# Forbidden thread Version 3 (off limits to players of Mafia III) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 19, 2007, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795 "2007-04-19T15:34:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/61 "2007-04-26T15:33:27Z")
[QUOTE=Gadarene] The interesting thing is that reading the Mafia III thread with perfect information, I’m noticing a _lot_ of things about the posting patterns (and style) of the Mafia and such that will help me out immensely the next time I’m a player. 🙂 [/QUOTE] I was writing my analysis of **NAF** ’s nightkill when you posted. Unfortunately, I think if you play again soon, you’ll meet the same fate as **NAF**. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/62 "2007-04-26T15:41:54Z")
I wasn’t too worried about the game 2 people catching on, because the people that made those slips are already dead, actually one of them was \*\*nesta \*\* who was killed by the SK in my game for making such a slip. I do think \*\*Projammer \*\* is scum, I also think that I called out at least one other scum in my FOS (I strongly feel that it was fluiddruid), but I can’t be really sure. I think its funny that they killed me because of my experiance with the game though. I am far from the best player in this game, I just was the only one shouting loud enough to get myself killed. **Blaster Master** , **Dnooman** , \*\*nesta \*\* all of them are more dangerous players than I am. And I don’t think any of them are mafia. Maybe BM, but I am not sure. Anyway, it will be interesting to see how it plays out. It would be nice to actually get to play a game next time around. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/63 "2007-04-26T15:43:23Z")
> [@](#): > > I was writing my analysis of NAF’s nightkill when you posted. Unfortunately, I think if you play again soon, you’ll meet the same fate as NAF. Probably so. But then maybe the memory of my knowledge will fade, and in the meantime I’ve fashioned several off-the-cuff rules for detecting Mafia behavior in the early days. Somewhat paradoxically, the rules only work if the Mafia are both intelligent and good players, as they surely are in this current game. No comment on your other post, by the way. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/64 "2007-04-26T15:44:43Z")
[QUOTE=Gadarene] The interesting thing is that reading the Mafia III thread with perfect information, I’m noticing a _lot_ of things about the posting patterns (and style) of the Mafia and such that will help me out immensely the next time I’m a player. 🙂 [/QUOTE] It is interesting to see both sides play out isn’t it? Running a game is _so_ much fun. Watching this one start makes me want to start another when mine is over. It is a blast. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/65 "2007-04-26T15:57:27Z")
[QUOTE=Gadarene] Probably so. But then maybe the memory of my knowledge will fade, and in the meantime I’ve fashioned several off-the-cuff rules for detecting Mafia behavior in the early days. Somewhat paradoxically, the rules only work if the Mafia are both intelligent and good players, as they surely are in this current game. No comment on your other post, by the way. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Out of curiostity, what rules have you come up with? Also, I think I would now make a killer mafia player. Watching my mafia, seeing what is working and what isn’t has given me a really good idea as to what I should do when I play. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/66 "2007-04-26T16:00:56Z")
> [@](#): > > Out of curiostity, what rules have you come up with? I’m not gonna say publicly, on the off-chance that current players are (impermissibly) reading this thread. Let me finish the section of the opinion that I’m currently drafting, and I’ll PM you about it this afternoon. It boils down to essentially sitting back and letting the Town tear into each other. Certain posters are conspicuously doing that, if you know what to look for. > [@](#): > > Watching my mafia, seeing what is working and what isn’t has given me a really good idea as to what I should do when I play. Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/67 "2007-04-26T16:12:28Z")
And I’ll tell you one thing. If I knew then what I know now about Mafia strategy and such, there’s no way in the world I would have made such a mess of Day Two of your game, **NAF** , by stubbornly going after the voting bloc of **zuma** , **Pleonast** , **sturmhauke** , and **Blaster Master** (townies all). The complexion of that entire game would have changed if it had come after this current one. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/68 "2007-04-26T16:44:01Z")
Since I’ve never played one of these games, I’d like to know some general strategy ideas. So far, the best I’ve figured out is “Suspecting someone of being a bad guy is, itself, grounds for suspicion of being a bad guy.” 😕 ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/69 "2007-04-26T16:46:25Z")
Thats why I played the way I did in this one. I figured I would die fast, so I wanted to try and keep the townies from falling into the same traps the townies in my game fell into. Looking for the wrong clues etc. I think I succeeded to a small degree because I got people off the idea that the first day is all random and we started actually getting some analysis going on. Unfortunatly I think that is the only thing that I was able to give them. But maybe it was enough. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/70 "2007-04-26T16:58:28Z")
[QUOTE=Gadarene] No comment on your other post, by the way. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Well, that’s no fun. But I understand. I’ll just have to wait for more dead townies to talk to. I think it would be fun to be the SK or Vig. They can follow hunches without having to publicly state suspicions and garner significant support for those suspicions. Much easier to take things into ones own hands and just off the suspicious in the night. Game 2 SK did (is doing?) very well. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/71 "2007-04-26T17:08:11Z")
[QUOTE=sachertorte] Well, that’s no fun. But I understand. I’ll just have to wait for more dead townies to talk to. I think it would be fun to be the SK or Vig. They can follow hunches without having to publicly state suspicions and garner significant support for those suspicions. Much easier to take things into ones own hands and just off the suspicious in the night. Game 2 SK did (is doing?) very well. [/QUOTE] Is doing. I think he is going to win it all, personally. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/72 "2007-04-26T17:14:12Z")
