Huh, sorry if "flavor" seems to make people suspicious. (Usted and Newbie have mentioned it at least.) I write posts in the same way I talk. If there was a way to type in hand motions efficiently, I would probably do that too. ^_^
Anyway, on to the real point of this post:
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Blarg, okay this claim is not as simple as it originally appeared.
Usted has claimed to be a Town Power Role and that his role "rests in the left two columns."
This hint seems entirely predicated on the idea that the game setup is drawn from a single column of the matrix. If that was true this would potentially be a very interesting play, as it would virtually guarantee that Usted was either the Mafia Roleblocker or the Bulletproof townie. A Bulletproof Townie could successfully claim and their counterpart would be guaranteed to know, plus he could safely not get NKed (or the Jailkeeper could stay anonymous and protect him.) Or -- much more insidious -- the if Mafia has a Roleblocker, they would be able to confidently make the same claim and have it ring partially true to the Town Power Roles, confusing them into thinking Usted might be an ally. Either way, an interesting maneuver. Though I admit, even if he is telling the truth, I am not seeing any particular advantage for town right now.
However, the the game setup is drawn from one column
or row
. Which throws any semblance of logic right out the window. We could assume that Usted had simply not accounted for that fact -- that he was counting on the above scenario. The primary difference here is that now the marginal benefit gained by town in the prior scenario is completely gone -- the other TPR simply cannot know that Usted is really telling the truth anymore. As a mafia tactic, it hasn't necessarily lost any effectiveness though.
The options as I see them at the moment:
1.) If Usted is telling the truth: He most likely hasn't gained an invisible ally in the other TPR, since they cannot confirm the claim. All the VTs are just confused. Of course, Mafia already knows he's town but now they are forced to decide what to do with him. If he's Bulletproof, they could waste an NK -- but what if he's actually a Jailkeeper? Can they take the risk? (Of course, if they have a Roleblocker it doesn't matter... ) Overall, town really isn't coming out ahead in the deal.
2.) If Usted is lying: Some people will back off completely due to the soft claim. Both Town Power Roles are confused, not sure if they can trust his claim since there is no conclusive evidence. (A town cop might try to investigate him to be sure, but a town doctor might also try to protect him just in case he was being honest and he was under threat of nightkill.) Overall, it would be a fairly slick scum gambit.
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In both cases, it feels like a reaction to get suspicion off of him. But now that I've run through the scenarios, it also feels like a damn slick scum move. My gut is warning me that maybe I am reading it too hard, and it was just a not very well thought out town move.
If someone else reads this differently, please educate me.
[i]"I pledge to punch all switches, to never shoot where I could use grenades, to admit the existence of no level except Total Carnage, to never use Caps Lock as my 'run' key, and to never, ever, leave a single Bob alive."[/i]
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