In this Rules as Written episode, we dive into Paranoia, the tabletop RPG where the rules are unreliable, the GM is your enemy, and knowing how the game works is a capital crime. Focusing on Paranoia XP, we examine how the system deliberately weaponizes mechanics like hidden target numbers, arbitrary modifiers, mutant powers, clone death, and secret societies to enforce mistrust and institutional chaos. This episode breaks down how Paranoia’s rules are not meant to create fairness or balance, but to model bureaucracy, blame, and control, making it one of the clearest examples of a game where Rules as Written are not just part of play, but the core joke and the core threat.