# Mystery Mafia -- Game Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 17, 2011, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025 "2011-08-17T14:03:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/21 "2011-08-17T15:27:17Z")
> [@MykBot](#): > > Gonna soft-clear lightfoot already. What, a guy makes a sensible but obvious post and you’re thinking this is a sign of anything other than literacy and basic logic abilities? Good enough to break the ice, anyway. 😃 **Vote MykBot** ---
**Author:** ![TexCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/texcat/32/9041_2.png) [@TexCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TexCat)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/22 "2011-08-17T15:28:26Z")
> [@MykBot](#): > > I would suggest that it’s important to know what your ability actually is, which is why targeting yourself last night was smart. Of course, apparently there was only 1 night 0 action, meaning all but one of us still have no idea what our night action is. If you did NOT target yourself last night, that is still an option - it should reveal what your night action is in a lot of cases. If you DID target yourself last night - like me - try to target the scummiest/wolfiest player you can find tonight. > > I got no result so I have no idea what my night action is, which should be the case for almost all of us. If I am a vig and target myself, don’t I end up dead? I guess that’s one way to find out my role. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/23 "2011-08-17T15:28:43Z")
> [@Dancecat](#): > > This forum requires that you wait 60 seconds between posts. Please try again in 33 seconds. > > an entire minute?!!? _thud_ Yeah, that minute is kind of a killer. I’m finding it pretty brutal. **MODERATOR NOTE:** Let me clarify this rule slightly: > [@](#): > > As should be apparent, Personal messages (PMs) will play an important part in this game. Please do not quote specific PMs in the thread or talk about any specific communications from the moderators. We will not hesitate to modkill for this infraction. You can discuss the result of PMs, if you choose to do so. Just don’t quote from the PM or discuss specific communications from the mods. For example, saying “I received information last night that suggests that Gadarene is a witch. Let’s burn him and find out” is fine. Saying “I received a PM last night that says the following: _You have a dream that tells you Gadarene is a witch_” is not fine. It might seem like a fine distinction, so feel free to PM me first if you’re unsure whether you can say something specific. As a general rule, just don’t actually quote PMs and you should be okay. ---
**Author:** ![TimeLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6f9a4e/32.png) [@TimeLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeLady)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/24 "2011-08-17T15:30:17Z")
**Mykbot** obvious vote is obvious (sup) Strategy is fun, if I remember correctly in the other game there were lots of weird roles so do not assume your role is a standard one. Like, you peek to find a mason or something (but there may be scum/town masonries). Or like, delayed peek mechanics, or other things like that. To give a general level of experience from the other board, I’ve probably played about 50 or so Long games, and many many turbos (I don’t know if you have turbos here). Mykbot is known as one of the best players on the other board, and has an exceedingly good scum game, so don’t be too fooled, dancecat is also quite experienced and is also great in both roles. We three are probably the most experienced players from the other board in the game (and to be fair, I also have a freaking awesome scum game) I’m also Euro, so my time keeping is on a different schedule to most of you all. I’m also currently in the (ongoing, so I can’t talk about it) 111 player game so I may not devote too much time to this one until that one is over, although from the looks of this setup it may only be like day 2 when that happens so no big deal. ---
**Author:** ![TimeLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6f9a4e/32.png) [@TimeLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeLady)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/25 "2011-08-17T15:33:30Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > I note that the tiebreaking mechanic, at minimum, DOES result in the death of one of the top candidates. This means that forcing ties is not a blatant scum tell like it has been in the past few games here. > > Welcome, new folks. I hope we don’t drive you crazy with our idiosyncrasies. > > As Dancecat is noticing, the board has a number of features configured that have the cumulative effect of slowing and attempting to calm down posts. It is what it is. Yes, but tie-ing votes in itself is not a great idea even so. There may be other roles in play that can mess with a lynch and since the lynch is probably the best shot overall we’ve got at killing a scum we should probably have it set in reasonable stone who the overriding lynch is. Of course, if scum want to out themselves to try to tie it up, they are more than welcome to ---
**Author:** ![TimeLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6f9a4e/32.png) [@TimeLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeLady)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/26 "2011-08-17T15:35:18Z")
> [@TexCat](#): > > If I am a vig and target myself, don’t I end up dead? I guess that’s one way to find out my role. Well, I would suggest that if you did not target yourself last night or you did but didn’t receive anything useful from it, or you did and got no result, tonight you pick you largest scum read, and if that person ends up dead, assume you’re a vigilante (you may not be, it may just be coincidence), and afterwards continue on as if you’re a vigilante. If you get a peek you’re a cop, if nothing happens then it’s a lot harder to figure out your own role so (imo) I tend to shoot for my mid-scum reads. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/27 "2011-08-17T15:38:05Z")
