# \[Mafia game\] 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:** 174
**Author:** ![LightFoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LightFoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LightFoot)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3462 "2012-05-28T15:05:40Z")
well, I’ve checked in… quiet in here ---
**Author:** ![GuiriEnEspana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc79bd/32.png) [@GuiriEnEspana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuiriEnEspana)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3463 "2012-05-28T21:43:24Z")
Well, well played choie, you fooled almost everyone! Thanks for the game Pizza. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3464 "2012-05-28T22:10:17Z")
> [@GuiriEnEspana](#): > > Well, well played choie, you fooled almost everyone! > > Thanks for the game Pizza. Have I missed something? Is the game over? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![LightFoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LightFoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LightFoot)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3465 "2012-05-29T02:12:19Z")
colour me very confused now ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3466 "2012-05-29T02:30:42Z")
You ain’t the only one. WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Askthepizzaguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askthepizzaguy/32/9405_2.png) [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3467 "2012-05-29T04:21:58Z")
Sorry. The game isn’t over but things kept demanding my attention. I’ll be honest, I’m forcing myself to get through these rounds. But I can get through this and I’ll get it done now. ---
**Author:** ![Askthepizzaguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askthepizzaguy/32/9405_2.png) [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3468 "2012-05-29T04:32:32Z")
Hmph. Light activity today. Sigh… this is why I get sad about the game at times. It was intended for active people. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3469 "2012-05-29T04:41:54Z")
> [@Askthepizzaguy](#): > > Hmph. Light activity today. Sigh… this is why I get sad about the game at times. It was intended for active people. … You know we’re waiting for the lynch results, right? ---
**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:** [May 29, 2012, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3470 "2012-05-29T04:43:05Z")
NETA: unless I’ve misunderstood you, the activity is light because the Day is over? ---
**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:** [May 29, 2012, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3471 "2012-05-29T04:44:42Z")
> [@Askthepizzaguy](#): > > Hmph. Light activity today. Sigh… this is why I get sad about the game at times. It was intended for active people. Yeah, where did all that momentum go, I wonder. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3472 "2012-05-29T04:51:15Z")
Yes, **Astral** is right, **pizza**. There’s little point of talking when we’re in limbo, waiting for the results. It’s a vicious circle. We’re undermotivated to chat when it takes 48+ hours to learn the results of a Day’s actions, and you’re both too busy – and apparently undermotived because we’re not chatting – to post the results. But of the two sides, the greater onus is more on you, I’m afraid. The game movement is far more reliant on you than it is on us. I reiterate my gentle suggestion that you add a moderator (maybe **Mhaye**?) and split the duties so things aren’t so overwhelming. I don’t know what **Guiri** is on about but if he’s trying to play mind games with us, and tarnish me while doing so, that’s the scummiest move I’ve seen yet. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2012, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3473 "2012-05-29T05:00:03Z")
I feel like this needs to be pointed out: the original plan was 8 real-life days per Day/Night cycle. > [@Askthepizzaguy](#): > > **OOC** : > > If the 72 hour long days are too short for folks, and a lot of you object, I could extend the rounds. I want to keep the rounds shorter than a whole week because this game could last even longer than the previous game I hosted, depending on how it is played. > > I will need about 24 hours at the end of every phase just to calculate all the results of things and send everyone updates as to their status, then night phases are complicated as well and will require at least 3 days plus an update day. That’s already 8 days per day/night cycle. I don’t want to stretch it much longer than this. > > **Can we adapt to the shorter cycle, or must we extend it?** There have been 5 full cycles, and a sixth Day. That should be 44 real-life days. The game started 53 days ago. That means there have been 9 days of no gameplay scattered throughout the game. For town, since there’s little point in discussing strategy during the night, there has been a staggering _29 days_ of relative inactivity. While it’s true that we have had a ridiculous number of dropouts, the very structure of the game hurts the involvement of the participants. I find it difficult to remember my leans when there are sometimes 5 or 6 days between playing the game. I don’t want you to feel like I’m attacking you or your game. I’m having fun, which means it was a success. I’ve been all kinds of paranoid throughout the game, which is perfect. The mechanics are delightful, varied, and interesting. The scum are playing a hell of a match. I’m just trying to address why our activity is sometimes lacking. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2012, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3474 "2012-05-29T05:06:15Z")
