View Full Version : Mafia Hosting Rules
Zack Oct 25, 2010, 01:58 PM These are the rules and regulations that I proposed for hosting mafia games. Due to mixed reactions, I removed them and they are no longer in effect (as of now).
Anyways, these are the disputed rules, you can vote on them in the poll (coming).
Rule 1. To host a Speed Mafia game:
Played in at least 1 Speed mafia game
Rule 2. To host a Small game:
Played in at least 1 Small game and 1 Large/Huge game
Rule 3. To host a Large game:
Played in at least 3 games and hosted at least 1 small game
OR
Played in at least 6 games
Rule 4. To host a Huge game
Played in at least 5 games and hosted at least 1 large game
OR
Played in at least 8 games and hosted a small game
Rule 5. If it is your first time hosting a game, you must have someone look over said game for balance before you host it.
Rule 6. If a Huge Game is in play, no other games may be in play.
If you want to bring up something else, feel free to do so.
If you disagree with a rule, please suggest an alternative to the rule, or give some explanation for your argument. I made these up in the wee hours of the morning last night, so I'm not offended whatsoever by any comment you make. Don't hesitate to say something out of "respect"; my personal pride can take a backseat to this discussion.* :)
Poll closes in two weeks.
EDIT: *Unless you just want to flame or troll me (or call me a dictator :rolleyes:). None of that crap, stay civilized.
Darth Caesar Oct 25, 2010, 02:26 PM This is a Subcription post.
EDIT. Also I support Rule 3
Abaddon Oct 25, 2010, 02:47 PM You can't make such a statement. I understand your point, but on CFC anyone can start any thread they like.
If you don't think they will manage to run the game, don't waste your time and join. We get it in NESing all the time. A newb starts up, makes a load of noise.. week later the thing is dead after a lot of effort from others.
Eventually you just learn to avoid threads until the person has proved themselves elsewhere.
Zack Oct 25, 2010, 02:49 PM You can't make such a statement. Anyone can start any thread they like.
If you don't think they will manage to run the game, don't waste your time and join.
:rolleyes:
Coming from Mr. "I'm Going to Troll Every Single NES Thread that bestrfcplayer starts" himself!
Omega124 Oct 25, 2010, 03:00 PM I disagree with all these rules. I belive in free enterprise of forum games; If a mod and game is good, it lives. If not, it dies. Simple as that.
Abaddon Oct 25, 2010, 03:12 PM :rolleyes:
Coming from Mr. "I'm Going to Troll Every Single NES Thread that bestrfcplayer starts" himself!
I am unsure how that is relevant to this thread.. ho-hum :whistle:
He made his own name in NESing, nothing to do with me.
Catharsis Oct 25, 2010, 03:49 PM What are the problems these rules are meant to solve? Five of them seem to be geared towards stopping loads of new players making unbalanced games, and the sixth one tries to prevent players from signing up for too many games and then being inactive in them, but I haven't seen either of those being a problem. (There is inactivity, but I don't recall it being caused by game overloading.)
I'm in the uncomfortable position of agreeing with Abaddon here... these rules were already in place, sort of, but not as rules, as hints and advice to players. For example, if Newbie999 pops in now and says he wants to host a 90-player Digimon mafia game, we'd all say, 'Whoa nelly,' or things to that effect, and then we'd suggest that he plays in some games and perhaps hosts a smaller one first, before attempting to perfect his Digimagnum Opus.
Adding lots of byzantine rules full of arbitrary numbers feels too restrictive. Mafia needs to be inclusive. I mean, we are just playing a little game here.
(As such I disagree with all of these rules, except Rule #4, which should just be common sense really. :p)
EDIT: ps zacks a dictator, zack more like jack, as in jackboots amirite???????????
choxorn Oct 25, 2010, 03:59 PM While I agree that you should play a few games before hosting one, and get help from more veteran hosts in balancing, the rules shouldn't be too rigid. Also, it's perfectly fine for there to simultaneously be a Huge Game and a Small Game, just not a Huge and Large Game.
Verarde Oct 25, 2010, 04:38 PM Also, it's perfectly fine for there to simultaneously be a Huge Game and a Small Game, just not a Huge and Large Game.
:agree:
Camikaze Oct 25, 2010, 04:54 PM RE: How many games run at the same time- let the free market decide! If people want to play another game whilst a huge game is ongoing, there's nothing wrong with that. Also, setting stringent and inflexible rules for GMing isn't the way to go. I would've been disqualified from running LotR mafia by those rules...maybe that would've been a good thing...but I don't really think it's a matter of "you've played 4 games and hosted 1 small one, no way you can run a huge game" and "you've played 5 games and hosted 1 small one, you'll be perfectly capable".
Plus what Catharsis said.
I don't really think there is a need for a list of rules, as such. A list of generalised guidelines to assist players and hosts be aware of etiquette, perhaps, but rules, no.
