# Lord of the Rings Mafia **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 10, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867 "2010-08-10T19:56:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 50
**Author:** ![special\_ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@special\_ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/special_ed)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/981 "2010-08-18T21:31:27Z")
> [@Astral\_Rejection](#): > > I’m not going to get away with anything. **If you flip town** , No, it’s when. I mean, if I don’t flip Town, then you can just forget everything I’ve said. And I didn’t take anything personally. I just got tired of pointing out how you were wrong about most things. I did concede that, from your point of view, it is possible that I could be third party. But, of course, isn’t that true of everyone in the game? And, on that note, I hope you don’t take anything I say personally. It’s all just a game. I’m certain that you’re a genuinely nice person, and I’m hopeful that you’ll continue to play this game. It’s fun. > [@Astral\_Rejection](#): > > And I absolutely agree that Ed’s claim comes from nowhere, given that he claimed vanilla. What secrets could he have? Maybe someone else can explain it to you. I’m certain that some people have figured it out. ---
**Author:** ![peekercpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@peekercpa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peekercpa)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/982 "2010-08-18T21:32:30Z")
> [@special\_ed](#): > > > [@peekercpa](#): > > > > sometimes older brothers just need to hit their younger brother in the fucking head. > > How old are you? And would it be OK if I kicked you instead? [oog] thanks for asking. i’ll be fifty in two weeks. and rather than a kick can we just do a round of guitar hero for who has to get the next coke?[/oog] ---
**Author:** ![special\_ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@special\_ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/special_ed)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/983 "2010-08-18T21:36:29Z")
> [@peekercpa](#): > > > [@special\_ed](#): > > > > How old are you? And would it be OK if I kicked you instead? > > [oog] thanks for asking. i’ll be fifty in two weeks. and rather than a kick can we just do a round of guitar hero for who has to get the next coke?[/oog] if it’s diet Coke, then you’re on. Only I think we sold Guitar hero, we still have Rock Band, but I can’t do the drums. OK, so you are older, but not by too much. I’m 44 1/2. Yesterday, my oldest went away to college. He came home for lunch today though. He lives only a mile away. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/984 "2010-08-18T21:37:50Z")
I kind of wish I weren’t already voting for **ed** , so I could switch my vote to him over this whole “I’ve got a secret” business. Even if you somehow do have a secret (I mean, other than the obvious possibility, that your secret is that you’re lying Scum), why say anything about it, if you’re forbidden from acting on it? No, wait, don’t tell me, you’re not allowed to answer that, either. Awfully convenient, not being allowed to say anything that would answer any of the arguments against you. ---
**Author:** ![special\_ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@special\_ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/special_ed)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/985 "2010-08-18T21:40:40Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I kind of wish I weren’t already voting for **ed** , so I could switch my vote to him over this whole “I’ve got a secret” business. Even if you somehow do have a secret (I mean, other than the obvious possibility, that your secret is that you’re lying Scum), why say anything about it, if you’re forbidden from acting on it? No, wait, don’t tell me, you’re not allowed to answer that, either. Awfully convenient, not being allowed to say anything that would answer any of the arguments against you. You’re an engineer type person, aren’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Astral\_Rejection](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@Astral\_Rejection](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astral_Rejection)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/986 "2010-08-18T21:41:54Z")
> [@special\_ed](#): > > I mean, if I don’t flip Town, then you can just forget everything I’ve said. Well, that’s not exactly true. There’s still some value in looking back over your posts. But your point is well-taken. > [@special ed](#): > > And I didn’t take anything personally. I just got tired of pointing out how you were wrong about most things. Good to hear. I still don’t think I’m wrong on most things, but we can agree to disagree on this. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![special\_ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@special\_ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/special_ed)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/987 "2010-08-18T21:42:02Z")
