Lurking: Optimal Strategy for Scum?

[Cheery Dog]

hmm I brought up the term semi-lurking in this thread, what did I actually mean by it?

I assume I was going with full lurker is practically only prod dodges.

[Thestatusquo]

I think there is a viable and important distinction to be made along those lines, CD.

I think one can post-lurk: I.e. actually not post except to prod dodge, and I also think one can content lurk: post more frequently but avoid actually commenting on the game as much as possible. I don't play enough to know which style of lurking is typically most effective in the current meta, but I know I have a way bigger personal blind spot for post lurking.

[SleepyKrew]

We call that second one "active lurking" now, gramps.

[Thestatusquo]

I'll call things whatever the fuck I please.

[SleepyKrew]

That's a pretty privileged pov.

[Thestatusquo]

Its not though! Anyone can do it!

[mastin2]

I lurk as both alignments as I discussed a bit in the original thread, but I do so in different ways and with different motivating factors behind the lurk.

As town, it's part of the reason I play more casually: just because I

can

post doesn't mean I necessarily *should* post; I can and have drowned out games that way, and it is a very bad thing to do.

As scum, I will lurk to watch towns tear themselves to shreds, for

not

doing the above. If all the active players are town, going at each others' throats as they're prone to be doing when they're posting without giving time to pause and think (what town lurking is all about), then it's a field day for me as scuMastin.

It is not always the optimal strategy. Particularly with reputations involved. I'm Mastin. People know me. They have high expectations of me. So if I lurk, I will get lynched or draw investigatives from it more often than not. That same lurking on an alt, I'll get away with doing.

So there's a time and a place for it. But, yes. Lurking is a viable strategy. I happen to prefer not relying on it, because (1) it risks town attention, (2) it risks you losing your investment in the game, and (3) it's not as fun as being actively-involved in the discussion, but just as I use it as town, I do use it as scum when I feel it is advantageous for me to do so.

This applies to both actual-lurking and active-lurking, by the way. While I distinguish between the two, what I said above is true for both of them.

[Egg]

Lurkers don't usually get lynched Day 1 unless they are compromise deadline lynches. They don't usually survive to endgame either.