View Full Version : Mini Mafia: A Mexican Standoff (Introduction)
Myrddraal
12-09-2007, 22:03
Hello all,
To begin a series of games hosted by me themed on the Wild West, and whilst waiting for my turn in the Mafia queue, here is a minigame to get you in the mood, of the King vs Assasin type (but with a twist).
SIGNUPS are CLOSED, the game has started!
A Mexican Standoff
"Mexican standoff is a phrase referring to a strategic deadlock or impasse, in which no party can act in a way that ensures victory."
"In popular culture, the Mexican standoff is often portrayed as multiple opponents with weapons aimed at each other, where each opponent is equally threatened and thus does not believe they can strike first without assuring their own destruction."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_standoff (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_standoff)
The Story so far....
Summer in the west, bandit in the cells. A Deputy dismounts outside the Sheriff's office in a small desolate town. The door creaks loudly as he enters to the stench of whiskey. The Sheriff is drunk, the Sheriff is always drunk.
https://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9899/81637463wh7.jpg
The deputy is young, and new to the job. "Howdy sir, I'm here to collect Graciano Medrano, to escort him to the Courthouse in Elbayo"
"Wadyuwant?" Apparently the alcohol has stuffed up the Sheriff's ears too.
"Could I speak to your deputy?"
"He's out, whadyouwant?!"
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/8740/12007452zy6.jpg
Some time later, the deputy left the Sheriff dosing in his chair, and took the bandit outside. After binding his hands behind his back, and his arms to his side, he helpes him onto a second horse, and rides out into the wild, leading the second horse by a cord.
https://img149.imageshack.us/img149/3466/20288801kd5.jpg
Graciano Medrano is no novice however, and he soon pulls a small knife out of his trousers and begins to work on his ropes. Soon, his hands are free and, spurring his his horse forward, he punches the young deputy in the small of his neck. The deputy doesn't stand a chance, his unconscious limp body slides from his horse and lands in the dust. Soon, Graciano has a gun and two horses, and is riding back to say his farewells to the Sheriff.
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7198/42168466da0.jpg
When the deputy comes to, his vision is swimming and there's a thunderstorm in his head. The Bandit is gone, the horses are gone, and his revolver is gone. Staggering to his feet, he begins to hurry back towards town.
The Bandit, meanwhile, stops for a midday siesta. Lazy, and tired, he uses the excuse that he'll need all the energy he can muster later.
At the same time, two Bounty hunters arrive in town. They've heard that the Sheriff has somehow captured a valuable Bandito, though they don't yet know who the Bandito is. They hope to con him into some kind of 'financial arrangement' in which they claim the bounty and he gets a cut.
As they dismount outside the Sheriff's office, the Bandito arrives in town, a trail of dust following him, and rides up to join them.
"How can I help you gentlemen" It's the Sheriff's Deputy, returned from his patrol, emerging from the office. Suddenly, through the still clearing dust, a figure half runs, half stumbles.
"STOP!" It's the dismounted, anarmed deputy. Dazed, tired and unstable, he related his story to the gathered crowd.
"Enufff" slurs the drunken Sheriff. "Enough iss Enough! Let's hang that sumbi**h"
But in his state of drunkeness, the Sheriff, peering through the assembled faces, can't remember who the Bandito is, in fact, to his growing embarrasment, he can't even recognise his own deputy!
The unarmed deputy's vision is swimming. That knock on the head took it right out of him, and when he tries, even he isn't sure who the bandito is.
Hands hover by holsters, and the noose hangs ominously from a nearby tree...
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/6013/75243551zf8.jpg
Roles:
1 Sheriff
2 Deputies
2 Bounty hunters
1 Bandito
1 Sheriff (The King Role, Armed)
If the Sheriff dies, both he and the Deputies loose the game. He doesn't know who anyone is.
1 The Sheriff's Deputy (Armed)
He knows the Sheriff, but not the Bandito. He must protect the Sheriff.
1 The Disorientated (Unarmed) Deputy
He knows the Sheriff, but not the Bandito. He must protect the Sheriff. He is, however, unarmed.
2 Bounty Hunters (Armed)
They don't know the Sheriff, but don't care if he dies. They just want to kill the bandit. They know each other.
1 Bandito (Armed)
He knows nobody. He must kill the Sheriff.
Phase 1: Lynching
As with all mini mafia games, it starts with a Lynching phase. Justice is hard in the west, real trials are hard to come by, and punishment is delivered by your peers, through a noose.
