# \[Mafia game\] The Realm of Phere **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 1, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480 "2012-04-01T15:04:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/181 "2012-04-07T03:45:20Z")
[OOG] **@Normal Phase** : IANAD/IANYD/YANMP, etc., but I saw in the sign-up thread that you had a pain that was possibly masquerading as appendicitis. Last year I had the same type of thing that doubled me up for several days and then would disappear. I seriously thought it was appendicitis, which was impossible, since mine was removed when I was 17. (Since mine was removed in Indonesia back in 1979, I was actually afraid that perhaps they hadn’t completely removed my appendix.) It turned out to be something called a “Meckle’s Diverticulum”, which is a little pouch in the small intestine, right near where it joins up to the large intestine. I had to have it removed. As I said, IANAD/YANMP, but you might want to research it and if you keep having issues, follow up with a visit to your own doctor. [/OOG] We now return to your regularly-scheduled Mafia game. ---
**Author:** ![gnarlycharlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5f9b8f/32.png) [@gnarlycharlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarlycharlie)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/182 "2012-04-07T03:45:38Z")
> [@BobArrgh](#): > > [OOG] > I think it is highly amusing that someone named “Gadarene” is in a game that has a “Demon Lord” in it. If anyone is unfamiliar with the reference, please see Mark 5 in the Bible. > [/OOG] +1 how cool is that? ---
**Author:** ![LightFoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LightFoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LightFoot)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/183 "2012-04-07T03:46:17Z")
@ \*\* Charlie \*\* we are in agreement on something ( atleast for now) is that a record? [ie the wagon bits] @ \*\* BobA \*\* I sideways asked that same question of \*\* Glee \*\* but didn’t get a real response. @ generally Week sauce votes are the norm Day one but atleast have some sort of a case when you start the parade. - hades I have been known to ‘pitbull’ a minor point to bits but I do start with a point \* ….’me too’ tells us nothing. What part of player Y’s case was the trigger for your suspicion? What did player Z type that got you looking?= playstyle ain’t a Scum tell I do not care for preachy players or smileys in mafia games BUT ( yep it’s a big butt) In an effort to stimulate conversation on this short-to -some Day I’ve done a bit here [grin] ---
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/184 "2012-04-07T04:21:59Z")
> [@PetW](#): > > Can you please explain your reasoning for taking such an antagonistic stance immediately? If you are town, how would that help you/the rest of us? Your posts in the sign up thread struck me as scum that thinks he’s so slick he can act scummy and still get away with it, as if you’re striving for future bragging rights. > Also, out of curiosity, how old are you? I don’t really hve problem with Visor’s vote on me. I joke voted him, and he joke voted me back. Seems fair. > [@Gadarene](#): > > Your tone sounded forced. > > It sounded like you were thinking about how to enter the thread. > > I think you’re much more likely to be self-conscious about your entry as a wolf than as a villa – sorry, as a scum than as a townie. > > That’s the basis for my read. Studiedly casual? 😉 In Gad’s defence (not sure if I should be defending Gad, but whatever), I have experienced him catch Scum this way. > [@septimus](#): > > I agree with this, especially his “My cup of care is empty.” > > **Vote: Visorslash** > > But I’ve not really concluded Visor is Scum; I just want to make sure I place some vote. (Storm knocked my Internet out for many hours yesterday, and storm continues.) > > I also have a special object with unknown use. (I’d mention that it’s black but then **choie** would never Unvote me. :smack: ) I’d offer to trade, but am afraid a trade would leave me even confuseder. Don’t like this vote, considering it’s on a wagon, and if you just want to vote you could vote someone who wasn’t looking like a possible lynch. **unvote** **vote Septimus** I wrote this a while go, but forgot to post it till now ---
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/185 "2012-04-07T04:36:24Z")
Tanaer is female (and away this weekend). ---
**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:** [April 7, 2012, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/186 "2012-04-07T04:55:38Z")
**Vote MHaye.** MHaye pops in during the whole my-first-post thing, where all anybody can talk about seems to be me, Gad, or Guiri. There’s actually a ton of votes flying around… when MHaye makes his first post, the voting situation is this: Guiri: Astral Rejection Normal Phase: Mosier Choie: Septimus Viperslash: Normal Phase Astral Rejection: Choie Gadarene: Astral Rejection NAF1138: Gadarene Weedy: Visorslash Silver Jan: Visorslash With so much to talk about, MHaye chooses to post this: > [@MHaye](#): > > Did someone call my name? > > Inner Stickler is correct. If I were playing, I would tell you that grudges are bad. > > Ahem. > > “Trying to get someone killed just because they were Mafia in the previous game, and insidiously undermined all your points before leading the Town to an egregious mislynch of your innocent self is **bad**. Roles in this game have nothing to do with roles in the