Almost everything can be modified, which is why it is very important to carefully read the individual rules of the game you are playing and ask your GM questions about them before you begin playing whenever possible. If you are GMing it is very important to be explicit in your rules.
- There are generally two teams (or factions), generally known as the town and the mafia.
- The town have superior numbers (often by a factor of at least 2 town for every 1 mafia at the start of the game) but do not know the loyalties of anyone else in the game other than themselves.
- The mafia has superior information, but fewer numbers. They generally know who each other are, and can often communicate with each other privately.
- The town wins, generally speaking, when all the mafia have been eliminated from the game.
- The mafia win, generally speaking, when their numbers are equal to or greater than the number of town remaining in the game.
- Many games also assign roles to players. These roles will often feature special abilities and detail how they can be used. See the glossary for details. Sometimes the roles in the game will be public knowledge in the rules. Sometimes they will not be public knowledge. Your role is usually, but not always private information at the beginning of the game. Deciding when and how to reveal information about yourself (or lying about it) is often an important part of the game. Roles can be team specific (certain roles will only be held by one team or another), or team-independent (any team can in theory possess any combination of roles)...depending on the rules of the game.
- Play proceeds in two phases, day and night. Play begins typically with the first day phase, but this is not universal. If play begins with a proper night phase (night #1) the rules of your game should specify this.
- Each day the entire playing group interacts by posting to a game thread and collectively decide by some kind of vote to "lynch" one player in the game. Votes are generally performed publicly and in thread, though the details vary from game to game. That player is removed and it is usually revealed whether they were town or mafia after being removed from the game.
- Each night discussion in thread generally ends, and the mafia generally decide upon one player to eliminate from the game through a "night kill" or "assassination".
- Night phases often features role-related orders submitted via private message to the GM. If you're not sure what to do during a night phase and your GM hasn't messaged you...message you GM and ask them what your options are during this night phase if any. Most GM's will prompt you if you need to submit orders. Check your game's rules for details.
- Night Zero is generally a period before the beginning of the first day when the mafia often have communication privileges with each other. It does not typically feature a night kill or role orders and the rules of your game should specify if they do. It's a great time to ask your GM lots of good questions.
- Players often spend the day trying to figure out (or at least appearing to figure out) why other people do the things they do or say the things they say. A good starting point is to remember that the mafia by and large communicate with each other and already know the actual alignment of everyone in the game. Even if they are trying actively to appear as a town member, it is often easy to let slip something called a scum tell that suggests they aren't really trying to figure out who is scum and who isn't, because of course, they already know. It's also easy to think someone has offered a scum tell when they haven't. It's about engaging with the other players, and trying to work out what makes them act and vote like they do. In the end, seeing who votes for who, when, and how is often an important source of information...but context is everything.
There are many sources of good information about the game.
- Mafia Sub-forum Links
- Mafia Subforum Policy
- Playdip Mafia Games History Index...Review the results of past games. Links to game threads and After Action Reports.
- Player Resource Guide...New? Start here first. Worth reviewing from time to time anyway.
- Mafia Glossary...A general guide to some terms that get thrown around a lot. See something missing? Add to its thread, someone will update it ASAP.
- The Mafia Textbook...Zoomzip is doing an excellent job editing this ongoing useful resource.
- GM Resources, Procedures, and Guidelines...Required reading for all GMs.
- Game Info Needed...Required reading for all GMs before adding a game to the queue. Used to keep the history up to date.
- connect4's Vote Tabulator...An often used and incredibly useful resource. Direct link here.
- Active Games sub-forum...Everything related to games currently underway and being played. GMs of these games are almost always seeking reserves. Please contact the GM of the game via private message if you are interested.
- Archive of Past Games...Scout the competition, mine them for data, or just get a feel for how things work.
- Archive of Past Game AAR's...The real lowdown on each game we've played.
- Resistance...Resistance Games Sub-forum. A fun take on divining motives. Features no player elimination.
Feel free to use this thread to ask general questions about the game and this sub-forum. Someone from the community will undoubtedly be along soon to answer your question.
By the way, welcome to the sub-forum. We're always looking for new players. They are cherished and they make the games richer. Please don't hesitate, join a game and give it a shot. If you're ready to read the game thread actively and participate in the game you signed up for...we want you in the game.
