"Welcome, clones. Welcome to year 214 of the Computer. Welcome to Alpha Complex. Welcome to utopia. Alpha Complex is the last refuge of humanity after the desolation of the OUTDOORS. And Alpha Complex is a utopia. Why is it a utopia? Because Friend Computer says so. Friend Computer is the machine running Alpha Complex for thee good and benefit of all of its clones. Yes, clones. Friend Computer did away with all that icky biological reproduction stuff (made sure to be gone with hormone repressants) and implemented a new way to create its citizens: cloning. Each citizen is given six clones; you all are on number one. If you should happen to die, the next fills in. It is possible, if you have enough credits, to buy another six-pack. Friend Computer also organized the perfect system of organizing citizens. Half of all citizens are INFRAREDs, the cornerstone of society, the churners of the Food Vats, the metaphorical work horses of Animal Farm. The next clearance up are the REDs, then ORANGEs, then all the way up the ROYGBIV scale to ultra violets, the High Programmers of Friend Computer who live in unrivaled splendor. And, as Friend Computer wisely decreed, any citizen must obey the orders of a citizen of higher security clearance. Failure to do so is treason. Treason is punishable by summary execution."


"But all is not well in utopia, citizens. There are those who want to destroy Friend Computer's gift to all clones. They are Commie Mutant Traitors, citizens, and if you find one, terminate it. Just make sure you have evidence. Commie Mutant Traitors are a scourge on Alpha Complex and must be erradicated. Aside from the hundred smaller ways, there are two main ways of being a traitor: having a treasonous Mutation, or belonging to a treasonous Secret Society. Both are treason, punishable by summary execution. And, as you look on the back, secret side of your character sheet that you do NOT want your fellow citizens to see, you will see that, being loyal citizens, obviously none of you has a mutation or is in a secret society, just as the vast majority of clones. If you wish to have more information about the mutation you don't have or the secret society you're not in, consult the page in front of you. If you wish to use your nonexistant mutation or contact your nonexistant secret society, either use the post-it notes or pull me aside so that the team doesn't shoot you down. OOC is no more, citizens. There are rumors that using unregistered mutations triples the average life spans of citizens, and that completing secret society missions will gain you both access, priveledge, and a wide variety of illegal tools to get the edge over your fellow citizens… “

“Rumors are treason. Failure to report treason is treason. Treason is punishable by summary execution."

Now, the rules you are allowed to know. At your clearance, knowledge of most of the rules is treason. But, I will let you know this You have six skills. Under them you have many specialties. Some of them you are specialized in; others you are weak in. You will usually want to roll under the displayed number, except for the times that you don't. The chips you have in front of you are Perversity Points. In Paranoia, there are no modifiers for things like cover, bad lighting, getting a good aim, or other nonsense. Instead, you can spend Perversity Points on any roll, including those of NPCs, fellow PCs, or yourself. These can be in favor or opposed to the roll, changing the difficuly by one for each chip. Then, in-game situations are rectroactively imposed to match the Perversity change. Friend Computer says it's better this way, and who are we to argue? Any other mechanics questions?

You were once a lowly INFRARED worker in your service firm listed, until you turned in one of your fellow INFRAREDs or treason. He was executed, you were promoted. Now, you are a RED. But, with privelege comes responsibility. Friend Computer has asked you to work on his front lines as a Troubleshooter. What does a Troubleshooter do, citizens? He finds trouble, and then he shoots it. Troubleshooter missions, like everything in Alpha Complex, are safe, fun, and mandatory.

You were once a lowly INFRARED worker in your service firm listed, until you turned in one of your fellow INFRAREDs or treason. He was executed, you were promoted. Now, you are a RED. But, with privelege comes responsibility. Friend Computer has asked you to work on his front lines as a Troubleshooter. What does a Troubleshooter do, citizens? He finds trouble, and then he shoots it.Troubleshooter missions, like everything in Alpha Complex, are safe, fun, and mandatory.

Citizens, in your equipment listing In your MEC you will notice that you have a number of items standard to every Troubleshooter. First, you have a laser. The usual weapon of troubleshooters. Useless without a barrel. Unless you really like pistol-whipping. You also have one RED laser barrel. The barrel screws onto the laser and is what makes it work. Good for (usually) six shots; attempting more might work, might cause explosion. Only blocked by reflec of the same clearance as the barrel or higher. You are wearing, as your only armor, Friend Computer's generously provided Reflect. It helps block lasers; however, it only works on lasers of the same clearance of below. Your RED reflect will let a GREEN laser right through and make a large, RED mess."
"The ME Card. The Merchantile Exchange card is you. Whoever has it is officially you. Needed for all monetary transactions, identification purposes, etc.

The Personal Data Companion: The PDC. A small, handheld device that lets you record audio or video, call up forms or information, or even talk directly to Friend Computer itself in privacy instead of communicating through loudspeakers and cameras. There is also equipment assigned to individual Troubleshooters according to your Mandatory Bonus Duty. This equipment is explained in the Mandatory Bonus Duty Handout"