In order to garner interest... - Page 2

Acklow · May 26th, 2012, 10:30:04 PM

I definitely agree that passion is the driving aspect of Mafia. In order to have a fun game, you have to want to have fun in the game.

smashlloyd20 · May 26th, 2012, 10:48:13 PM

Note to self: write postgame while you still actually remember something about the game.

Also:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat Acklow

I definitely agree that passion is the driving aspect of Mafia. In order to have a fun game, you have to want to have fun in the game.

^Yeah, this. The problem is a lot of games lately have been lacking in that, by either the host, players, or both.

Outlaw · May 26th, 2012, 11:55:56 PM

It all depends on the theme for me, if its not a theme I enjoy, then I won't play. But as to something larger than my own self centeredness, I find some games are trying to hard to be complex and when that happens, people don't understand the game, and when people don't understand something, people get upset, get upset, get angry, etc.

Keep it as simple as you can while keeping it fresh folks.

Objection · May 27th, 2012, 6:57:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat Outlaw

It all depends on the theme for me, if its not a theme I enjoy, then I won't play.

Tbh, this is the reason why I've not been able to get back into mafia. I want to, but all the Beginner and Standard games I've seen lately seem to be about a particular game, film, series or whatever that I'm not familiar with. I could potentially handle most mechanics (though not well enough to join an Expert game), but if I'm not familiar with the theme, then that's something else I have to get my head around, and with multiple village leader candidates asking for role PMs, some of whom might not be villagers, and potentially working out a fake role PM to fool them with, I've already got enough to get my head around.

Acklow · May 27th, 2012, 7:33:29 PM

The thing about themed mafias is that if you plan on doing one, you better make sure you have some way to educate others about that theme. For example, Advance Wars Mafia was a themed mafia where the roles and role names meant everything. Anyone could claim to be any given role if they had previously played the games. That's why posting a wiki or something of the like that helps people understand what flavor-based roles to look for in any given theme-game.

Outlaw · May 27th, 2012, 11:24:27 PM

This is why open themed games are superior.

**billymills** · May 27th, 2012, 11:48:15 PM

I'm glad to see other people think we need more openly themed games.

I have enjoyed a lot of games with restricted themes, recently Metroid prime 2 mafia and Fire emblem mafia 2, but those are because I know the games well enough and there are enough characters that false claims are pretty viable. Playing a restricted-theme game without knowing the theme is extremely difficult, I remember playing Morrowind Mafia and not knowing a single thing.

If you do want to make a restricted-theme game especially on a very niche series, make sure that the game is not focused explicitly on the flavor of the game and that there are options for people who haven't played the game before.

I think the best restricted-theme game to look at would be Fire Emblem Mafia here. If you know anything about Fire Emblem, then you'll know that it's not based on any 1 specific game, the conflict is not flavor based at all, and there are a number of completely unrelated characters to aid in false claiming.

***jumpluff**** · May 28th, 2012, 12:45:24 AM

Themed games are often more fun to create for the host, who is (obviously) passionate about their theme, but for the majority of the player base, open games are more fun to play. I prefer vague, broad themes to open themes, or open games where the factions are loosely tied together (such as NPL Mafia). To be honest, I think the people who want to play are so desperate to play they will settle for themed regardless, but open would be more attractive.

Agape · May 28th, 2012, 1:26:20 AM

I like open themedness in an actual mafia game, but prefer themes in highly specialized expertish games like TCG, FE2 or Persona mafia.

***jumpluff**** · May 28th, 2012, 1:37:02 AM

Well, having a theme in those games makes sense 'cause the mechanics were derived from the game. In those games, there's a legitimate case for having a theme.

To be fair, FE was mostly evolution + TCG mafia, though.

the pugilist · May 28th, 2012, 3:45:53 AM

ln postgame please

smashlloyd20 · May 28th, 2012, 11:23:23 AM

I think that an idea more closed-theme game hosts should use is putting a brief introduction to the series, major characters, etc. in the OP (probably in hide tags). It would probably provide a brief overview of the story's plot arc, as well as very short descriptions of the big characters. Linking to a wiki helps too, but sometimes that doesn't really provide much overarching help to series newbies. Just a suggestion.

