# Mafia: Evil Dead - Signups and Night Zero **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 11, 2008, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736 "2008-12-11T17:51:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/121 "2008-12-17T18:48:54Z")
I purpose google as a randomizer. We’ll take the method of the last person to die and google it. Then, take the number of results returned and add the individual numbers together until we get a number less than 27. We’ll start with that person and continue down the list. For instance, if the last person were to die by bear attack - the phrase “bear attack” yields 742,000 results. Add those together and we get 13. So, we’d start with **Millit the Frail**. Too convoluted? ---
**Author:** ![peekercpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@peekercpa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peekercpa)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/122 "2008-12-17T18:50:23Z")
> [@brewha](#): > > That is a good idea to do right off the bat - assuming I wil have nothing to hide when the time arrives for a reveal. How about a slight adjustment, though. > > We’ll use the order of posters in post 104, but use a random starting point as to not give someone an unfair advantage. Method of randomness TBD at the neccesary time. Well I can certainly agree with this. One little question, however. Who determines the starting randomness? Or do we do some sort of football game score or something? ---
**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:** [December 17, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/123 "2008-12-17T19:12:47Z")
> [@bufftabby](#): > > Watch out for the trees, ladies. Unless you’re just _really really_ lonely. First time I saw the first movie was in college. I was watching it with a group of about 10 others or so. When that scene came on, I made an observation along the lines of: “Gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘getting wood’”. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/124 "2008-12-17T19:44:52Z")
> [@brewha](#): > > I purpose google as a randomizer. We’ll take the method of the last person to die and google it. Then, take the number of results returned and add the individual numbers together until we get a number less than 27. We’ll start with that person and continue down the list. > > For instance, if the last person were to die by bear attack - the phrase “bear attack” yields 742,000 results. Add those together and we get 13. So, we’d start with **Millit the Frail**. > > Too convoluted? Won’t work. Google doesn’t keep the results fixed for any length of time. I just got 649,000 results. Also, choosing the phrase may be somewhat subjective. I suggest simply starting with the first living player after the latest deceased player (starting from the top if we need to do this earlier). That can be barely manipulated (but not too much, since scum won’t be able to control the order dead players are announced by **story** ), but it’s simple enough that everyone will be able to think about it. ---
**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:** [December 17, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/125 "2008-12-17T19:52:47Z")
This discussion is nuts. Here I randomized the list using the random number generator in excell. 1. Total Lost 2. brewha 3. Rapier42 4. Hockey Monkey 5. Blaster Master 6. Almost Human 7. Chucara 8. Hal Briston 9. Pleonast 10. mhaye 11. JSexton 12. Thing Fish 13. CometotheDarkSideWeHaveCookies 14. hawkeyeop 15. pedescribe 16. NAF1138 17. Millit the Frail 18. bufftabby 19. Natlaw 20. amrussel 21. Diggitcamara 22. macey 23. peekercpa 24. Nanook of the North Shore 25. Zeriel 26. special ed 27. Polydeuces Does this order work for everyone? (without the original numbering so it’s easier to read) Total Lost brewha Rapier42 Hockey Monkey Blaster Master Almost Human Chucara Hal Briston Pleonast mhaye JSexton Thing Fish CometotheDarkSideWeHaveCookies hawkeyeop pedescribe NAF1138 Millit the Frail bufftabby Natlaw amrussel Diggitcamara macey peekercpa Nanook of the North Shore Zeriel special ed Polydeuces ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/126 "2008-12-17T20:01:12Z")
You do realize that your ‘Random’ list contains 7 out of the first 8 numbers to the fibonacci sequence, right? Hardly random - hardly random at all. What are you trying to pull on us there **Naf** - if that is your real name? Come on, you can’t just end the topic like that! What are we supposed to talk about til our roles come out? Actually, I like **Pleo** ’s solution. That way nothing is set in stone until the time comes when/if we need a random order. I will go ahead and Vote for Pleonast’s random list idea ---
**Author:** ![Total\_Lost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e56c9b/32.png) [@Total\_Lost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Total_Lost)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/127 "2008-12-17T20:03:21Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > This discussion is nuts. > > Here I randomized the list using the random number generator in excell. > > 1. Total Lost > 2. brewha > 3. Rapier42 Hey - why do I get to go first _lol_ Works fine for me 😛 > [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > First time I saw the first movie was in college. I was watching it with a group of about 10 others or so. When that scene came on, I made an observation along the lines of: > > “Gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘getting wood’”. If I fall in love with you - will you break my heart \<3? ---
**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:** [December 17, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/128 "2008-12-17T20:09:03Z")
> [@brewha](#): > > You do realize that your ‘Random’ list contains 7 out of the first 8 numbers to the fibonacci sequence, right? Hardly random - hardly random at all. What are you trying to pull on us there **Naf** - if that is your real name? > Come on, you can’t just end the topic like that! What are we supposed to talk about til our roles come out? > > Actually, I like **Pleo** ’s solution. That way nothing is set in stone until the time comes when/if we need a random order. I will go ahead and > > Vote for Pleonast’s random list idea Surely you know that all TRUE random events have false patterns in them! BlaM get in here and explain the nature of randomness to brewha. (hat should keep us busy for a while) In the meantime vote brewha for voting against my list ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/129 "2008-12-17T20:09:38Z")