Also, say someone breaks these rules? What happens? It's really pointless having 'rules' rather than generalised and friendly guidelines if there is no enforcement.
Zack Oct 25, 2010, 05:20 PM After some feedback, how would these rules work?
Rule 1. To host a Speed Mafia game:
Played in at least 1 Speed mafia game
Rule 2. To host a Small game:
Played in at least 1 game (Recommended is 2)
Rule 3. To host a Large game:
Played in at least 1 game (Recommended: played in at least 1 large game and hosted a small game)
Rule 4. To host a Huge game
Played in at least 2 games (Recommended: Played in 2 large games and hosted a large game)
Guideline 1. If it is your first time hosting a game, it is highly recommended that you have someone look over said game for balance before you host it.
civplayah Oct 25, 2010, 05:24 PM How about 2 to host a large and 3 to host a huge?
Abaddon Oct 25, 2010, 05:36 PM How about, one rule to unite them all.
You can't host until you have played.
Camikaze Oct 25, 2010, 05:47 PM I'd also just like to point out that ATPG had not played a mafia game here before he hosted one.
Should we have stopped him?
choxorn Oct 25, 2010, 05:48 PM He hadn't played a mafia game here. He had played plenty of mafia games.
Camikaze Oct 25, 2010, 05:49 PM I assume the rules proposed would be referring to games played here. They'd be completely pointless otherwise.
Zack Oct 25, 2010, 05:57 PM They'd be completely pointless otherwise.
Why is that?
Camikaze Oct 25, 2010, 06:01 PM "Did I ever tell you about how I played mafia (http://www.writingforums.com/rpgs/97386-mafia-forum-game.html) before I came to CFC? It was even before I'd adopted this username..."
Now, what's to stop someone from saying that they were, oh, I don't know, Tsaeb XIII?
If there is a clear and easy way around the rules, then it makes much more sense to just have guidelines.
Earthling Oct 25, 2010, 06:28 PM I have to agree with Catharsis that the prior proposal of "hard, set in stone rules" doesn't seem like it would solve either problem it's meant to - too many games at once, or inactivity. The first hasn't really been an actual problem as far as I've seen, for a very long time the whole forum has been quite consistent on the max number of games running. The second isn't solved at all, really because players would still go inactive or drop-out of games.
Also, if anything I would prefer a more lax rule on number of games hosted. There is no reason at all why two large games couldn't be hosted at the same time - especially useful would be if they are staggered. And more specifically - any rule on hosting Mafia games here should take into account Night of the Werewolves. We already have by tradition 1 large Mafia and 1 (large) NOTW at once, so the argument it's impossible to play in multiple games doesn't hold water.
Perhaps a host of a current large or huge game would have a tough time playing in another, that's true, and should be discouraged from doing so but that really just falls into good hosting/a host being able to do their part. But otherwise, we've got players who play both Mafia and NOTW, and plenty on top of that who may be in 2, 3, more other games on other forums. I don't see a fundamental difference between 2 Large games being hosted here, a Large "Mafia" and a large "NOTW" at the same time which people do anyway, or players simply playing in them elsewhere.
However, in practicality I would say: at the current time, there probably are not enough active players to have 2 large Mafia games at once. So yes, right now I don't think we could open up a ton of games, but I would expect this to not be the permanent situation, even a few months back there were more games going by faster. This could very easily change though, we have more than enough "total number of players" and it's just because there are consistent inactives/dropouts right now.
So rather than writing that into the rules permanently I don't see why in the future there couldn't be many multiple small games and at least 2 large games. There should just be of course recognition and guidelines to consider if there are enough active players. (And for instance, we have a HUGE number of "Academy-type" or "Empire" games running right getting signups and just concerning Mafia games again this wouldn't even address that. Ultimately the answer is just "be reasonable about hosting a game if you can get the right number of players" and of course be patient/take turns with everyone else.
As for guidelines on the hosts themselves rather than total # of games - I agree it is a good sentiment to have experience and commitment on the same forum, yes. Balance checking helps and there are often players who'd be willing to do it of course, and overall I think I like things as "guidelines."
Also:
I assume the rules proposed would be referring to games played here. They'd be completely pointless otherwise.
This times 1000%. And actually a lot of people probably have played mafia elsewhere even if they showed up with 0 posts and new to CFC tomorrow, because it's done at tons of places. If there is a point that a player has to consistently contribute to the community before hosting, it should follow this.
However, I still prefer "guidelines" anyway.
Zack Oct 25, 2010, 07:52 PM "Did I ever tell you about how I played mafia (http://www.writingforums.com/rpgs/97386-mafia-forum-game.html) before I came to CFC? It was even before I'd adopted this username..."
Now, what's to stop someone from saying that they were, oh, I don't know, Tsaeb XIII?
