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Zchinque: As said, we need to talk. About Day 1.

I've been thinking about ways to minimize the Day 1 Slog (tm). I figured I'd bring it up now, so that the next mod could take it into consideration for their setup, if they so choose. Of course, if NFY is doing a standardized setup that point might be moot, but whatevs. Anyway, I'd like your input on what you think of these ideas, and if you have any additional ideas of your own.

So, get to it.

-Disallow unvotes. Changing one's vote would of course still be fine, but once your vote is on someone, you can't go back to not voting. The idea is that you keep votes in the system, forcing all players to take some kind of stand.

-When the game starts, the mod posts a vote count where all players are voting (votes decided by random means, of course). Players who want to partake in normal random voting are of course free to move their vote around. Probably best combined with the earlier suggestion of disallowing unvotes, as it ensures that all votes will be active at all points throughout the first day.

-Start the game at Night. It means once Day starts there will be more information (although hidden) among the players, hopefully stimulating early discussion. The biggest concern is that the mafia get to kill, which I strongly oppose since it'd mean at least one player would very likely not get to partake in the game as all. As long as we've only got one game running at a time - meaning the next game could be as much as 3-4 months away - that's completely out of the question for my part.

-Start the game with a no-kill Night (AKA Cop Headstart). Same benefits as above, but since the mafia doesn't get to kill it's a sizable boon for the town. Nothing wrong with that, but mod should take it into consideration when considering balancing.

Input? Anyone?
Well, I'll type this out while I wait.

I'm not sure the disallow unvotes would work to negate the slog. What you might end up with (at least from me), would be more cautious play, because there will easily be a focus on reasons for unvoting, not to mention the reasoning. Especially for Day 1 where you have people lynched for all sorts of random reasoning.

I'm against having the votes put out at random though. While post restriction voting is an exception, I like having control over where my votes are, and would be pretty annoyed to find out that it was randomly put on someone just so I couldn't have my vote sitting there in a dangerous position.

I'm against the headstarts as well. It only works for the cop, as a watcher/tracker will require a kill or something nefarious to actually be useful, and a cop has a chance to take out a major Mafia member by simply claiming and pointing out that they found Mafia. Or you restrict the Cop, which sorta defeats the purpose of the headstart entirely.
I have played in several games lately where there was a purpose to Day one. It was actually labeled Twilight due to it being a non-voting period but everyone knew their alignment. The twilight time had a riddle or game which was only available during that time. Whichever side solved it received some sort of bonus. In one game, both sides received a bonus, but on different day phases. It was not revealed who solved the puzzle so as to eliminate guessing who was town or mafia. It also gave some purpose to the beginning of the game banter.





I usually just filled the thread with spam.
Everybody must despise Joe and laugh at him.

He may no longer enter a game under the name of JoeSapphire. He must be referred to as "Fart Moron" from this time until the end of all times.

No longer may he play mafia unassaulted by constant reminders of "That Time That Fart Moron Ruined Everyone's Fun By Not Thinking"
I can get on board with this. I love my kids but they haven't had a thought in years.
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NotFrenchYet: Remindery type message that the game I have to offer is a 2of4 game with the aim of attracting more people into this merry band. :D This might be an opportunity to revive the "good" "old" days of two-games-at-once..?

As you were.
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Zchinque: I think this is a good idea. Might want to let signups run for a bit, so that more people get the chance to see it. And for a game of this nature, I think newbies should have priority, if that should become an issue.

Is there any non-intrusive way we can advertise, other than keeping the signup thread well bumped?

I also think SPF's idea about leaving out the numbers might have some merit. It can't hurt to try, at least.

We could also try a mentor system to help new players, similar to what they have over at MTGS. I'll leave the explanation to them:
"Mentor: an experienced player that offers some of their time to help a new player by being a “behind the scenes” source to answer questions about the game. Questions can range from vocabulary, to previous examples of when game results occurred, to general strategy advice. Mentors are advised to not give play-by-play instructions or make decisions for the new player, but to tell them (usually between phases) what they have done right and wrong already. Suggestions of what to do next are not allowed, and specific examples about other players in the game at hand are not allowed. (Communications with a Mentor are usually handled in a QT monitored by the Mod.)"
I like all of these ideas.

I think in that case I'll start sign-ups for game 18 now. All welcome to sign up or course, and banter nicely in the thread to keep it bumped, but note that players who've played 2+ games (going off MafiaScum's definition of newbie) will not be prioritised. Anyone who's nudged out by a new player will be offered the chance to mentor a randomly selected newbie in a QT.

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TwilightBard: I'm against the headstarts as well. It only works for the cop, as a watcher/tracker will require a kill or something nefarious to actually be useful, and a cop has a chance to take out a major Mafia member by simply claiming and pointing out that they found Mafia. Or you restrict the Cop, which sorta defeats the purpose of the headstart entirely.
And from there, assuming there's a doc, you get a follow the cop scenario... Hmm.

Anyone else have thoughts about this? I'm willing to make the next game an experiment for night 0 if we think it'd be useful.

