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| Allen Varney |
 Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 5:56 am Post subject: GM Screen booklet emergency help (no longer) needed! |
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Gamma Very High Programmer
Joined: 22 Feb 2004
Posts: 996
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EDIT 6/21/2004: Citizens of Paranoia-Live.net, congratulations for helping me COMPLETE the GM Screen booklet project described below! All is now finished, and the way lies clear for future GM Screen booklet happiness. However, I wish to preserve my prose for posterity, so I am leaving untouched the following historical document, with the clear proviso that I NO LONGER NEED HELP. But thanks for thinking of me!
-- Allen Varney
*****
Paranoia-Live.net citizens! Owing to the prolificity of publisher Mongoose Publishing, once again I face an extremely tight PARANOIA deadline. Once again I brazenly and callously seek selfless and creative Paranoia-Live.netters who will help me meet this imminent deadline, for free, without hope of financial recompense or free copies or any reward whatever save for credit in the product itself.
Mongoose wants to have the PARANOIA Gamemaster Screen out for Gen Con in August, in unison with the PARANOIA rulebook that is now absolutely totally almost complete barring minor corrections. The four-panel GM Screen costs $14.95, which is damn steep for a GM Screen and therefore requires, after the modern fashion, a 32-page insert booklet full of keen stuff. The booklet is my deadline, and holy crap is it coming up fast.
In the booklet I am presenting (what I hope will be) a very handy collection of charts called the "Mission blender." This automated mission design system is based on ideas provided by Famous Game Designer Aaron Allston, as well as on the TOON Adventure Generator I myself created in 1985 for TOON, The Cartoon Roleplaying Game published by Steve Jackson Games. The notion is straightforward: Roll 1d20 a bunch of times to select a basic mission template with blanks for generic nouns (CHARACTER, LOCATION, etc.), select the generic nouns, plug the nouns in the blanks, and massage them into a mission premise.
The utility of such things depends on the creativity and flexibility of the table entries. That's where I need help. I have most of the framework roughed out, and have filled in sample entries in some of the tables to show what I have in mind -- but I need you to help me complete this plethora of tables before my deadline, which, in case I didn't mention it, is barreling toward me at supersonic speed.
I have posted the current mission blender, in all its skimpy inadequacy, as a 400K .PDF file on my home page:
[EDIT 6/21/2004: I will replace the old link with the new, practically almost complete .PDF:]
http://www.allenvarney.com/GMScreenBookletJune21.pdf
I'd like you, Paranoia-Live.netters, to download this Acrobat file, look it over, see whether any of these tables strikes your fancy, and call dibs on it (or them) here in this topic. Then write up your table entries and send them to me. You can e-mail them to me at APVarney (at) AOL (dot) com, or send them by private message here on Paranoia-Live.net, or post them here in the topic for the admiration and wonder of all. I don't care. Just get them to me FAST. And please understand: I'll credit you in the GM Screen booklet, but I can't pay you anything, Mongoose won't pay you anything, you won't get a free copy of the GM Screen or anything else, and you get no financial reward of any kind. None. Well, okay, if I meet you at a convention, I'll buy you a soda, but that's it.
In case I haven't got the point across yet, I need help FAST. Thanks!
_________________
-- Allen Varney
PARANOIA (2004 edition) principal writer
http://www.allenvarney.com
PARANOIA development blog: http://paranoiarpg.blogspot.com/
Last edited by Allen Varney on Wed Jun 23, 2004 4:44 am; edited 3 times in total |
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| Costin-U-MOR-6 |
| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:16 am Post subject: |
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Tech Services Supreme Nut Tightener
Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Posts: 667
Service Group: Technical Services
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Not one for the simple tasks, are we?
I have sent stuff to fill out the Mission and Briefing tables on page 4 (though only half of the latter). Will send more as the day goes on...
_________________
Check out The Underplex at your local store now!
I'm a Recycled Traitor waiting for you in Omega Complex |
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| Gunt/R/ADR |
| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:19 am Post subject: Secret Society Mission Location Table (section 4) |
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ORANGE
Joined: 14 May 2004
Posts: 52
Service Group: HPD&MC
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Below my suggestions for the - Secret Society Mission Location Table (section 4)
For each Troubleshooter who wants to contact his secret society for a private briefing, roll 1d20 to find out how the briefing takes place.
1-2 Note in Secret Location.
3-4 A flickering light fixture presents message in binary code.
5-6 A laser pointer is used to project the message into the PC’s eyeball.
7-8 Instructions printed on back of the PC’s mandatory toiletry ration.
9-10 A loud speaker broadcasts the briefing to everyone in a PUBLIC LOCATION.
11-12 A note is delivered to the character but the CHARACTER-INFRARED courier keeps getting terminated for being in a higher clearance location.
