Now this is embarrassing. Nearly six months ago I made my 1000th Post and opened with the fact that it took me a couple of minutes to figure out where the create new post button was. Well apparently I haven't learned much since then, as it still took me a while to figure out how to make a blog much. Anyways, 2k post time. As 95% of these posts have taken place in the TL Mafia Forums, obviously this will be mafia related (If you haven't checked it out, go do so now ^_^ ). Originally I had something else planned, but the timing didn't work out. Instead, I'll do something completely creative and copy the exact same format as my 1k post!
TL Mafia XXXVIII
Role: Watcher
Lesson Learned: Elections are really fun
What better way to to start off than with a shameless plug of [T]Election Mafia, coming to a forum near you!
Seriously though, I think day one elections in normal games are far too uncommon. Unlike the same old discussions about whether or not to lynch a lurker or the newbie who made the innocent "scum slip", elections usually turn out to be pretty entertaining. It promotes discussion on day one, where generally few people know what to talk about. During this game in particular, we witnessed a claimed assassin attempt to barter with town in exchange for protection and the mayor beating out the scum pardoner at the last moment, with the deciding vote cast by the victim of the day one lynch (lolz Kavdragon noob).
TL Mafia XXXIX
Role: Godfather
Lesson Learned: Don't give up
This may sound kinda cheesy, but I mean it. Out of the 20 or so games I've played, XXXIX is the one I'm most pleased with. The game started as a nightmare for scum:
Day One scum Ragequit Modkill
Day Two scum lynched (chaoser imba dt claim)
Night Two scum shot
Day four scum lynched
By night four, I believe it was 13 town vs 2 scum (with a single mafia kp). We considered conceding, figuring it would be a lost cause, but we decided to play it out. This was followed by five consecutive town lynches (with a bit of luck) and an extremely tense end game 3v2 scenario. I'm really glad we didn't throw in the towel early. You just never know what crazy things might happen in a game of mafia, which is what makes them so fun.
Pick Your Power Insane!
Role: Doctor
Lesson Learned: Don't over-think things
I must have used up all my luck during the previous game because things really did not turn out for this one. Out of 25 players, I ended dead last in the pick selection after clashing with 4-5 other players with [9][1]. I did manage to end up with my pick selection, but things went downhill after then.
On day one, I had the opportunity to protect Scamp the claimed inventor. Since he was playing slightly sketchy, instead I opted to heal Radfield (bulletproof) who I had a much stronger read on. Of course, Scamp ends up dead the following day and flips town. With such a powerful role like the inventor, confirming him through protection would have essentially won the game right there.
Node's selection of copy cat gave me the chance to redeem myself the following day. I submitted my protection and attempted to try to influence his invention by suggesting he uses it to protect our list checker GMarshal (mole). However, at 11:59pm, he posts in the thread that he has decided not to protect the list checker and I frantically change my protection to GMarshal, thinking he is a scum copycat who is about to take out our most powerful remaining role. A minute later, Node dies as town and I've managed to fail to protect two different inventors. Needless to say, I wasn't in a great mood for the rest of the evening -_-
Pick Their Power Mafia
Role: Pickup Artist
Lesson Learned: Scum are totally jealous of my moves
I got hit during the first couple of days so nothing real memorable stood out, besides being reminded that moles are annoying roles to play with.
TL Mafia XLII
Role: Vanilla Townie
Lesson Learned: lol I'm so pro
Another early game hit. I guess I've really made a name for myself with those failed medic protections.
Vigilante Mafia
Role: Vanilla Townie
Lesson Learned: Meta has a significant impact on your outlook
Technically this game occurred on Coag's mafia forums, but I'm including it here anyways. After playing a fair amount of games with the same people, you begin to get a general idea of each players playstyle. Picking up on these general trends by looking back at past games can often lead to making connections and identifying a players alignment (not always successfully). When joining a game filled with people I had no experience playing with, it felt really strange not knowing what to expect from each individual. One of the biggest differences from my first game to my 20th has certainly been getting to know everyone and their personalities.
World at War 2 Mafia
Role: Sailor Hirohito of the Mooonspeak Empire
Lesson Learned: Don't forget to have fun.
Mafia games can get pretty intense at times. I'm a competitive person and I'd be lying if I said I didn't care about winning, but the real reason I play mafia games is because they are entertaining. Caller's WaW2 was a great example of a pretty crazy game that had a lot of laughs. Between the insane amount of nukes that were launched, the fake claims, and the fact that I had like five lives to burn, it hardly mattered that the game resulted in a third party victory.
Pick Their Power Mafia 2
Role: Silencer
Lesson Learned: Mafia traitors don't work too well
lol nothing against deconduo (<3), but I'd be satisfied if I never had to see one of these again . Essentially the traitor had to survive until mafia outnumbered town and then had to work to eliminate the remaining mafia, without ever revealing the names of the guys he had to kill. Like Snape, from HP Mafia, giving a player the scum list with the intent that they have to kill their teammates turns out to be a really unnatural situation that will rarely work out.
Experimental Haunted Mafia
Role: Trickster
Lesson Learned: I don't really like mini games
With the exception of a normal mini that I subbed into on the final day, this was actually my first mini game. The biggest problem I have with them is that they are so unforgiving. Whether you mislynch on the first day or accidentally night hit a protected player, small games always magnify the impact of every action taken. Working with limited information over only a couple of days just isn't as appealing as day six in a large game. With this game, it was basically over after day one when the High Priest was lynched. On a side note, DrH did a awesome job of hyping up Haunted Mafia 2.
Personality Mafia!
Role: LSB
Lesson Learned: It really sucks being LSB
Honestly, I don't know how he does it.
Thanks to the hosts, the individuals who keep the forums running smoothly, and of course the awesome people we have an opportunity to play with like Wiggles and RoL. Looking forward to hitting 3k.
(P.S. Shout out to Jangbi for his awesome OSL series ^_^ )