> [@special\_ed](#): > > > [@Chronos](#): > > > > I kind of wish I weren’t already voting for **ed** , so I could switch my vote to him over this whole “I’ve got a secret” business. Even if you somehow do have a secret (I mean, other than the obvious possibility, that your secret is that you’re lying Scum), why say anything about it, if you’re forbidden from acting on it? No, wait, don’t tell me, you’re not allowed to answer that, either. Awfully convenient, not being allowed to say anything that would answer any of the arguments against you. > > You’re an engineer type person, aren’t you? Not there there’s anything wrong with that. I’m just asking. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/988 "2010-08-18T21:42:18Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I kind of wish I weren’t already voting for **ed** , so I could switch my vote to him over this whole “I’ve got a secret” business. Even if you somehow do have a secret (I mean, other than the obvious possibility, that your secret is that you’re lying Scum), why say anything about it, if you’re forbidden from acting on it? No, wait, don’t tell me, you’re not allowed to answer that, either. Awfully convenient, not being allowed to say anything that would answer any of the arguments against you. Um, **Chronos** …_you_ have a secret, too. Personally, I’d rather vote for the guy whose convenient role-claim stinks to high heaven. ---
**Author:** ![peekercpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@peekercpa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peekercpa)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/989 "2010-08-18T21:43:47Z")
> [@special\_ed](#): > > > [@peekercpa](#): > > > > [oog] thanks for asking. i’ll be fifty in two weeks. and rather than a kick can we just do a round of guitar hero for who has to get the next coke?[/oog] > > if it’s diet Coke, then you’re on. Only I think we sold Guitar hero, we still have Rock Band, but I can’t do the drums. > > OK, so you are older, but not by too much. I’m 44 1/2. Yesterday, my oldest went away to college. He came home for lunch today though. He lives only a mile away. diet coke in a bottle or full strength with ice. only way it plays at the **peek** house\*\*. and i know this is a semi hijack but i have to ask it anyways. does anyone else feel like the clydesdales are coming to town when you do the rock band drum set up? seriously i feel amish at times. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/990 "2010-08-18T21:43:56Z")
The problem I’m having here is I don’t really see the case against Ed. I see multiple cases against Suburban Plankton of various strengths (including my own), which together make for a pretty compelling Day 1 lynch. And the claim as made has all sorts of questions surrounding it. But I don’t quite understand the case against Ed. It has something to do with him being petulant, snarky, and posting the Vanilla PM. He’s conceded that there is a pro-scum reason for the handshaking, and that’s the possibility of it exposing power roles. But there is also a pro-town reason for it. So handshaking is a null tell. In fact, the games I’ve watched where it’s been done, it has been initiated by town. And I’ve never seen it have any anti-town repercussions. Town lost those games because Town played badly, not because hand-shaking exposed the power roles. This doesn’t mean he _wasn’t_ trying a ham-fisted scum approach to out power roles, but there’s hardly a smoking gun that points to that. So can someone clearly explain what exactly the case against Ed is that I’m missing, or is it really that weak? And, on a side note, Suburban Plankton isn’t voting Ed, which just strikes me as odd no matter what SP is. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/991 "2010-08-18T21:45:51Z")
> [@special\_ed](#): > > You’re an engineer type person, aren’t you? I resemble that remark! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/992 "2010-08-18T21:45:57Z")
Well, yes, I do have a secret, but I’m _allowed_ to share it, or to decide how much of it to share. And I can’t say the votes on **Plankton** are unfounded; I just think that **ed** is a better lynch. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Red\_Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/993 "2010-08-18T21:47:08Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > And, on a side note, Suburban Plankton isn’t voting Ed, which just strikes me as odd no matter what SP is. Um, SP is voting Ed. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/994 "2010-08-18T21:48:21Z")
Since **Ed** says that what he wasn’t allowed to do isn’t role-related, I’m wondering if he asked if he could, I dunno, spam the thread with Wikipedia character descriptions or some such. Didn’t he do that in a previous game? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/995 "2010-08-18T21:48:24Z")