13-14 The briefing is issued on a hard to use form of media, such as Microfiche.
15-16 The briefing is delivered by note, but there are four copies each with a slight difference in the intent.
17-18 A blank sheet of paper is handed to the PC the briefing is written in ink that becomes visible when exposed to heat, the paper is the type that is heat sensitive.
19-20 Coded dot pattern or stain on floor of public location.
_________________
Schroding/R's bot is both alive and terminated. |
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| El-R-KIN |
| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:27 am Post subject: |
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YELLOW
Joined: 17 Dec 2003
Posts: 458
Service Group: HPD&MC
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Dibs on the Fear table (page 2).
I also call dibs on bots (page 15).
_________________
Clone number: 1
Status: Doing some final arrangements to the shootings of the new season of Teela-O-MLY. |
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| Costin-U-MOR-6 |
| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:37 am Post subject: |
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Tech Services Supreme Nut Tightener
Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Posts: 667
Service Group: Technical Services
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The second table on page 6 (folllowing on from the one Gunt/R/ADR posted):
Then roll 1d20 to determine the mission the society assigns to the PC. All LOCATIONs are in the mission’s destination sector:
1-10 Roll on the specifi c society’s table.
11-12 Deliver OBJECT to CHARACTER in SECRET LOCATION.
13-14 Steal OBJECT from CHARACTER in PUBLIC LOCATION.
15-16 Destroy (1-10, CHARACTER; 11-20, OBJECT) in LOCATION (1-10, secret location; 11-20, public).
17-18 Sabotage OBJECT at LOCATION (1-10, secret; 11-20, public).
19-20 Comprehensively Scan (1-10, CHARACTER; 11-20, OBJECT) in LOCATION (1-10, secret; 11-20, public).
_________________
Check out The Underplex at your local store now!
I'm a Recycled Traitor waiting for you in Omega Complex |
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| Costin-U-MOR-6 |
| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:51 am Post subject: |
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Tech Services Supreme Nut Tightener
Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Posts: 667
Service Group: Technical Services
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I'll dib OBJECT - VALUELESS, OBJECT - VALUABLE, OBJECT - DANGEROUS and OBJECT - SAFE for the moment. Odd as they are...
_________________
Check out The Underplex at your local store now!
I'm a Recycled Traitor waiting for you in Omega Complex |
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| Costin-U-MOR-6 |
| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 11:59 am Post subject: |
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Tech Services Supreme Nut Tightener
Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Posts: 667
Service Group: Technical Services
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Dibs (sort of) on the first Character Table block on page 12 (as I've posted an idea through to Allen for feedback on how those tables I've suggested might fit in).
_________________
Check out The Underplex at your local store now!
I'm a Recycled Traitor waiting for you in Omega Complex |
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| Gunt/R/ADR |
| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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ORANGE
Joined: 14 May 2004
Posts: 52
Service Group: HPD&MC
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Calling Bagsy on the Ultraviolet Character Table... (if no dibbs are on it yet)
Ultra Violet Character
1 A High Programmer on a stretcher assisted by two INDIGO CLEARENCE citizens in medical gear. The High Programmer is sipping an ice cold B3 and looks fine.
2 A High Programmer with white hair and an intravenous drip. He looks very old and haggard yet is an insane melee combat monster.
3 A High Programmer currently in the process of programming something extremely important.
4 A High Programmer currently in the process of programming something extremely treasonous but too complex to be easily identified.
5 A High Programmer playing a collectable card game which includes pictures of the PCs on the cards.
6 A High Programmer giving a speech to the gathered vulture warriors.
7 A High Programmer looking for a fight. Do you wish to oblige him?
8 A High Programmer who orders you to protect his retreat whilst fleeing from something.
9 The current head of a Service Group.
10 The current governor of this sector.
11 The current youngest Ultraviolet Citizen in Alpha Complex.
12 A High Programmer who is obviously displaying some mutant power.
13 A High Programmer who has the blood of many clones on his person.
14 A High Programmer who has just blamed the party for his various treasonous activities.
15 A High Programmer testing some reliable R&D equipment.
16 A High Programmer heading to a briefing room.
17 A High Programmer with distinct anti social behaviour.
18 A High Programmer and his close personal assistant out for a stroll.
19 A High Programmer without a care in the complex.
20 The body of a dead High Programmer and loud claxons.
_________________
Schroding/R's bot is both alive and terminated. |
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| Allen Varney |
| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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Gamma Very High Programmer
Joined: 22 Feb 2004
Posts: 996
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Splendid! I ask Gunt/R/ADR to send me his or her real name by private message for inclusion in the GM Screen booklet credits.
I feel like, with the help of these and other upstanding citizens, the deadline is coming under control.
