Ask IS

[SaberKitty]

ohh, i have another question...
after how many games did you earn the titile "paragon of all mafia hunters" - who gave you the title? have you died in the first day more so because of it?

-SK

[Samadhi]

SK: He gave it to himself and it didn't take long.

[Internet Stranger]

After receiving much praise from the lesser skilled majority of mafia players, I decided to bestow the title upon myself. You can not trust something so important to the simple plebian masses.

The title was irrelevant as to the sudden rash of jealousy and fear I inpired in other players in the games I was in. It was getting to the point where I would be lynched early regardless of me being able to prove my innocence, like in Mafia 16, the retarded neanderthal town. I believe it may be due to the fact that I was keeping record of all my mafia accomplishments as a signature, noting how many mafia and other assorted evil roles I had single handedly captured. It was quite an impressive record indeed.

The foolish mentality of the town led me to take a short retirement of about 30 games or so. Although nowadays the harsh unreasonable voting has dwindled somewhat, I still get investigated no later than the second night by every role that can check on me. The mafia tend to let me live because of the inept actions of the trigger happy town. (See mafia 3)

[Samadhi]

And when it came to tallying his "catches" IS could teach Enron a thing or two about creative accounting. I recall some that he "single-handedly" captured in games he wasn't even playing in. Very impressive.

[Antrax]

believe it may be due to the fact that I was keeping record of all my mafia accomplishments as a signature, noting how many mafia and other assorted evil roles I had single handedly captured.

What was far more intimidating was IS' creative use of the language, and his uncanny ability to apparently "catch single-handedly" every single mafia ever lynched, including those lynched by bandwagons he wasn't part of, and even those who comitted suicide or were lynched after he, himself, had died.
Antrax

[Cadmium]

The question that came to my mind was:

What about the roles that aren't really just Mafia or Town related? I read about it on Mith's and DP's site. I mean roles like Mafia cops, Siblings, Traitors and so on. What's the best technique to play such roles? And should we expect those roles in a normal mafia game?

[Internet Stranger]

In a "normal" game, you probably wouldnt see them. (townies, mafia and maybe cops)

But to play the secondary good or evil roles, just play them as if you were a townie or a mafia. Youre basically on their side anyways. In fact you even have a small advantage because of your abilities. No difference really.

When it comes to third party roles, like an SK type, you have to play for the side that has less people, usually the mafia. Its more important for you at that point to know who is mafia rather than getting them lynched. If you suspect someone of being mafia, dont defend them outright, but try to keep them alive until the end. You have to get rid of a lot of townie fodder.

The end game has to be with you killing the last mafia last, or else you will never win.

[Sketchwick]

IS, what do YOU think about the SK role in general? I think it's kind of silly to give one guy a decent chance to win all by himself, but also silly to give someone a near impossible goal.

sketchwick

[Cadmium]

Thanks for the explanation. Sounds like fun to play one of those roles. Oh well, maybe one day .

I also have another question. What kind of communication do you prefer when being mafia or other roles that can communicate at night? Do you use E-mail, Private Messages, ICQ?

[Internet Stranger]

What, in your oppinion, is the most powerful role ever to grace a Mafia game to your knowledge? ;What role that you've ever read about or seen played was your favorite?

Im not sure about most powerful, but my favorite is definitely the Tlelaxiu Face Dancer role from Dune Mafia. Basically steal someone elses role for a night and use it yourself. It was incredibly fun.


Sketch:

I like the SK role, its a challenge all to itself. You probably wont survive or win the game, but can at least have some fun causing some havoc. I got lucky in Dune maf, I essentially had a pseudo-SK role (Thanks to all the Fremen who didnt use their kills) and managed to get a co-victory while having fun spreading mass disinformation.

Cadmium:

Usually email works fine with me. I dont need to communicate that much at night anyways and this way everyone sees the whole conversation

[Pudd'nhead Wilson]

Hmmm...a power stealer. Interesting answer. I would have thought the fun would be limited by your ability to find out who everyone else is.

[Raamawen]

Dear IS:

Precisely what do you have against the humble apostrophe?

[Internet Stranger]

Apostrophes are the tool of the devil. Their use only denotes the fact that you are an evil devil worshipper with no morals or ethics. Only us of the righteous path can live through life without succumbing to such a henious act such as using an apostrophe to mask our weaknesses of expresseing ourselves correctly.

We must be pillars of strength and avoid their use. I have already chosen my path of eternal glory and have banished the accursed apostrophe from my everyday use of the language. I would rip the whole key from my keyboard were it not for the fact that quotation marks are forever damned to stand eternal vigilance over the bastard apostrophe, guarding us from its undue influence. And that some programming languages insist on them.

If you want to proclaim your evil demeanor so blatantly, why not join these bunch of geeks, doomed to never-ending suffering due to their heretic ways.

http://www.apostrophe.fsnet.co.uk/

[Sketchwick]

Dear IS,

I've heard there are some games when it's actually to the town's advatage not to lynch. Is this true?

sketchwick

[Cadmium]

8O

Sketchwick, you're really not afraid to die, are you ?

[Internet Stranger]

grrr... now everytime he dies im going to look suspicious.

[Sketchwick]

not if you answer the question...

sketchwick

[Internet Stranger]

Well yea, if its specifically set up. Like 9 cops 1 mafia. In any normal balanced game you must always lynch.

If not you will keep skipping lynches until its like 3 town 2 maf. ooh Look 40% to catch a mafia! We will get one for sure now!

What the hell is the point of increasing your odds by a few % when its never going to be better than 50% anyways?

Sack up, take the damn chance and lynch someone.

[Antrax]

IS, ever heard of cops? They're little guys who run around getting lynched on the first day. But if they don't, the town can avoid lynching and then get sure, 100% lynches, based on those guys' information.
Antrax

[cuban smoker]

I want to bring this thread back to life:

Dear IS: What did you think about the zombies in DP's Trouble in Haiti? Does the idea of a mindless zombie slave go against the principle of Mafia? Or was it a clever twist? Would you mind seeing it again, or should it be left as a one-time thing?

Mindless in Haiti.

[Werebear]

Dear IS,
If a time-travelling mafia goes back to night 1 and kills a time-travelling cop that has posted his investigations, then how does the town remember the investigations that he has now no longer posted?

[cuban smoker]

Although I can appreciate the inherent humour your question has Werebear, I figured I may as well post the "official" answer for any one who is curious:

In this game, the answer is simple: your posts will never be deleted, and instead, they will be treated as time “echoes”. Although history has rewritten itself, this new history is a palimpsest. That is, previous histories will be visible under the new one.

Also, it should be noted: palimpsest is a cool word.