# 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:** 283
**Author:** ![LightFoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LightFoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LightFoot)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5642 "2011-09-22T02:47:26Z")
lil ole me did try (try) to cause a bit o confusion with my claimed targets. LF2.0 ---
**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:** [September 22, 2011, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5643 "2011-09-22T02:58:18Z")
> [@special\_ed](#): > > This was a good game. > > And had there not been a couple of large Scum slips, we might have had some earlier mislynches. Though, we probably would have killed episkey sooner. So I think the game might have been balanced. > > Though, as Normal pointed out somewhere, not giving the Scum plausible roles that they could use in a mid to late game role claims Wouldn’t that be a huge Scum advantage - the extreme being Ragnarok with the scum having a Mod given scum mason claim or some such. In a game where no one knows their role, having the mod provide plausible role cover could be quite a bonus for scum. Interesting lesson from the Scum thread is “never give up”. There were quite a few occasions when someone would say “I am screwed, I better conceed” Only for town to head off in another direction - never underestimate the ability of a group of people who have no idea what is going on (ie town) to go and do something else completly random. The Blam/Inner waggon results were also interesting. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5644 "2011-09-22T02:59:27Z")
> [@LightFoot](#): > > I’m surprised no one caught my slip. > My first post as a wolf was on \* the wrong board\* and no one noticed. > > (see why I think I go unread half the time?) > > Haha either way I’m on the winning team > I tried to help what ever side I was on. WHAT ARE THE ODDS every one of my targets were deaded (as town?) > If only I had targetted Giraffe when I was LF1 What was your slip? ---
**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:** [September 22, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5645 "2011-09-22T03:00:35Z")
> [@Precambrianmollusc](#): > > Wouldn’t that be a huge Scum advantage - the extreme being Ragnarok with the scum having a Mod given scum mason claim or some such. In a game where no one knows their role, having the mod provide plausible role cover could be quite a bonus for scum. > > Interesting lesson from the Scum thread is “never give up”. There were quite a few occasions when someone would say “I am screwed, I better conceed” Only for town to head off in another direction - never underestimate the ability of a group of people who have no idea what is going on (ie town) to go and do something else completly random. > > The Blam/Inner waggon results were also interesting. Yeah, not anything like that, but maybe not having trackers and watchers, so that Scum could more easily fake who they were visiting. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5646 "2011-09-22T03:07:25Z")
> [@special\_ed](#): > > Yeah, not anything like that, but maybe not having trackers and watchers, so that Scum could more easily fake who they were visiting. True , also the tracker/watcher roels, and probably zerial and may be yours were fairly straight forward to work out giving a slight additional town advantage. Guess there is no such thing as a truely balanced game, but a lot of entertainment of playing with the quirks of the setup. Once again, great game Gad ---
**Author:** ![pwnsall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@pwnsall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pwnsall)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5647 "2011-09-22T03:28:22Z")
lol didn’t realize how many wolves were on blam ---
**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:** [September 22, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5648 "2011-09-22T04:46:20Z")
> [@J.D](#): > > I think you guys should come on over to POG, we got some pretty creative games going in the next couple of weeks. I would, but the site is blocked for me at work (it’s a “Gambling Site”), and that’s where I find most of my playtime, so I really wouldn’t be able to participate. ---
**Author:** ![Episkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Episkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Episkey)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5649 "2011-09-22T04:51:12Z")
I’ll be running one in about 3-4 weeks based off of The Dark Tower series over on POG. You’re all welcome to play, though our days are rather fast ---
**Author:** ![sangaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@sangaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sangaman)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5650 "2011-09-22T06:59:32Z")
GG guys. I think I actually kept up with this thread better after I died than while I was alive. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5651 "2011-09-22T11:01:56Z")
> [@special\_ed](#): > > What was your slip? I see what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![Normal\_Phase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Normal\_Phase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Normal_Phase)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5652 "2011-09-22T12:34:01Z")
> [@special\_ed](#): > > Thanks for not killing me, Normal Least I could do, Ed. I’m glad you appreciated it. Town did play extremely well and should get all the credit necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Normal\_Phase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Normal\_Phase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Normal_Phase)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5653 "2011-09-22T12:46:02Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > Well done all! > > This was one of the best games I’ve played in: thanks **Gad**! > > The balance may not have been so much of an issue if it hadn’t been for a couple Wolf mistakes (\*\*sangaman’s \*\*mistaken reveal that he knew the number of Scum, \*\*Idle’s \*\*mis-edit of a role PM). And having three Mystics, one of whom was Scum, might have played a bit more havoc if the two Townies hadn’t both been killed off so early. That left \*\*Normal \*\*as essentially a Vanilla Scum most of the game. As it was, she managed to stay pretty low on the radar, I think. > > Anyway, I had a great time trying to figure things out, and I’d love to give this sort of setup another go. We actually had some atrocious (balanced by good) luck with my role and Idle’s as well. Idle targeted crackedquads night one and hence got no result, while I did (though on the wrong target). Given we knew there were redirectors in the game (the result I did get was on peeker), we all just sort of assumed that I was the team detective. So I targeted Idle night two. If I have things straight, Weedy would have gotten that result and Idle was therefore doomed even if he hadn’t made his slip. I did have issues with the balance in this game, particularly the plethora of accurate town detectives and complete lack of adequate Wolf compensation. There were: Inner Zeriel Scuba Astral Weedy (and JD in a way) Five of them, all accurate, even if the results of one were going to a scum (but my result were outbound so I was limited to confirming townie after townie myself if/when I figured it out). The DanceCat/BlasterMaster situation was unstable and couldn’t have lasted all game without a “one or the other must be scum” situation coming up, which would also have been accurate. Episkey and Donk gave fake results while their town counterparts both gave accurate ones: default assumptions that the former two were scum and the latter two town would have also been accurate. Mahaloth, Sangaman, Idle, Lightfoot and brewha all had exact town equivalents and would ultimately have lost “one or the other” choices if they had revealed accurately. It was just not good times. But none of that takes away from the town play, which was truly excellent. You always made the right decisions. ---
