holidays
- Thread starter abe
- Start date
Allen Varney
Mongoose
How do you think they should be handled, Abe? Here's one idea from an older thread in this forum:
http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7033
http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7033
Which is exactly the sort of thing mentioned at the other end of that link Allen posted, Abe. Additionally, as mentioned elsewhere, you should do things in your Alpha Complex the way you want... if it works for you, do it... want to try out something new, try it. PARANOIA has no hard and fast rules, mechanics or setting-wise, that you, as Gamemaster, cannot change at a moments notice.
Abe, as you've asked about several things, it may be better to look at Paranoia as a dark lens that alter everything. It's our world and culture in many ways, but warped and distorted by the fear and stupidity of the computer's godlike reign, the ignorance and maliciousness of the citizens of Alpha Complex, and the rest of the setting.
Of course, the details of that lens differ with the playing styles presented.
We can offer ideas, suggestions, and references to current and old Paranoia works. We can give you ideas, and even recommend a few jokes, but ultimately it's up to you.
(Sorry for the rant. I just got done reading some messages on the Games Workshop forums and feel a bit fragile right now. :shock: :x )
Of course, the details of that lens differ with the playing styles presented.
We can offer ideas, suggestions, and references to current and old Paranoia works. We can give you ideas, and even recommend a few jokes, but ultimately it's up to you.
(Sorry for the rant. I just got done reading some messages on the Games Workshop forums and feel a bit fragile right now. :shock: :x )
Abe... pretty much every question you've asked up to now has been about something NOT in the books... so, you're safe to make it up. Hey... you're always safe to make it up. That's what we're saying. As Gamemaster the game runs the way you want to run it, with the holidays, foods, games, weapons, laws, pastimes, costumes, setting, etc. you want to have.abe said:
Perfect! Now just gather a bunch of hardcore "un-fun" game players and tell them to roll up PCs. Then your lack of "experience" might just play to your advantage as the players won't be sure whether you know what you are doing (and are just tormenting them) or you have no clue (and things are just insane!)abe said:
If all goes well you'll get good at keeping them in the dark. Torment and Insanity!!
Mark Dunder
Mongoose
Just roll some dice (get all kinds), look intently at the players, and say things like:
"Now that can't be good."
"I wonder if I should."
"Might as well."
"Ha! Now that would be funny!" ...wait for it! Player, plaintively: "what would be funny?"
"Doggone it! I'm not ready for that yet!"
"Your dead! ...no! wait! Wrong dice..."
"What's big and black and orange and blue and has lots of legs?" Player: "A bug?" (you know where to go from here, right?)
"Now that can't be good."
"I wonder if I should."
"Might as well."
"Ha! Now that would be funny!" ...wait for it! Player, plaintively: "what would be funny?"
"Doggone it! I'm not ready for that yet!"
"Your dead! ...no! wait! Wrong dice..."
"What's big and black and orange and blue and has lots of legs?" Player: "A bug?" (you know where to go from here, right?)
dunderm said:
To add to those, I'm a big fan of the simple dice toss followed by a quick shudder and "Oooh!"
Roll some dice, and then smile, roll some more, and then smile again. If you're players don't learn to fear your smile than something is wrong. So continue until you think they get the idea, and then just look up and say, "Oh, sorry, I just love the sound of rolling dice."
In addition to spoofing current holidays feel free to make up your own. Remember when there was just Mothers Day? Card sales octupled for one week. Then some marketing guru at Hallmark had an idea... if 1 holiday good, then 2 better. Before you know it we had... Mother's Day, Father's Day, Parent's Day, Grandparent's Day, Friendship Day, Children's Day, Boss's Day, Mother-In-Law's Day, Citizenship Day, Sweetest Day (I don't even know what this is), and, last, Administrative Professionals Day (formerly Secretary's Day). I'm not making this up... check their online calendar. And if you don't honor each and every one of these days you are a bad bad person.
That said, who's to say what the lovely folks at HPD & Mind Control are busy coming up with:
Volunteer Day -- Service groups set up booths and try to pressure low clearance citizens into voluneering for dangerous assignments.
Power Services Resource Conservation Day -- Most citizens forget about this holiday because it doesn't always appear on their calendar until after it happens. Not to mention, this day seems to happen more often than once a year, and is celebrated in different sectors for different durations. During Resource Conservation Day(s) citizens are encouraged to reflect upon friend Computer's bounty while lying quietly in their bunks while all lighting, air flow, and food distribution is kept to a minimum. (Think rolling power blackouts al'la California)
Gen-U-FLK-4 Day -- High Programmer hacked into the system just to see if he could name a holiday after himself.
Confession Day -- Citizens are "highly encouraged" to enter confession booths to commune with Friend Computer about near-treasons they've witnessed. Failure to celebrate Confession Day is frowned upon so there are usually long lines at the confession booths. To handle the overflow Internal Security always stations 1 or more Confession Specialists near the booth. Also known as "Friend Computer's Helpers" the specialists sit in a chair and citizens line up to sit in their lap and whisper near-treasons in their ear.