Those who have looked through the entire booklet mockup notice two blank pages at the back. I'm hoping to put in a sheet that will aid the GM in running battles, and another that would be a player handout giving brief descriptions of all the mutant powers and secret societies. For these I can actually do the work myself (!), but I'm looking for suggestions as to what people think would be most helpful for the GM battle sheet. |
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| Gunt/R/ADR |
| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 2:31 pm Post subject: All in a day's work avoidance. |
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ORANGE
Joined: 14 May 2004
Posts: 52
Service Group: HPD&MC
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If no one else has started on it... I'll id up on the last ten fears in the fear chart page 2 {edit - Oops El-R-KIN did bagsy this one. So kudos to El-R sorry, take your turn on the podium.}
Roll 1d20 and consult this table to determine the dominant type of fear you want to instill in the PCs (and their players) during this mission.
1 Alpha Complex works so badly it endangers the PCs’ lives.
2 Alpha Complex works with terrifying efficiency.
3 Alpha Complex is doomed, and not in a good way.
4 The Computer has taken a personal dislike to the PCs.
5 The Computer personally likes the PCs too well.
6 One of the service groups is breaking down.
7 An OBJECT—VALUABLE the PCs cherish will be destroyed.
8 A PC’s service firm or secret society is endangered.
9 The PCs’ secret societies have turned against them.
10 The PCs just aren’t good enough to handle their assignment.
11 The PCs are up to the task but additional obstacles are put in place to hamper their success.
12 The PCs find the main objective simple but life in Alpha Complex is too great a force to deal with and still operate at 100%.
13 Unnervingly there are no threatening undertones to the mission, except those the PCs bring with them.
14 There is a feeling that everyone else in the complex is in league and the PCs are the only ones left out.
15 At every possible opportunity a repetitive annoyance will plague the PCs.
16 The PC’s efforts are fruitless; the effect they are trying to prevent will be caused by their actions.
17 The commie mutant traitors are winning.
18 There are no commie mutant traitors, simply other citizens trying to stay alive.
19 The commie mutant traitors are loosing, and either hold the salvation of Alpha Complex, or personal salvation for the PCs
20 The PCs are the greatest threat to security in Alpha Complex.
_________________
Schroding/R's bot is both alive and terminated.
Last edited by Gunt/R/ADR on Mon Jun 14, 2004 3:45 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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| Moto42 |
| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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R&D Brain Consortium Representative
 
Joined: 03 Aug 2003
Posts: 465
Service Group: R&D
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A damage chart, so GM's don't have to divide by the margin.
Oh, and I'm Out To Get You, on page 3.
_________________
If the purpose of the experiment is to see what will happen, then the experiment will be a success no matter what happens!
IC Notes:
"mutant" power: Can 'speak' by telekineticly vibrating nearby surfaces.
Currently In HPD&MC
Stomping about in the Battle Bowl; A four-foot tall, bipedal bot with a laser barrel on it's right arm and whose headless body wraps partially around a large jar of violet fluid; containing a clonal brain.
Last edited by Moto42 on Mon Jun 14, 2004 3:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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| Costin-U-MOR-6 |
| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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Tech Services Supreme Nut Tightener
Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Posts: 667
Service Group: Technical Services
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| El-R-KIN wrote: |
Dibs on the Fear table (page 2).
I also call dibs on bots (page 15). |
Gunt/R/ADR, I think El-R-KIN might have been dibbing that Fear chart.
_________________
Check out The Underplex at your local store now!
I'm a Recycled Traitor waiting for you in Omega Complex |
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| Moto42 |
| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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R&D Brain Consortium Representative
Joined: 03 Aug 2003
Posts: 465
Service Group: R&D
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I'll take the rest of page 6.
Yes. This means I will be assigning millions of citizens their Secret Society missions.
_________________
If the purpose of the experiment is to see what will happen, then the experiment will be a success no matter what happens!
IC Notes:
"mutant" power: Can 'speak' by telekineticly vibrating nearby surfaces.
Currently In HPD&MC
Stomping about in the Battle Bowl; A four-foot tall, bipedal bot with a laser barrel on it's right arm and whose headless body wraps partially around a large jar of violet fluid; containing a clonal brain. |
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| Allen Varney |
| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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Gamma Very High Programmer
Joined: 22 Feb 2004
Posts: 996
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| Quote: |
| A damage chart, so GM's don't have to divide by the margin. |
Actually I included that in the Charts & Tables section of the rulebook, in response to plaintive complaints from division-disabled GMs on this forum. |
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| Takyn-U-RUN |
| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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UV Master Programmer
Joined: 16 Jan 2004
Posts: 2367
Service Group: Power Services
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| The most common dozen or so weapons and armor likely to be used. Just seems like a better idea than reproducing that huge table of all weapons and armor and letting the commonly-used stuff get lost in the mix. |
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