# MAFIA: The Game - Ideal for Beginners \[Game in Progress\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 14, 2015, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099 "2015-07-14T00:45:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 78
**Author:** ![sangfroid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@sangfroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sangfroid)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1541 "2015-08-29T15:41:56Z")
Sorry to hear about your loss, **ProfP**. My condolences. My earlier post didn’t update the vote counts at 4-4, so sorry about that. I would redo that post, but damned if after all my time here, I still screw up nested quotes! Multi just lets you copy multiple quotes, and doesn’t deal with nesting. I’ve rarely had occasion to use it. Anyone clue me in? ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1542 "2015-08-29T16:44:25Z")
> [@sangfroid](#): > > Sorry to hear about your loss, **ProfP**. My condolences. > My earlier post didn’t update the vote counts at 4-4, so sorry about that. > > I would redo that post, but damned if after all my time here, I still screw up nested quotes! Multi just lets you copy multiple quotes, and doesn’t deal with nesting. I’ve rarely had occasion to use it. > > Anyone clue me in? You just literally nest the code for one quote within the tags for the other, like so ```php [QUOTE] outside quote [QUOTE] inside quote [/QUOTE] [/quote] ``` which looks like > [@](#): > > outside quote > > > [@](#): > > > > inside quote ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1543 "2015-08-29T21:08:44Z")
Probably not worth nesting or quoting, just copy the text and paste into your own post and edit the numbers and names as appropriate. A vote count doesn’t really need attribution . ---
**Author:** ![sangfroid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@sangfroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sangfroid)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1544 "2015-08-30T03:41:49Z")
Ah, I see. Sorry for the in-game chatter. For some reason I always thought there was a way to just quote a post (with a quote already in it) and capture the whole thing. It never occurred to me to do it that way. Thanks. Regarding game play - boy, quieter than usual, even for the weekend. I’m still doing some sporadic re-reading, but also starting to get a little goofy in the head after so many pages. Not that that hasn’t been the case since Day One, but I thought I’d just throw that out there. So what do we have now, exactly? Nine left. A mis-lynch (which hopefully will NOT happen) plus a NK leaves seven, three of which would be wolves. A wolf lynch plus a NK leaves seven, two of which would be wolves. 4:3 or 5:2, yes? Anyone play here and have their game end up with this type of odds situation? Seems like it might be common enough. I’m sort of wondering if, in the grand scheme of things, our situation favors Town more or wolves more, 'cuz it almost seems a tossup. Not from an odds perspective, but more from just fewer Town players trying desperately to figure out the last couple wolves. If they made it this far, they’re damn good liars. Or hiders… ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1545 "2015-08-30T04:08:16Z")
That’s why this is such a critical vote. I hope **Nonsuch** chooses wisely. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1546 "2015-08-30T12:40:44Z")
> [@sangfroid](#): > > Sorry for the in-game chatter. For some reason I always thought there was a way to just quote a post (with a quote already in it) and capture the whole thing. It never occurred to me to do it that way. Thanks. The boards used to be set to automatically nest quotes. They turned them off, presumably for performance issues, at some point. > [@](#): > > 4:3 or 5:2, yes? > Anyone play here and have their game end up with this type of odds situation? Seems like it might be common enough. I’m sort of wondering if, in the grand scheme of things, our situation favors Town more or wolves more, 'cuz it almost seems a tossup. Not from an odds perspective, but more from just fewer Town players trying desperately to figure out the last couple wolves. It’s common enough. 4-3 would be really bad; that’s the dreaded “lynch or lose” scenario. 