Commonly Asked Questions on Mafia Theory

This forum is for discussion related to the game.
User avatar
petroleumjelly
petroleumjelly
he/him/his
Thirteenthly, ...
User avatar
User avatar
petroleumjelly
he/him/his
Thirteenthly, ...
Thirteenthly, ...
Posts: 6219
Joined: November 27, 2005
Pronoun: he/him/his
Location: Tacoma, WA

Commonly Asked Questions on Mafia Theory

Post Post #0 (ISO) » Thu Nov 06, 2008 6:26 pm

Post by petroleumjelly »

How to Play: Specific Roles


Doctor (and Common Variants) Questions
Cop (and Common Variants) Questions
Vigilante (and Common Variants) Questions


Serial Killer Questions
How to Play: In General
How to Play: As Town
How to Play: As Mafia

Theory Questions
Endgame Questions (Highly Relevant to Mods)
Questions on Moderating


Set-Up, Choices
Resolving Night-Choices
Giving Information to Players
(Suggested) Rules
Miscellaneous
Suggested Reads
On Newbie Games
Ethics of Playing

~~~~~

Goals of this thread:

1.)
To compile all threads concerning mafia theory into one, easy-to-access resource.
2.)
This resource will have links to the more commonly asked questions in mafia discussion. These questions will surely become more refined over time, and a topic can have multiple subsets, such that even the more uncommon questions are accessible.
3.)
By compiling, this will hopefully be an excellent source of determining how the meta of mafia has changed over time, as the same questions may have different answers as they have been asked multiple times in different ways over the years.

If players would like to do research on a few questions and link to mafia discussion threads, we can hopefully get this started. I will simply try to update this first post continually as research comes in, and I will definitely do research of my own when I can find time to do so.
Last edited by petroleumjelly on Mon Nov 10, 2008 11:39 am, edited 14 times in total.
"Logic? I call that flapdoodle."
User avatar
Thok
Thok
Disgrace to SKs everywhere
User avatar
User avatar
Thok
Disgrace to SKs everywhere
Disgrace to SKs everywhere
Posts: 7013
Joined: March 28, 2005
Happy Scumday!

Post Post #1 (ISO) » Thu Nov 06, 2008 6:46 pm

Post by Thok »

1. Role X, Role Y and possibly Role Z and Role Q have some weird interaction in a game I'm modding. What should I do?

a. You should have decided this before the game started.
b. Check the exact wording of the role PM's. If there is a unique way to satisfy all of the role PM's, that's what you should do.
c. Other stuff that people can link to about natural role resolution.
I replaced into Chess Mafia for 6 months, and all I got was a win and this lousy sig.
User avatar
Xylthixlm
Xylthixlm
!xmafia win
User avatar
User avatar
Xylthixlm
!xmafia win
!xmafia win
Posts: 5414
Joined: July 12, 2006

Post Post #2 (ISO) » Fri Nov 07, 2008 12:50 pm

Post by Xylthixlm »

Thok wrote:c. Other stuff that people can link to about natural role resolution.
https://wiki.mafiascum.net/index.php?ti ... Resolution
(Someone go edit that page to take out the Xylbot-specific bits no one cares about)
#mafia@irc.globalgamers.net

"Xyl was completely berserk" -dramonic
"Xyl's ruthless policy lynching won the game." -Vi
User avatar
Xylthixlm
Xylthixlm
!xmafia win
User avatar
User avatar
Xylthixlm
!xmafia win
!xmafia win
Posts: 5414
Joined: July 12, 2006

Post Post #3 (ISO) » Fri Nov 07, 2008 1:01 pm

Post by Xylthixlm »

Q: What are the most important things I need to know as a new player?

A: Three things...
1. Don't lie.
2. Say what you think without worrying if it makes you look scummy.
3. Lynch people who don't follow these three points.
#mafia@irc.globalgamers.net

"Xyl was completely berserk" -dramonic
"Xyl's ruthless policy lynching won the game." -Vi
User avatar
JDodge
JDodge
Accept it
User avatar
User avatar
JDodge
Accept it
Accept it
Posts: 5926
Joined: May 6, 2005
Location: Atop my cloud
Contact:

Post Post #4 (ISO) » Fri Nov 07, 2008 1:56 pm

Post by JDodge »

Xylthixlm wrote:Q: What are the most important things I need to know as a new player?

A: Three things...
1. Don't lie.
WRONG