**MODERATOR NOTE:** Everyone should try to read the OP fairly closely at least once; there’s a lot there, but it’s mechanics-specific stuff that should be useful. I’m not calling out anybody in particular; posters so far have demonstrated an accurate and estimable understanding of what the OP says. This is mostly for people who haven’t shown up yet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MykBot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@MykBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MykBot)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/28 "2011-08-17T15:43:54Z")
> [@LightFoot](#): > > Now for the strategy of it all. > > If your Night action bears fruit…………..I’m ass/u/ming……..it should be kept to yourself unless you can prevent a miss-lynch? > The Doc doesn’t even know who the Doc is- so claiming will NOT get you protection. > The only safe option for a Cop would to be to build a strong case on a ‘found’ Scum. > > (It’s been my education that in general you don’t reveal your knowledge at the break of dawn so your ‘found’ Scum has plenty of time to Scum it up before you build your grand case on them) > > (note to self\* keep track of every Night request and every result in your pocket where you can access it from any computer. You may need it to save your own life) > \*\*and anyone else who hasn’t thought of it. \* > > I ain’t preachin’ here I’m reminding myself of a few things that I may have done in error in the past and perhaps preventing another player from doing the same > > ```found > > Post 318 http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14145327&postcount=318 > > If player A targets player B and player B wakes up dead D1 there is no way for player A to know if it was them OR another player that is the Vig. Now if this happens consistently the odds are player A is indeed the Vig. > The roles that will/would know for sure are the ones that actually get PM’d results of their actions . > > ``` It’s sort of fun being treated like a noob. I’m soft-clearing - this is lingo from the other board that means I believe him to be a villager/townie at least for today’s purposes, though he will be reevaluated until I have a firmer reason to clear him - lightfoot because: 1. In the first blue he provides good advice that he can’t have from having previously played in this setup, which _suggests_ but does not necessarily mean he is reflecting on the game from the villager/townie perspective 2. In the second blue he provides good advice that he should certainly have if he’s played much mafia/WW at all, but it’s good nonetheless 3. In the third blue he provides advice that, honestly, no one is ever going to do, which I don’t see a mafia/wolf even bothering to suggest Making villager reads is just what I do, especially really early. ---
**Author:** ![MykBot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@MykBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MykBot)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/29 "2011-08-17T15:46:42Z")
Or put differently, every single thing about that post oozes good guy, so he gets to be left alone today. ---
**Author:** ![Dancecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Dancecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dancecat)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/30 "2011-08-17T15:47:36Z")
> [@TimeLady](#): > > **Mykbot** > > obvious vote is obvious (sup) > > Strategy is fun, if I remember correctly in the other game there were lots of weird roles so do not assume your role is a standard one. Like, you peek to find a mason or something (but there may be scum/town masonries). Or like, delayed peek mechanics, or other things like that. > > To give a general level of experience from the other board, I’ve probably played about 50 or so Long games, and many many turbos (I don’t know if you have turbos here). Mykbot is known as one of the best players on the other board, and has an exceedingly good scum game, so don’t be too fooled, dancecat is also quite experienced and is also great in both roles. We three are probably the most experienced players from the other board in the game (and to be fair, I also have a freaking awesome scum game) > > I’m also Euro, so my time keeping is on a different schedule to most of you all. I’m also currently in the (ongoing, so I can’t talk about it) 111 player game so I may not devote too much time to this one until that one is over, although from the looks of this setup it may only be like day 2 when that happens so no big deal. there is one thing in this post that makes me want to vote you, and another that makes me want to tempclear you. i’ll lean towards tempclearing if you can tell me which is which. ---
**Author:** ![Dancecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Dancecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dancecat)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/31 "2011-08-17T15:49:42Z")
having everyone target themselves seems like a good way of getting rid of all the town vigs immediately, but this has obv already been pointed out. Please, everyone target scummy/wolfy people, at least at the beginning. If you don’t know what your night action does, don’t point it at yourself or someone you think is town. ---
**Author:** ![SisterCoyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SisterCoyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SisterCoyote)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/32 "2011-08-17T15:51:36Z")
> [@MykBot](#): > > Or put differently, every single thing about that post oozes good guy, so he gets to be left alone today. Except that Lightfoot is a more than good enough player to give all the right “signs” when she posts. Also: Don’t hold grudges. Play the Damn Game. Why did you sign up if you aren’t going to play? Anyone caught in a lie (of commission) will be looked upon with great suspicion by me. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/33 "2011-08-17T15:53:06Z")