5-2 ain’t great but it’s obviously better. Of course, as our ability to hit wolves increases, the numbers look better for us, so it’s theoretically not awful to be at lynch or lose, if we’ve reached a point where it’s pretty clear who the wolves must be. If we’re firing blindly and hoping we get somebody, both of these are terrible situations for Town. I think it goes without saying that we have not reached a point where it’s clear who the wolves are, so, you know. There’s that. Incidentally, on that subject, though, after a non-comprehensive reread and since we aren’t talking about anything else at this point – if we don’t right now have two wolves on the horns, then that would presumably use up our mislynch toDay or next, and then we’d be left with everyone else to try to sort through. Does anyone believe that there’s a wolf _outside_ of the group of **Johnny** , **Diggit** , **sangfroid** , \*\*precambrian \*\*and **Nonsuch**? They seem to be the players I’ve seen called out as suspicious. **Johnny** named me and **Cygnus** , so there’s one person with an alternative in mind. Anybody else? If not, then we’re looking at playing this out somewhat similarly to **precambrian** ’s earlier post, wherein he theorized this would all come down to **Prof. P** vs. **sangfroid** , although I think there’s a different path than that. We’re going to whittle down that list of possibles, and they’re going to whittle down our list of everyone else. With that said – I think both our candidates are wolves. If it came down to it right now, my gut says **Nonsuch** is our third and is playing a good, clean scum game thus far, which is a little bit of a god of the gaps explanation, but it’s the one I think is true. If I’m right, **Nonsuch** ’s vote won’t matter if/when he makes it. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1547 "2015-08-30T13:20:22Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > The boards used to be set to automatically nest quotes. They turned them off, presumably for performance issues, at some point. > > It’s common enough. 4-3 would be really bad; that’s the dreaded “lynch or lose” scenario. 5-2 ain’t great but it’s obviously better. Of course, as our ability to hit wolves increases, the numbers look better for us, so it’s theoretically not awful to be at lynch or lose, if we’ve reached a point where it’s pretty clear who the wolves must be. If we’re firing blindly and hoping we get somebody, both of these are terrible situations for Town. > > I think it goes without saying that we have not reached a point where it’s clear who the wolves are, so, you know. There’s that. > > Incidentally, on that subject, though, after a non-comprehensive reread and since we aren’t talking about anything else at this point – if we don’t right now have two wolves on the horns, then that would presumably use up our mislynch toDay or next, and then we’d be left with everyone else to try to sort through. Does anyone believe that there’s a wolf _outside_ of the group of **Johnny** , **Diggit** , **sangfroid** , \*\*precambrian \*\*and **Nonsuch**? They seem to be the players I’ve seen called out as suspicious. > > **Johnny** named me and **Cygnus** , so there’s one person with an alternative in mind. Anybody else? > > If not, then we’re looking at playing this out somewhat similarly to **precambrian** ’s earlier post, wherein he theorized this would all come down to **Prof. P** vs. **sangfroid** , although I think there’s a different path than that. We’re going to whittle down that list of possibles, and they’re going to whittle down our list of everyone else. > > With that said – I think both our candidates are wolves. If it came down to it right now, my gut says **Nonsuch** is our third and is playing a good, clean scum game thus far, which is a little bit of a god of the gaps explanation, but it’s the one I think is true. If I’m right, **Nonsuch** ’s vote won’t matter if/when he makes it. I tend to agree. Though if **Diggit** turns up town then **Precambrianmollusc** would replace him on my list at the endgame. And if **Nonsuch** turns up town after we lynch our two on the block and they turn up wolf, I would be forced to look at **Sangfroid** or you. That would be a tough call. I can’t see both **Precambrian** abd **Diggit** as wolves. And if it turns out that way, kudos to them for their phony wolf spat! ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1548 "2015-08-30T13:39:52Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Questions: > > 1. Why was \*\*Thingfish \*\*chosen last night? > 2. Why did **Sario** vote for **Sangfroid** instead of **Plum** Day befote yesterDay? > 3. Why didn’t more wolves sign onto the **Plum** -as-wolf theory proposed by **Thing Fish**? > 4. Why didn’t any wolves try and save **Sario**? Back to these. 1. The wolves have killed in the following manner: Experienced Player Experienced Player Claimed Town Role Experienced Player Experienced Player The now obvious pattern is for them to kill the Experienced Players unless there’s a claim. Sorry, Biotop. 1. Still no clue. MAYBE to give Sangfroid sown Town Credit, but that’s very, very iffy. 2. No clue at all. 3. Because, with the other Masons gone, the Alpha Wolf wasn’t that much more important than any other wolf. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1549 "2015-08-30T13:56:39Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > The boards used to be set to automatically nest quotes. They turned them off, presumably for performance issues, at some point. > > It’s common enough. 