Vanilla Strategy Guide

Discussion in 'Mafia' started by Sky Sentinel, Dec 11, 2012.

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  1. Sky Sentinel

    Sky Sentinel You see?

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    (this can be moved to the Wiki or something-- I just typed a lot and it seems to fit better here.)

    Generally speaking, this is a super-simple theme, with a super-clear objective: Get rid of the mafia, or kill all the villagers.
    Unfortunately, this can be very, very tough.

    Strategy for Villagers:
    Villagers need a strategy to pick out the Mafia, or "scum", from the crowd.
    The number one rule? TRUST NO-ONE. Don't trust people who say that they're Villagers. NEVER assume they're not lying. If someone has a string of "bad rands", you should propose that the village lynch them, as they may be Mafia. If someone tries to take control over the village, DO NOT let them lead for more than two or three nights.

    People may say that the silent ones are the bad guys. Generally, Mafia will try to not draw attention to themselves. This is a bad strategy usually, as many players will realize that silent people will be lynched, and may talk a lot. If someone is continuously pointing fingers at silent people, and has lead or influenced a villager lynch, propose that the village lynch them.
    Sometimes, it may be a good strategy to lynch the silent people. You need to analyze people. Think about these:
    • Are they "good" players?
    • Do you recognize their name on sight?
    • Are they new to the theme?
    If the answers point to the player being "new", chances are they will stay quiet to avoid attention. Try a lynch.
    HOWEVER, a skilled player, on the other hand, may stay silent. This is because a good mafia will try to remove "cleaned" people. The Mafia will also try to frame. If people are fighting, they may remove one of them. Therefore, don't stress how "pro-village" or "anti-scum" you are. DO NOT boast about being "clean" after successfully leading a Mafia lynch. DO NOT fight with others. Try to work together as best as you can. Do not target someone for lynch more than a few times. That said, DO NOT assume any kill is a result of targetting, hate, etc.

    When the number of Villagers is ONE or TWO greater than the Mafia during the day, focus on who you lynch. If you went through the analysis steps before, think about what the player has been saying:
    • Are they stressing the importance of lynching silent people?
    • Are they asking seemingly "stupid" questions (such as "Do mafia share kills?")?
    If yes to either, they should rank higher on your "to-lynch list", so to speak.
    Consider:
    -Are they "clean"? Have they lead a lynch or voted second/third in a lynch against a mafia?
    -Have they suggested the village lynch a later- or thusly-revealed mafia?
    If yes, trust them. They would be mafiabanned if they had revealed a teammate. If they did, that's on them. Leave them.

    Usually it turns out to be the people you thought were too obvious to be mafia or the least-suspected people. Lynch these.

    Also, try to clean yourself, but not too well. When the game starts out, don't try to take control and don't act too smart. Try NOT to accuse actual mafia of being mafia too much, as that'll get you killed. Talk, but not excessively. Never yell at someone for a bad lynch-lead. If you can, try to vote second or third in most lynches that you decide not to lead. This will make you clean, but less of a priority for the mafia to dispose of. Try to remain calm when losing. If someone is clean, follow them. NEVER try to lynch "clean" people, even if they are probably mafia. Their mafiaban is on them if they lead a team-lynch.


    Watch for people who don't vote, and also look for when they vote. If someone is excited to lynch a villager and votes quickly, but votes slowly and cautiously while lynching a mafia, they are possible mafia. Try, if you can, to get an analysis of people throughout the entire game. Analyze as many as possible. Watch, again, for voting times and enthusiasm. In the event you're clean and the deciding lynch comes down to you (i.e. two villagers and one mafia), consider:
    • Your analysis. When did these people vote?
    • Who did they vote for? Did they try to change a vote against a Mafia?
    • Mostly, go with your gut. Don't play favorites.
    Sometimes this strategy doesn't work. Sometimes Mafias will vote their team if they're sure to get lynched and not draw too much attention to themselves, but will talk occasionally. In this case you're unlucky. If nobody is suspicious, rand. Rand out of your a*s. Try someone totally and completely different.

    Strategy for Mafia:

    KILL ALL THE CLEAN PEOPLE. I cannot stress this enough. If someone is clean, kill them. Immediately, even if it means killing your buddy or changing your team's kills repeatedly. Clean people need to be eliminated. If someone's suspected, leave them alone. Try to influence lynches against suspected people. Vote secondarily. Never try to lead the village straightaway. They might turn on you. If a teammate is definitely being lynched, vote them, quickly. Show enthusiasm when a mafia is removed. Never get into fights. Never target or hatekill. This is all to remove suspicion against you.
    Another way to do this is to frame. If people are fighting, kill one of them. You might suggest it was a hatekill. Try to coordinate attacks with your team in PM during the standby phase, but make sure to talk in public. When someone is voting a teammate, wait for someone else to counter before countering. For example:
    *** (Villager1) voted for (teammate)!
    *** (teammate) voted for (Villager1)!
    (teammate): Counter?
    *** (Villager2) voted for (Villager1)!
    *** (Villager3) voted for (Villager1)!
    Now would be a good time to vote.
    Try to act unsure on all votes. Try to counter votes against villagers, too.
    Try to act clean.
    AGAIN, KILL ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT SUSPECTED.
     
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2012
  2. Fuzzysqurl

    Fuzzysqurl baa baa mareep I do what I want Server Owner Developer I do what I want Server Owner Developer

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  3. Sky Sentinel

    Sky Sentinel You see?

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    C: np, glad to help
     
  4. Trosh

    Trosh Lolarising since 2011.

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    I've almost won a game of Vanilla (50-50 split chances at the end grmbl) by NOT killing the most obviously cleaned one. I put up a little shtick to make him believe I was a good guy, and he bought it. Then I killed him after three days when it was time for the final day. Eventually I killed him to create uncertainty, but this is an equally valid approach for skilled players... and me. :P

    Don't blindly pick one tactic, change the game around once in a while. It might work wonders. I've used both tactics often and I believe my winrate as a mafia member is shockingly high. 7 games, 5 won or something?

    Edit: Below the belt, Sentinel. BELOW. THE. BELT.
     
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2012
  5. Sky Sentinel

    Sky Sentinel You see?

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    I try to take trosh seriously but then i see his signature
     
  6. Tesla Elesa

    Tesla Elesa Almost Quality

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    This isn't the only way to win this game, but it's way better than what I've been doing.

    Thanks, we totally need this. People need to understand that the 60 seconds is highly necessary so people can go over the voting phases, previous dialogue, and other bot stuff. It's not just for discussion.
     
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