[QUOTE=SnakesCatLady] This question may make me look like scum, but I hope it will be taken in the spirit in which it is asked; lack of knowledge of the strategy of the game. If a player about to go under the noose claims Mason, is it in the best interests of the Masons for one of them to defend him? Or would that depend on how far along the game is? I can see that Masons would not want a fellow Mason lynched, but defending him would out him as definitely town (therefore an easy fit for concrete shoes) and would also out the defending player as town (if he/she is believed) and and make it more likely for the defender to get a one way trip to the bottom of the bay with no scuba gear. (Does this town have a bay?) [/QUOTE] Hello Mason! ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/73 "2007-04-26T17:30:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Hello Mason! See, this is why I think we all (myself included) tend to underestimate the intelligence and skill of the people playing the game. I’ll say this: none of the masons in the current game have been unsubtle enough to post anything resembling **SnakeCatLady’s** question above. 🙂 Ditto for the Mafia, who’ve done a great job for the most part not being on any bandwagons or drawing any lingering, unfavorable attention to themselves so far. If anything is off about the Mafia’s posts, it’s that they’re generally not quite so analysis-heavy as to fall into the category of “noticeably helpful posts,” while not quite so fluff-heavy as to fall into the category of “personality-driven posts.” They’re aiming for that middle ground a bit too much, ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/74 "2007-04-26T17:53:48Z")
It is very difficult to get a sense of of the experience level of anyone, and I \*have \*to wonder why someone would jump out and ask mason strategy questions if they are not a mason. But your point makes sense (and is driven by perfect knowledge of the game). If anything, a mason would do everything possible not to mention the m-word. But I still don’t see why she would bring up the mason thing at all. I’m learning so much! If it is true that mafia ends up just sitting back and watching, then these games are going to get boring real fast. I think it would be fun (and entirely inappropriate) to stack a game with an extra mafia and mod-kill the least active one just to make a point. Role: sacrifical lamb (mafia) You are a sacrifical lamb. You are restricted to 5 posts in day one. After Day one you will be mod-killed, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/75 "2007-04-26T18:03:22Z")
> [@](#): > > If it is true that mafia ends up just sitting back and watching, then these games are going to get boring real fast. I didn’t say that they’re just sitting back and watching. 🙂 At any rate, I hope you’re going to play in the inevitable Mafia IV, **sachertorte**! ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/76 "2007-04-26T18:59:53Z")
So essentially the town mistake is not giving proper attention to thinking about how mafia would play. I guess everything will even out when most players have had a chance to play the game \*as \*mafia. So somewhere around game IX? I wonder why game 1 worked out so well for the town. My guess: \*\*RevenantThreshold’s \*\*(?) game rules required a (near) majority vote to instigate an end of day countdown! He started with 21 and required 8 votes to start the clock. 8/21 = 38 percent Game Two had 40 players and 10 to lynch (first day was 10 votes = immediate lynch). Yikes! That was so bad for the town it wasn’t funny. Even if there were a clock, 10 of 40 is a mere 25% of town. I think the time limited days rather than majority vote in the last two games have been very bad for the town. \*\*percypercy \*\*died based on six votes! 6/20 = 30 percent of players… I think that is way too low. I guess what I’m trying to say is by having a game mechanic that requires \*\*votes \*\* rather than **time** to move the game along is necesssary to save the town from itself. It also forces the mafia to participate more openly since they can’t just _wait out the clock_. Look at all the players who said something on the lines of, ‘well it was clear to me that \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ was going to get lynched so I didn’t bother to change my vote.’ Bad, bad, bad. To get someone lynched more people need to vote and more people need to \*agree \*on who to lynch. Days would be longer though; day one in game one lasted a week. Can you tell I love talking about game mechanics more than the game itself? ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/77 "2007-04-26T19:02:04Z")
> [@](#): > > So essentially the town mistake is not giving proper attention to thinking about how mafia would play. Well-said. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/78 "2007-04-26T19:10:39Z")
[QUOTE=sachertorte] So essentially the town mistake is not giving proper attention to thinking about how mafia would play. I guess everything will even out when most players have had a chance to play the game \*as \*mafia. So somewhere around game IX? I wonder why game 1 worked out so well for the town. My guess: \*\*RevenantThreshold’s \*\*(?) game rules required a (near) majority vote to instigate an end of day countdown! He started with 21 and required 8 votes to start the clock. 8/21 = 38 percent Game Two had 40 players and 10 to lynch (first day was 10 votes = immediate lynch). Yikes! That was so bad for the town it wasn’t funny. Even if there were a clock, 10 of 40 is a mere 25% of town. I think the time limited days rather than majority vote in the last two games have been very bad for the town. \*\*percypercy \*\*died based on six votes! 6/20 = 30 percent of players… I think that is way too low. I guess what I’m trying to say is by having a game mechanic that requires \*\*votes \*\* rather than **time** to move the game along is necesssary to save the town from itself. It also forces the mafia to participate more openly since they can’t just _wait out the clock_. Look at all the players who said something on the lines of, ‘well it was clear to me that \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ was going to get lynched so I didn’t bother to change my vote.’ Bad, bad, bad. To get someone lynched more people need to vote and more people need to \*agree \*on who to lynch. Days would be longer though; day one in game one lasted a week. Can you tell I love talking about game mechanics more than the game itself? [/QUOTE] I agree that majority vote being the only way to end the day is best. The next game I run I will do it this way. Majority is hit, day ends instantly, no countdown clock nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/79 "2007-04-26T19:14:06Z")
[QUOTE=NAF1138] I agree that majority vote being the only way to end the day is best. The next game I run I will do it this way. Majority is hit, day ends instantly, no countdown clock nonsense. [/QUOTE] Yay! I feel all warm and fuzzy. Of course I bet I’ll be in that game and be… mafia :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795/80 "2007-04-26T23:43:02Z")
Moving thread from IMHO to MPSIMS. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-thread-version-3-off-limits-to-players-of-mafia-iii/400795.md?page=5)