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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.

Friday, July 17, 2009

INTSEC Community Mission: Miranda Warning 

As I come to the end of development on INTSEC, I realise that the book really needs something that Troopers can shout at suspects.

There's the US version: "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney present during questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights?"

Or the Canadian: "You are under arrest for _________ (charge), do you understand? You have the right to retain and instruct counsel without delay. We will provide you with a toll-free telephone lawyer referral service, if you do not have your own lawyer. Anything you say can be used in court as evidence. Do you understand? Would you like to speak to a lawyer?"

Or in the UK: "You do not have to say anything unless you wish to do so, but I must warn you that if you fail to mention any fact which you rely on in your defence in court, your failure to take this opportunity to mention it may be treated in court as supporting any relevant evidence against you. If you do wish to say anything, what you say may be given in evidence."

What should they say in Alpha Complex?

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Posted by: Gareth Hanrahan / 6:03 PM

Comments:
During pursuit: Internal Security! Stop or be terminated!

In custody: You will now be questioned regarding matters of importance to Friend Computer and the well-being of all Citizens. You are required to answer all questions fully. Silence is treason. Withholding of information that is or may be of relevance or use is treason and will be punished as such when eventually discovered. You are required to provide a full accounting of all treasonous thoughts or acts you have committed or witnessed. If you identify others who have committed treason, this will be considered in evaluating the appropriate penalty for your crimes. Any apparent failure to cooperate or answer fully will result in application of interrogation techniques of elevating intensity and duration. Survival of high-intensity interrogation techniques is not guaranteed. The interrogation begins … NOW.
# posted by Blogger Ze Weeg : July 17, 2009 8:47 PM
 
By Authority of The Computer, you are now in the absolute custody and control of Internal Security. You will now be questioned regarding matters of importance to Friend Computer and the well-being of the Complex and its Citizens. You will not be released until you have cooperated fully with this inquiry, and have been punished appropriately for the treason you have doubtless committed. You are required to answer all questions fully. Silence is treason. Withholding of any information that is or may be of relevance or use in this inquiry is treason, and will be punished as such when eventually discovered. You are required to provide a full accounting of all treasonous thoughts or acts you have committed or witnessed. If you identify others who have committed treason and provide testimony regarding their crimes, this will be considered in evaluating the appropriate penalty for your own offenses. Any apparent failure to cooperate or answer fully will result in application of interrogation techniques of elevating intensity and duration. Survival of high-intensity interrogation techniques is not guaranteed. The interrogation begins … NOW.
# posted by Blogger Ze Weeg : July 17, 2009 8:58 PM
 
You do not have to say anything. Failure to say anything is treason. You have the right to inform someone of your arrest, they may also be suspected of treason. You have the right to a representative, appointed by the computer, none use of this representative is treason. Anything you mention will be recorded and used in evidence against you.

The representative being teh computer in their omnipotent wisdom. Cue plot hooks galore....
# posted by Blogger filthydan : July 17, 2009 9:26 PM
 
I like answer #1. As the actual arrest was happening, I'd imagine them simply screaming COMPLY! or DOWN! or somesuch.

I could imagine them getting saddled with some required boilerplate, though, which would probably piss them off no end.

Hmm. Catch-22, perhaps: "You are now in custody and required to confess. Any delay in confession will be held against you during sentencing and processing. DO YOU UNDERSTAND, CITIZEN? While in custody, you must follow all regulations for prisoners. Do not speak to anyone without proper authorization. DO YOU UNDERSTAND, CITIZEN?"
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : July 18, 2009 12:53 AM
 
I like filthydan's entry - it's short, like the cited examples, and captures the spirit well. I don't know if I can improve on that, but here's my stab.

"You will assist Internal Security by attending a Mandatory Treason Interview. This Interview will be conducted under the watchful eye of The Computer, to ensure our safety and your cooperation. The Interview will be recorded and may be presented as evidence of any Treason you may have committed. Please come with us."
# posted by Anonymous Duane O'Brien : July 18, 2009 1:01 AM
 
Woe betide the player who makes an error during recital of the complicated message... Not that The Computer would ever allow a traitor off on a technicality (except when it would, of course), but it would still frown upon a trooper's blatant attempts to save a traitor by way of technicality.

Anyway, what's all this nonsense about traitors having rights? Guilty until proven innocent, I say...
# posted by Anonymous Zild : July 18, 2009 3:59 AM
 
I would put all the above into a table and the GM can roll for a different one each mission. Or each encounter. Or whenever some INDIGO fool in a meeting somewhere decrees it. Such as partway through an arrest... and of course a clever, clued-up traitor could probably have an incorrectly worded arrest annulled.
# posted by Anonymous Danforth : July 20, 2009 5:37 AM
 
"You're a traitor!" *zap zap zap*
# posted by Anonymous Jonathan Drain : July 22, 2009 1:36 PM
 
Congratulations, you have been selected for Mandatory Interrogation Duty! You are required to answer all questions truthfully and completely. Failure to comply is evidence of treason. Your cooperation may be considered in evaluating the appropriate penalty for your offenses. You have the right to be summarily terminated. Do you understand, citizen?
# posted by Anonymous zarathud : July 27, 2009 11:29 PM
 
You have the right to confess your treason. If you fail to confess your treason, this fact may be introduced at your trial as evidence of treason. You have the right to have Your Friend The Computer virtually present during your interrogation. Should you waive your right to have Your Friend The Computer present during interrogation, this may be introduced at your trial as evidence of treason. If you understand these rights, you may signify your understanding by spoken assent, nodding, or cessation of screaming. If you do not understand your rights, this fact may be introduced at your trail as evidence of treason. Do you understand, Citizen?
# posted by Blogger Greg : August 11, 2009 6:42 PM
 
zarathud has the best one, though I would add a bit saying "we are obligated to inform you that this interrogation is being recorded for quality assurance and training purposes."

-B
# posted by Blogger Unknown : August 11, 2009 7:13 PM
 
Welcome, citizen, to your arrest! Please confess all treasons you have committed, may have committed, have seen committed, or are considering committing to save Friend Computer processing time. Failure to confess previously mentioned treasons is treason. You will be executed after the confession process. Have a nice day!
# posted by Blogger graceoflarkspur : January 01, 2010 11:38 PM
 
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