[CHALLENGE] October Challenge

[Ircher]

Won't You Be My Neighbor

9x Vanilla Townie

4x Mafia Goon

This setup is nightless except for a draft that occurs night 1. Mafia do not have a factional kill at all.

During night 1, players participate in a draft. They are to send the moderator a number and a list of up to five other players. Players do not have to send five players; they may send as few as a one name. Players

are

required to send in at least one name. The lists should be ordered. At the end of the night, the moderator will organize the players into a list by the draft numbers were sent. The standard procedure as used in Pick Your Power X/Y is used: the player who sends the lowest number without repeats is at the top of the list whereas players who sent in repeat numbers (or very high numbers) end up at the bottom of the list. Ties are broken by playerlist order. Once the moderator has this list, the moderator follows the following instructions:

1. For the person at the top of the list (let's call this person X), look at the list of names that player sent.
2a. If the name at the top of X's list (who we shall refer to as Y) does not already have two other neighbors, then X and Y become neighbors. Remove Y's name from X's list. Check if X already has a neighbor (who we will call Z). If so, Z also becomes neighbors with Y.
2b. If Y already has two other neighbors OR if Y is already neighbors with X, remove Y's name from X's list and move onto the next entry. Repeat step 2a and 2b until either X's list is empty or you find a player on X's list that does not already have two other neighbors.
3. If X does not currently have two neighbors AND x's list is not empty, put X at the bottom of the drafting list. Otherwise, erase X's name from the drafting list.
4. Move onto the next person on the drafting list. Check if that player has two neighbors already. If so, erase their name from the drafting list and move onto the next player until you find a player without two neighbors. Then, start again from step 1. Repeat this process until everyone has two other neighbors or until the drafting list is empty.

Once the neighbors are selected, neighborhood threads should be created. If a player only has one neighbor, then the thread only includes that pair. If a player has two neighbors, a single thread should be made; that is, all three neighbors are a part of the thread. Daytalk is obviously allowed. Neighborhood memberships are publicly posted at the start of Day 2.

Example 1:

Suppose A sends the mod the names {B, C, D} and the number 1. Suppose B sends the mod the names {A, C, E} and the number 2. Suppose C sends the mod the names {E} and the number 5. Suppose D sends the mod the names {A, E} and the number 3. Suppose E sends the mod the names {B, C, D} and the number 2. Then the drafting list (with the players picks included) looks like this:

1. A (B -> C -> D)
2. D (A -> E)
3. C (E)
4. B (A -> C -> E)
5. E (B -> C -> D)

So A is currently at the top of the list, so we look at their choices B -> C -> D. Is B already neighbors with A? No. Does B already have two neighbors? No. Thus, we go to step 2a above. A and B are now neighbors, and we remove B from A's list. Then with step 3, we check if A's list is empty or if A has two neighbors. Since neither are true, we move A to the bottom of the drafting list. So the drafting list now looks like this (with choices in parenthesis and neigbhors in brackets):

2. D (A -> E)
3. C (E)
4. B (A -> C -> E) [A]
5. E (B -> C -> D)
1. A (C -> D)

Now, D is at the top of the list. Thus, we look at D's choices: A -> E. Is A already neighbors with D? No. Does A already have two neighbors? No. Thus, we once again go to step 2a above and make A and D neighbors. Now, we need to be careful here. A is already neighbors with B. Thus, B also becomes D neighbor. (Not doing this will result in some players actually having more than two neighbors.) This gives D two neighbors, so we remove D from the drafting list. Our drafting list now looks like this (with the "erased" names below the dashed (---) line):

3. C (E)
4. B (A -> C -> E) [A, D]
5. E (B -> C -> D)
1. A (C -> D) [B, D]
---
2. D (E) [A, B]

C only gave one preference: E. E is not currently neighbors with C, and E does not currently have two neighbors. Thus, C and E become neighbors. The drafting list now looks like this (again, below the dashed line are "erased" names):

4. B (A -> C -> E) [A, D]
5. E (B -> C -> D) [C]
1. A (C -> D) [B, D]
3. C [E]
---
2. D (E) [A, B]

B is now at the top of the list. Notice that B already has two neighbors. We can therefore remove them from the drafting list. The drafting list now looks like this (with erased names below the dashed line):

5. E (B -> C -> D) [C]
1. A (C -> D) [B, D]
3. C [E, B]
---
2. D (E) [A, B]
4. B (A -> C -> E) [A, D]

E is now at the top of the list. E's first preference is B, but B already has two neighbors: A and C. Thus, we remove B's name from E's list. Next, we look at C but note that C is already neighbors with E. Once again, we remove C from E's list. Notice that D also has two neighbors. Thus, E's list is empty, so we remove E from the drafting list. Here's the new list:

1. A (C -> D) [B, D]
3. C [E, B]
---
2. D (E) [A, B]
4. B (A -> C -> E) [A, D]
5. E [C]

Since A has two partners, we can erase their name. Since C also has two neighbors, we can erase their name from the drafting list as well. The drafting list then becomes empty, so we are done. The neighborhoods become as follows:

A, B, D are in a neighborhood.
C and E are in a neighborhood.

