Role-playing game adventure
Send in the Clones is an adventure written by Allen Varney and Warren Spector, published in 1985 by West End Games for the light-hearted science-fiction role-playing game "Paranoia". It was written by Allen Varney and Warren Spector, and consists of three short adventure scenarios involving the broadcasting star Teela O'Malley. It received positive reviews in game periodicals including "White Dwarf", "Casus Belli", and "Different Worlds".
Plot summary.
"Send in the Clones" contains three linked mini-scenarios:
Six pregenerated characters are available for players, and each player is allowed five "lives" (clones), should their character die multiple times. The adventure also comes with a mini-boardgame, "Date with Death"; an "Information Inquiry Form"; and the Alpha Complex Songbook.
Publication history.
West End Games published the first edition of "Paranoia" in 1984, and over the next two years, released eight adventures and supplements, including "Send in the Clones", a 48-page book written by Allen Varney and Warren Spector, with art by Jim Holloway.
In his 2014 book "Designers &amp; Dragons: The 80s", game historian Shannon Appelcline noted that ""Paranoia" received a number of notable early supplements, including John M. Ford's award-winning adventure "The Yellow Clearance Black Box Blues" (1985) and Warren Spector and Allen Varney's "Send in the Clones" (1985)".
Reception.
In the April 1986 edition of the British magazine "White Dwarf" (Issue 76), Marcus L. Rowland found this adventure a bit too formulaic, noting that "As usual it builds into a no-win situation for the players." He also thought that it was not as funny as the previously published "The Yellow Clearance Black Box Blues". He concluded by giving the game a below average rating of 6 out of 10, saying, "Too many of the situations are obviously contrived jokes, rather than logical (if absurd) results of previous actions."
In the April 1986 edition of the British magazine "Adventurer" (Issue 1), James Wallis thought that this adventure fit in well with the tone of previous adventures, commenting, "Like all "Paranoia" scenarios, "Send In The Clones" is well presented with humorous artwork and is very amusing to read." However, he warned that its storyline was complex, and a challenge for gamemasters. He concluded with an ambivalent recommendation, liking the adventure but railing against the price of American game products in the U.K., saying, "For experienced "Paranoia" GMs "Send In The Clones" is a good package, and I would have no hesitation in recommending it completely if it were not for the price. £6.95 for 48 pages is extremely expensive, even for a US import with a colour cover, and a fortune awaits the person who can produce a range of quality role-playing products at realistic prices."
In the Fall 1987 edition of "Different Worlds" (Issue 47), the reviewer warned players that this was a lethal adventure: ""Clones" is aptly named, because it is potentially one of the most deadly of "Paranoia" scenarios, too. Players had better expect to use up a sizable number of their characters' five clones before this set of related troubleshooter missions is over." The reviewer concluded by giving this adventure a perfect rating of 4 out of 4, saying, "In short, "Send In The Clones" is an excellent, bizarro adventure for "Paranoia".
Other recognition.
A copy of "Send in the Clones" is held in the collection of the Strong National Museum of Play (object 110.2388).
References.
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