Pfft, Mafia. Friggin' Mafia.
It's a complex game, you know.
On the main site I usually try to augment or streamline my play, whether it means using legitimate alts or manipulating my behavior. What I've been told is to... succinct. Say less. Be efficient... but retain your message. Peoples' eyes bleed when they read walls of text. They've got enough going on in their lives, and they certainly don't want to bore through a granite trench of words. Information overload and wordiness are pitfalls in Mafia. You gotta strike a balance, because if you don't the game suffers.
Imagine this, guys. You're in a room with 14 other people. 3 of 'em wanna kill ya. You don't know who they are. There's a bottomless pit in a corner of the room. You need to make a decision on who goes in it. So you decide, and that person goes bye-bye. The nthe lights go off and, when they turn back on, someone's lying in a pool of blood. Rinse. Wash. Repeat. Psychotic, huh? How do you get your bearings in this sort of desperate situation?
Well, here's something. It's a game of numbers. I don't care how honest, smart, or active you are. The deciding factor on who dies during the Days is numbers. Plain and simple. Pissing people off or being suspicious makes those numbers against you. If you don't wanna get lynched, but instead give yourself some social padding, be nice. Making bonds/treaties with players is another side of the game. Why go at it alone when you can persuade Derek and Kate to come to your side? Of course you could still be wrong, but it's better to do stuff to get support in the game.
Now, while it's nice to have a group of minionsfriends to back you up while in the game, you've got to also remember that you're playing as a member of a team. Unless you're a PR, STOP trying to play as if it's all about you. Being self-centered as a member of Town is bad play, because your goal is for the Town to win: not just you. Only the Serial Killer has him or herself as numero uno. Even if town idiotically ragelynches you Day 1, as long as you're active as Hell and contributing... giving READS and ANALYSIS and IDEAS... you're doing your job as a damned good member of Town. Who CARES if you're misguided going after Bob. At least you're DOING SOMETHING to generate reactions and interactions with people. Your voice is your weapon. Be honest, and try using stream-of-consciousness. Using stream-conscious-like posts is VERY tough for Scum to do convincingly. To sum it up, you win as a team even if you're beaned early on. Share as much as you can as Town. That's your strength. Your power. Your voice. Scum can't stop or control that.
If you can figure out how to make waves, while being civil/analytical/honest/active/persuasive... that's powerful indeed. You'll then become the threat Scum immediately wants to kill Night 1. In this game you've really got to know yourself. Through and through. Step back and really evaluate how you engage and behave in the game. Put a different username on your posts and read through. Maybe you'll note some weaknesses or strengths. Hey... Maybe you'll dampen your weaknesses and galvanize your strengths? Gauge where your skills are, and work to do what you can to manipulate them to your best potential.
You're in control of who you are, what you do, and what you say in Mafia.