4-3 would be really bad; that’s the dreaded “lynch or lose” scenario. 5-2 ain’t great but it’s obviously better. Of course, as our ability to hit wolves increases, the numbers look better for us, so it’s theoretically not awful to be at lynch or lose, if we’ve reached a point where it’s pretty clear who the wolves must be. If we’re firing blindly and hoping we get somebody, both of these are terrible situations for Town. > > I think it goes without saying that we have not reached a point where it’s clear who the wolves are, so, you know. There’s that. > > Incidentally, on that subject, though, after a non-comprehensive reread and since we aren’t talking about anything else at this point – if we don’t right now have two wolves on the horns, then that would presumably use up our mislynch toDay or next, and then we’d be left with everyone else to try to sort through. Does anyone believe that there’s a wolf _outside_ of the group of **Johnny** , **Diggit** , **sangfroid** , \*\*precambrian \*\*and **Nonsuch**? They seem to be the players I’ve seen called out as suspicious. > > **Johnny** named me and **Cygnus** , so there’s one person with an alternative in mind. Anybody else? > > If not, then we’re looking at playing this out somewhat similarly to **precambrian** ’s earlier post, wherein he theorized this would all come down to **Prof. P** vs. **sangfroid** , although I think there’s a different path than that. We’re going to whittle down that list of possibles, and they’re going to whittle down our list of everyone else. > > With that said – I think both our candidates are wolves. If it came down to it right now, my gut says **Nonsuch** is our third and is playing a good, clean scum game thus far, which is a little bit of a god of the gaps explanation, but it’s the one I think is true. If I’m right, **Nonsuch** ’s vote won’t matter if/when he makes it. I tend to agree as well. ---
**Author:** ![Cygnus42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Cygnus42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cygnus42)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1550 "2015-08-30T15:16:39Z")
Seems like we’re going to coast into the End of Day pretty much as-is here. We need \*\*Nonsuch \*\*to pop in and drop down a vote though, just for completeness. I agree with the above - if we have two wolves up on the block today, we’re in good shape. We lynch one, celebrate, and mourn poor \*\*Biotop \*\*in the morning. The way I see it - there are 3 possibilities: - \*\*Diggit \*\*and **Johnny B** are both wolves. We lynch one today, the other the next Day, then try to figure out who the 3rd is, with not a lot to go on (yet). - Only one of the two is a wolf, the other town. If this is the case, we may have to assume that late votes by the wolves broke the tie to save fellow wolf (or wolves are in the town voters in general). This probably means we lynch the other one (of Diggit/JB) the following Day anyway. - Neither Diggit or JB are wolves. In this case, we hang our heads in shame, and vow never to speak of it again. A ‘Bad at Mafia’ t-shirt or hat may be required. If this is the case, we definitely lose. So, it seems like we pretty much have to lynch them both over the next 2 weeks (pending new information, of course.) Neither one has posted to the thread in 2 days…wolves resigned to their fates? Hope so… ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1551 "2015-08-30T15:18:27Z")
A late vote is suggestive of scum, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1552 "2015-08-30T21:47:25Z")
OTOH, Nonsuch may still be dealing with family issues, which is more than understandable. ---
**Author:** ![sangfroid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@sangfroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sangfroid)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1553 "2015-08-30T21:48:03Z")
I find myself agreeing more and more with the “lynch the lurker” philosophy. In the beginning of the game with everyone clogging up the pages it didn’t seem such a big deal to me, but in retrospect I can understand the appeal. I’m trying to post as much as is practical now, so even if I’m one of the last ones bumped, at least I know I tried a little harder. I think I’m being left alone because I’m just…confusing. Hopefully next game I’ll be a bit more useful overall. I’m still having fun, though. Hope everyone remaining is also. And **Biotop**? As you are definitely “Top of the Bill” to be NK’d, as well as Mason, what is your final verdict on me? I am Town. No real way to prove it but die, as I have mentioned before. If it helps secure the game for Town at the wire, DO IT. Still rather not fall on that grenade if I don’t have to though… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1554 "2015-08-30T22:07:52Z")
> [@Cygnus42](#): > > Neither one has posted to the thread in 2 days…wolves resigned to their fates? Hope so… At this point I’ve addressed the questions people have asked me. It’s more or less out of my hands now. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1555 "2015-08-31T00:48:58Z")
