# Mafia: The Thrill of the Chase \[Newbie Friendly!\] **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 20, 2011, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526 "2011-11-20T06:04:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/221 "2011-11-29T17:25:24Z")
> [@Silver\_Jan](#): > > I am so pleased there are other people that have odd times too. > > @ **Astral** I had to read your post a few times before I realised what you were on about with “Tomorrow, we’ll see if I’m wrong” I take it you mean that if there are 2 Night Kills then we will know if there is a Vig, I presume? I think that even if there is only one NK we can’t rule out a Vig, in most of the games I have played the Vig doesn’t have to kill every night. Eventually the vig will kill, otherwise why bother playing? ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/222 "2011-11-29T17:41:52Z")
> [@GuiriEnEspana](#): > > **Can we talk strategy at Night? > Can scum talk during the Day?** Yes. And yes. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/223 "2011-11-29T17:43:02Z")
I don’t have a timezone or pressing other matters to lean on as an excuse, I’m just even more horrible at this game during Day 1 than usual. I always have trouble on Day 1 making a case, even a weak one, for a vote when there’s literally nothing to go on. I’m almost of the thinking that anyone making a remotely serious case for a vote on Day 1 is likely scum trying to avoid suspicion for being too inactive. **Vote Abstain** ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/224 "2011-11-29T17:43:04Z")
Vote Count: Svejk (2): Precambrianmollusc, Mahaloth Fluiddruid (2): choie, wevets Precambrianmollusc (2): Astral Rejection, septimus Silver Jan (1): Svejk Choie (1): GuiriEnEspana ---
**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:** [November 29, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/225 "2011-11-29T17:45:28Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > Eventually the vig will kill, otherwise why bother playing? Yes, but if there is a town aligned vig, they may hold off until they have a better grasp on who they think is scum, rather than risk a random kill on a pro town power role. Although now I think about it, every time I have played with a pro town vig in the mix they have come right out the gate shooting, so a first night kill really doesnt indicate anything. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/226 "2011-11-29T18:10:18Z")
There are a wealth of possibilities depending on 1) the existence of Vig, SK, doctor, roleblocker; 2) their choice of action. Between these factors, kills on any given morning can range from 0 to 3. I have created a table that is too complex to post using vb coding (at least for me it is, if someone can teach me how i’d be grateful) so [here](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20507915/kill%20possibilities.doc) is a link to a word doc on dropbox that lays out the different options. Someone please let me know if you can’t open it. ---
**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:** [November 29, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/227 "2011-11-29T18:18:27Z")
I can’t open it ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/228 "2011-11-29T18:48:55Z")
> [@Precambrianmollusc](#): > > Although now I think about it, every time I have played with a pro town vig in the mix they have come right out the gate shooting, so a first night kill really doesnt indicate anything. Really? I thought most pro-town vig’s are rather gun shy early. ---
**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:** [November 29, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/229 "2011-11-29T19:13:42Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > There are a wealth of possibilities depending on 1) the existence of Vig, SK, doctor, roleblocker; 2) their choice of action. Between these factors, kills on any given morning can range from 0 to 3. I have created a table that is too complex to post using vb coding (at least for me it is, if someone can teach me how i’d be grateful) so [here](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20507915/kill%20possibilities.doc) > is a link to a word doc on dropbox that lays out the different options. Someone please let me know if you can’t open it. over time, it has become less and less acceptable to have links to outside sites that ocntain information for the game. ---
**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:** [November 29, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/230 "2011-11-29T19:14:53Z")
> [@fubbleskag](#): > > I don’t have a timezone or pressing other matters to lean on as an excuse, I’m just even more horrible at this game during Day 1 than usual. I always have trouble on Day 1 making a case, even a weak one, for a vote when there’s literally nothing to go on. I’m almost of the thinking that anyone making a remotely serious case for a vote on Day 1 is likely scum trying to avoid suspicion for being too inactive. > > **Vote Abstain** Bah! ---
**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:** [November 29, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/231 "2011-11-29T20:18:09Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Really? I thought most pro-town vig’s are rather gun shy early. It would make sense for a vig to be gunshy , but the comment should be taken in the light that the only couple of games I have played in that had a vig, the vig got going early. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/232 "2011-11-29T20:59:13Z")
If you’ve got powers, use them, in my opinion. I’ve always been town in the 2-3 games I’ve played, but I was in power roles. And you sit there and double guess yourself the whole time, should, shouldn’t I, who should I pick, blah, blah, blah. You can make spreadsheets, check and see when people log in and out, C & P posts, quantify roles numerically, it’s all been done before. You can overthink the shit out of this game, and a lot of the times, luck makes more of a difference. What is the win/loss ratio for town/scum in a simple game? Is it 50/50 or does one side consistently win more often? ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/233 "2011-11-29T21:01:10Z")
> [@fubbleskag](#): > > **Vote Abstain** That just sucks. ---