**NAF** , the problem with any fixed-beginning list, is that once roles are known, Scum could try to manipulate the acceptance of a process based on their knowledge. For example, if the beginning of the list favored Townies, they could push for an all-claim. Or if it favored Scum, they might try to quash the idea. If the location we started were “random”, the Scum would have to vary their position based on the current situation. Much harder for them. My method of starting makes it hard for scum to manipulate and it’s easy for everyone to see who should go first (which makes it risky for scum to manipulate). We could use any random list, including yours. But since **story** has already provided a list of players, I see no reason not to use it, for simplicity. If we want to make this formal: **Vote for Pleonast’s random list idea** Oh, and a big welcome to all our new players. Some of you might not be new to Mafia, but you may find we play harder here. And now is a good time to ask questions and get honest answers. ---
**Author:** ![Chucara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Chucara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chucara)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/130 "2008-12-17T20:13:24Z")
Just popped back in to say “Hi everybody”. This is my fourth game: Two on MafiaGames (one in progress) and one of Facebook. I see a bunch of names I recognize, and even more I don’t. Hope this will be a good game, now get with the roles! And have fun everyone! ---
**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:** [December 17, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/131 "2008-12-17T20:13:43Z")
Meh, randomizing the list took all of 15 seconds work. Feel free to discard it. I don’t agree that a fixed list is really all that easy to manipulate, but I can see that it’s possible, so…whatever people feel comforatble with. We do now have a nice truely random list to work with if we want one. > [@Pleonast](#): > > Oh, and a big welcome to all our new players. Some of you might not be new to Mafia, but you may find we play harder here. And now is a good time to ask questions and get honest answers. Oh, good call. If people have mafia related questions, now is really the only time you can ask and expect an unbiased response. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/132 "2008-12-17T20:17:15Z")
You guys rock. Here’s the deal. I still have to finish putting up the off-board boards, and setting up google docs. Then I’ll send the PMs. I’m going to be making a beef braciole tonight, which’ll take a good 90 minutes to finish, so I can work during that, but I wouldn’t expect PMs until later in the evening - maybe 11PM or so my time. But until then, consider Night Zero begun. It will end either when all players have confirmed their receipt or no later than tomorrow (Thursday) evening. ---
**Author:** ![Total\_Lost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e56c9b/32.png) [@Total\_Lost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Total_Lost)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/133 "2008-12-17T20:22:38Z")
How about we do it this way: **Oh, mighty Mod Mr. Story - could you please start every Day with a list of all players left in the game - but could you (begging and grovel) make it random??? Pretty, pretty please???** ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/134 "2008-12-17T20:28:02Z")
> [@Total\_Lost](#): > > How about we do it this way: > > **Oh, mighty Mod Mr. Story - could you please start every Day with a list of all players left in the game - but could you (begging and grovel) make it random??? Pretty, pretty please???** Heh. As a potential scum I’m against such an idea. Nice try though. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/135 "2008-12-17T20:36:57Z")
For that matter, I’m against Pleo’s list because it may be more beneficial to my side to have daily chaos in the order. Perhaps, something that be manipulated would bit better. How bout the last person to host a Dope game gets to choose the list? I’m going to have to spend the entire game acting townie once roles are in. I’ve got about 8 hours to act scummily, and I intend to make the most of them. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/136 "2008-12-17T20:45:20Z")
> [@storyteller0910](#): > > But until then, consider Night Zero begun. It will end either when all players have confirmed their receipt or no later than tomorrow (Thursday) evening. Let the meta-gaming concerning when Day One starts begin. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/137 "2008-12-17T20:51:34Z")
I vote for Pleo’s randomization proposal, but I think NAF should get a gold star for trying. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bufftabby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bufftabby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bufftabby)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/138 "2008-12-17T21:21:14Z")
_waits for role pm, crosses fingers, “tree tree tree”_ I don’t care how we randomly listulate the players. I’m usually against a mass role-claim anyway, and I’m not sure what else our random list could be used for. Unless we’re getting dossiers again?! ---
**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:** [December 17, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/139 "2008-12-17T21:23:15Z")
> [@bufftabby](#): > > _waits for role pm, crosses fingers, “tree tree tree”_ > > I don’t care how we randomly listulate the players. I’m usually against a mass role-claim anyway, and I’m not sure what else our random list could be used for. Unless we’re getting dossiers again?! I maintain that the dosseirs were an interesting solution to a real problem with all vanilla mafia. Imperfectly executed, perhaps, but fundamentally a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736/140 "2008-12-17T21:29:45Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > I maintain that the dosseirs were an interesting solution to a real problem with all vanilla mafia. Imperfectly executed, perhaps, but fundamentally a good idea. Agreed. I really liked the concept of dossiers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-evil-dead-signups-and-night-zero/476736.md?page=8)