Every player has one vote. The aim is to lynch the Bandit, and (in the case of the deputies) prevent the Sheriff being lynched.
Of course the secondary aim is for everyone to work out who the bandit is, and for the bandit to try to work out the identity of the Sheriff.
In theory, Lynching continues till the bandit is lynched.
Phase 2: The Mexican Standoff
At any point in the game, any armed living player (everyone except the unarmed deputy), can break the standoff. Note that there is no "last chance kill" for a man who has just been lynched, you can only break the shootout if you are alive and well.
To do this, an armed player must PM me with the name of the player they want to shoot.
I will then announce the fact the Standoff is broken, and all players must PM me with instructions as to who to shoot. The identity of the first shooter, and everyone's targets will not be revealed till all orders are in.
The resulting shootout is resolved by the order in which people submit their orders. The fastest (on the draw) shoots first, and if you've already been shot, your orders to shoot are cancelled.
I will then post the results in the thread. If both the Bandit and the Sheriff are still alive, we have a second round of shooting, till one or both are dead.
The timing of breaking the Standoff should be critical to the game, think about it carefully, whoever you are.
Signups Finished! :bow:
Signed up so far: 6/6
Andres
Caius
Charge
FactionHeir
Omanes Alexandrapolites
woad&fangs
woad&fangs
12-09-2007, 23:14
Caius currently has a mini mafia game running so you have to wait until his is finished. Luckily these minis don't last very long so it shouldn't be much more then a week before you can host a mini.
Interesting premise and story by the way.:yes:
Caius currently has a mini mafia game running so you have to wait until his is finished. Luckily these minis don't last very long so it shouldn't be much more then a week before you can host a mini.
Interesting premise and story by the way.:yes:
Meh, Caius hasn't been online since the 8th of December. This one can start.
FactionHeir
12-10-2007, 09:37
In.
And what's with the second deputy?
Myrddraal
12-10-2007, 10:13
What do you mean, what's up?
BTW, just a note, it's majority to lynch, no time limit. I will write the write ups before the lynch result, so don't infer anything from what I write.
FactionHeir
12-10-2007, 11:44
Well you mentioned the deputy is unarmed. Then the list reads that there are 2 deputies.
So there is one armed and one unarmed?
As for majority lynch, if there is a tie, would you wait for one to change votes or lynch at random? (that is, after say 48 hours)
The drawings look cool.
In.
Will read rules later...
In (nobody against?)
Myrddraal
there's 3 sides, and after 1st lynch will be second, third, till bandit lynched or shootout begins, and if S. and B. are alive after 1st one, there will be second, right?
Omanes Alexandrapolites
12-10-2007, 13:40
In!
woad&fangs
12-10-2007, 13:55
IN~:flirt:
In if not possible ~D
This game looks cool,
And its like mine
Craterus
12-10-2007, 18:35
Don't think you made it, shlin.
But this game looks interesting, I'll probably end up watching.
Myrddraal
12-11-2007, 18:06
And its like mine
You inspired me :bow:
PMs will be going out soon.
Myrddraal
there's 3 sides, and after 1st lynch will be second, third, till bandit lynched or shootout begins, and if S. and B. are alive after 1st one, there will be second, right?
There are three sides I guess, but two of them share their principal aim, and have no hostility towards each other. So there's still a good and bad side, it's just that two of the good guys have their own agenda.
Yes, we keep lynching till the standoff is broken.
TBH, I'm not sure wether to go for an unlimited voting period or a random lynch for a tie. What would you suggest Omanes, you have hosting experience?
EDIT: yes there are two deputies, they don't know each other, and only one of them is armed. The unarmed deputy can't break the standoff, and he can't take part in the shootout (apart from to get shot at)
EDIT2: Sorry shlin you were too late.
Myrddraal
12-11-2007, 23:28
Sorry I explained badly, when I said majority lynch, I meant an absolute majority was required to lynch. In other words:
With 6 people playing, it takes 4 votes on one person to lynch them.
With 5 people playing, it takes 3 votes.
With 4 people playing, it takes 3 votes.
With 3 people playing, it takes 2 votes.
The round ends as soon as one player has the required votes.
I will start the game with no time limit on voting, but I might introduce one at some point.
PMs going out in the next 5 minutes.
Myrddraal
12-11-2007, 23:41
PMs sent, let the lynching begin!
