Wouldn’t the issue be mitigated by posting all role descriptions prior to beginning the game? It means that anybody could copy/paste any role to claim it. That means that any claim is subject to suspicion and counter claim. If powers are hidden, using a template power description might work. I’d also propose posting the template correspondence for roles like seer where communication with the game runner as well.
Well, yes, a completely open setup works, too. 
Well see, I wasn’t going to do an open setup. I would not list in the beginning what roles are in the game, so you would only know what your character and role was when I send you your private message before the game. There may be times where a character is mentioned in the narrative but that may only happen a few times.
Please don’t make this so complicated. I just want to share a game with you guys the way I was taught and the way I played it.
Just do like Johnny Bravo said and give the bad guys fake good-guy names in addition to their bad-guy names. The whole issue will disappear if you do that.
Sounds doable. I can do that.
Open Setups with many Town Powers are unbalanced in my opinion. Every Town power becomes an unlynchable player by virtue of the power to claim a unique role. Scum could counter-claim, but the net result would be very good for Town and very bad for Scum.
Open Setups should have very few Town Powers and mostly Vanilla Town.
Ok, so here’s how I was going to do things.
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This is NOT an open setup. A player will only know their own role and ability (if they get one.) I will not post any info in game as to how many power roles we will have, except for when a player is eliminated via Lynch or Kill, at which time I will reveal the players name, character and alignment along with their ability if they had one.
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You may edit posts, however, from my experiences over the years, it is frowned upon. But I understand things are different around this site, so do as you wish.
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I am not making any rule against claiming, except that you may not defend your claim by posting via cut and pasting your Role PM that I send you in the beginning. If you wish to claim, you need to convince the other players using your own game playing skills.
Any more questions, feel free to ask.
I think “mass claims” to try to break games based on loopholes are stupid anyway, so I won’t participate if somebody tries to game your setup, Dante. I think you should design the game the way you want, and let the chips fall where they may.
Thank you for that Astral.
Yeah, that was how I was taught the game from my other site. Role claiming was really frowned upon and I never played a game that had an open setup before. That’s why the whole idea of open setup and mass claims was confusing me.
Sorry guys, I’m going to run this the way I know how. Hope you enjoy.
Like Astral, I’m generally against things like mass claims. More topically, I didn’t at all like the self-voting plan from the current game.
But this is the Dope. Analytical and pedantic for days and days. It’s part of our unique charm.
This is the best idea. I’ve never run or played on any board, so I’m only spitballing potential solutions. Wiser players and runners should shoot them down as appropriate.
I think as long as everything is clear and we know what you want with this game, things will work out fine. Do your thing, it’s your game and I think no one would have any fun trying to ruin that.
I’m in if you’re still recruiting. I’m kind of new (and it has been a long time since the last time I played) so you might have to speak slowly and use little words with me.
OK, Mosier, with you that brings us to 8 players so far.
More… More… MORE!
Updated list of players -
- Suburban Plankton
- Astral Rejection
- Precam(maybe?)
- HookerChemical
- WFTomba
- Mahaloth
- Plumpudding
- Mosier
In my watching experience, the way you deal with claims in this situation is to give the Scum fake names they can also claim. Don’t make them all unimportant characters, either.
Heck, if you let them post their Role PMs, I’ve seen there be several fakes of that, too. Even the main character of the franchise with a very obvious role will turn out to not actually be in the game.
In other words, give them cover by making the fakes yourself.
That’s just it though - I’m not allowing for posting of role PM’s.
Ya see, I was introduced to this game years ago and was always taught that role claiming was frowned upon and that it was taking the easy way out. I tend to agree. I mean, if you are going to sign up for a game that’s all about deception and deduction and manipulation, then be prepared to play that kind of game. Don’t go into it thinking that you can always save your life with a role claim, or try to get all players to claim as an elaborate strategy. To me, the game is more fun when you can’t claim.
Just my opinion though.
It may be just your opinion, but if you are running the game, then it’s your rules and your opinion is premiere. Standard Dungeon Master/Game Runner procedure.
Your game, your rules, but I think you’re overvaluing the gamebreakiness of claiming and the willingness of players to go along with a wacky strategy.
edit: I see you’re only referring to posting role PMs and not the entire concept of claiming. Much less of a restriction on gameplay.
Vote Precambrianmollusc.
Sorry, old habits die hard. Sign me up, Dante G!