# The Crimson Glyph (Werewolf/Mafia/Psychopath) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 24, 2009, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-crimson-glyph-werewolf-mafia-psychopath/494271 "2009-04-24T22:16:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 121
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-crimson-glyph-werewolf-mafia-psychopath/494271/2401 "2009-06-10T20:27:43Z")
I honestly had no Idea going into this, that Quality trumps quantity. This was my first Mafia game, and I have found what not to do, by stepping on multiple landmines. Haggle and Texas Fold’em has nothing on Mafia. If the first day vote helps to get the game going, then truly, EVERY post helps getting the actual game going. I would dare say, that the Meta-game of mafia is above and beyond more value of actual posts. It would not be possible, obviously, but most of the game is played, when peole do **NOT** post. That is, posting is just a byproduct that occurs because the game is being played. The biggest mistake I made? \*\*I actually deleted my Role PM long before mass claim was even being considered. \*\*:eek: Going forward, short of handcuffing my self away from my computer, what is a ““good”” posting schedule? ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-crimson-glyph-werewolf-mafia-psychopath/494271/2402 "2009-06-10T20:52:24Z")
The problem isn’t in posting a lot. The problem is in posting a lot of noise. For example, the posts that you encoded with Rot-13 were pure noise – there was nothing helpful to Town in that. Your goal as a townie is to ensure that your posts are easily understandable\*. They also need to advance the town’s goal of trying to find scum. I know that this is hopelessly vague, but you can’t give a set hard-and-fast rules to follow to play mafia(the game wouldn’t be half as interesting if you could). - With some very rare exceptions, like breadcrumbs. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-crimson-glyph-werewolf-mafia-psychopath/494271/2403 "2009-06-10T20:54:22Z")
Does anyone have an update on Peeker? I mean, in the, “I would rather have him on my team, than not” sense, I really like the guy. ---
**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:** [June 10, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-crimson-glyph-werewolf-mafia-psychopath/494271/2404 "2009-06-10T23:10:43Z")
> [@special\_ed](#): > > Sometimes, as politician, it’s best not to use your powers in the early Days. Really, you are most likely as clueless as anyone else. Also, when it does happen, it leaves scum wonder what mechanic is at play, or if it’s a one time power. Also, they have less information to figure out who is doing it. > > And really, it’s a tremendous power in late game situations. I didn’t mean this to sound as if I was calling you clueless. I meant that a politician in general is as clueless as any other Townie in the early Days. 🙂 ---
**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:** [June 10, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-crimson-glyph-werewolf-mafia-psychopath/494271/2405 "2009-06-10T23:26:33Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > I honestly had no Idea going into this, that Quality trumps quantity. This was my first Mafia game, and I have found what not to do, by stepping on multiple landmines. Haggle and Texas Fold’em has nothing on Mafia. > > If the first day vote helps to get the game going, then truly, EVERY post helps getting the actual game going. I would dare say, that the Meta-game of mafia is above and beyond more value of actual posts. It would not be possible, obviously, but most of the game is played, when peole do **NOT** post. First Day votes help because it causes us to talk about the game when we have very little information. After the first Day, we have had time for a lynching (netting information), Various potential Night kills or lack thereof (netting us information). And so we can actually talk about what has happened and start to work out possible scenarios. I’m not sure what "the meta-game of mafia is. However, most of the game is played when people do post. Not posting can be a strategy, and it can be information, but it’s only a part of the picture. More information is usually gained from non-fluff posting, be it conversation about the game or voting > [@Meeko](#): > > That is, posting is just a byproduct that occurs because the game is being played. I’m not surprised to not understand this. Posting is how we communicate in the game, and the game is requires communication. > [@Meeko](#): > > The biggest mistake I made? \*\*I actually deleted my Role PM long before mass claim was even being considered. \*\*:eek: This wasn’t a big mistake. No one was going to ask for your PM. We had both already posted it a long time ago when I claimed for you. I think your biggest mistake was that you wanted to “solve the puzzle” yourself. You wanted to guess at the answer. While it’s true that there is an “answer” to mafia, the game is a process. It has a flow, and a good player will go with that flow. Usually the game starts out swinging toward Scum as Townies die. But those deaths leave behind information which allow Town to figure things out, hopefully before it’s too late. You had some odd strategies that I think got in the way of your playing. I have a standard speech. It goes something along the lines of: The game is not about surviving. The game is not about figuring everything out. The game is about helping your side win. When you are Town, that should be your primary goal. How can I make sure that Town can find Scum? You shouldn’t think. How can I avoid being lynched or Night killed. You shouldn’t think how can I figure this out before everyone else. Some things you did, meeko, were counter productive. The posts where you tried to hide information? How were those supposed to help Town win? How were they sharing your ideas with the Town? Those things should be in the front of your mind when you are playing Town. Now, when you’re Scum, go all out with confusing the game and making things difficult to understand. However, you’ll be lynched. You would have been lynched early if I hadn’t confirmed you as a Mason. > [@Meeko](#): > > Going forward, short of handcuffing my self away from my computer, what is a ““good”” posting schedule? Post when you have something useful to share. Post when you have a comment on something someone else has said. Post when you have a suspicion, but remember, it’s just a suspicion, you probably can’t be 100% certain (except in certain circumstances, but limit your complete confidence to those circumstances) Allow others to post their ideas, and keep an open mind. Just because someone disagrees doesn’t make them Scum. Just because someone doesn’t trust you doesn’t make them Scum. Don’t post things that confuse the thread. Don’t post in rot-13. Don’t try to post in code like you did about Magic. Not only is it confusing, it’s also bad form. You’re not supposed to be able to communicate with others via using outside knowledge. Don’t post in any code. Don’t try to hide your information (without good reason, like a breadcrumb, but even those should be minimal and non-disruptive) All in all, You seem pretty smart. But you’re also playing a game with other pretty smart people. I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it. Just remember, your ultimate goal is to help your team win. ---
**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:** [June 10, 2009, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-crimson-glyph-werewolf-mafia-psychopath/494271/2406 "2009-06-10T23:30:34Z")
Ed, would you like to join the Lost Mafia game? We need three more and you are most definitely invited! 🙂 ---
**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:** [June 10, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-crimson-glyph-werewolf-mafia-psychopath/494271/2407 "2009-06-10T23:34:42Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Ed, would you like to join the Lost Mafia game? We need three more and you are most definitely invited! > > 🙂 I would love to, but I just closed on a house Monday. I’m in the process of painting and fixing a few things. I can’t promise I’d have time to play, and I can’t promise I’d have access to play when I move regarding when the internet gets disconnected/reconnected. Added to that, I’m still alive in 2 games, and I’ve just had to fill in for an absent moderator in a third game. Sorry. Look for my triumphant return in Early July ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-crimson-glyph-werewolf-mafia-psychopath/494271/2408 "2009-06-11T00:07:55Z")
> [@](#): > > Don’t try to hide your information (without good reason, like a breadcrumb, but even those should be minimal and non-disruptive) And to clarify, it’s only a breadcrumb if you have actual, real information (like, say, if you’re the Detective). If it’s just a guess, hunch, or theory that you have, then there’s no point in hiding it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-crimson-glyph-werewolf-mafia-psychopath/494271.md?page=120)