last game. Vote to lynch by all means, but do so based on events and evidence in this game.” > > There, now I’ve performed my civic duty, I need to wander off for a few hours. Back after lunch. > > Tut tut tut. My quote breaks some of the internal quotes he makes, so be sure to click the little blue button to see his post in full context. He doesn’t weigh in on anything, nor does he return after lunch as promised. Instead, his next post is this: > [@MHaye](#): > > When the community was just beginning to develop some experience, OMGUS votes were viewed with suspicion as an easy reason for Mafiates to place votes without stretching. > > I don’t believe extended gameplay backs up that hypothesis, but I don’t feel like collecting vote data. Nowadays I consider it an unjustified vote supported by a bad idea; but bad ideas are not a ground for lynch, so I note it and move on. I believe MHaye is content to keep his head down and not weigh in on anything we’re heatedly discussing, and I think that’s a fairly good early indicator of scumminess. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2012, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/187 "2012-04-07T05:02:13Z")
Now, a question to Guiri and Gad: Here’s glee’s first post in night 0. For reference, his post is two posts before my first post. > [@glee](#): > > Just checking in. > Note that here in the UK, it’s 02.17 local time (why. yes, I am still awake…) Here’s mine again: > [@Astral\_Rejection](#): > > Checking in. Not the best first post I could have made, but it’s pretty gouda. Here’s Guiri’s justification for voting for me. It’s presumably Gad’s, too, since all we have to go on is a “I agree” from Gad. > [@GuiriEnEspana](#): > > The housekeeping, the apologetic tone, a little joke. For someone who ran the other D&D related mafia game, he’s got very little to say. Discounting the fact that I ran the last D&D game (that clearly doesn’t apply to glee), I think Guiri’s justification could also apply to glee. Glee also “checks in,” which Guiri calls housekeeping. Glee also makes a little joke. Glee is also somewhat apologetic, in explaining that he has a different time zone from us. Gad & Guiri: why do you not also object to glee’s post? What do you believe is the significant difference between them? ---
**Author:** ![PetW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@PetW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PetW)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/188 "2012-04-07T05:03:43Z")
> [@Visorslash](#): > > It’s not antagonistic, it’s an OMGUS vote. I just typed out the words. Also, what does my age have to do with anything? Just curious. > > Go ask Normal Phase. I act like this all the time. When I say you’re being antagonistic what I’m referring to is your repeated threats about chopping people up into little pieces and whatnot in the sign up thread, and you’re general "I’m going to get all of you remarks. I ask about your age because I think that might have something to do with your peculiar attitude. I already saw that Normal Phase said that, but I’m interested in how you think acting this way is in Town’s benefit. vote Visorslash For now I’m placing my vote on you, since you didn’t really answer my questions last time. Oh, and for you squemish about placing early votes, it’s a tactic to put pressure on someone to talk more. More talk is more information, and more chance for scum to slip up. With such a large number of players, there’s sure to be a few scum that try to be as forgettable as possible. Right now I’m working from my phone (damn computer is in for repairs), so it’s hard for me to look at the big picture, so if someone can keep an eye out for suspicious little activity posters, that should help. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2012, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/189 "2012-04-07T05:06:02Z")
**@ PetW:** I believe our moderator said it didn’t matter, but if you want to get into the traditional habit for votes that will likely be followed in future games, votes are blued and bolded. ---
**Author:** ![PetW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@PetW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PetW)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/190 "2012-04-07T05:06:17Z")
**Vote Visorslash** Sorry, I suppose this is the format we’re using. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2012, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/191 "2012-04-07T05:08:28Z")
No apologies necessary! As I said, I think Askthepizzaguy said it didn’t matter. It’s just a good habit to get into, because some mods (_coughmyselfcough_) are sticklers for that kind of thing, ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/192 "2012-04-07T05:09:47Z")
> [@gnarlycharlie](#): > > for everyone’s convenience i am posting everyone’s gender, at least those ones i’ve played with before. corrections and additions welcome. > … I’m male. > [@BobArrgh](#): > > @ **Glee** : What part of the UK are you in? A friend of mine was in London and he says he caught some sort of bug from drinking WATER! Can you believe it?! I thought the UK was far more civilized than for travelers to be worried about finding drinkable water. I told him he should have stuck to beer and ale. > > In any case, I am a little confused as to why you posted information about your role and possessions so soon. Were you angling for a mass claim on Day 1? I’m from the Midlands (having lived in London for 33 years.) Sadly I don’t believe your friend. :o Our drinking water is extremely reliable. 🆒 I’m not angling for anything in the game, except to expose the traitor(s). This is a complicated game and I think the more information we discover, the better. It seems pointless to wait until the game ends to reveal I have a possession whose powers I know nothing about. It makes sense to me to find out quickly what it does… ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/193 "2012-04-07T05:12:20Z")
