# Screamers Mafia **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 21, 2009, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938 "2009-09-21T13:16:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![peekercpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@peekercpa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peekercpa)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/281 "2009-09-25T19:18:47Z")
> [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](#): > > The problem with your line of thinking is that you assume that well-intentioned townies won’t make horrendous, anti-town moves, and scum that try to do so will out themselves. > Experience has shown me that neither of these things are reliable. very true. however, the point was more along the lines of putting someone in the crosshairs and seeing what happens. because it is not necessarily the action that can be enlightening (although that can be prima facie) but the motivation behind said action. c’mon, **boozy** , mafia 101. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/282 "2009-09-25T19:38:10Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > Why is Jimmy Chitwood hooiser? Jimmy Chitwood is the name of the star player in the movie _Hoosiers_. ---
**Author:** ![BillMC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@BillMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BillMC)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/283 "2009-09-25T19:42:49Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > Preliminary inactivity check. The above 2 did not vote on leadership, according to the most recent vote check (by Pedescribe in #254, which I don’t think was entirely accurate). jpei has one post since check-in, speculating (wildly by his/her own admission) about a possible exposure of people voting in the leadership election to some kind of attack; BillMC doesn’t seem to have posted since his check-in post. > > No accusations implied, but with 24 people I want to keep some kind of tabs on who has/hasn’t been participating. > Oh, and congratulations to **AllWalker** and thanks to everyone who voted for me and for all the kind words. To be honest, for day 1 I dont think it makes the slightest bit of difference who is elected the leader, the odds still say we will lynch a townie And I do apologise for real life and 6 flights in 4 days getting in the way of not electing you to the leadership ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/284 "2009-09-25T20:51:14Z")
> [@peekercpa](#): > > very true. however, the point was more along the lines of putting someone in the crosshairs and seeing what happens. because it is not necessarily the action that can be enlightening (although that can be prima facie) but the motivation behind said action. > > c’mon, **boozy** , mafia 101. I CLEPped out of that course, and went straight into Everyone is an Idiot and Does Things Idiotically 203 ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/285 "2009-09-25T21:54:03Z")
> [@BillMC](#): > > To be honest, for day 1 I dont think it makes the slightest bit of difference who is elected the leader, the odds still say we will lynch a townie > > And I do apologise for real life and 6 flights in 4 days getting in the way of not electing you to the leadership Sorry Bill, I didn’t know when I started that post who the 2 who hadn’t voted were. With 24 players, it’s going to be tough to keep up with who’s posting and who isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/286 "2009-09-25T22:25:29Z")
> [@Nanook\_of\_the\_North\_Shore](#): > > I don’t see any trust lists coming out of the leader votes. I disagree, although I used the wrong term by saying trust list. The natural thing is for townies to vote for players they think are town, as we don’t want scum to control a tie-break. The closer we get to an endgame the greater the value of the leader role, and the closer the leader vote gets to a poll of the most trusted players. Going back to the Miller claim, if we do have a Miller I don’t think we’d have to lych them straight away. They might be a good candidate for a vig or daykill if town has that option, instead of wasting a non-information gathering lynch on them. We might also be able to use this to confirm a vig or daykill power claim. **@AllWalker** - Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na Lead-er! Can you let us know what is happening with the day length ASAP please. The most important thing is that we get plenty of notice. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/287 "2009-09-25T23:13:39Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > Going back to the Miller claim, if we do have a Miller I don’t think we’d have to lych them straight away. They might be a good candidate for a vig or daykill if town has that option, instead of wasting a non-information gathering lynch on them. We might also be able to use this to confirm a vig or daykill power claim. Really? I mean, I could see an unlimited Vig knocking off a Miller, but certainly not a daykiller, who’s almost certainly going to be limited in the number of kills they can make. Plus, vigging a Miller instead of lynching them sets us back a half day, given that an early lynch is more likely to be a mislynch. Bad ideas are… bad for town. **vote: Alka Selzter** ---
**Author:** ![tiltawhirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@tiltawhirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiltawhirl)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/288 "2009-09-26T00:22:29Z")
> [@Normal\_Phase](#): > > I see nothing wrong with a Tuesday countdown leading into a Wednesday end-of-day as a basic rule … that’s still rather a lot of time for discussion. And from that spot, both lengthening and shortening the day can be reasonable options. That’s not the case if you move the default day earlier or later in the week. QFT. Sometimes we will need more time to let discussions play out. At other times, a rough consensus may be reached early and bringing the Day to an end would help to keep players’ heads in the game, rather than drifting off because of low activity. ---
