The Syndicate

Knowing what day of the week it was would be helpful. I always forget how the whole Sunday is a weekday thing in Israel throws me off. OK. I'm here for real now. I am so sorry to all players and especially host. Please don't kill me.

I totally suck. I'm so sorry. Time changes totally screw me up. Also, my flight changed, so my whole what I was going to do on the plane plan changed. I'm all in now. Promise, folks.

Crapweasel. Sorry I missed the vote. After my untimely demise in the other game, I kind of forgot the lynch was ending in this game.

RIP and welcome back sprityo. Sorry to see Glorf gone. I truly hope that it wasn't because other players seemed to be insulting him for the way he chose to play, based on my quick read of posts since last night.

Because, really, players being personally insulted...and for that matter, the game structure of this game or the way mafia is played on this site for that matter...makes me not really want to read the thread. So, that may have also contributed to my forgetting to check this thread and when they lynch ended.

I'll try to be better and get into this game now that I'm only in 1 game, though.

That said, I'm getting on an airplane tomorrow afternoon to fly to Israel That means that I won't be around much tomorrow morning (US Eastern time). I'll then have 10 hours or so on an airplane, for which I'll likely have internet, but during which I'll hopefully be asleep (and by asleep I mean passed out) for most of it). After that, I'll be 7 hours ahead of the time zone that I mostly play during. And on vacation for a week or so (which should actually allow good time for mafia-ing--I've been to Israel many times, and my main plan is to hang out in Jerusalem, eat good food, and bask in my purple haired fabulousness (soon to be blue haired fabulousness but who's counting). After that, I'll be travelling on a study seminar and my schedule will be insane. Anyway, just an update on my schedule. My timing will be insane as always--but differently insane.

Dom wrote: I know about this natural distrust.
I thought you'd attribute some level of distrust to Ishamel for this reason as well.

It's also colored my opinion of the characters and their actions in the books, and the assumption that DF created a game that is true to the source material.

Long Con wrote:

LoRab wrote:

Dom wrote:LoRab, why are the VFD a bigger thread than Ishmael?

Because of my natural distrust of purely neutral roles, especially when it's a 2 person neutral team that just has to survive to win. You've known me long enough to know how I feel about this (and to know that it's because of how may have once played such a role to win the game for the mafia). Also, they have a block and a protect to use every night.

Ishmael's team has a 50% chance of recruiting each night, and at least early on, it's kind of a crap shoot what roles they get. At the start, it's 13 civs to recruit v 8 baddies v 3 neutral (he can't recruit himself). So, almost even odds of getting a non-civ than a civ. It, in part, depends on who the first successful recruit is.

In all, it may likely have more to do with my innate prejudicial suspicion towards neutral roles than anything else.

I would say that the threat of Ishmael to the Civs has been vastly overstated. Heck, given the majority of past games, we'll probably end up lynching a Civ today and practically evening the score between Civs and non-Civs before Ishmael even gets a chance to try.

Which role was that, LoRab? I recall my own neutral roles better than others. I do remember one special role that just begged me to betray everyone and grab power and win. I was the Jedi Exile:


Revanchists (4):
The Revanchists are a small group of Jedi who believe it would be better for the Jedi Order to get involved in the war and protect the Republic from the Mandalorians. They have BTSC and get one kill per "night."
Revan - The only thing stronger than the force in this jedi knight is his willpower. If any of the Revanchists are lynched, he will kill one of the people who voted for them.

Alek Squinquargesimus - Second in command of the Revanchists.

Jedi Exile - Not much is known about this young jedi, but she or he will start out powerless and gain abilities as the game progresses.

Powers will be gained pending the survival of each night for the first four nights and are as follows:

1. A secret, extra vote for each voting period.
2. One pardon to be used on any person on any day.
3. The ability to deflect one's night power onto another person.
4. The ability to kill... with a catch: The Exile must kill his or her fellow Jedi before being allowed to kill others and will assume the role usually referred to as the "serial killer." If the Jedi Exile chooses not to kill his or her team mates and assume this win condition, then all of his or her powers will be forfeited.

Arren Kae - After being exiled from the Jedi Order, she has decided to join her former apprentice, Revan, in the fight against the Mandalorians.

How could I NOT kill my teammates and go rogue? Good times. Pretty sure my abilities were secret while the game was in play.

I remember that game well, also. I believed you savagely killed my partner and I after you killed your own teammates in that game. We were going to let you live, too. But I was talking about Heroes. I was Arthur and recruited Bea who was Nathan, if memory serves. The game was down to the final lynch, the civs were being quite arrogant about having the game in the bag One civ in particular was being especially arrogant, to the point that it just wasn't nice, and was so proud of himself for having played the game so well so that he had won the game. And so Bea and I decided (or I suggested and Bea went along with my zany plan) to vote against the civs so that the baddies won the game. Proving once again that spreadsheets and matrices alone do not make or break a game of mafia.

