less chance that I'll accidentally send you the wrong email. But it also means that for many of you I'll forget which character you're playing. Which I find entertaining.

Your patience is appreciated. I hope nobody's nervous. You're all doing great, and there's clearly no danger here.

[Cazmonster]

[Mike]

New move posted: Hurry Hurry Super Scurry

Everyone should have received a version of this. This one was particularly difficult because it was an opener, and everyone had personalized stuff, and my addresses and groups weren't configured right to get it out in the most efficient way. But I think I have it sorted out, and I should have a full grasp on the process after a few more posts.

My plan is to give at least 24 hours after a post for responses. That may be shorter sometimes if I feel additional info sent right away would fit the story. But usually at least a day. That means it may be two days between posts.

Extra notes, feel free to use character names in whatever form you see fit. I usually reserve full names Sev-R-USS-1 for initial introductions and formal situations (like your parents including your middle name when they yell at you). Most of the time, I just use a short version (Sev or Sev-R) once the character is familiar. But do whatever fits your rhythm.

You will get the idea that player-to-player interactions are... limited... in many ways. I feel I have a good grasp of your characters, and if you start talking to someone else and it turns into a back and forth, I will sometimes help fill in some blanks IF I'm aware of your intent. Better to give me more info than less to ensure that you wind up getting to do as much of what you'd want as possible. Like I say, we throw a dozen responses into the pot, and it's my job to smooth out the rough edges. I facilitate, but I want your actions to always be your own.

Also, posts written in third person are most useful to me, but I'm not a stickler. I'm mostly just happy to get responses.

Lastly, this post today was three pages of material in its full form, which I sliced and diced to fit each troubleshooter. (Those of you with only three paragraphs, feel free to wonder what the hell was in the other two-and-a-half pages.) But as such, I'm always Paranoid that I'm going to send the wrong info to the wrong person. If anything doesn't look right ever, or if you think you have someone else's material, PLEASE ask me, and I can clarify and/or fix it. When I take a big chunk out of the middle of your version of the post, I try to make a transition that keeps it all logical for you, but sometimes I'm going to fail. Just make sure you understand what's going on.

[Mrs.Darcs]

Couldnt figure out why I wasn't getting emails. Turns out my phone was too full (again) fixed now. Sorry for late replies Mike!

[Elle]

Ron last night: "I have decided to admit to you that I am indeed playing Paranoia."

I was stunned. Since when?

[Mike]

As long as I'm getting out regular posts and everyone is getting something, I will try to put a notice here so everyone knows they should have gotten something.

Monday's post was R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Today, I just sent out Joy in Service.

It's going well, and each move is getting progressively easier for me.

[Mike]

Everyone should have received, "Le Sigh."

[Mike]

Posted: Kiss Up to Who

[Mike]

Posted: Wrong Time, Wrong Place

[Mike]

And FYI, not including the character stats and descriptions, the narrative currently sits at 17 pages and not quite 10,000 words. Doesn't feel like that much, does it?

[Mike]

That took way too long, but the hiatus is at an end.

GO WITH THE FLOW just got sent out today.

[Cazmonster]

Muhahahahahahaha!

[Mike]

Posted yesterday: Almost Everyone On Board

[Mike]

Dammit. I don't know yet if it's useful to be putting notices of updates here, but I won't know if I don't keep up with it:

Jun 2 -- And Now We Wait
Jun 3 -- Right on Cue
Jun 7 -- Hygeine
Jun 7 -- Hygeine Addendum**
Jun 9 -- So Many Dice to Roll
Jun 10 -- One Sided**


**Not sent to all players.