**Author:** ![jpei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@jpei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jpei)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/289 "2009-09-26T02:03:20Z")
> [@Normal\_Phase](#): > > Really? I find this very questionable. We’ve been described as having a few “evilish” roles, not that they all are; and there’s been no hint that there’s anything bizarre about the leadership position. Is there some other reason you don’t want your vote on record along with everyone else’s? Twice, I explained my reasoning to not vote, opting to be one of only two people who did not vote for a leader. I could have thrown a “this guy’s name sounds cool” vote to fit in with everyone, but I elected not to, and you think I’m _denying_ town info by not voting? Perhaps you feel this is a questionable action, and that I did not vote for WIFOM or whatever reason. Of course, doing this makes me stand apart from the crowd and _provides_ information as opposed to being a data-denying move, and you just contradicted yourself. That there’s nothing bizarre about leadership… Do you assume the makers started a 24-person mafia game to elect a leader, who, despite being powerful with respect to time limits, has 1.5 votes of minimal importance for the first few rounds - and didn’t create any novel power roles surrounding this personality? Hint: there’s already one out there. This sort of twisted logic astounds me. It makes me want to say… Really? I find this very questionable. I may shine out as if I had shiny bling, but that doesn’t mean I’m dipshit. You don’t need the shining to know that. [If this comes out as strong, that’s because I have no intention of acting passive and staying in the background my first 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 26, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/290 "2009-09-26T02:33:07Z")
I think that must be the first time I’ve ever seen someone justify not voting by saying it offers information. Points for creativity, at least. I also think you have a very specific reason for not voting for leader, even if I don’t know what it is, and that your attempt to justify it is weak. You imply there may be a power role with an effect on the people voting for leader, but if you had voted, you would have been one among 23: what makes you so special? Or is that just a smokescreen? My initial instinct was that you just didn’t want to risk linking yourself to either **AllWalker** or **Tom Scud** for some reason (namely, being Scum together); yet also didn’t want to be part of the other guy’s getting the leadership. I think your explanation is very strange and doesn’t help convince me that initial instinct was wrong. **vote jpei** Also, having thought it through a little more, I think I might actually prefer a midday-Wednesday countdown start, as opposed to late Tuesday. I forgot about the leadership-voting period; that does cut significantly into the available lynch-discussion time, and should be compensated for somewhat, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/291 "2009-09-26T02:48:12Z")
Wait, are we allowed to start voting before the Leader does? ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/292 "2009-09-26T03:04:26Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Wait, are we allowed to start voting before the Leader does? We’d better. Once he votes, we only have 24 hours to finalize our votes. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/293 "2009-09-26T03:05:37Z")
So we can vote but they just don’t count till he does his vote? Or do we have to revote after he votes for t hem to count? ---
**Author:** ![peekercpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@peekercpa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peekercpa)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/294 "2009-09-26T03:13:45Z")
the leader only acts as a timer. also a tie breaker if the top vote getters are tied. otherwise just the same as the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/295 "2009-09-26T03:14:08Z")
Okay, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![peekercpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@peekercpa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peekercpa)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/296 "2009-09-26T03:15:36Z")
neta. the leader only gets to vote once. the rest of us as many times as our dear hearts desire. ---
**Author:** ![AllWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@AllWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllWalker)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/297 "2009-09-26T10:34:18Z")
Just logging on to say I can’t speak at the moment - will be back later tomorrow (note no capitals) ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/298 "2009-09-26T11:58:24Z")
> [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](#): > > Really? I mean, I could see an unlimited Vig knocking off a Miller, but certainly not a daykiller, who’s almost certainly going to be limited in the number of kills they can make. Plus, vigging a Miller instead of lynching them sets us back a half day, given that an early lynch is more likely to be a mislynch. I wasn’t suggesting this should be done as a matter of course, I was raising it as an option that could be used if it is advantageous. I agree daykills are going to be very limited, and it would probably be a waste to use one to take out a Miller. **@Boozy** - Do you consider my other ideas this game to be anti-town? Do you think the leader role and voting mechanism helps town or scum? ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/299 "2009-09-26T11:59:39Z")
EBWOP - I’ve seen a few board errors today, so I recommend saving any long posts before you press submit. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938/300 "2009-09-26T12:04:29Z")
I’m also going to **vote jpei** Yes votes give information. It is the analysis of this information that leads to us finding the scum. Not voting is kind of like trying to be inactive whilst in plain sight. I’m not saying this vote will stay on you all day, but hopefully it woll encourage you to get some information out there. We have little to go on Day One, so the votes necessarily have to start with some “crap” reasons. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screamers-mafia/510938.md?page=16)