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Finally... => Forum Games and Roleplaying => Mafia => Topic started by: a1s on November 03, 2023, 05:35:43 am

Title: Blind Mafia (recruiting)
Post by: a1s on November 03, 2023, 05:35:43 am
So this is going to be either brilliant to idiotic (probably the later.) What if you didn't know who the (dead or alive) players were?
Due to the unbalanced nature of this setup, it's obviously just for the lulz.

The rules are as follows:
Among the players is 1 guaranteed henchman (part of Mafia, who collectively may kill 1 person each night)
There may also be one or more of the following (sorry, I don't know the terminology, feel free to tell me what these are actually called):
Everyone else is a Citizen (has no abilities whatsoever, wins if alive and town wins)

Now for the twist(s):
When a player dies their role is not announced.
The game only ends if a "No-lynch" decision is reached*, at which point if any mafia aligned players are still in the game they win (and everyone else loses.) And if there are none, everyone still alive wins (but the dead people still lose.)
(*)If only two players are left, they are automatically assumed to not lynch.
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (recruiting)
Post by: Quarque on November 03, 2023, 06:16:35 am
There is a queue for mafia games, check the stickied threads. Maximum Spin is next in line.
About the rules, it is a creative idea but I'm afraid this variant would heavily favor mafia. Town is already at an information disadvantage and these rules would make the information gap much more extreme, without compensation for Town.
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (discussion)
Post by: a1s on November 03, 2023, 06:18:17 am
Not all the roles are in the game. only the henchman is guaranteed, everyone else might be citizens.

Also,
The queue has been overthrown in favor of "More Fun", so there is no "normal flow" at this time.  You can start your game whenever, although members here might be engaged with some other game that is already running or about to run, decreasing your pool of "extras".
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (discussion)
Post by: a1s on November 03, 2023, 06:23:52 am
In fact, how about we switch henchman out with lawyer?
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (discussion)
Post by: NJW2000 on November 03, 2023, 08:22:53 am
There are quite a few ideas in there, some a bit more unfamiliar than others. Obscured flips and insane doctors/cops have been done before, if you want to check out what people have said about balancing them try a mafia wiki. The town needing to live to win is odd… makes the game a bit silly if you’re killed by mafia. The maverick is an interesting role, especially in this context. Don’t really understand the voting thing… there’s a lot going on here.



Which aspects do you think are crucial to your idea?

If it’s about zero-info on death, that could be interesting, but I’d suggest asking for balance advice if you’re not going to say which roles are present beforehand. Can’t really say more than Quarque has about balance if the actual setup isn’t fully decided on… no flip generally favours scum but maybe not hugely. It could be run, a game centred around obscured flips would be unusual and potentially quite cool.


I wouldn’t be too worried about having to wait a while if you did put your game in the queue - we seem to have a lot of people stepping aside to make way for people behind them.
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (discussion)
Post by: a1s on November 03, 2023, 09:29:31 am
Which aspects do you think are crucial to your idea?
The lack of reveals and the paranoia of having a mafia still around while it's been disposed of. That, unfortunately, means people who die have to lose.  Everything else I'm willing to sacrifice to get this going.
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (discussion)
Post by: NJW2000 on November 03, 2023, 11:33:42 am
Ah. So it’s about reaching a point where the surviving people feel they have eliminated the mafia and are willing to agree to stop eliminating… it’s about how sure people are in their judgements and their willingness to manage risk. That’s interesting, although it’s far from normal mafia - in technical terms, anyone not mafia would be a survivor.

To be honest, I would find that setup more interesting without the mafiakill. Otherwise there’s a stronger focus on avoiding the mafiakill and elimination than actually trying to find scum… the night game becomes crucial, day discussion is more mechanical and speculative, there are nokill and claim bluffs added to an already extremely powerful mafia arsenal, and so on.