The basic idea is that you are drafting your neighbors, but the rules have to be specific enough to give everyone a chance at their pick while rewarding those people who are better at the drafting mind game.

[Ircher]

9v4?
And only neighbors?
10v3 mountainous is scumsided.
Neighbors aren't townsided.
Er... where did you get that balancing from?

It's a nightless setup, so generally, you want the number of scum to be a bit higher. I should clarify though that mafia don't have a night kill Night 1; night 1 exists simply to facilate the draft.

By the Nightless Expectation Rule, a nightless setup with no power roles is balanced (by EV standards) if scum make up a quarter of the number of players. I've made it 4 scum though because in practice, town performs better in nightless setups.

[Ircher]

Won't You Be My Lover

9x Vanilla Townie

4x Mafia Goon

This setup is nightless except for a draft that occurs night 1. Mafia do not have a factional kill at all.

During night 1, players participate in a draft. They are to send the moderator a number and a list of up to five other players. Players do not have to send five players; they may send as few as a one name. Players

are

required to send in at least one name. The lists should be ordered. At the end of the night, the moderator will organize the players into a list by the draft numbers were sent. The standard procedure as used in Pick Your Power X/Y is used: the player who sends the lowest number without repeats is at the top of the list whereas players who sent in repeat numbers (or very high numbers) end up at the bottom of the list. Ties are broken by playerlist order. Once the moderator has this list, the moderator follows the following instructions:

1. For the person at the top of the list (let's call this person X), look at the list of names that player sent.
2a. If the name at the top of X's list (who we shall refer to as Y) does not already have two other lovers, then X and Y become lovers. Remove Y's name from X's list. Check if X already has a lover (who we will call Z). If so, Z also becomes lovers with Y.
2b. If Y already has two other lovers OR if Y is already lovers with X, remove Y's name from X's list and move onto the next entry. Repeat step 2a and 2b until either X's list is empty or you find a player on X's list that does not already have two other lovers.
3. If X does not currently have two lovers AND x's list is not empty, put X at the bottom of the drafting list. Otherwise, erase X's name from the drafting list.
4. Move onto the next person on the drafting list. Check if that player has two lovers already. If so, erase their name from the drafting list and move onto the next player until you find a player without two lovers. Then, start again from step 1. Repeat this process until everyone has two other lovers or until the drafting list is empty.

Once the lovers are selected, lover threads should be created. If a player only has one lover, then the thread only includes that pair. If a player has two lovers, a single thread should be made; that is, all three lovers are a part of the thread. Daytalk is obviously allowed. The lover pairings are publicly posted at the start of Day 2.

Example 1:

Suppose A sends the mod the names {B, C, D} and the number 1. Suppose B sends the mod the names {A, C, E} and the number 2. Suppose C sends the mod the names {E} and the number 5. Suppose D sends the mod the names {A, E} and the number 3. Suppose E sends the mod the names {B, C, D} and the number 2. Then the drafting list (with the players picks included) looks like this:

1. A (B -> C -> D)
2. D (A -> E)
3. C (E)
4. B (A -> C -> E)
5. E (B -> C -> D)

So A is currently at the top of the list, so we look at their choices B -> C -> D. Is B already lovers with A? No. Does B already have two lovers? No. Thus, we go to step 2a above. A and B are now lovers, and we remove B from A's list. Then with step 3, we check if A's list is empty or if A has two lovers. Since neither are true, we move A to the bottom of the drafting list. So the drafting list now looks like this (with choices in parenthesis and neigbhors in brackets):

2. D (A -> E)
3. C (E)
4. B (A -> C -> E) [A]
5. E (B -> C -> D)
1. A (C -> D)

Now, D is at the top of the list. Thus, we look at D's choices: A -> E. Is A already lovers with D? No. Does A already have two lovers? No. Thus, we once again go to step 2a above and make A and D lovers. Now, we need to be careful here. A is already lovers with B. Thus, B also becomes D lover. (Not doing this will result in some players actually having more than two lovers.) This gives D two lovers, so we remove D from the drafting list. Our drafting list now looks like this (with the "erased" names below the dashed (---) line):

3. C (E)
4. B (A -> C -> E) [A, D]
5. E (B -> C -> D)
1. A (C -> D) [B, D]
---
2. D (E) [A, B]

C only gave one preference: E. E is not currently lovers with C, and E does not currently have two lovers. Thus, C and E become lovers. The drafting list now looks like this (again, below the dashed line are "erased" names):