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etna87: I think some sort of time bubble would also really help (meaning that the time spent on the mafia game does not actually use up your time). Plus, it would be an awesome thing to have on other occasions, as well.
Our scientists have been working 25/7 on this project.
Post edited September 06, 2013 by NotFrenchYet
Also, could I get someone who doesn't intend to play to check my file please, to make sure I haven't made any massive flavour slip ups like last time? O:)
Le sign-up thread pour Mafia #18: "The Goldenhead Theatre Mystery" est maintenant ouvert.

Checkez it out, y'all.
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TwilightBard: I'm against the headstarts as well. It only works for the cop, as a watcher/tracker will require a kill or something nefarious to actually be useful, and a cop has a chance to take out a major Mafia member by simply claiming and pointing out that they found Mafia. Or you restrict the Cop, which sorta defeats the purpose of the headstart entirely.
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NotFrenchYet: And from there, assuming there's a doc, you get a follow the cop scenario... Hmm.

Anyone else have thoughts about this? I'm willing to make the next game an experiment for night 0 if we think it'd be useful.
If you get a Follow the Cop, your setup is wrong. The mafia still have access to their normal assortment of tricks - roleblockers, redirectors, framers, godfathers, whathaveyou - they just don't get to kill N0.

However, 2of4 is balanced for day start, unless I'm mistaken, so I don't think it's the best place to experiment with night start - kill or no-kill.
*facepalm* I was forgetting (and apparently TB was too) that the mafia also have powers..!

Personally this is something I'd be up for experimenting with in the future.
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Zchinque: As said, we need to talk. About Day 1.

I've been thinking about ways to minimize the Day 1 Slog (tm). I figured I'd bring it up now, so that the next mod could take it into consideration for their setup, if they so choose. Of course, if NFY is doing a standardized setup that point might be moot, but whatevs. Anyway, I'd like your input on what you think of these ideas, and if you have any additional ideas of your own.

So, get to it.

-Disallow unvotes. Changing one's vote would of course still be fine, but once your vote is on someone, you can't go back to not voting. The idea is that you keep votes in the system, forcing all players to take some kind of stand.

-When the game starts, the mod posts a vote count where all players are voting (votes decided by random means, of course). Players who want to partake in normal random voting are of course free to move their vote around. Probably best combined with the earlier suggestion of disallowing unvotes, as it ensures that all votes will be active at all points throughout the first day.

-Start the game at Night. It means once Day starts there will be more information (although hidden) among the players, hopefully stimulating early discussion. The biggest concern is that the mafia get to kill, which I strongly oppose since it'd mean at least one player would very likely not get to partake in the game as all. As long as we've only got one game running at a time - meaning the next game could be as much as 3-4 months away - that's completely out of the question for my part.

-Start the game with a no-kill Night (AKA Cop Headstart). Same benefits as above, but since the mafia doesn't get to kill it's a sizable boon for the town. Nothing wrong with that, but mod should take it into consideration when considering balancing.

Input? Anyone?
I am conservative when it comes to rules but I don't like any of these suggestions.
The first and second are just plain bad and with no benefit only drawbacks.
The other 2 are sensible but it is nothing I would like to see used regulary. It could be in 1 or 2 games when mod feels like it to make the particular game more special but if it gets used regulary it won't have much effect IMO. I don't like idea of being copped as scum before the game even starts. It's something that you can't influence at all and it will make your game meaningless.
Post edited September 06, 2013 by Vitek
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Vitek: ...
That's strange, there's only one person I remember disallowing unvotes. ;)
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SirPrimalform: That's strange, there's only one person I remember disallowing unvotes. ;)
It was only against you and it had good reasoning. :-)
Unfortunately it didn't work.
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Vitek: I am conservative when it comes to rules but I don't like any of these suggestions.
The first and second are just plain bad and with no benefit only drawbacks.
The other 2 are sensible but it is nothing I would like to see used regulary. It could be in 1 or 2 games when mod feels like it to make the particular game more special but if it gets used regulary it won't have much effect IMO. I don't like idea of being copped as scum before the game even starts. It's something that you can't influence at all and it will make your game meaningless.
How is disallowing unvotes "plain bad"? You'll need to back that up.
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Vitek: I am conservative when it comes to rules but I don't like any of these suggestions.
The first and second are just plain bad and with no benefit only drawbacks.
The other 2 are sensible but it is nothing I would like to see used regulary. It could be in 1 or 2 games when mod feels like it to make the particular game more special but if it gets used regulary it won't have much effect IMO. I don't like idea of being copped as scum before the game even starts. It's something that you can't influence at all and it will make your game meaningless.
It sounds like a N0 would be something that would have to be factored into the balancing of power roles...
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Zchinque: How is disallowing unvotes "plain bad"? You'll need to back that up.
I don't know, I just don't see any benefit to it. It could lead to more mislynches as people wouldn't be much convinced about someone's guilt but they would have to keep their votes somewhere. It could maybe lead to faster days, but in my opinion it would affect the game in negative direction.

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NotFrenchYet: It sounds like a N0 would be something that would have to be factored into the balancing of power roles...
Any balancing wouldn't change the fact that someone's game could be ruined before it even starts.
I wouldn't be happy if it happened to me.
i am not saying it shouldn't be used at all, but it should be approached carefully and only as special setup.