2. Say what you think without worrying if it makes you look scummy.
3. Lynch people who don't follow these three points.
WRONG
1 fails to account for gambiting, etc.

3 tells people to follow one strict set of guidelines, which is contrary to the development of playstyles.
stream

ffxiv/speedrunning sometimes/other things?
User avatar
destructor
destructor
Mafia Scum
User avatar
User avatar
destructor
Mafia Scum
Mafia Scum
Posts: 2017
Joined: July 3, 2007

Post Post #5 (ISO) » Fri Nov 07, 2008 2:01 pm

Post by destructor »

Xylthixlm wrote:Q: What are the most important things I need to know as a new player?

A: Three things...
1. Don't lie.
2. Say what you think without worrying if it makes you look scummy.
3. Lynch people who don't follow these three points.
This is on how to play as town, right?

1 is a good starting point.
2 is very good.
I don't like 3 at all.
.::][:::::][:::::][:::::][::.
User avatar
Yaw
Yaw
Yawesome
User avatar
User avatar
Yaw
Yawesome
Yawesome
Posts: 3171
Joined: February 9, 2004
Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Post Post #6 (ISO) » Fri Nov 07, 2008 2:05 pm

Post by Yaw »

Guys? This is supposed to be a place to compile existing information. Not invent it. If there's stuff we need to create, we can do it after we've compiled and thus determined that something important is missing.
Success breeds suspicion
User avatar
Xylthixlm
Xylthixlm
!xmafia win
User avatar
User avatar
Xylthixlm
!xmafia win
!xmafia win
Posts: 5414
Joined: July 12, 2006

Post Post #7 (ISO) » Fri Nov 07, 2008 9:27 pm

Post by Xylthixlm »

:oops: :lol:
#mafia@irc.globalgamers.net

"Xyl was completely berserk" -dramonic
"Xyl's ruthless policy lynching won the game." -Vi
User avatar
PookyTheMagicalBear
PookyTheMagicalBear
Pooky got your back
User avatar
User avatar
PookyTheMagicalBear
Pooky got your back
Pooky got your back
Posts: 39948
Joined: August 17, 2003

Post Post #8 (ISO) » Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:43 pm

Post by PookyTheMagicalBear »

way to show them how its done yaw

YEA
Show
"I hope one day I can openly play as wolfy as Pooky and get zero pressure for it grumble grumble."
-MariaR


"I can't even look at the game anymore.
That evil teddy bear has got everyone twirling by his thumb.
It's like witnessing an slow but unavoidable train crash you can't stop."

-Norwee
User avatar
The Fonz
The Fonz
Jack of All Trades
User avatar
User avatar
The Fonz
Jack of All Trades
Jack of All Trades
Posts: 9014
Joined: April 2, 2007
Location: UK

Post Post #9 (ISO) » Sat Nov 08, 2008 10:46 am

Post by The Fonz »

OK, I'm going back to the beginning of the Mafia discussion forum and flagging up things

that seem of particular relevance. I've picked up everything up to page 10, ie August of

2007.

Optimal doctor strategy

Random voting discussion

Is it good strategy to not read

your role PM day one?


More random voting stuff

First massclaim discussion

Metagaming I

Metagaming II

Metagaming III and Lynch All Liars

(Discussion on whether employing any kind of metagame policy at all is incompatible

with playing to achieve your win condition).

Is policy-lynching acceptable?



Is encryption acceptable?

Interesting how hard the meta moved against this in the period between this thread, and the

appearance of Adel.

Dealing with habitual lurkers

How to play SK

Discussion of scumhunting tactics



Why premature claims are bad

When to roleclaim

Another one on doc strategy

Should I share my thought process?



Dealing with VIs

(Specifically a discussion of whether it is acceptable to policy lynch Internet Stranger

just for being himself).

Dealing with VIs II

What is OMGUS?
User avatar
Fritzler
Fritzler
More /in than you!
User avatar
User avatar
Fritzler
More /in than you!
More /in than you!
Posts: 6043
Joined: July 26, 2005

Post Post #10 (ISO) » Sat Nov 08, 2008 1:46 pm

Post by Fritzler »

Xylthixlm wrote:
Thok wrote:c. Other stuff that people can link to about natural role resolution.
https://wiki.mafiascum.net/index.php?ti ... Resolution
(Someone go edit that page to take out the Xylbot-specific bits no one cares about)