> [@Astral\_Rejection](#): > > Glee is also somewhat apologetic, in explaining that he has a different time zone from us. I thought that was important, since there might be quite a delay before I reply due to the time zone difference. ---
**Author:** ![Visorslash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ee59a6/32.png) [@Visorslash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Visorslash)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/194 "2012-04-07T05:12:36Z")
> [@PetW](#): > > When I say you’re being antagonistic what I’m referring to is your repeated threats about chopping people up into little pieces and whatnot in the sign up thread, and you’re general "I’m going to get all of you remarks. > I ask about your age because I think that might have something to do with your peculiar attitude. > I already saw that Normal Phase said that, but I’m interested in how you think acting this way is in Town’s benefit. > vote Visorslash > For now I’m placing my vote on you, since you didn’t really answer my questions last time. > Oh, and for you squemish about placing early votes, it’s a tactic to put pressure on someone to talk more. More talk is more information, and more chance for scum to slip up. > With such a large number of players, there’s sure to be a few scum that try to be as forgettable as possible. Right now I’m working from my phone (damn computer is in for repairs), so it’s hard for me to look at the big picture, so if someone can keep an eye out for suspicious little activity posters, that should help. I act like that because I like to have fun. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/195 "2012-04-07T05:15:48Z")
There are many players who consider mafia to be a game of numbers vs information. Town has the numbers but mafia has the info. As the game progresses, the two reach an equilibrium and in an ideal game, neither side gains a huge advantage. As such, there tends to be a gut reaction to players who suggest sharing info at the beginning of the game as any info shared with town is perforce shared with scum who are better equipped to make ill use of it than town is to take advantage of it properly. So, glee, I would expect to see some push back from your unsolicited statements if I were 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:** [April 7, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/196 "2012-04-07T05:20:44Z")
> [@glee](#): > > I thought that was important, since there might be quite a delay before I reply due to the time zone difference. I have no issue with your check-in post, I’m merely using it to question Guiri and Gad. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/197 "2012-04-07T05:41:57Z")
The dustup between you guys is all very interesting, I’m sure and I can’t wait to see what happens once one of you dies and flips some alignment. I’m sure much hay will be made of it. What really intrigues me, though is Astral’s going after choie for a post that appears, at least superficially, to be on his side. Are guiri and astral scumbuddies and this early vote an attempt to make them seem unlikely partners? It’s not an unfamiliar tactic to players here. Or are astral and choie scumbuddies using guiri’s lucky vote to go one level deeper in the WIFOM? Or are all three townies and I’m just high on paranoia? And then Gad jumps into the fray with a vote that, despite his later clarifications seems very light in the rationale department. That’s what I’m interested in, along with Astral’s initial nonchalance about the vote coupled with his more recent posts taking issue with it. It’s a cliche around these parts that Day 1 is usually nothing more than townie on townie violence but I am getting the feeling that someone in this group is scum looking to jumpstart a mislynch. **Vote Gad** I’m thinking I might switch to Astral though, I haven’t decided. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2012, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/198 "2012-04-07T05:58:33Z")
How do you get this > [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > What really intrigues me, though is Astral’s going after choie for a post that appears, at least superficially, to be on his side. from that? > [@choie](#): > > I genuinely can’t tell if **Guiri** ’s vote is in jest or not. I mean intuition’s all we’ve got for now, so anyone voting early is probably always going to base their votes on intuition. At least it gives us something to talk about. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2012, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/199 "2012-04-07T06:00:17Z")
Nevermind, I get it. I think it’s tenuous, but I get it. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/200 "2012-04-07T06:01:46Z")
She’s questioning his vote which implies she doesn’t agree with it and the final sentence is the nail in the coffin saying that all his vote is worth is as a conversation starter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480.md?page=11)