Mafia Discussion: Do you prefer a perfectly balanced game, or a semi-crazy swingy game?

Author: Lunatic

Posts

Total: 20
Lunatic
Lunatic's avatar
Debates: 3
Posts: 7,347
3
3
6
Lunatic's avatar
Lunatic
3
3
6
I am interested in the mafia communities opinion on this matter, because my opinion has sort of changed on the subject. I used to prefer better balance but lately I think I like the idea of role crazy a little bit. I mean I think every mod should strive to balance the game as much as possible, and at least try not to leave one side a glaring strength or weakness. But it's rare that it won't be argued in an endgame that a game isn't balanced anyway.
Would you rather have an all vanilla/goon game (which I guess is as close as you can get to perfect balance) or a game where most or all players actually have a night action?

SirAnonymous
SirAnonymous's avatar
Debates: 3
Posts: 4,140
3
7
10
SirAnonymous's avatar
SirAnonymous
3
7
10
-->
@Lunatic
If I had to choose one or the other, I would pick a game where most or all players have a role. If I didn't have to choose one, I would pick both with games in the middle as well. I think variety is good. If I were to mod a game, I would make it balanced with normal roles, but also throw in one or two weird or obscure roles as well.
Lunatic
Lunatic's avatar
Debates: 3
Posts: 7,347
3
3
6
Lunatic's avatar
Lunatic
3
3
6
-->
@SirAnonymous

You can sign up to be a mod via this list, ya know
SirAnonymous
SirAnonymous's avatar
Debates: 3
Posts: 4,140
3
7
10
SirAnonymous's avatar
SirAnonymous
3
7
10
-->
@Lunatic
I don't have time to mod a game right now.
Lunatic
Lunatic's avatar
Debates: 3
Posts: 7,347
3
3
6
Lunatic's avatar
Lunatic
3
3
6
-->
@SirAnonymous
You have to wait in line it could be a few months before it's your turn
SirAnonymous
SirAnonymous's avatar
Debates: 3
Posts: 4,140
3
7
10
SirAnonymous's avatar
SirAnonymous
3
7
10
-->
@Lunatic
I know, but I don't know that I'll have any more time a few months from now.
Greyparrot
Greyparrot's avatar
Debates: 4
Posts: 22,545
3
4
10
Greyparrot's avatar
Greyparrot
3
4
10
-->
@Lunatic
I wish neutral roles were used.
drafterman
drafterman's avatar
Debates: 6
Posts: 5,653
3
6
9
drafterman's avatar
drafterman
3
6
9
-->
@Greyparrot
What do you consider to be neutral roles? Examples?
Greyparrot
Greyparrot's avatar
Debates: 4
Posts: 22,545
3
4
10
Greyparrot's avatar
Greyparrot
3
4
10
-->
@drafterman
survivor is one...amnesiac is fun as hell. jester is fun.
Lunatic
Lunatic's avatar
Debates: 3
Posts: 7,347
3
3
6
Lunatic's avatar
Lunatic
3
3
6
-->
@Greyparrot
Neutral roles? Those like roles that can be town and mafia? or third party?
Vader
Vader's avatar
Debates: 30
Posts: 14,429
5
8
11
Vader's avatar
Vader
5
8
11
-->
@Greyparrot
Jesters

Guys I am mafia lynch me
Vader
Vader's avatar
Debates: 30
Posts: 14,429
5
8
11
Vader's avatar
Vader
5
8
11
Heaters are so obvious in Town of Salem
Vader
Vader's avatar
Debates: 30
Posts: 14,429
5
8
11
Vader's avatar
Vader
5
8
11
Jesters
Greyparrot
Greyparrot's avatar
Debates: 4
Posts: 22,545
3
4
10
Greyparrot's avatar
Greyparrot
3
4
10
-->
@Lunatic
Yes. 
oromagi
oromagi's avatar
Debates: 117
Posts: 8,689
8
10
11
oromagi's avatar
oromagi
8
10
11
Swingy games are only fun as counterpoint: a surprising change of pace. Having to learn an entirely new game dynamic every time out is fatiguing and it doesn’t give the group time to establish regular dynamics.  The way I remember it, the very traditional first games in the beginners series were often the most interesting - I was better able to discern patterns in the noise. 
Lunatic
Lunatic's avatar
Debates: 3
Posts: 7,347
3
3
6
Lunatic's avatar
Lunatic
3
3
6
-->
@oromagi
Honestly, I understand where you are coming from. For example, I think it would be cool to run a series of games based strictly on drafters open set up for quick fires. I feel like it would be a cool baseline for forming metas based on familiar patterns, as a core game design running along side normal-hosted mafia games. 
oromagi
oromagi's avatar
Debates: 117
Posts: 8,689
8
10
11
oromagi's avatar
oromagi
8
10
11
I haven’t looked at those QFs. 
drafterman
drafterman's avatar
Debates: 6
Posts: 5,653
3
6
9
drafterman's avatar
drafterman
3
6
9
-->
@Lunatic
That is the idea I had in mind. My first one was basically a beta test of that idea. Been thinking about running another with slight tweaks based on feedback.
Lunatic
Lunatic's avatar
Debates: 3
Posts: 7,347
3
3
6
Lunatic's avatar
Lunatic
3
3
6
-->
@drafterman
Sounds like a cool idea, hope to see it in motion.
Speedrace
Speedrace's avatar
Debates: 63
Posts: 6,283
4
9
11
Speedrace's avatar
Speedrace
4
9
11
I absolutely loved doing my role madness game, and I was very happy that it was balanced so well. Balance is key, and otherwise it's great