Paranoia

Paranoia is not a humorous roleplaying game about a dystopian future and living in a sealed city run by a psychotic computer. On the contrary, Alpha Complex is a utopia. Friend Computer is wise and benevolent and not at all murderous. There are no communists, mutants, traitors, or secret societies. Technology is more advanced than it has ever been in the history of civilization, and research and development does not routinely involve handing prototype weapons which will of course never let loose a nuclear explosion if dropped. There is nothing of note outside of Alpha Complex, and all its citizens are completely happy to live inside it and never leave. Happiness is mandatory. Unhappiness is treason. Treason is punishable by death.

Players of Paranoia play troubleshooters, who find trouble and shoot it. Thankfully, due to Friend Computer's all-seeing benevolence, trouble is scarce. Citizens who become aware of trouble are asked to report it to Friend Computer, who will dispatch friendly neighborhood troubleshooters to deal with the trouble. The existence of trouble is impossible due to Friend Computer's omniscience. Claiming that Friend Computer cannot prevent or eliminate all trouble is treason. Treason is punishable by death.

Editions

There are three editions.

• The original edition, by Costikyan et al., from West End Games.
• The second edition, also by Costikyan et al., from West End Games.
• Paranoia XP, by some guys and also Costikyan, from Mongoose Publishing.

There is no fifth edition. Belief in the existence of a fifth edition is treason. Treason is punishable by death.

The second edition is the best edition. Membership in secret societies promoting other editions is treason. Treason is punishable by death.