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Official development blog for the PARANOIA roleplaying game. No description is available at your security clearance. The Computer is your friend.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Skulduggery 

Soon, perhaps, PARANOIA will gain distinguished company in the realm of RPGs that turn players against one another.

Pelgrane Press recently allowed its license for The Dying Earth RPG to lapse. (I did the layout for the Dying Earth rulebook and the first supplement, Cugel's Compendium.) Though the license to Jack Vance's wonderful fantasy novels currently lingers in abeyance, the fine rules system by Robin D. Laws lends itself well to characteristically Vancian interactions in other settings. Pelgrane publisher Simon Rogers is collecting opinions on new settings using the Dying Earth rules, such as this new proposal, Skulduggery, a game of "verbal fireworks and sudden reversals":
Skulduggery, Pelgrane Press’ hilarious new roleplaying game of doing unto others because they’re sure as heck planning to do unto you. [...] quick, uproarious games of treachery and oneupmanship in any setting. Fine-tuned for one-shot and impromptu sessions, it can be adjusted for longer-running series as players demand.
  • The tongue is sharper than the sword. Skulduggery makes verbal persuasion as suspenseful and decisive as physical combat.

  • There’s always another comeback. Don’t like the results when you roll a die? Skulduggery’s reversals-based resolution system lets you roll again -- if you can afford to pay the price. . .

  • Characters in minutes. The GM hands out stacks of cards. The players trade for a few minutes. Presto: instant characters, ready to play!

  • Wit wins out. Strategic deployment of dialogue snippets recharges your supply of the points you need to succeed.

  • Think you’ve got it all under control? Just when they think they’re ahead, characters must face their own worst enemies—the all-consuming temptations driving them to distraction and doom.
From the moment The Dying Earth RPG appeared, gamers have connected it to PARANOIA. (See, for instance, this 2003 RPG.net forum thread on player-vs-player conflict.) Now, depending on the feedback Simon collects from his readers, the connection may become easier than ever. Drop by the Skulduggery post and comment.
Posted by: Allen Varney / 7:09 PM

Comments:
We'd be very happy to do this. It's an excellent idea.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : June 22, 2009 5:20 AM
 
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