**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:** [November 29, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/234 "2011-11-29T21:03:21Z")
> [@fubbleskag](#): > > **Vote Abstain** I realize day 1 is tough, but please don’t do this. Town’s only goal is to suss out scum before they can kill enough to win. The voting record is one of our most important tools. Abstaining isn’t necessarily a scummy option (especially as you’ve called attention to it rather than just failing to vote) but it is fairly anti-town. Innocent people will die. These games are usually bloodbaths. Voting wrongly is a part of the game. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/235 "2011-11-29T21:37:32Z")
> [@fubbleskag](#): > > I don’t have a timezone or pressing other matters to lean on as an excuse, I’m just even more horrible at this game during Day 1 than usual. I always have trouble on Day 1 making a case, even a weak one, for a vote when there’s literally nothing to go on. I’m almost of the thinking that anyone making a remotely serious case for a vote on Day 1 is likely scum trying to avoid suspicion for being too inactive. > > Vote Abstain :bleached: Wow, how did I miss this before? What’s up with this deal? Not voting is anti-town. And I don’t think voting abstain counts. Huh. The real question is if you are just making a bad townine move or if your move is actually scummy. Hmmmm… Anyone making a remotely serious case for a vote on Day 1 is likely scum? Attempting to discourage anyone from trying to make a serious case on Day One? That does seem scummy. Fubble, that is one weird-ass post you made there. I think you just took over my number one suspect spot. **Unvote** **Vote Fubbleskag** ---
**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:** [November 29, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/236 "2011-11-29T22:04:19Z")
It’s funny how two people can interpret something so totally differently. I was actually leaning townie on fubbles for that post. That said, fubbles, I’d like to see you answer this question and clarify your position: > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Anyone making a remotely serious case for a vote on Day 1 is likely scum? Attempting to discourage anyone from trying to make a serious case on Day One? That does seem scummy. ---
**Author:** ![Scathach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Scathach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scathach)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/237 "2011-11-29T22:19:56Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Anyone making a remotely serious case for a vote on Day 1 is likely scum? Attempting to discourage anyone from trying to make a serious case on Day One? That does seem scummy. > > Fubble, that is one weird-ass post you made there. I think you just took over my number one suspect spot. > > Unvote > > Vote Fubbleskag Honestly, I think this makes you look worse than Fubbleskag. It’s a newbie game, and the “abstain” thing strikes me as way more townie than scummy simply because I don’t think scum would take such a massive risk so early on. (in a way that is very unlikely to convince anyone too). Jumping all over something like this strikes me as an easy vote if anything. ---
**Author:** ![GuiriEnEspana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc79bd/32.png) [@GuiriEnEspana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuiriEnEspana)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/238 "2011-11-29T22:32:12Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > I guess scum have some other place to discuss, possibly on another board. When people say they ‘talk during the night’, it means they go there and talk business. During the Day, they can talk in our thread, but won’t reveal their status. For the moment, since we started in the day, it means IIRC that the scum players don’t know the scum players yet. Can someone confirm that? We know that scum have a secret board where they can do communicate and strategize. Sometimes they are allowed communicate on that secret board during the Night only. All players are free to communicate in this thread (absent silencing powers) during the Day, my question was whether scum could communicate on their secret board during the Day also. > [@Astral\_Rejection](#): > > Add in that Trepa’s given win condition for scum makes no mention of eliminating all threats, and that this is a newbie friendly game, and I feel “no vig” is more likely. Scum win condition? Surely your only concern is the Town win condition which explicitly states that we win when all “non-townies are dead” which leaves open the possibility of 3rd party and PFK threats. > [@wevets](#): > > There seems to be little to go on until Friday in any case. What’s special about Friday? > [@fisha](#): > > What is the win/loss ratio for town/scum in a simple game? Is it 50/50 or does one side consistently win more often? I have no idea about the ratio for simple games but the mods here try to ensure the game is balanced between Town and scum, giving either team an equal shot at winning. As for the final result, according to the wiki Town tends to win just over 50% of games. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Fubble, that is one weird-ass post you made there. I think you just took over my number one suspect spot. Is your vote for his comment or for his lack of vote? > [@Scathach](#): > > Honestly, I think this makes you look worse than Fubbleskag. It’s a newbie game, and the “abstain” thing strikes me as way more townie than scummy simply because I don’t think scum would take such a massive risk so early on. (in a way that is very unlikely to convince anyone too). > > Jumping all over something like this strikes me as an easy vote if anything. Scum would and will do anything. Do you think Mahaloth is scum? ---
**Author:** ![Scathach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Scathach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scathach)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/239 "2011-11-29T23:06:21Z")
> [@GuiriEnEspana](#): > > Scum would and will do anything. Do you think Mahaloth is scum? Eh, I think he has the post that has stood out as the most suspicious to me so far? I mean it’s hardly definitive. ---
**Author:** ![GuiriEnEspana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc79bd/32.png) [@GuiriEnEspana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuiriEnEspana)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526/240 "2011-11-29T23:26:08Z")
It’s the only post you’ve chosen to comment on since confirming, you seem to be quite suspicious of Mahaloth, partially echoing Astral’s comment, and, if you suspect he’s scum, I’m wondering why you didn’t vote him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mafia-the-thrill-of-the-chase-newbie-friendly/603526.md?page=13)