# No-tell Motel of Sidekicks Unspoiled Heroes Mafia Thread (Players Stay Out!)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tell-motel-of-sidekicks-unspoiled-heroes-mafia-thread-players-stay-out/567680>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [January 15, 2011, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tell-motel-of-sidekicks-unspoiled-heroes-mafia-thread-players-stay-out/567680 "2011-01-15T03:35:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 99

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**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tell-motel-of-sidekicks-unspoiled-heroes-mafia-thread-players-stay-out/567680/99 "2011-01-31T20:19:12Z")

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> [@sachertorte](#):
>
> A mason can stay secret if the number of masons is known. In this case, the number was not known so claiming was the correct move. If the second mason had died (and wouldn’t it have been crazy if both had died on that 3kill night?) then there wouldn’t BE anyone to counterclaim a false scum claim of Mason. Furthermore, the scum could point to the fact that the second mason hadn’t claimed as ‘proof’ that there is a third mason.
> 
> If Chipacabra had claimed mason and verified that there were only 2 masons before dying, then the second mason could stay hidden.

Yes, that is a risk, but it goes both ways. If the number of masons is unknown, scum are taking a risk by false claiming, because they don’t know if there’s another one around who can counterclaim.

The number of masons in a game is a critically important piece of information. Revealing it too early can be bad. (And if scum know it before the town in general does, it is an almost game-ending advantage!)

And the fact that scum might use the second mason’s lack of a claim as “proof” that there were more than two masons is an excellent reason why the policy of claiming when there’s only one left is bad.

> [@Doctor\_Who](#):
>
> Respectfully disagree a little bit. IMHO, a huge part of Mafia is collaboration and persuasion (for both sides). If you are so abrasive that people don’t want to work with you, don’t want to hear you out, and don’t really care what you are saying, you are not being useful. Regardless of the knowledge bombs you might be dropping, you are being distracting and asking to get lynched. I suppose there are some odd roles where this would be effective strategy… but, in general, I think if you are insulting/distracting, you are not being useful.
> 
> If ushi IS town, he is playing exceptionally poorly. My two cents. Feel free to agree or disagree.

I think you’re agreeing with me. 🙂 What I quoted is useful, but doesn’t negate the insulting behavior.

I’d make a distinction between insulting and distracting. Distraction and ignoring it is a part of the game. Insults are not.

> [@Hotel of Heroes mafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotel-of-heroes-mafia/567544/890):
>
> I’m asking you who you think the Scum are and why, because I’m frankly sick and tired of listening to your ‘constructive criticism’ of how everyone else is playing. You want to tie the criticism to a case? That’s cool. But aside from suspecting me, inaccurately, that’s not what you’re doing. You’re talking shit about people just to talk shit about people and enjoying the sound of your own keystrokes.

Sums up the problem. **ushi** has stated who and why, but **Cookies** apparently missed it.

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