4. B (A -> C -> E) [A, D]
5. E (B -> C -> D) [C]
1. A (C -> D) [B, D]
3. C [E]
---
2. D (E) [A, B]

B is now at the top of the list. Notice that B already has two lovers. We can therefore remove them from the drafting list. The drafting list now looks like this (with erased names below the dashed line):

5. E (B -> C -> D) [C]
1. A (C -> D) [B, D]
3. C [E, B]
---
2. D (E) [A, B]
4. B (A -> C -> E) [A, D]

E is now at the top of the list. E's first preference is B, but B already has two lovers: A and C. Thus, we remove B's name from E's list. Next, we look at C but note that C is already lovers with E. Once again, we remove C from E's list. Notice that D also has two lovers. Thus, E's list is empty, so we remove E from the drafting list. Here's the new list:

1. A (C -> D) [B, D]
3. C [E, B]
---
2. D (E) [A, B]
4. B (A -> C -> E) [A, D]
5. E [C]

Since A has two partners, we can erase their name. Since C also has two lovers, we can erase their name from the drafting list as well. The drafting list then becomes empty, so we are done. The lover pariings become as follows:

A, B, D are lovers.
C and E are lovers.

The basic idea is that you are drafting your lovers, but the rules have to be specific enough to give everyone a chance at their pick while rewarding those people who are better at the drafting mind game.

--Changes:
--*Instead of neighbors, it is now lover pairs.
--*Still nightless.
--*Number of scum increased to 5.

--- Not sure if this is worse or better than the previous version. It definitely will finish faster than the last version, which helps keep the game from continuing on forever. It also makes it where the lover drafting stage is more important. At the same time, the balance is a lot trickier to determine now.

[Ircher]

Hmm that would be possible. I guess people might try to game it to avoid getting loverized, but I would say nothing eventful happens in that case. I will note that at least one lover set will be made since everyone is expected to send in at least one name.

[Ircher]

Highly Metagame Based Setup

3 Mafiosi

10 Townies

Day 1 happens as normal. Night 1 happens as normal, but everyone must compulsively choose one of the four colors:

Red

,

Yellow

,

Green

, or

Blue

.

Colors are split into two categories,

warm

/

cool

and

lime

/

purple

.

Red

is considered to be

warm

and

purple

.

Yellow

is considered to be

warm

and

lime

.

Green

is considered to be

cool

and

lime

.

Blue

is considered to be

cool

and

purple

.

If only one person chooses a color, they will be given a rare power based on the color categories.

If exactly two people choose a color, they will be given a common power based on the color categories.

If three or more people choose a color, they will stay vanilla.

An example power is Tracker/Doctor, awarded to the one player picking

Red

. A Tracker/Doctor can choose to act as a Tracker or Doctor, but once that is chosen it will be locked in, a Tracker/Doctor that has acted as a Tracker can only act as a Tracker.

Rare power halves:

Warm

- Tracker

Cool

- Role Cop (sees both powers and what is chosen)

Lime

- Roleblocker

Purple

- Doctor

Common power halves:

Warm

- Kill Checker (a checker that is affected by protective abilities)

Cool

- Mailman

Lime

- Weak Bodyguard

Purple

- Neighbor

Players flip with their powers, but not what is chosen.

A setup not checked for balance or playability, and probably just a meme setup.

I have a feeling that this setup would generally degenerate to mountainous 10-3 or worse as town can't really coordinate a solid plan. If town does coordinate a plan (e.g.: everyone except this one trusted player choose this color), mafia have enough people to easily subvert the plan (at least when none of them are executed day 1.) So I'd imagine town's best strategy is to choose their color randomly, but with a weighted distribution. (Town doesn't want to pick a uniform distribution because then it'll average out to around three people picking each color.) Once more, town can't really coordinate the weighting distribution. Mafia's strategy here is probably much easier: have each mafia choose a different color. It maximizes the chances they snag a PR and/or deny town a PR. I don't really see a scenario where this setup comes close to balanced; even if town snags a PR or two, that's still far short of the typical power level in closed 10-3 normals. Granted, this setup is semi-open in a way, but I still imagine it balancing more like a closed setup than an open setup.

[Ircher]

I can't really fix that problem without resorting to using a Mafia Traitor, which is not allowed by the challenge rules.

How about adding another color or two and changing the mechanic accordingly. It will give town a better chance of getting enough PRs to balance out the setup.

[Ircher]

Ircher > TemporalLich > Kanna > ceejayvinoya > Isis > Jake the Wolfie = Hectic > Not Known 15 > PookyTheMagicalBear > T-Bone

If I have time, I will comment more extensively, but I will note that T-Bone's setup is the lowest because as far as I can tell, it doesn't really meet the challenge's requirements.