Some reflection of my personal preference here, but I don’t think the nightgame stuff would draw out the paranoid tension as reliably.
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (discussion)
Post by: Elephant Parade on November 03, 2023, 12:07:53 pm
I wouldn't play a game where dying as town made me lose, but I'm with NJW: I 100% want to see the Maverick in action. Hilarious role concept
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (discussion)
Post by: EuchreJack on November 06, 2023, 06:38:25 pm
There have been games on this forum where the role/alignment was not revealed on death.
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (discussion)
Post by: a1s on November 06, 2023, 07:10:53 pm
Do you think you could point them out to me, to see how this setup works out?
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (discussion)
Post by: a1s on November 07, 2023, 04:48:17 am
To be honest, I would find that setup more interesting without the mafiakill. Otherwise there’s a stronger focus on avoiding the mafiakill and elimination than actually trying to find scum… the night game becomes crucial, day discussion is more mechanical and speculative, there are nokill and claim bluffs added to an already extremely powerful mafia arsenal, and so on.
OK, how about this: There are only 2 roles- lawyer (let's call them 'cultists' for this scenario) and survivor. Survivors need to ferret out who the cultists are and eliminate them. Cultists need but to survive (and also have a secret chat). No roles are revealed on death.
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (discussion)
Post by: EuchreJack on November 07, 2023, 10:51:53 pm
Do you think you could point them out to me, to see how this setup works out?

Here is one: Who are the Gnosia? (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=178358.0)
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (recruiting)
Post by: a1s on November 08, 2023, 07:59:42 am
That seems to have been a fun game. I will add a "coroner" to the roles.
Sign ups are now open.
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (discussion)
Post by: NJW2000 on November 10, 2023, 04:25:36 am

OK, how about this: There are only 2 roles- lawyer (let's call them 'cultists' for this scenario) and survivor. Survivors need to ferret out who the cultists are and eliminate them. Cultists need but to survive (and also have a secret chat). No roles are revealed on death.
I assume survivors still need to survive to win? Otherwise it’s a very different game, much closer to normal mafia, and the “survivors” will always eliminate as many people as they can, just to be safe.

I would advise against calling them cultists - that generally refers to a mafia group that converts instead on killing. Unless that’s what you mean.

In general, I’d try to be a bit less hasty - I suspect one reason there haven’t been any signups yet is that people aren’t sure what the rules are. Producing a detailed summary of the rules will also help you see any problems and make running the game a lot smoother.

This is a cool and different mafia concept - I’d enjoy seeing the setup given the time and attention it deserves.
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (recruiting)
Post by: sofanthiel on November 12, 2023, 09:16:32 pm
In.
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (recruiting)
Post by: TricMagic on November 13, 2023, 12:06:44 pm
IN
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (recruiting)
Post by: Crystalizedmire on November 13, 2023, 03:38:48 pm
IN
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (recruiting)
Post by: Imp on November 13, 2023, 04:31:57 pm
notices this game

20 minutes later is still going whut

Umm, a1s.  I have so many questions here, I don't even know how to ask them.

In fact, how about we switch henchman out with lawyer?

How about it?  Did it happen?  Your OP doesn't say, nor do you say anywhere else.  In fact your OP still says:

Among the players is 1 guaranteed henchman (part of Mafia, who collectively may kill 1 person each night)

So... no, it didn't happen?

That seems to have been a fun game. I will add a "coroner" to the roles.
Sign ups are now open.

Checks  That got said after and apparently did get added to the OP.



OK, how about this: There are only 2 roles- lawyer (let's call them 'cultists' for this scenario) and survivor. Survivors need to ferret out who the cultists are and eliminate them. Cultists need but to survive (and also have a secret chat). No roles are revealed on death.
I assume survivors still need to survive to win? Otherwise it’s a very different game, much closer to normal mafia, and the “survivors” will always eliminate as many people as they can, just to be safe.

I would advise against calling them cultists - that generally refers to a mafia group that converts instead on killing. Unless that’s what you mean.

In general, I’d try to be a bit less hasty - I suspect one reason there haven’t been any signups yet is that people aren’t sure what the rules are. Producing a detailed summary of the rules will also help you see any problems and make running the game a lot smoother.

This is a cool and different mafia concept - I’d enjoy seeing the setup given the time and attention it deserves.

I would love to see your answers to 2000, please.  Also, are you doing your 'only 2 roles' idea, or what the OP says?  Are the roles in the OP firm and set and definite, or what?
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (recruiting)
Post by: Imp on November 13, 2023, 04:34:43 pm
@a1s:

Oh yeah.  My other questions.

Where you say in the OP:

"There may also be one or more of the following"

Does that mean that there could be, for example, 2 dons or 2 doctors?  Are there at most 3 mafia?  Do we even get to know how many mafia we have, should we even have mafia?