Check.
Surfs up dude.
User avatar
petroleumjelly
petroleumjelly
he/him/his
Thirteenthly, ...
User avatar
User avatar
petroleumjelly
he/him/his
Thirteenthly, ...
Thirteenthly, ...
Posts: 6219
Joined: November 27, 2005
Pronoun: he/him/his
Location: Tacoma, WA

Post Post #11 (ISO) » Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:17 am

Post by petroleumjelly »

Fonz's links reorganized in first post. I am not quite sure how this will ultimately be organized -- it will surely become more refined as more threads are mentioned in this thread. For now I am just going with a very general format, with the hopes that it will be very easy to to maneuver through as time passes.

I'm also adding a few links of my own; I think there is a lot more in old discussion than is given credit. Even if a thread's title does not look promising, it may in fact have a discussion (whether you think it be a 'good' one or a 'bad' one) on something!
"Logic? I call that flapdoodle."
User avatar
petroleumjelly
petroleumjelly
he/him/his
Thirteenthly, ...
User avatar
User avatar
petroleumjelly
he/him/his
Thirteenthly, ...
Thirteenthly, ...
Posts: 6219
Joined: November 27, 2005
Pronoun: he/him/his
Location: Tacoma, WA

Post Post #12 (ISO) » Mon Nov 10, 2008 11:38 am

Post by petroleumjelly »

Sifted through pages 21 down to page 17. I have a feeling I might include the same articles under multiple questions categories, but I'll burn that bridge when I get to it.
"Logic? I call that flapdoodle."
User avatar
Vi
Vi
Professor Paragon
User avatar
User avatar
Vi
Professor Paragon
Professor Paragon
Posts: 11768
Joined: June 29, 2008
Location: GMT-5

Post Post #13 (ISO) » Mon Nov 10, 2008 11:53 am

Post by Vi »

I like how this topic is trying to be the premium version of the wiki :D
Everything you say and do matters. People will respond in ways you may never see. May those responses be what you intend.
User avatar
dahill1
dahill1
bagel
User avatar
User avatar
dahill1
bagel
bagel
Posts: 2798
Joined: March 4, 2008

Post Post #14 (ISO) » Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:42 pm

Post by dahill1 »

woo stickied
User avatar
Mr. Flay
Mr. Flay
Metatron
User avatar
User avatar
Mr. Flay
Metatron
Metatron
Posts: 24969
Joined: March 12, 2004
Location: Gormenghast
Contact:

Post Post #15 (ISO) » Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:21 am

Post by Mr. Flay »

I don't understand why this thread is on the forums rather than the wiki, but whatever...
Fritzler wrote:
Xylthixlm wrote:
Thok wrote:c. Other stuff that people can link to about natural role resolution.
https://wiki.mafiascum.net/index.php?ti ... Resolution
(Someone go edit that page to take out the Xylbot-specific bits no one cares about)
Check.
If you just want the common order, I think that's been at Night Choice on the wiki for forever. Xyl's page is something specific and different...
Retired as of October 2014.
User avatar
Xylthixlm
Xylthixlm
!xmafia win
User avatar
User avatar
Xylthixlm
!xmafia win
!xmafia win
Posts: 5414
Joined: July 12, 2006

Post Post #16 (ISO) » Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:24 am

Post by Xylthixlm »

Mr. Flay wrote:If you just want the common order, I think that's been at Night Choice on the wiki for forever. Xyl's page is something specific and different...
Mine gives the same order for those five actions, so it's actually similar but more general.
#mafia@irc.globalgamers.net

"Xyl was completely berserk" -dramonic
"Xyl's ruthless policy lynching won the game." -Vi
User avatar
Mr. Flay
Mr. Flay
Metatron
User avatar
User avatar
Mr. Flay
Metatron
Metatron
Posts: 24969
Joined: March 12, 2004
Location: Gormenghast
Contact:

Post Post #17 (ISO) » Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:33 am

Post by Mr. Flay »

I wish I understood some of the terminology in NAR. Can you annotate the wiki page?
Retired as of October 2014.
User avatar
gorckat
gorckat
Mafia Scum
User avatar
User avatar
gorckat
Mafia Scum
Mafia Scum
Posts: 2830
Joined: January 17, 2007
Location: Bawlmer, Hon!

Post Post #18 (ISO) » Tue Nov 11, 2008 9:32 am