Friend Computer Day -- This is a very low pressure holiday. Citizens may, at their discretion, show some personal form of appreciation for Friend Computer. Failure to demonstrate love for The Computer in no way signifies a tendency towards treasonous thought or behavior. Ostentatious displays should in no way be considered mandatory. Friend Computer Day is always celebrated the day before Confession Day.
That said, who's to say what the lovely folks at HPD & Mind Control are busy coming up with:
Volunteer Day -- Service groups set up booths and try to pressure low clearance citizens into voluneering for dangerous assignments.
Power Services Resource Conservation Day -- Most citizens forget about this holiday because it doesn't always appear on their calendar until after it happens. Not to mention, this day seems to happen more often than once a year, and is celebrated in different sectors for different durations. During Resource Conservation Day(s) citizens are encouraged to reflect upon friend Computer's bounty while lying quietly in their bunks while all lighting, air flow, and food distribution is kept to a minimum. (Think rolling power blackouts al'la California)
Gen-U-FLK-4 Day -- High Programmer hacked into the system just to see if he could name a holiday after himself.
Confession Day -- Citizens are "highly encouraged" to enter confession booths to commune with Friend Computer about near-treasons they've witnessed. Failure to celebrate Confession Day is frowned upon so there are usually long lines at the confession booths. To handle the overflow Internal Security always stations 1 or more Confession Specialists near the booth. Also known as "Friend Computer's Helpers" the specialists sit in a chair and citizens line up to sit in their lap and whisper near-treasons in their ear.
Friend Computer Day -- This is a very low pressure holiday. Citizens may, at their discretion, show some personal form of appreciation for Friend Computer. Failure to demonstrate love for The Computer in no way signifies a tendency towards treasonous thought or behavior. Ostentatious displays should in no way be considered mandatory. Friend Computer Day is always celebrated the day before Confession Day.
Dang it... I missed gifttree.com. They list these other crucial holidays...
Clean off Your Desk Day
Secret Pal Day
Celebration of Life Day
Spouse's Day
Carnation Day
Floral Design Day
Doctor's Day
National Siblings Day
National Stress Awareness Day
Take Kids to Work Day
Lover's Day
Hairstylist Day
Teacher's Day
Brother's and Sister's Day
Best Friend's Day
Chrysanthium Day
Cousin's Day
Aunt & Uncle Day
Father-In-Law Day
Sister's Day
Left Hander's Day
Relaxation Day
Kiss & Make-Up Day
Just Because Day
Patriot Day
Stepfamily Day
Women's Friendship Day
Business Women's Day
National Good Neighbor Day
United Nations Day
Housewife's Day
Forget-Me-Not Day
World Kindness Day
Poinsettia Day
Clean off Your Desk Day
Secret Pal Day
Celebration of Life Day
Spouse's Day
Carnation Day
Floral Design Day
Doctor's Day
National Siblings Day
National Stress Awareness Day
Take Kids to Work Day
Lover's Day
Hairstylist Day
Teacher's Day
Brother's and Sister's Day
Best Friend's Day
Chrysanthium Day
Cousin's Day
Aunt & Uncle Day
Father-In-Law Day
Sister's Day
Left Hander's Day
Relaxation Day
Kiss & Make-Up Day
Just Because Day
Patriot Day
Stepfamily Day
Women's Friendship Day
Business Women's Day
National Good Neighbor Day
United Nations Day
Housewife's Day
Forget-Me-Not Day
World Kindness Day
Poinsettia Day
Mark Dunder
Mongoose
MarkIV, I like the way you wrote up those holidays, good job!
Hey, can you write one up for Troubleshooter's Remembrance Day?
Hey, can you write one up for Troubleshooter's Remembrance Day?
How about...
Prior Clones Rememberance Day -- On this day citizens are expected to honor the sacrifices of their earlier increments and acknowledge their contribution to Alpha Complex's greater good. Tradition is that citizens are expected to engage 3 random citizens in spontaneous conversation at 6 hour, 12 hour and 17 hour with each telling a 1 minute story about their former clone(s). Upon conclusion the listener says "He/she/they was/were a true friend of The Computer." Swapping swigs of B3 is optional.
The only problem is, most citizens don't know exactly how or why their former clones died. This is especially problematic for Troubleshooter's since 87% of former Troubleshooters are executed for some form of treason and all treasonous deaths are classified.
Failure to participate in an official Computer holiday is highly suspicious at best.
Prior Clones Rememberance Day -- On this day citizens are expected to honor the sacrifices of their earlier increments and acknowledge their contribution to Alpha Complex's greater good. Tradition is that citizens are expected to engage 3 random citizens in spontaneous conversation at 6 hour, 12 hour and 17 hour with each telling a 1 minute story about their former clone(s). Upon conclusion the listener says "He/she/they was/were a true friend of The Computer." Swapping swigs of B3 is optional.
The only problem is, most citizens don't know exactly how or why their former clones died. This is especially problematic for Troubleshooter's since 87% of former Troubleshooters are executed for some form of treason and all treasonous deaths are classified.
Failure to participate in an official Computer holiday is highly suspicious at best.
Mark Dunder
Mongoose
Hardy har har! That's awesome! Where do you come from anyway?