If there is a clear and easy way around the rules, then it makes much more sense to just have guidelines.
It would only apply to TWC and .org, not some obscure writing forum.
Camikaze Oct 25, 2010, 08:14 PM Just a randomly chosen example (thank you google). :)
It's fair enough for it to apply to TWC and .org, given the relation this community has with those two. That's effectively the same as the rules only referring to games played here. If you're dead set on having rules, that'd be a fair enough qualifier.
But why have rules at all, rather than some nice helpful guidelines which would seem much more appropriate coming from your locally friendly neighbourhood forum?
GhostWriter16 Oct 25, 2010, 08:38 PM I disagree with all these rules. I belive in free enterprise of forum games; If a mod and game is good, it lives. If not, it dies. Simple as that.
I voted the same you did for the reason you did, HOWEVER, some of the suggestions are good guidelines. But they shouldn't be rules.
Though, I do like that Zack put this into a poll. Zack saying something does not make it true (Nor does any non-mod saying it.) I think voting is more or less a fair way of deciding.
LightFang Oct 25, 2010, 08:45 PM What I don't care about is when players host a game. If it looks good, I'll join.
What I care more about are inactive players. But I don't think there's any way to put rules in place to stop them.
Winston Hughes Oct 26, 2010, 05:37 AM Here at CFC, there's nearly always a game awaiting sign-ups, and it's very easy for would-be GMs to get into the business of hosting. Other sites have stricter policies, which have their own advantages, but I wouldn't like to see CFC go down that same route. Diversity ftw.
Zack Oct 26, 2010, 06:48 AM But why have rules at all, rather than some nice helpful guidelines which would seem much more appropriate coming from your locally friendly neighbourhood forum?
Basically the rules I just posted are you have to play a game to host one. The rest is guidelines.
Camikaze Oct 26, 2010, 06:51 AM But why even have that rule? What's wrong with a guideline for that as well? The free market will decide if people actually want to play the game or not. ;)
GhostWriter16 Oct 26, 2010, 06:56 AM Basically the rules I just posted are you have to play a game to host one. The rest is guidelines.
Ah, so they are guidelines, not rules. That's better. In that case:
These are the rules and regulations that I proposed for hosting mafia games. Due to mixed reactions, I removed them and they are no longer in effect (as of now).
Anyways, these are the disputed rules, you can vote on them in the poll (coming).
Rule 1. To host a Speed Mafia game:
Played in at least 1 Speed mafia game
Good guideline.
Rule 2. To host a Small game:
Played in at least 1 Small game and 1 Large/Huge game
I think experience in a non-small game is kinda irrelevant for playing a small game. I do think playing a small game is a good guideline though.
Rule 3. To host a Large game:
Played in at least 3 games and hosted at least 1 small game
OR
Played in at least 6 games
I like it as a general guideline.
Rule 4. To host a Huge game
Played in at least 5 games and hosted at least 1 large game
OR
Played in at least 8 games and hosted a small game
Don't know why we can't just keep it small and large, but sure.
Rule 5. If it is your first time hosting a game, you must have someone look over said game for balance before you host it.
I'd replace "Must" with "It's recommended." I like the idea but it shouldn't be enforced. Good guideline, VERY bad as a rule.
Rule 6. If a Huge Game is in play, no other games may be in play.
Maybe when it first starts, but not for the entire cycle (Because of the extreme length of these games and people will die early.) I'd say make the game run 1/3rd of its cycle, then allow small games.
EDIT: *Unless you just want to flame or troll me (or call me a dictator :rolleyes:). None of that crap, stay civilized.
I wasn't using dictator to be mean, dictator by definition is "Rule by one." I just wanted to know if you made up the rules by yourself. I'm glad you made a poll anyway.
@Camikaze- Yeah I agree with that much.
Zack Oct 26, 2010, 06:58 AM Read farther down the first page, Domination.
GhostWriter16 Oct 26, 2010, 07:00 AM Read farther down the first page, Domination.
I meant BEFORE you posted that. Anyway, I apologize for that comment, I didn't mean for it to be taken in the bad way it was taken:)
Zack Oct 26, 2010, 07:03 AM I'm talking about the first page of this thread. Post 11.
GhostWriter16 Oct 26, 2010, 07:06 AM After some feedback, how would these rules work?
Rule 1. To host a Speed Mafia game:
Played in at least 1 Speed mafia game
Rule 2. To host a Small game:
Played in at least 1 game (Recommended is 2)
Rule 3. To host a Large game:
Played in at least 1 game (Recommended: played in at least 1 large game and hosted a small game)
Rule 4. To host a Huge game
Played in at least 2 games (Recommended: Played in 2 large games and hosted a large game)
Guideline 1. If it is your first time hosting a game, it is highly recommended that you have someone look over said game for balance before you host it.
Sounds good;)
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