Post by gorckat »

Here's two links that might have a place:

Model games for newbs to read: http://mafiascum.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8178

Modding best practices: http://mafiascum.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7580
User avatar
petroleumjelly
petroleumjelly
he/him/his
Thirteenthly, ...
User avatar
User avatar
petroleumjelly
he/him/his
Thirteenthly, ...
Thirteenthly, ...
Posts: 6219
Joined: November 27, 2005
Pronoun: he/him/his
Location: Tacoma, WA

Post Post #19 (ISO) » Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:56 am

Post by petroleumjelly »

Mr. Flay wrote:I don't understand why this thread is on the forums rather than the wiki, but whatever...
Fritzler wrote:
Xylthixlm wrote:
Thok wrote:c. Other stuff that people can link to about natural role resolution.
https://wiki.mafiascum.net/index.php?ti ... Resolution
(Someone go edit that page to take out the Xylbot-specific bits no one cares about)
Check.
If you just want the common order, I think that's been at Night Choice on the wiki for forever. Xyl's page is something specific and different...
Anything here can just be copied to the wiki if it needs to be... I've always considered the wiki a place for "skim the surface" information, and mafia discussion for "in-depth" information. Besides, players don't ask questions in the wiki; they go to mafia discussion to ask questions.
"Logic? I call that flapdoodle."
User avatar
Xylthixlm
Xylthixlm
!xmafia win
User avatar
User avatar
Xylthixlm
!xmafia win
!xmafia win
Posts: 5414
Joined: July 12, 2006

Post Post #20 (ISO) » Sat Nov 29, 2008 8:33 am

Post by Xylthixlm »

#mafia@irc.globalgamers.net

"Xyl was completely berserk" -dramonic
"Xyl's ruthless policy lynching won the game." -Vi
User avatar
petroleumjelly
petroleumjelly
he/him/his
Thirteenthly, ...
User avatar
User avatar
petroleumjelly
he/him/his
Thirteenthly, ...
Thirteenthly, ...
Posts: 6219
Joined: November 27, 2005
Pronoun: he/him/his
Location: Tacoma, WA

Post Post #21 (ISO) » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:29 am

Post by petroleumjelly »

Well, this can probably be de-stickied (actually was surprised it was stickied to begin with)... I think it's a good idea, but I am just the wrong person to do this compiling right now.
"Logic? I call that flapdoodle."
User avatar
gorckat
gorckat
Mafia Scum
User avatar
User avatar
gorckat
Mafia Scum
Mafia Scum
Posts: 2830
Joined: January 17, 2007
Location: Bawlmer, Hon!

Post Post #22 (ISO) » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:34 am

Post by gorckat »

I say leave it stickied. Even if the first post is infrequently updated, there are solutions:

1) People continue to add stuff and you put a note in the first post with the date of any updates you make (so its easy to skip along to see new items
2) Some one else can simply start a new thread and, being the new first poster, quote and paste your info into it and add the new stuff. The cycle could continue for quite awhile if people look for it to be updated once a month.
User avatar
Thestatusquo
Thestatusquo
He/Him
Shea

User avatar
User avatar
Thestatusquo
He/Him
Shea

Shea

Posts: 14362
Joined: July 27, 2006
Pronoun: He/Him
Location: Chicago!

Post Post #23 (ISO) » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:39 am

Post by Thestatusquo »

Or even, 3) Jeep can give mod powers to this thread to another person, even a couple of people, who can frequently update it.
tout comprendre c'est tout pardonner
User avatar
BlakAdder
BlakAdder
Goon
User avatar
User avatar
BlakAdder
Goon
Goon
Posts: 853
Joined: June 18, 2008

Post Post #24 (ISO) » Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:53 am

Post by BlakAdder »

Endgame question:
What happens if the Mafia wins by default by outnumbering the town, but there is a Survivor left? Do both the Mafia and Survivor win, or just the Mafia?
(Please, don't say 'whatever the mod decides'. I'm asking what you would do as Mod.)
Game Record (W-L-T)
Town: 1-2-1
Mafia: 1-2-0
Third-party: 1-0-0
Post Reply

Return to “Mafia Discussion”