> [@choie](#): > > I don’t know what **Guiri** is on about but if he’s trying to play mind games with us, and tarnish me while doing so, that’s the scummiest move I’ve seen yet. I think he’s just joking. I laughed. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Askthepizzaguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askthepizzaguy/32/9405_2.png) [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3475 "2012-05-29T05:13:31Z")
> [@](#): > > NETA: unless I’ve misunderstood you, the activity is light because the Day is over? What I’m referring to is the number of folks who sent in actions; I’m aware the round is over. I’m not surprised the discussion quieted, that’s expected. But given the long phases, you’d think people would have found the time to be active with day or night actions. What’s killing my enthusiasm is that at any given point in the game, having even half of the players participate by sending in orders was unusual. That’s odd considering there wasn’t any role that had nothing to do. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3476 "2012-05-29T05:20:14Z")
> [@Askthepizzaguy](#): > > What’s killing my enthusiasm is that at any given point in the game, having even half of the players participate by sending in orders was unusual. That’s odd considering there wasn’t any role that had nothing to do. While I appreciate and sympathize with your frustration (see pedescribe in my game), this is spoiled information town shouldn’t be given by the moderator. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3477 "2012-05-29T05:20:16Z")
Perhaps they’ve weighed the odds and decided it was worth it to sacrifice an action if it meant they got the reveal sooner. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3478 "2012-05-29T05:28:42Z")
> [@Astral\_Rejection](#): > > I think he’s just joking. I laughed. 😃 Hmph. It’s a lot easier laughing at the comedy when your life’s not put at stake! Suffice it to say I agree with everything you’ve posted so far, **Astral**. As a writer of ineractive serialized fiction I am _extremely_ sympathetic to **pizzaguy** ’s RL obligations getting in the way of his writing/gaming, and also to how frustrating it can be if an audience (or players in this case) aren’t responding the way you want them to. But in the end, the best way to motivate one’s audience is to produce content. And as **Inner** says, it’s possible that people are trying to take the load off **pizzaguy** by not performing actions. Like I said, it’s a vicious circle. Even so, the one with the most power to encourage more activity is the game moderator. ---
**Author:** ![Askthepizzaguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askthepizzaguy/32/9405_2.png) [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3479 "2012-05-29T05:33:25Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Perhaps they’ve weighed the odds and decided it was worth it to sacrifice an action if it meant they got the reveal sooner. Point taken, ya cheeky bastard. ---
**Author:** ![Tanaer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tanaer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaer)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3480 "2012-05-29T05:37:47Z")
I also find the slow reveals are hurting momentum. We have to build it back from scratch every phase. I for one would really like it if you scheduled end of phase to coincide with when you actually have time to work on the game - i.e not while you’re still at work, and also not for when you get home and need to sleep. 24 hrs is an odd time (and considerably less than the time it’s actually been taking lately from memory) - people tend to have a sleep cycle once every 24, and factoring that into reveal time is not helping. I also agree that appointing a co-mod would be worth the effort required to fill them in with all or part of the details. Would it be helpful to have someone collate actions and send them on, for instance, and perhaps respond to players? Then you could concentrate on reveals and colour and not the wading through admin? Also, having some motivated help might help you with your motivation! ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Jan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Silver\_Jan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Jan)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480/3481 "2012-05-29T05:39:20Z")
**Guiri nearly gave me heart failure, Pizzamod** is complaining that we aren’t playing! Hmmm. I agree with **Astral** about the mod having to be the one to push the game forward if it stalls. I am having a lot of fun in this game too, it’s one of the strangest ones I have played. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480.md?page=173) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-game-the-realm-of-phere/617480.md?page=175)