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Fake Claims

Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 4:11 pm
by St Constantine the Hermit
Flavor and theme in mafia was created for a reason, but all that is sullied when moderators add fake claims.

If scum have an entirely fake role PM at their disposal, what is the point of having flavor at all?

Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 5:13 pm
by notscience
Do you want to eat saltless crackers for the rest of your life?

Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 5:25 pm
by Cheetory6
Constantine wrote:Flavor and theme in mafia was created for a reason
Were they though?
Were they?

Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 5:41 pm
by saulres
St Constantine the Hermit wrote:what is the point of having flavor


More fun.

Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 8:42 pm
by St Constantine the Hermit
I think it is even more fun if you leave flavor to be speculated upon. I mean, the general strategy without fake claims would be for town to pursue flavor claims early into the game. Scum can claim their actual flavor, or make up a flavor based on the theme. They likely wont be lynched by their flavor alone, but it can support a lynch were they to claim a scummy flavor character, or try and lie about their flavor just to get caught red handed.

Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 8:43 pm
by St Constantine the Hermit
One question. Is it general convention to give scum fake claims, or is it up to the moderator of the game?

Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:45 am
by SilverWolf
I've been scum in games where no fake claim was given and I've seen them in other games where they were. I think it depends on the mod and the set-up. Also, I thought most games could not be figured out by flavor and instead that's just there to make the game more interesting and fun.

Safe claims are pretty common though as most games have the VT role PM somewhere in the game before it starts.

Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:59 am
by Zachrulez
St Constantine the Hermit wrote:I think it is even more fun if you leave flavor to be speculated upon. I mean, the general strategy without fake claims would be for town to pursue flavor claims early into the game. Scum can claim their actual flavor, or make up a flavor based on the theme. They likely wont be lynched by their flavor alone, but it can support a lynch were they to claim a scummy flavor character, or try and lie about their flavor just to get caught red handed.


Being lynched for having a scummy flavor character or being caught red handed unable to fakeclaim are in fact the entire reason for fakeclaims existing. Scum should have access to a safe character/flavor that they can claim which won't get them lynched. They should be lynched for their play in a game, not because of who they happen to be or who they happen to not be.

Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 11:40 am
by Vi
St Constantine the Hermit wrote:One question. Is it general convention to give scum fake claims, or is it up to the moderator of the game?
It's general convention where roles are indicative of alignment. If you can claim your own role safely, there's no point in lying.

Safeclaims are necessary in games where alignments are true to flavor and there is a limited pool of Town-flavored roles to choose from, as otherwise you basically have to outguess the mod in choosing what to claim that isn't actually in the game.

In games where alignments are true to flavor but the pool of possible roles is open-ended, fakeclaims are optional but it's generally reassuring to get a note that says "you know that your own role would be safe to claim" or "if you would like a safeclaim, you know that ____ is not in the game" and let the player choose what to do. In mixed-theme games, you can even go as far as saying "you know that no characters from ____ theme are in this game" and let the player do their own research.

Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 5:06 am
by Antihero
oh... this thread again...

Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 6:21 am
by Ankamius
I'd be very hesitant to join a game with alignments being matched to flavor and no fakeclaims being given. If you roll scum and happen to claim a flavor that is already in the game, then you made a mistake purely by dumb luck. Roles can be picked up on, but flavor is basically impossible to.

This is why games that are breakable by flavor are awful setups.

EDIT: Fuck tablets.

Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 8:30 pm
by Tere
Ankamius wrote:I'd be very hesitant to join a game with alignments being matched to flavor and no fakeclaims being given. If you roll scum and happen to claim a flavor that is already in the game, then you made a mistake purely by dumb luck. Roles can be picked up on, but flavor is basically impossible to.

This is why games that are breakable by flavor are awful setups.

EDIT: Fuck tablets.


I really liked how you released all your rolls for roles and stuff after Ori - made it super clear IMO.

Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 6:15 pm
by Junpei
Ankamius wrote:I'd be very hesitant to join a game with alignments being matched to flavor and no fakeclaims being given. If you roll scum and happen to claim a flavor that is already in the game, then you made a mistake purely by dumb luck. Roles can be picked up on, but flavor is basically impossible to.

This is why games that are breakable by flavor are awful setups.

EDIT: Fuck tablets.

yeah even though i used to only play theme games i would never join a game that didn't have a disclaimer that all rolenames were randomized with flavor. Except for the games i played on GL but those are more laid back so its cool.

Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 2:54 am
by Accountant
Fake claims are important because it is unfair to get lynched because of flavor.

Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 3:32 am
by farside22
Sure lets create a game where scum are outted day 1 by flavor claims.
Fun! :lol: :roll:


On a serious note I have been known to create games where the character doesn't matter and anyone could be scum.
I have done both as a mod depending on the game and what I am going for. The point of the Theme Game is to stay within the theme that people know and love.

Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 6:21 pm
by wgeurts
Is it just me?
But isn't making a fake-claim as scum part of the skill involved?
I'm against safe-claims anyway.

Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 6:29 pm
by catboi
What skill is there in trying to guess what flavor the mod didn't use for a town player? Why should knowledge of the source material be required for playing a theme game competently?

Instead of trying to puzzle out someone's elaborate fanfiction I'd rather just, you know, play mafia.

Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 6:31 pm
by wgeurts
Give them a flavour claim.
Leave the role behind it to the player.
As claiming is a pretty big part of mafia.

Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 8:19 pm
by Accountant
wgeurts wrote:Give them a flavour claim.
Leave the role behind it to the player.
As claiming is a pretty big part of mafia.

I support favor claim; giving them an extra role to go with the flavor claim is up to the mod(although I would prefer to make one up for myself, yes)

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 2:35 am
by Ankamius
If the flavor and roles are aligned together, then roles should given alongside flavor. If flavor and roles are irrelevant to each other, then it's optional.

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 4:49 am
by xRECKONERx
St Constantine the Hermit wrote:Flavor and theme in mafia was created for a reason, but all that is sullied when moderators add fake claims.

If scum have an entirely fake role PM at their disposal, what is the point of having flavor at all?

Flavor and theme in mafia was created to enable interesting design mechanics and new design space to play w/

I'm against entire fakeclaims (IE, you're Harry Potter, TOWN TRACKER) but I am totally for giving character names... if you don't, then a game is won/lost on stupid shit like "hurr durr two people claimed the same character" instead of shit that actually matters

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 2:43 pm
by N
wgeurts wrote:Give them a flavour claim.
Leave the role behind it to the player.
As claiming is a pretty big part of mafia.

why are you talking
like psyche

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 6:22 pm
by wgeurts
I am?

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 6:30 pm
by ika
St Constantine the Hermit wrote:Flavor and theme in mafia was created for a reason, but all that is sullied when moderators add fake claims.

If scum have an entirely fake role PM at their disposal, what is the point of having flavor at all?


This is peter pan mafia:

Player A: "Im peter pan"

Player B: "Hi guys my flavor is captin hook"

Player C: OK A is town and B is confirmed scum

*lynch B and flips scum*

need i say more

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 6:31 pm
by Accountant
ika, off topic but whh are you stealing wgeurts avi?