This is something of a personal rant, but the mafia community here is having problems, and I think we should do something about that. One of the things I believe we have to do is run a few simpler games in the near future to expand the player base, because as it is, we're making mafia a lot more intimidating towards the newbies than we should, but prior to that, I drew up three rules which I think could be useful right now. It's not researched, wiki-worthy stuff, just personal observations, and I know I've broken all three of them myself before; but I do think that these rules together could help with the current situation. We all know forum mafia can be a thrilling, funny, emotionally and intelectually stimulating and all-around fantastic game -- that's why we are playing. But most of the time, we're just standing around in a quagmire looking at our watch, which is not really it.

So your good uncle baz says you're playing mafia wrong if:

1. You're not posting at least once every 48 hours. That rule we include in all games? That's not a general guideline, that's actually a rule. Because without that, the game just will not work. Of course, we all know the game can eat up quite a lot of time, and sometimes you just can't afford it, and that's fine. But it must not become a habit; it becomes contagious and before you know it, no one is posting, and when they do, the post just sort of sinks into the mud that's covering the thread.

2. You're not voting, or you're voting wrong. The vote is the only weapon town has, and the only chance it has of winning. If you're town and you're not using your vote, you are not positively contributing to the game. But it's not just fire and forget; if your vote isn't doing anything productive where it is, you ought to move it somewhere else. Votes create pressure, pressure generates discussion, discussion is gameplay. Without votes, the game is not a game, but a staring contest. And ask anyone, staring contests are boring. (Well, except cats. Cats love them.)

3. You're waiting for something to happen. If nothing significant is going on in the thread at the moment, it doesn't mean the game as such is on hold. This is a game that's very much focused on the past; it may not seem so, but rereading the thread is playing the game. Old posts gain new meanings in different contexts, and that is fuel for discussion, which, again, is gameplay.

(Also, I feel we tend to overthink things a lot. Not every post has to be a wall of text with well-researched cases. Sometimes, the information you are looking for can be found just in random banter. This is something of a double-edged sword, though, which is why I'm putting it down here in parentheses which no one is going to read anyway.)

I like your blog, sir.
Is there some way to get subscription?

Erm... Refresh this thread a lot, I guess?

OK, sir. Will do it. Your subscription makes my hand hurt, though, don't you sell some refreshers to help with it?

There's always the little tick-box in the top corner.....

;-}

What do you think of adjustments of the first post?

Perhaps it's been too long since I last read it, but I can't see what's changed....

Everything above "Please use this thread for any and all discussion on the topic of mafia." is new. Most is copied from another post but still it's new there. :-)

Btw. Thanks for subsrciption tip but I want only bazilišek's posts? :-(

Perhaps you can persuade him to pm you a copy each time he posts....
:)

I have to agree on the simpler games. I think that everyone's out to do something different mechanics wise, sometimes going a bit out there, and lately it can be tough going into a game and going 'oh god, what the hell is going to be pulled out of left field this time?' It does get a bit weary, and I understand wanting to make games to keep the vet players coming back, but we don't have a huge player base to begin with, we can't keep making games that leave new players spinning.

Think it may be a good idea if someone can whip up a newbie game to generate some interest.

Maybe give mafia/masons encryptor so they can help talk through the game to generate more activity

I don't mind if someone will go for it but it didn't work for me too much. A lot of newbies replaced out and it mostly depends on persons if they get grip of game or not. I allowed Robbeasy to talk with Silverifre about game mechanics even when it wasn't night and didn't help him to get into game at all. So it is not in my opinion about being able to talk with someone else but about general intert to actually get into game.
It was only this game, though, and it may wastly differ so I am not saying it shouldn't be done.

No, I've been thinking about it for some time now and I'm willing to run one. Along the lines of M1 and M2, a full game with flavour and all, just not with any extravagant roles. And #12 has to be put on hold, I think (I'm guessing Joe's game won't be exactly newbie material).

This forum has a pretty big userbase these days, there has to be plenty of people who'd enjoy the game. We just have to market ourselves properly.

The opening post of this thread now has a bit of an explanation. It looks like bazilisek is thinking about running a newbie game so might you be interested in playing in that?

Wow, you are fast.