Not Known 15's mini normal review circa January 2019

[mastina]

This seems like a theme game?

[mastina]

So I'll step in and say:

This game is technically normal; it fits the strict requirements of a normal game.

However, it will not fit the expectations, I suspect, of a good majority of players entering the normal queue.

Having a single nearly all-powerful role like a bulletproof IC that is given a free division of the player list in half goes against the expectation of a "normal game of mafia." If that person shares the information publicly then the game turns into "hunt the two scum from each subgroup" which feels distinctly like a theme mechanic because it becomes the entire focus of the game. If they don't share that information, then the game becomes essentially one person playing solitaire and directing all of the lynches while everyone else is forced to blindly follow (and in fact, this is probably the optimal way to play the role, as it prevents scum from knowing how the groups are laid out and planning nightkills around it).

^A more wordy way of what I was getting at, basically.

[mastina]

I realize people tend not to consider Neighbors as roles in the design world, but I'm a bit concerned that from the play perspective, the setup only has two VTs?
Yes, there's essentially-vanilla-neighbors, but they aren't actual bona fide VTs.

[mastina]

I'm still uncomfortable with how there's only two legitimate VTs--even the neighbors aren't just neighbors; they have a modifier which makes them stand out even more than just being a neighbor would. It still feels like a theme more than a normal with that mechanic.

[mastina]

I'm still uncomfortable with how there's only two legitimate VTs--even the neighbors aren't just neighbors; they have a modifier which makes them stand out even more than just being a neighbor would. It still feels like a theme more than a normal with that mechanic.

Would removing the Macho modifier from everyone except the Traitor, the IC and the Babysitter work? The information from the Babysitter would have to be altered to "Two people in the neighborhood have the Macho modifier".

It'd be better, yes.

[mastina]

"Informed: You know that two members of the Neighborhood are Macho." Shouldn't that include, 'excluding yourself'?

[mastina]

Ah, my mistake. Should be good, then, but Performer should probably have another look as well here.