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Paranoia Interactive Screen $11.99
Average Rating:4.2 / 5
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Paranoia Interactive Screen
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Paranoia Interactive Screen
Publisher: Mongoose
by 4510156017537163 K. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 12/10/2019 13:26:30

My big problem with this is unlike other digital DM screens this is not printer friendly. It's a bummer that they didn't seperate the info onto different pages to be printer friendly. As someone who uses a modular DM screen it's a real dissapointment to try to figure out a good way to print it to fit in there. I don't want to have to take this to a print shop. It's also a steep price for a digital DM screen without any other content.



Rating:
[3 of 5 Stars!]
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Paranoia Interactive Screen
Publisher: Mongoose
by Cedric C. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 09/14/2017 03:09:40

INTRODUCT-I-ONN: I usually find gamemaster screens a waste of money. One side has reference sheets I rarely use, and the other side has art that nobody cares about.

INSERT TONGUE HERE: Rather cleverly, though, one side of the Paranoia screen is actually a play area where, during the combat phase, players place their cards on various areas of the screen for both a bonus as well as side effect. Play? I meant more like slam since some slots are better than others. This, of course, means quick play, fast thinking, and hilarity ensuing. The spots have cryptic "labels", such as HELP, CONTROL, and the ever-present INSERT TONGUE HERE -- and, if a certain one of the spaces is selected, the spaces have entirely different meanings, though still related to their unhelpful labels. (I'm not sure how well this plays with the screen at its usual vertical standing, so I'll assume you just lay it flat.) A sheet included with the gamemaster screen explains these effects, such as TROUBLESHOOTER IS TERMINATED, START SINGING THE BATTLE HYMN OF ALPHA COMPLEX, and TROUBLESHOOTER GETS INJECTED WITH HAPPY DRUGS. I would have preferred the sheet itself printed on stiffer paper.

ITEMS OF QUESTIONABLE PROVIDENCE: The gamemaster's side, meanwhile, is part obligatory reference sheets, and another part new material.

The reference sections are: /// PART ONE: DETERMINING NODE >>> Add STAT plus SKILL. NODE Difficulty levels. /// PART TWO: ACHIEVEMENT REWARD LEVELS >>> How much XP for what mission level of achievement. /// PART THREE: IMPROVEMENT >>> XP cost to recover or increase moxie, boost stat, boost skill, acquire new specialist skill. /// PART FOUR: INCREASING SECURITY CLEARANCE >>> You're not cleared for that. /// PART FIVE: EQUIPMENT >>> XP cost for various equipment. Equipment obtained at each level of security clearance.

The new material are lists of ideas the gamemaster may find handy. These ideas are categorized into groups. /// PART SIX: CONSPIRATORIAL MOTIVATION >>> SINISTER / COERCED / IDEALOGICAL /// PART SEVEN: ALPHA COMPLEX LOCATIONS >>> DANGEROUS / UNPLEASANT / ABOVE YOUR SECURITY CLEARANCE /// PART EIGHT: ITEMS OF QUESTIONABLE PROVENANCE >>> TREASONOUS / EQUALLY QUESTIONABLE UTILITY / BIZARRE /// PART NINE: ACHIEVEMENTS >>> SOCIAL ENGINEERING / VIGOROUS TROUBLESHOOTING / WHIMSEY OF THE HIGH PROGRAMMERS

Here're some examples of these lists. Which part they belong to is left as an exercise to the reader.

OVERMEDICATED AND HALLUCINATING / HACKED CEREBRAL CORTEX / OLD-SCHOOL BOMB-THROWING COMMIE WARBOT FOUNDRY / LOYALTY CHOIR PRACTICE HALL / STATELY PLEASURE-DOME DATA DISK JUST FULL OF SECRETS / LEFT BOOT. RATTING NOISE SUGGESTS A SECRET COMPARTMENT IN THE HEEL / BRAIN IN A JAR. DEMONSTRATE EXCESSIVE LOYALTY. / TRUST NO ONE! / DO 500 JUMPING JACKS

PDF VS. PHYSICAL PRODUCT: With the PDF, you could make a flat playing surface for the Action cards, and separate reference sheets for the GM, either as a gamemaster's screen, or other reference use. Plus, you wouldn't want to get that pristine gamemaster screen touched by those grubby player hands, would you? Review the Discussion comments to the PDF, though. Personally, I'd pick up the physical product.

CONCLUS-I-ONN: The Paranoia Gamemaster screen is certainly cleverer than other gamemaster screens, and a useful game aid for those who want even more [REDACTED] with their Paranoia.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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Paranoia Interactive Screen
Publisher: Mongoose
by Megan R. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 06/01/2017 07:28:35

Whilst serving the normal purpose of a GM screen (to hide notes, die rolls and anything else you want to hide from your players), this one continues the unique humour of Paranoia across both sides.

The player-facing side has supposed 'card slots' where players can put action cards when playing them. Maybe. If they can figure out where they should put them. Unfortunately there's a warning in large friendly letters stating that understanding the screen's function is beyond your security clearance...

The GM's side has various lists and charts some of which may be actually useful. Hints on calculating how many successes are needed for a task based on how hard it is, or XP points rewards for different accomplishments are handy, then there's quite a lot on what those XP points can be spent on, from improving security clearance level to getting new skills or a shiny new piece of kit.

Then there are some other charts that can be used to provide quick randomised results to questions like 'Where are we?' or 'What is this individual's motivation?'. Then there's a chart of Items of Questionable Provenance that are just crying out to be scattered through your scenarios - most could probably spawn a whole new adventure on their own. The table of Achievements is a bit baffling. It's not clear whether these are things you are told to do, hear about someone else doing or what... and many aren't things that would occur to a troubleshooter anyway. Why do 500 jumping jacks anyway? And it's not clear what reward you'd get if you did apart from a loud claxon going off to mark the accomplishment.

While it's funny the first time you read it, the humour will pale a bit, and it's likely that most people will want to lay their cards on the table rather than try to perch them on the screen. Get it if you like having a GM screen that matches your game, or if you're a completist.

The price is a bit high especially for a PDF - cardstock, well even that would probably be about $5-6 unless there's an adventure included.



Rating:
[3 of 5 Stars!]
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