mchack: Summary of Concerns
• Balance: 6 Catholics vs 3 Reformers might still favor Catholics due to the heavy information flow and the gradual creation of a large, confirmed “town voice.”
• Length and Complexity: The unanimous decision and stumplification mechanic might drag the game out.
• Inertia: Lack of night kills or other forced change could lead to stalemates or slow progress.
• Roles: If introduced, roles should be subtle and not disrupt the core mechanic of investigate-to-confirm identities. A Messenger role seems harmless enough, but might not fix any core issues.

Potential Tweaks:
• Consider a smaller player list or a different ratio to give Reformers a better chance. Perhaps 5 Catholics vs 3 Reformers might be more tense.
• Allow for a timed mechanic (like after X number of investigations, a forced decision must be reached) to avoid endless stalemates.
• Keep roles minimal or purely communicative, so as not to derail the delicate balance.

In conclusion, the concept is intriguing and creative, but the main risks are prolonged stalemates, a tilt in balance towards the Catholics due to easier accumulation of trustworthy stumps, and potential for player fatigue. If you move forward, consider careful adjustment of the ratio, or introduce a small mechanism to ensure the game progresses toward a conclusion.

Lifthrasil: There will be no lynches as such. And scum will not need a simple majority to win, but the election of the new Pope needs to be unanimously. So Town has a bit more time. But then again, once they control the elimination vote, there is also nothing stopping them from achieving 100% control of the election vote.

But you are right, the self-voting should not be applie to the elimination vote, but only to the election vote.

Bookwyrm627: Oh! I didn't read closely enough. Vote Bookwyrm

That could indeed be interesting.

mchack: so much so that you're in now?

Bookwyrm627: Doesn't fix the time issue. I don't have it, and (despite my name) I actually read pretty slow.

HypersomniacLive: supplementscene said there's a sign-up thread, given that he's a notorious (mafia) liar and should be offed with no hesitation whatsoever, I came to see for myself. What do you know, he was telling the truth after all... ok then, perhaps spare him until the game actually starts.

Quite a few faces from a distant mafia-past (*reminisces for a bit*)... I'm tempted... but I'm in a pickle:
-- I had an accident (actually two, four days apart) about a month ago, and have injured both legs pretty badly (on sick leave till the 13th), and still can't sit at my desk for longer periods of time;
-- once I get back to work (though I'm looking to switch jobs, which won't be until sometime in January), I won't have the energy to play.

So the sane thing for me, unfortunately, is to abstain. Perhaps next year.

I will, however, vote mchack for feigning uncertainty about the rules, plus being suspiciously helpful; we all know that those are unmistaken signs of being a baddy, right? Right?!

I wish you all to have heaps of fun!

Lifthrasil: I can write up the role descriptions tomorrow and finalize the setup. Then I can write up some fluff and we can have a relaxed first day to get to know each other (without deadline yet) before going to the holiday break.

Or I start after the holidays. What do you think? Is it better for the dynamic to start now? Or to wait until after the break?

Lifthrasil: I can write up the role descriptions tomorrow and finalize the setup. Then I can write up some fluff and we can have a relaxed first day to get to know each other (without deadline yet) before going to the holiday break.

Or I start after the holidays. What do you think? Is it better for the dynamic to start now? Or to wait until after the break?

PookaMustard: I'm fine with either. As long as the show gets started, anything is fair game.