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Paranoia 5th Edition is a dark future comedy RPG filled with slapstick and, well, Paranoia. The basic idea is The Computer has gone insane and taken control of an underground city, while the rest of civilization has apparently died off. The computer sees all, hears all, and knows all. If you say something the computer doesn't approve of, you're a traitor and must be shot. Unfortunately for the PCs, the computer's logic can be very illogical. In addition to being harassed by the computer, players are encouraged to backstab each other, while mutants and mad scientists add to the mix.

The game's concept is quite fascinating. However, Paranoia fails to deliver on its concept. It fails to fuse its core elements of gritty humor with the bubble-gum slapstick presented in the rules. Also, the suggestions for gameplay prevent any campaigns and create a specific formula for adventures. GMs are encouraged to take revenge on their player's characters. There are occasional hints that the GM should use this power judiciously, and the GM can obviously ignore these suggestions; however, the entire book assumes them. On the positive side, if the GM uses common sense, adventures will practically form themselves without help. Alpha Complex, the underground city, is ridden with conflict.

The rules for Paranoia are too complex for the setting. While they are light when compared to many other games, they still require too many modifiers and dice rolls for an extremely fast-playing game. The book encourages GMs to ignore rules whenever they want to. The rules should still be more transparent to fit with the style of the game, though. Who needs 'realism' in Paranoia?

Paranoia has a fascinating concept, but the material needs another edition(3rd?) The slapstick and dark comedy elements should be integrated, the GM's advice should be broadened, and the rules should be completely overhauled--preferably to fit on a page or two. In its current state, it would probably provide two or three sessions of fun. It's certainly worth WEG's current firesale price. Whether it would be worth the full $25 depends on how free you are with your money.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 2 (Sparse)

Paranoia 5th Edition
Author: Various Category: game Company/Publisher: West End Games Cost: $25.00 Page count: 224 ISBN: 0-87431-171-3 Capsule Review by Andy Wills on 11/10/98. Genre tags: Science_fiction Comedy Post-apocalypse	Paranoia 5th Edition is a dark future comedy RPG filled with slapstick and, well, Paranoia. The basic idea is The Computer has gone insane and taken control of an underground city, while the rest of civilization has apparently died off. The computer sees all, hears all, and knows all. If you say something the computer doesn't approve of, you're a traitor and must be shot. Unfortunately for the PCs, the computer's logic can be very illogical. In addition to being harassed by the computer, players are encouraged to backstab each other, while mutants and mad scientists add to the mix. The game's concept is quite fascinating. However, Paranoia fails to deliver on its concept. It fails to fuse its core elements of gritty humor with the bubble-gum slapstick presented in the rules. Also, the suggestions for gameplay prevent any campaigns and create a specific formula for adventures. GMs are encouraged to take revenge on their player's characters. There are occasional hints that the GM should use this power judiciously, and the GM can obviously ignore these suggestions; however, the entire book assumes them. On the positive side, if the GM uses common sense, adventures will practically form themselves without help. Alpha Complex, the underground city, is ridden with conflict. The rules for Paranoia are too complex for the setting. While they are light when compared to many other games, they still require too many modifiers and dice rolls for an extremely fast-playing game. The book encourages GMs to ignore rules whenever they want to. The rules should still be more transparent to fit with the style of the game, though. Who needs 'realism' in Paranoia? Paranoia has a fascinating concept, but the material needs another edition(3rd?) The slapstick and dark comedy elements should be integrated, the GM's advice should be broadened, and the rules should be completely overhauled--preferably to fit on a page or two. In its current state, it would probably provide two or three sessions of fun. It's certainly worth WEG's current firesale price. Whether it would be worth the full $25 depends on how free you are with your money. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 2 (Sparse)