Paranoid when Tired

I love to run Paranoia. I usually run Monday AM because everyone is sleep deprived and Paranoia works well when you can't quite get all of your thoughts together. However, 9AM is just too freakin' early. Next year, 10AM. I realized almost immediately that I was so tired that I couldn't actually remember the rules. Seriously! Turns out that it didn't really matter. Did I mention I love running Paranoia!?

OK, even with a 9AM start, the game filled with players (again no-show slots filled by crashers). I had a few new twists, such as people starting off on their 3rd or 4th clone and then progressing past the original 6, each clone less and less perfect (copy of a copy of a copy, ya know). I started the game with the characters finishing a de-briefing from a previous mission and getting sent out on a new mission immediately. I also had the corridor outside of the de-briefing room repainted while they were being de-briefed, insuring that they'd commit treason just by stepping out of the room. Several clones were lost before they ever got out of the room. We were off to a fine start.

I introduced a new Bot. The TrackBot. It's supposed to track an item and lead the Troubleshooters to it. Their mission: To recover this item (which is above their security clearance) and return it to the Briefing Room. Unknown to them, this is a treasonous item, dumped into the Underplex by an Ultraviolet citizen. Worse, the entry port into the Underplex is located in the floor of a transtube and the TrackBot is too big to fit through the opening. Countless clones were lost trying to get into the Underplex. Finally, some well-placed explosives got the team into the Underplex. Some complications with a ScrubBot and some Experimental Weapons in a metal access tube and the party was completely wiped out. There endeth the tale. I warn new Paranoia Players that they should not be surprised if they never get to the adventure. Sure enough, they barely did and our 6 hours was up. (OK, it went 6.5 hours, but no one complained)

2 new Players for Paranoia (including one crasher from the previous day's Cthulhu game). I'm spreading the happiness. Hail The Computer! It was a really fun game with good Players.

I cleaned up the room and began the dismal task of hauling my gaming stuff and luggage to my car. Then I set off to find anyone remaining that I might bid 'farewell' to. I found Japji (who runs KublaCon) and thanked him for another great con. This is a difficult and somewhat depressing time for me. The convention is over, I'm tired, coming down off of adrenaline and I just don't want it to end. Well, this time it didn't.

I found Todd Furler, Matt DeHayes, Kim Hill, and Matt & Kim's friend Dwayne as they were starting a new round of 'Shadows over Camalot'. I don't do much boardgaming, and I was tired, but... I didn't want the Con to end and here are my friends inviting me to play, so...

I fear that Camalot was lost to the darkness due to my lack of concentration. 'Shadows' turned out to be a fun game (I'd play again) and I got to hang for awhile longer. The convention staff came and told us that the convention was technically over and if the hotel staff wanted us out of the meeting room, we'd have to clear out. Even as tired as they were, they had this much courtesy remaining. Have I mentioned how much KublaCon rocks!?

We wrapped up the game without the need for the hotel staff to shoo us away. That's when Matt & Co invited me to dinner. Now, Todd was taking a red-eye out and the rest had to drive a few hours, but there were 3 of them to share the driving. As much as I wanted to, I needed to get home before my Other Half thought I was dead in a ditch somewhere in the mountain pass I still needed to cross. Difficult as it was to tear myself away, I headed home. Still not willing to completely let go, I called my friend Jay Button in Colorado and blathered all the way home about how great KublaCon was and how I wished he'd been there. Finally, home safe and sound, I ate something and fell into bed, needing some sleep for re-entry.

How was KublaCon 2007? Nearly perfect. I can't wait for next year...