Dom wrote:LoRab, why are the VFD a bigger thread than Ishmael?

Because of my natural distrust of purely neutral roles, especially when it's a 2 person neutral team that just has to survive to win. You've known me long enough to know how I feel about this (and to know that it's because of how may have once played such a role to win the game for the mafia). Also, they have a block and a protect to use every night.

Ishmael's team has a 50% chance of recruiting each night, and at least early on, it's kind of a crap shoot what roles they get. At the start, it's 13 civs to recruit v 8 baddies v 3 neutral (he can't recruit himself). So, almost even odds of getting a non-civ than a civ. It, in part, depends on who the first successful recruit is.

In all, it may likely have more to do with my innate prejudicial suspicion towards neutral roles than anything else.

Quin wrote:To add onto your role analysis, LC - Klaus's role doesn't mention any restrictions as to when he can use his role. Just how many times he can use it. Unless he's a risk taker, I'd recommend that he figure out what he wants to do early so as to not waste an opportunity.

Klaus: Do not throw away your shot.

(sorry--saw hamilton tonight...so, that was all I was hearing in my head with this)

sig wrote:Voting east it has Philadelphia and me, so its the best part of the country. (Just ignore that we also have DC and NYC on the east coast) ;P

Long Con wrote:Ok then, maybe some role analysis will be fun!

Violet Baudelaire – Violet is a brilliant inventor. She will create a new device every night and send it to a player of her choice. This looks very fun, I wonder if she can have full creative input about the device? I know we could think of some very useful devices. How about a device that, in addition to its primary purpose, also feeds info back to Violet about the user? Just one idea. Push the boundaries, Violet!

Klaus Baudelaire – Klaus loves to read, and is constantly learning. Twice in the game Klaus can send in a role and discover which player has that role. Reverse role-checker. Let's talk, people - which role would be most beneficial for Klaus to know? Should he learn who are powerful Civvies in order to form a super-Civ squad? Or automatically discover, like, the two baddie team leaders and watch them for a while before pushing their lynch?

Ishmael – Ishmael is the leader of a peaceful island community. Every night he will attempt to recruit a player. He will have a 50% chance of bringing them into his fold. Ishmael's team will win if they outnumber the other living players at any point. He will also survive the first NK and lynch attempt on his life. Another possible foil for catching Esme Squalor. Do we want Ishmael dead? If Ishmael's team wins, does everyone else lose and the game ends? Or do they just achieve their win condition and we keep going?

I agree on the Violet role, it looks like it has potential if used properly.
I think Klaus looking at a high powered civ and a high powered baddie would be beneficial. At the very least investigate Olaf, since he can't be cop checked. So it will give the civs an edge.
Ishmael is dangerous we want him gone, he is basically a cult leader who can steal players from the civs, I assume it will only work on civvies and not mafia members, like most roles that can recruit. I'd say the bottom line is he needs enough civs dead or converted to win, so he won't be trying to help anyone win but himself or might even align with the mafia.

I agree about Philadelphia, as that is the closest actual city to me. (Althought I love other cities, too...but Philly is a great place).

I also agree about the potential of the Violet role. And that Klaus has great potential, as well.

I disagree about the threat of Ishmael (and continue to disagree with your assessment in later posts). I get where you are coming from, but I don't see him as a major threat. He shouldn't be ignored--but he's not nearly as much of a priority as mafia. And I'd argue that the VFD are a bigger threat. And, depending on who has the Olivia role, that is also a potential threat.

Nachomamma8 wrote:Klaus role seems insanely broken but I don't see why he would do anything except investigate two baddies.

Why broken? I think it's kind of a cool twist on a checking role.

Also, since there have now been several suggestions of how Klaus could use his role, I think there are many reasons why one would use that role in a variety of ways. Why pressure him into using it in a particular way? And in a way that wouldn't necessarily be to the civ's best advantage.

Dom wrote:Uhhh

ishmael, given those recent revelations is a huge threat.

I don't really agree.

What is VIG and what is janitored?

I think you'd like the books, LC--and they are quick reads. They are full of dark humor, mystery, and fun. I loved them.

I'm going to vote east before I forget to vote. I have a busy day tomorrow at work and am then likely heading into NYC for the night. I have plans with my parents on Monday night (to see Hamilton. Whoo hoo!!!!!) and will be doing city things during the day. At any rate, I will be busy tomorrow, and may not get a chance to vote, which was really my point here.