ButteredToast · May 28th, 2012, 6:53:04 PM

Getting a bit off topic, I'd love to try my hand at mafia, but I've never played before. If there was a novice game for us intro guys, that would be cool...

**billymills** · May 28th, 2012, 6:59:00 PM

Askaninjask's beginner game should be up any time now.

though I have been saying that for 3 months.

askaninjask · May 28th, 2012, 7:51:19 PM

It'll be up in 3 days. It'll be pretty awesome.

ButteredToast · May 28th, 2012, 8:00:32 PM

Cool. Count me in then. :D

View Poll Results: Are you interested in playing mafia?
Yes	48	60.76%
Maybe	19	24.05%
No	12	15.19%
Voters: 79. You may not vote on this poll

May 26th, 2012, 10:30:04 PM	#26
Acklow Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,971 I won't live my life by another person's script.	I definitely agree that passion is the driving aspect of Mafia. In order to have a fun game, you have to want to have fun in the game. __________________ This week's Avatar is from: Zetsuen no Tempest

May 27th, 2012, 7:33:29 PM	#30
Acklow Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,971 I won't live my life by another person's script.	The thing about themed mafias is that if you plan on doing one, you better make sure you have some way to educate others about that theme. For example, Advance Wars Mafia was a themed mafia where the roles and role names meant everything. Anyone could claim to be any given role if they had previously played the games. That's why posting a wiki or something of the like that helps people understand what flavor-based roles to look for in any given theme-game. __________________ This week's Avatar is from: Zetsuen no Tempest

May 28th, 2012, 12:45:24 AM	#33
*jumpluff just came to say hello Super Moderator** Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5,376 Location: Australia Mentor	Themed games are often more fun to create for the host, who is (obviously) passionate about their theme, but for the majority of the player base, open games are more fun to play. I prefer vague, broad themes to open themes, or open games where the factions are loosely tied together (such as NPL Mafia). To be honest, I think the people who want to play are so desperate to play they will settle for themed regardless, but open would be more attractive. __________________

May 28th, 2012, 1:26:20 AM	#34
Agape Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 568 Suomi	I like open themedness in an actual mafia game, but prefer themes in highly specialized expertish games like TCG, FE2 or Persona mafia. __________________ Smogon admins are such nice people! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can read." ~ Mark Twain

May 26th, 2012, 11:55:56 PM	#28
Outlaw Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,148 Ozark, Al	It all depends on the theme for me, if its not a theme I enjoy, then I won't play. But as to something larger than my own self centeredness, I find some games are trying to hard to be complex and when that happens, people don't understand the game, and when people don't understand something, people get upset, get upset, get angry, etc. Keep it as simple as you can while keeping it fresh folks.

May 27th, 2012, 11:24:27 PM	#31
Outlaw Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,148 Ozark, Al	This is why open themed games are superior.

May 28th, 2012, 1:37:02 AM	#35
*jumpluff just came to say hello Super Moderator** Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5,376 Location: Australia Mentor	Well, having a theme in those games makes sense 'cause the mechanics were derived from the game. In those games, there's a legitimate case for having a theme. To be fair, FE was mostly evolution + TCG mafia, though. __________________

May 28th, 2012, 3:45:53 AM	#36
the pugilist Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 860	ln postgame please __________________ derp

May 28th, 2012, 11:23:23 AM	#37
smashlloyd20 Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,812 Erry day im HEAD SMASHING	I think that an idea more closed-theme game hosts should use is putting a brief introduction to the series, major characters, etc. in the OP (probably in hide tags). It would probably provide a brief overview of the story's plot arc, as well as very short descriptions of the big characters. Linking to a wiki helps too, but sometimes that doesn't really provide much overarching help to series newbies. Just a suggestion. __________________ Ten million fireflies

May 28th, 2012, 6:53:04 PM	#38
ButteredToast Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 717 Let me see your Happy Bush	Getting a bit off topic, I'd love to try my hand at mafia, but I've never played before. If there was a novice game for us intro guys, that would be cool...

May 28th, 2012, 7:51:19 PM	#40
askaninjask Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,145 na na la la la hey hey doot do	It'll be up in 3 days. It'll be pretty awesome. __________________ two antennae get married on top of a roof the ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent

May 28th, 2012, 8:00:32 PM	#41
ButteredToast Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 717 Let me see your Happy Bush	Cool. Count me in then. :D