And them lawyers.

Does town need to kill them, or just the actual mafia, since you say "Lawyer (Knows who the Mafia are, but can not kill at night. Wins with Mafia)"

You kind of describe them differently, so I can see them as being allies, and not needing to die for town to win, though they need town to lose.

So, umm?
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (recruiting)
Post by: a1s on November 13, 2023, 06:28:36 pm
In fact, how about we switch henchman out with lawyer?

How about it?  Did it happen?  Your OP doesn't say, nor do you say anywhere else.  In fact your OP still says:
No, I decided against it. The OP is correct.
I would love to see your answers to 2000, please.  Also, are you doing your 'only 2 roles' idea, or what the OP says?  Are the roles in the OP firm and set and definite, or what?
No, the 2 roles mafia (which is a game of Ostracism with added lawyers) is going to have to wait for another time.

@a1s:

Oh yeah.  My other questions.

Where you say in the OP:

"There may also be one or more of the following"

Does that mean that there could be, for example, 2 dons or 2 doctors?  Are there at most 3 mafia?  Do we even get to know how many mafia we have, should we even have mafia?

And them lawyers.

Does town need to kill them, or just the actual mafia, since you say "Lawyer (Knows who the Mafia are, but can not kill at night. Wins with Mafia)"

You kind of describe them differently, so I can see them as being allies, and not needing to die for town to win, though they need town to lose.

So, umm?
Despite what Shakespeare said, you don't need to kill all the lawyers. This is a bit sad for the lawyer, as once mafia is out of the game they can not win. I feel this is better than "lawyers win if they survive, with mafia or without", since I want to encourage them to defend the mafia.
There can only be one don, one henchman and one lawyer. If we don't have enough players there might be no don. There is only 1 'true' doctor, but there might be another person who thinks they're the doctor. Similarly 1 vigilante and 1 cop.
"One or more" refers to how many roles from the list are present, not to multiple copies of one role.
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (recruiting)
Post by: Imp on November 13, 2023, 07:50:25 pm
Despite what Shakespeare said, you don't need to kill all the lawyers. This is a bit sad for the lawyer, as once mafia is out of the game they can not win. I feel this is better than "lawyers win if they survive, with mafia or without", since I want to encourage them to defend the mafia.
There can only be one don, one henchman and one lawyer. If we don't have enough players there might be no don. There is only 1 'true' doctor, but there might be another person who thinks they're the doctor. Similarly 1 vigilante and 1 cop.
"One or more" refers to how many roles from the list are present, not to multiple copies of one role.

Sweet.  So, for a **town win** we need either one or two people dead, and those will have roles of henchman for sure, and possibly also a don.  We can let the lawyer live, but the lawyer might try to die to prevent a true scumbuddy from dying.

Is this true:  Mafia do not know who the lawyer is?

And I get that there could be more night kills, including accidental night kills, from town than from mafia, including 'but I didn't mean it to be deadly!'.
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (recruiting)
Post by: Maximum Spin on November 13, 2023, 08:14:30 pm
Let me see. Deal with my personal problems so I can do the thing I promised OR join another weird setup. The answer is obvious.
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (recruiting)
Post by: EuchreJack on November 15, 2023, 12:29:53 am
IN, although no promises as to my activity, whether it be too much, too little, or too insane.
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (recruiting)
Post by: a1s on November 23, 2023, 08:47:07 am
So we have 5 players- that's not enough.
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (recruiting)
Post by: EuchreJack on November 23, 2023, 06:55:19 pm
So we have 5 players- that's not enough.

Maybe we're closer to 7, which is minimally sufficient.
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (recruiting)
Post by: Maximum Spin on November 24, 2023, 01:54:44 am
Oh, I was joining. I didn't say that clearly, I guess, but it would have been incredibly pointlessly assholish of me to post that in the first place if I was going to take the sensible-sounding option.
Title: Re: Blind Mafia (recruiting)
Post by: EuchreJack on November 24, 2023, 04:07:19 am
Oh, I was joining. I didn't say that clearly, I guess, but it would have been incredibly pointlessly assholish of me to post that in the first place if I was going to take the sensible-sounding option.
Fixed that for you  :P