> [@TimeLady](#): > > Yes, but tie-ing votes in itself is not a great idea even so. There may be other roles in play that can mess with a lynch and since the lynch is probably the best shot overall we’ve got at killing a scum we should probably have it set in reasonable stone who the overriding lynch is. Certainly, but the last two games I played in here, the tiebreaker mechanic was on the order of “85% chance of no lynch”, and I personally made a lot of accusations concerning the relative scumminess of tying it up close to the end of the day. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/34 "2011-08-17T15:53:20Z")
Woo hoo, it’s finally started! Neat. And to jump right into things, I’m not getting the votes on **Mykbot** at all. Maybe you guys play with each other enough that you’re on some meta wheels-within-wheels level, but **Mykbot** ’s “soft-clear” statement, while not well justified IMO, seems like an odd early gambit for a Wolf to make. Frankly, I’m a lot more suspicious of people eager to jump on an easy vote than I am of people who make casual statements of questionable logic about who is and isn’t wolfish. ---
**Author:** ![MykBot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@MykBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MykBot)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/35 "2011-08-17T15:53:28Z")
Sorry about calling you a dude lightfoot. ---
**Author:** ![bufftabby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bufftabby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bufftabby)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/36 "2011-08-17T15:54:22Z")
> [@MykBot](#): > > It’s sort of fun being treated like a noob. I’m soft-clearing - this is lingo from the other board that means I believe him to be a villager/townie at least for today’s purposes, though he will be reevaluated until I have a firmer reason to clear him - lightfoot because: > > 1. In the first blue he provides good advice that he can’t have from having previously played in this setup, which _suggests_ but does not necessarily mean he is reflecting on the game from the villager/townie perspective > > 2. In the second blue he provides good advice that he should certainly have if he’s played much mafia/WW at all, but it’s good nonetheless > > 3. In the third blue he provides advice that, honestly, no one is ever going to do, which I don’t see a mafia/wolf even bothering to suggest > > Making villager reads is just what I do, especially really early. I grokked what you meant; I think this is one of those difference-in-playstyles things. I can’t speak for other players, but I know that I play my suspicions/clearances much more close to the vest than your board’s crew seems to. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/37 "2011-08-17T15:54:47Z")
> [@MykBot](#): > > I’m pretty sure all of the following are from the other board: > > crackedquads > dancecat (HiFi) > episkey (JimHalpert) > krayz > mykbot (CPHoya) > Silman > Special Ed > TimeLady Not me. I’ve never played there. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/38 "2011-08-17T15:55:53Z")
> [@MykBot](#): > > Or put differently, every single thing about that post oozes good guy, so he gets to be left alone today. Around here, we have a lot of analytical players, so giving generally good advice isn’t much of a tell one way or the other. (I figured what soft-clear meant :p) It wouldn’t be the first nor the last time we’ve had a scum do that–hell, I know of more than one player who’s claimed to have not read their PM at all until middle-late Day One or Day Two, specifically so they can play convincingly as pro-town. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/39 "2011-08-17T15:55:56Z")
> [@MykBot](#): > > I would suggest that it’s important to know what your ability actually is, which is why targeting yourself last night was smart. Of course, apparently there was only 1 night 0 action, meaning all but one of us still have no idea what our night action is. If you did NOT target yourself last night, that is still an option - it should reveal what your night action is in a lot of cases. If you DID target yourself last night - like me - try to target the scummiest/wolfiest player you can find tonight. I understand the strategy here, but I’m not seeing how it would be terribly effective. Looking at the more standard roles, here’s what would happen if you targeted yourself: Doctor: You protect yourself, most likely with no notification. No help Investigator: You learn about your own role. Your role is confirmed (more or less) Blocker: Either you block yourself, in which case you receive no result, or you are told that you cannot perform your action. No help in the former case, and little help in the latter (or would you be able to figure out your role through process of elimination?) Vigilante: You kill yourself. I suppose that’s one way to learn your role, but it’s not the most useful. More ‘complicated’ roles will created more complicated scenarios, but it would seem that would make it even harder to figure those out. Now you have more experience with this particular setup than I do, given that you have played it previously, but it seems to me that targeting yourself has a slim chance of revealing anything, and an almost equal chance of killing yourself. Am I missing something obvious? ---
**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:** [August 17, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/40 "2011-08-17T15:56:19Z")
Ok, so my first thought is that we need to start keeping a running tally of who has targeted who. Since no one knows what any power is yet, I don’t actually see a downside to keeping such a list. We (town) need information and we need it fast, but we also need to make sure not to clutter up the game with bullshit misdirection. The game is too large and is going to move too fast. Last Night I targeted Peeker. I used [Random.org](http://Random.org) to select my target. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025.md?page=3)