I am writing you today in full sentences, garnished by capitalized letters, punctuation, and paragraphs to bring you these three questions:
What
is the purpose of the
Random Voting Stage
, in the words of the denizens of mafiascum.net?
Is
early game information useful for sorting?
If
you could change the early game in mafia, how would you do so?
I know many people like to read the book end to beginning, and since I propose to know at least part of the ending of this conversation, I shall leave it below for those interested to respond to:
Spoiler: Chapter Last: The Last Chapter
I personally believe we have lost sight of what Random Voting Stage is and why it works, which is why I ask this question. Most players seem to think that it's mostly useless/pointless information and thus resort to posting jokes or other content that is barely related to the game, except sometimes through flavor. This attitude, in and of itself, is cancerous to me, considering it shows players recognizing a problem in their failure to have reads of any sort in a game about reading people, and failing to respond to it. The fact that this sort of content generation is so rampant leads me to believe the attitude follows suit, which is why, I think, a large majority of players are significantly more capable of playing a much better mafia game than they currently do. All it would take is a slight change in attitude and the way that a player responds to a problem. I digress.
My point in this post, is that I believe early game information is very useful in sorting players (examples likely soon to follow, unless I am overcome with laziness), and that the theory behind Random Voting Stage can easily be applied to the rest of the game. Why do we use Random Voting Stage instead of Random Questioning Stage or some other method to begin mafia games? I believe it is because Random Voting Stage grants the player two advantages (at least) in every game: The ability to show their stance on players, and the ability to read other players based on their responses. Further explanation will be granted upon request. I apologize for the abrupt failure to follow up on thought processes, I just simply wrote and rewrote my follow-up to this too many times before scrapping it. Oh well.
And since I have declared my word the last chapter, any discussion in response to it shall henceforth be known as
You weren't supposed to read it. I used large words and complete sentences filled by intimidating and self-righteous attitude so that you would feel put off and disgusted with me and thus not write back. If you respond to it, I'll feel obligated to respond to you and then we might have some actual discussion going, but because we have managed to avoid that, I now feel justified in my opinion and will take it as fact, given that no one has been smart enough to come up with a proper counter-argument to my proposal.
In post 0, Enter wrote:What is the purpose of the Random Voting Stage, in the words of the denizens of mafiascum.net? Is early game information useful for sorting? If you could change the early game in mafia, how would you do so?
RVS is a misnomer because nothing in mafia is "random." It'd be better to call it "early game" or "low information stage."
I think the purpose is the same as every stage of mafia, to further your win condition.
As town, RVS posts are as useful for sorting as non-RVS posts. And as scum, RVS posts are as useful for manipulating as non-RVS posts. Again, nothing is "random" in mafia.
The best approach to RVS depends on the specific players in the game. As a general matter, however, RVS doesn't require unique actions relative to the rest of the game. Yes, town lacks information during RVS but that doesn't mean town has complete information later in the game. Townies need to work on creating sortable information at every stage of the game, from RVS to the last votes in LYLO.
I have a reputation for getting towns outside of RVS very quickly. I don't do anything special. I use the same tactics I use later to create a useful environment for scumhunting: creating wagons, and taking strong positions even if I know these positions are weak & likely to change.
I play rvs to cause as much mayhem as possible so that the game is impossible to read for the first 50 pages
80% of the time I self vote on the first page
80% of the time I don't post anything useful at all
80% of the time I prodge 6 times in the first 5 pages
100% of the time I somehow don't get blacklisted
In post 10, Ankamius wrote:I play rvs to cause as much mayhem as possible so that the game is impossible to read for the first 50 pages
80% of the time I self vote on the first page
80% of the time I don't post anything useful at all
80% of the time I prodge 6 times in the first 5 pages
100% of the time I somehow don't get blacklisted
Let's see, RVS is a crucial part of game, where you can get better understanding on playing field in casual atmosphere before getting at each other throats. Yes, early info is very helpful in sorting people and knowing who I'm playing with and how to approach them, but I have feeling you are asking about alignment, then my answer is no. RVS is most enjoyable part of the game, so only thing I change I want more people to take part in it.
But if current RVS will be abolished, I'd have to use Ank's strategy - selfvote and prodge till mid D1, which would be page 5 aprox
I don't know what kind of games your playing, but all the ones I'm in (regardless of player count) day 1 goes to at least thirty pages. (Except marathons, I guess.)
You think there is never any alignment related information in RVS? Or.. ?
You misunderstood me - how you propose to have discussion early game without having this easy going/joking around theme? I saw your Random Question Stage idea, but how you going enforce people to take part in it? What game related questions you going to use, if game just started? You see, I have these questions and I feel that people simply skip early game
You asking for any, so my answer is yes, there is. But question is - how much of this info is useful? And here I have to say that not much. It may help you to make some correct reads, but does it matter, if you can't convince other people using said info?
And my question to you - how much useful alignment info will be there, if we change how early game is treated?
As a general matter, however, RVS doesn't require unique actions relative to the rest of the game. Yes, town lacks information during RVS but that doesn't mean town has complete information later in the game.
http://wiki.mafiascum.net/index.php?title=Mhsmith0
Conq: you, sir, are great at being town.
BATMAN: Only jugg was the only one we didn’t scum read at least not me
Quick: There is little to no chance this slot is Power-Wolfing.
SR: I want to give him a day
Life is simply unfair, don't you think?
http://wiki.mafiascum.net/index.php?title=Mhsmith0
Conq: you, sir, are great at being town.
BATMAN: Only jugg was the only one we didn’t scum read at least not me
Quick: There is little to no chance this slot is Power-Wolfing.
SR: I want to give him a day
Life is simply unfair, don't you think?