**Hoopy** , I can’t speak for anyone else, but my vote for for **ed** is based primarily on the fact that his vote on **peeker** was so abysmally bad. He not only was voting for reasons that aren’t Scum tells, but his reasons for voting were actually Town tells. ---
**Author:** ![peekercpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@peekercpa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peekercpa)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/996 "2010-08-18T21:50:52Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > > [@special\_ed](#): > > > > You’re an engineer type person, aren’t you? > > I resemble that remark! i think he was talking to **chronos** , but i guess you’ll do in a pinch. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/997 "2010-08-18T21:54:19Z")
It’s quite possible Ed was receipt of a PM from the Mod that was meant to go to someone else. For this reason, Ed can’t discuss it. Of course, usually this results in substitution or modkill, not post restrictions. (I was in a game where a townie got modkilled due to inadvertent knowledge past the subsitution point. We still rocked that one anyway, though.) And although Ed is the type to spam threads with Wikipedia, I don’t think he’s the type to break a game, which is why, assuming he’s telling the truth, he PM’ed the mod first. It is quite possible he’s third party, though, and had access to the vanilla PM as part of his power. He might also have a bit of knowledge as to the roles in the game, though, I can’t understand why he’d be restricted on revealing any of that. His Glorifindel comments were likely to be bread crumbs of some sort, though I can’t think of anything offhand as to what it means. ---
**Author:** ![Telcontar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Telcontar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telcontar)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/998 "2010-08-18T21:56:44Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > The problem I’m having here is I don’t really see the case against Ed. I see multiple cases against Suburban Plankton of various strengths (including my own), which together make for a pretty compelling Day 1 lynch. And the claim as made has all sorts of questions surrounding it. > > But I don’t quite understand the case against Ed. It has something to do with him being petulant, snarky, and posting the Vanilla PM. > > He’s conceded that there is a pro-scum reason for the handshaking, and that’s the possibility of it exposing power roles. But there is also a pro-town reason for it. So handshaking is a null tell. In fact, the games I’ve watched where it’s been done, it has been initiated by town. And I’ve never seen it have any anti-town repercussions. Town lost those games because Town played badly, not because hand-shaking exposed the power roles. > > This doesn’t mean he _wasn’t_ trying a ham-fisted scum approach to out power roles, but there’s hardly a smoking gun that points to that. > > So can someone clearly explain what exactly the case against Ed is that I’m missing, or is it really that weak? > > And, on a side note, Suburban Plankton isn’t voting Ed, which just strikes me as odd no matter what SP is. Well there is my case [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12813836#post12813836](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12813836#post12813836) His handshaking attempt was badly done; he shouldn’t have included the powers section. Either his play there was terrible, or he’s scum. On suburban: We’re pretty much assuming that the scum have cover roles and vanilla role PMs. So, if he were faking a power role claim, why would he do it badly? It’s more food for thought than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/999 "2010-08-18T21:57:28Z")
> [@Red\_Skeezix](#): > > > [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > > > And, on a side note, Suburban Plankton isn’t voting Ed, which just strikes me as odd no matter what SP is. > > Um, SP is voting Ed. I see now; it was simulposted with Mahaloth’s last vote count, which is why I missed it. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867/1000 "2010-08-18T22:01:52Z")
> [@Telcontar](#): > > On suburban: We’re pretty much assuming that the scum have cover roles and vanilla role PMs. So, if he were faking a power role claim, why would he do it badly? It’s more food for thought than anything else. Because nobody thought he did it badly until I pointed it out? It was a decent attempt to mimic a role PM – as far as I’m concerned, though, it was sloppy enough in a few places (especially combined with the idiosyncratic placement of the wincon) to make me believe it’s absolutely fake. If you think otherwise, I’d be interested in a response to the post in which I made my criticisms. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867.md?page=49) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-mafia/549867.md?page=51)