The First Twist

[Frank]

The game will begin with all players randomized to one of two categories: Deadite or non-Deadite. Each player will receive a PM containing only this information. The Deadites (not including the Demon Mook, who will not be given access to the discussion) will be given a temporary meeting spot and 24 hours to make their first major decision: choosing their leader. They may choose any player from the pool of non-Deadites; their choice will become the human (Godfather) leader of the Deadites.

After this, the remaining roles will be randomized and assigned.

[catinasuit]

That could be quite a fun idea.

A possible alternative:

The town roles are randomly assigned as usual.

The scum role titles are handed out to the scum, and they have until the end of Day 1 to assign them amongst themselves or it will be done randomly. They do not get to know their powers until the roles have been assigned. The quicker they decide, the sooner they get to know what their role can do.

[Frank]

An alternate plan for role assignment; I think this would actually be quite fun, and give them something to talk about on Day One for sure.

At the beginning of the game, one player is randomized to be Scum, and given the Godfather role. This player then selects one player to be the second Scum role. The two of them then meet and choose and third, then a fourth, and finally a fifth.

Then Town/PFK roles are randomized by the usual means.

Thoughts?

[Frank]

So this mechanism would be entirely transparent. I would explain it, just as I did above, to the players before the game started. The non-random selection of Scum would be public knowledge.

You know what? It's a bad idea. It would result in a game that was entirely about meta-speculating with regard to who would have picked who.

But the original idea might work - random allocation of all roles except the Scum Godfather, who the Scum themselves choose from the player pool. Introduces a little bit of meta-arguing, enough to get things kicked off on Day One, without making it the dominant factor.

Especially if I don't tell them about it. We could simply randomize to Scum and non-Scum, then send "You are not Scum" PMs to those players and "you are Scum" PMs to the others. The Others could then meet, discuss the situation, and then recruit their Godfather-to-be from the rest. Then we randomize the rest of the roles and distribute them as normal.

Discussion of this would be no more meta- than discussion of any recruitment, but it's much less irritating than standard in-game recruitment.

[sachertorte]

That seems okay. More work than is probably necessary though.

[catinasuit]

Isn't this going to have problems with a hidden scum.

Someone will need to get a "You are Scum" message but no way to get to the scum boards to make the choice.

Also, if the scum pick the hidden scum, will they be down one player?

[Frank]

Aug 25, 2010 4:27:48 GMT -5 catinasuit said:

Isn't this going to have problems with a hidden scum.

Someone will need to get a "You are Scum" message but no way to get to the scum boards to make the choice.

Also, if the scum pick the hidden scum, will they be down one player?

The Scum will know the identity of the hidden Scum from the beginning, so they will not pick him. The hidden Scum won't have input. So Scum #2 (Trickster), #3 (Role Blocker), and #4 (Investigator) will choose Scum #1 (Godfather), without input from Scum #5 (Sleeper).

[Frank]

I like this twist, silly and ultimately inconsequential as it may be. Doesn't seem like there are major issues stemming from it, so I'm locking this topic as settled.

Getting there!