Ack. I have re-read this fakakte game from top to bottom, and to make a long story short, came out of it far less confident in some players than I formerly was, either because they now seem scummier than they did or because, having now re-appraised their reasoning from inception to conclusion, I don’t think they know what they’re doing any more than I do. Anyway, I don’t have the constitution to put together one of my little mini-epics right now, so I’ll get into all that later. And I don’t want to keep you all in suspense. **Vote DiggitCamara** … primarily for joining in the pile-on (along with **Sario** ) that lynched **septimus** and saved **JSexton**. It’s amazing how much of the ensuing gameplay has basically been commentary on Day 1. I don’t know enough about this game to know if that’s typical, but I suspect it isn’t. A lot of the arguing seems to come down to which you find more suspicious: the one who kicks off a bandwagon, or the one(s) who jump on it? My thought is the latter. That is not to let off the former — or anyone else. [OOG: My IRL black cloud seems to be lifting, so I can be a stronger presence going forward than I have been. Thanks for your patience.] ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1556 "2015-08-31T01:29:43Z")
Glad to hear things are go better for you in the real world. Madame Pepperwinkle has a doctor’s appt. tomorrow a.m., and I won’t be around to view the proceedings at noon. So it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1557 "2015-08-31T02:13:14Z")
> [@sangfroid](#): > > And **Biotop**? As you are definitely “Top of the Bill” to be NK’d, as well as Mason, what is your final verdict on me? > > I am Town. No real way to prove it but die, as I have mentioned before. If it helps secure the game for Town at the wire, DO IT. > > Still rather not fall on that grenade if I don’t have to though… **Sangfroid** , I think you are town, but we will see. The only way it would help town for you to “fall on a grenade” would be if you are wolf. If so, it will do your heart good to confess right away and blow yourself up immediately. Otherwise, try and stay alive, ok? I suppose I will be night killed, not that it matters too much at this point. Here are my thoughts on how it might play out. If **Diggit** turns up town, then we lynch **Johnny Bravo** or **Nonsuch**. First one, then the other. I’d argue to lynch \*\* Precam\*\* in the end game if we had not lost at that point… though perhaps the survivors might find reason to go differently. I think either **Precam** or **Diggit** is wolf, and I lean heavily towards **Diggit**. As I said before, I do not think they both are. If **Diggit** is wolf we still lynch **Johnny Bravo** next. If he is town, then I guess the town survivors will have a difficult pick. I’d still go with **Nonsuch** , but having been wrong so many times at that point why would you listen to me? Then, if the game was still alive it would be **Sangfroid** or **Jimmy Chitwood**. Flip a coin. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1558 "2015-08-31T02:22:18Z")
Y’know, Biotop, they may decide to change pattern and go after who they think is the most helpful experienced Town. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1559 "2015-08-31T02:25:34Z")
And if **Diggit** is wolf and **Johnny Bravo** is also wolf, we then might lynch **Nonsuch**. If he is town then its down to the coin flip again. There. Now I can be night killed and you still have my opinions, for whatever they are worth, going forward. ---
**Author:** ![sangfroid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@sangfroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sangfroid)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099/1560 "2015-08-31T12:29:11Z")
Just a waiting game now. I popped in to add that if you _aren’t_ NK’d tonight **Bio** , I’m going into the attic, burrowing out that old stuffed wolf head I have - complete with toothy snarl; the taxidermist did a boffo job - dusting it off and mailing it to you, postage paid! Proudly display it over your dining area as a conversation piece. All I’m sayin’ is, as someone who has played all game with thoughtfulness, passion and genuine conviction, if you aren’t NK’d (again), and do turn out wolf at some point, you played one fine game my friend. Understanding that our resident actual wolves would deliberately spare you just for grins. Also, I am officially claiming rights to “dusting the wolf’s head” as shorthand for someone or some post here being sincerely disingenuous. _And now, back to your regularly scheduled programming, already in progress…_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099.md?page=77) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-game-ideal-for-beginners-game-in-progress/725099.md?page=79)