**Author:** ![Normal\_Phase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Normal\_Phase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Normal_Phase)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5654 "2011-09-22T12:48:05Z")
Oh, we also had two additional slips – that “team kill” thing from Duckburg; and Lightfoot’s first post after subbing back in was meant for the scum board. ---
**Author:** ![Normal\_Phase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Normal\_Phase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Normal_Phase)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5655 "2011-09-22T12:55:37Z")
Oh, one heartfelt plea for the future: if people could refrain from voting for me/expressing suspicion of me on lack of participation grounds when the times I am not around are limited to weekends, family commitments I’ve mentioned ahead of time, and things like hurricanes (as was, minus maybe a single real life day, the case toward the beginning of this game), I’d really appreciate it. I don’t lie about things like that and it just kind of makes my stomach churn that people think I would. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5656 "2011-09-22T12:59:40Z")
Great game all, and WTG Town! Giraffe, I hear you on the issues with finding Scum. I’ve got the same trouble in figuring out who’s lying. At least I finally worked out my own play style: On D1 and D2, keep everybody talking, and acknowledge I’ll take heat D2 and D3 for my very weak votes. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2011, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5657 "2011-09-22T13:08:34Z")
> [@Normal\_Phase](#): > > Oh, one heartfelt plea for the future: if people could refrain from voting for me/expressing suspicion of me on lack of participation grounds when the times I am not around are limited to weekends, family commitments I’ve mentioned ahead of time, and things like hurricanes (as was, minus maybe a single real life day, the case toward the beginning of this game), I’d really appreciate it. I don’t lie about things like that and it just kind of makes my stomach churn that people think I would. My suspicion of you was based on an underlying tone not on limited participation. I was hesitant to tell you this because I hoped it might be useful in future games, but I’m a nice guy, and we’ll likely be on the same team in the future more often than not. Even with limited participation, I would have expected you to express more support for Town players who had made good cases. But, then again, this was just a tone thing, not anything I could create a case out of. I saw how poorly my cases against crackedquads and Episkey went for their “oh, I’m doing so well, Scum will probably kill me toNight” statements. > [@Normal\_Phase](#): > > and Lightfoot’s first post after subbing back in was meant for the scum board. Where is this post? I’ve completely missed it. ---
**Author:** ![Normal\_Phase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Normal\_Phase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Normal_Phase)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5658 "2011-09-22T13:10:13Z")
> [@Precambrianmollusc](#): > > Wouldn’t that be a huge Scum advantage - the extreme being Ragnarok with the scum having a Mod given scum mason claim or some such. In a game where no one knows their role, having the mod provide plausible role cover could be quite a bonus for scum. > > Interesting lesson from the Scum thread is “never give up”. There were quite a few occasions when someone would say “I am screwed, I better conceed” Only for town to head off in another direction - never underestimate the ability of a group of people who have no idea what is going on (ie town) to go and do something else completly random. > > The Blam/Inner waggon results were also interesting. I’ve been scum in more than my fair share of games where all town players have powers or the town powers are very strong (produce confirmable information) and able to synergize early. I’ve lost every single one of those games. I don’t think it’s a coincidence (and not just fate having it in for me, either). I think GMs in general vastly underestimate how town roles feed on each other and wind up much greater than the sum of their parts by the end of a long game (while scum roles, even those with potential to pass as town, generally don’t due to the need to keep all the town powers in check – hence make demonstrably non-town decisions). Something as strong for scum as the Ragnarok masons shouldn’t only be acceptable in an all/strong-power game, it should be virtually mandatory (and hence expected just like a godfather is in a regular game). It seemed indeed that I might have a chance at a couple of mislynches before dying, but I just didn’t have it in me to fight. I do apologize to my team for that, the active members of it, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Normal\_Phase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Normal\_Phase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Normal_Phase)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5659 "2011-09-22T13:18:14Z")
> [@special\_ed](#): > > My suspicion of you was based on an underlying tone not on limited participation. I was hesitant to tell you this because I hoped it might be useful in future games, but I’m a nice guy, and we’ll likely be on the same team in the future more often than not. > > Even with limited participation, I would have expected you to express more support for Town players who had made good cases. But, then again, this was just a tone thing, not anything I could create a case out of. I saw how poorly my cases against crackedquads and Episkey went for their “oh, I’m doing so well, Scum will probably kill me toNight” statements. > > Where is this post? I’ve completely missed it. Yeah, I wasn’t referring to you – lilflower had an element of it in her case against me and I think both Giraffe and Septimus may have brought it up. I spent the bulk of the game angry or frustrated, so I’m not at all surprised you picked up on something wrong. I’m horrible at disguising negative emotion. I’m sort of heartened everybody seems to think it’s hard to make a case against me, though. _innocent look_ Giraffe and I are both in Pizza’s upcoming game, btw. Think I’ll survive day one? ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5660 "2011-09-22T14:02:29Z")
> [@Normal\_Phase](#): > > Giraffe and I are both in Pizza’s upcoming game, btw. Think I’ll survive day one? Would you like me to preemptively vote for you in the PizzaRaffe game? ---
**Author:** ![Normal\_Phase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Normal\_Phase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Normal_Phase)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-mafia-game-thread/593025/5661 "2011-09-22T14:07:52Z")
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