FactionHeir
12-11-2007, 23:42
Hmmmm vote: Omanes for president!
woad&fangs
12-12-2007, 00:18
Vote: Caius for president
Because I was too late to join his game
Vote: Caius
for not having voted yet ~:)
Myrddraal
12-12-2007, 01:46
Just a quick rule clarification. The two bounty hunters may communicate outside the thread with each other, but nobody else. All other out of thread communication is not allowed (it would kinda ruin the game, so please don't :bow:)
Vote : Charge
For having voted yet...
Omanes Alexandrapolites
12-12-2007, 13:40
Vote: Andres
Alphabetical order FTW!
Unvote ; Vote : Omanes
Alphabetical order FTW!
Not again :brood:
woad&fangs
12-12-2007, 18:40
Unvote: Caius, Vote: Andres
Alphabetical Order sounds good to me.:beam:
FactionHeir
12-12-2007, 18:59
Tally:
Omanes 2 (Andres, FactionHeir)
Andres 2 (woad&fangs, Omanes)
Caius 1 (Charge)
4 votes needed for lynch.
Andres, please unvote with a name. Helps with tallying. :tongue2:
Well, let's try..
Unvote: Caius, Vote: Andres
(sorry)
Tally:
Andres 3 (woad&fangs, Omanes, Charge)
Omanes 2 (Andres, FactionHeir)
4 votes needed for lynch.
Vote:Omanes
No Alphabetical order,
FactionHeir
12-13-2007, 00:11
Nice tie. I could unvote Omanes and vote Andres, but I got a hunch that Omanes is a better lynch.
Nice tie. I could unvote Omanes and vote Andres, but I got a hunch that Omanes is a better lynch.
Please don't unvote yet. We could be making such a big error, but one doesn't know.
FactionHeir
12-13-2007, 00:17
Eh, you realize its either Andres or Omanes, right? We are 6 people and everyone voted. Its tied 3-3.
Myrddraal
12-13-2007, 14:57
There is no next round...yet. This round could still go anywhere, as nobody has 4 votes, and anyone can unvote.
However, to speed things up a bit, if we still have a tie in 9 hours time from now, I will break the tie with a random lynch (out of the tied players)
FactionHeir
12-13-2007, 17:05
Meh, keep the game going.
unvote: Omanes, vote: Andres
And there goes the unarmed deputy whose only mistake was to have a name starting with an "A".
If this trend continues, I'll change my name in Zzzandres :no:
FactionHeir
12-13-2007, 17:12
We might start reverse alphabetical lynching then. Or the one with the most same letters :grin:
Sorry Andres, someone had to break the tie, and personally, I'd rather we get through that Mafia queue in a reasonable amount of time before people lost interest as in many other recent games.
Myrddraal
12-13-2007, 19:57
Vultures passing overhead seem to cause the sun to waver and shimmer, the early afternoon heat is making the horizon dance. The tension is palpable, like the feel of static about to discharge.
Sweat is beading in the small of the Sheriff's back, everyone is watching everyone else intently. Boy could he murder a bottle of scotch right now.
There is a discussion, of sorts. People speak in short sentences, with long pauses between contributions, their lips tight. Eventually, one of the men recalls that a description on a wanted poster described the bandit as a short man, and immediately all eyes turn to the shortest of the group: Andres.
His hand strays a little too close to his holster, and within seconds four revolvers are trained on his head.
"Don't even think about it" warns the Sheriff.
"You're making a big mistake folks, I'm the deputy sent to collect the bandit for trial!".
"Why should we believe that?" demands the Sheriff, "'nuff words, lets hang this sumb****"
Andres is quickly overcome, his hands bound, mounted, and a noose placed around his neck. With a snarl he spits on the floor in front of his assembled executioners. "You bast...". Andres' words are cut short by the smack of the Sheriff's hand on the horses rear, and the snap of the rope pulling tight.
He struggles for a few seconds, his legs swinging, and shakes his hat loose; but the noose does it's job quickly and he is dead before his hat hits the dust. Soon they are taking down his limp body.
Despite the alcohol on his mind, the Sheriff suddenly recalls one of the few occasions when he wasn't drunk with the bandit in the cells. Though the memory is blurry, he is certain of one thing. The dead man's now bear head reveals a mat of ginger hair, the bandit certainly didn't have ginger hair... It seems there is more lynching to do.
Lynched:
Andres
FactionHeir
12-13-2007, 20:09
No night phases, right?
Myrddraal
12-13-2007, 21:31
No night phases, carry on lynching, with 5 alive, it takes 3 votes to lynch.
FactionHeir
12-13-2007, 21:37
vote: Omanes
For err....being tied with Andres in round 1?
woad&fangs
12-13-2007, 22:04
Vote: Omanes
I don't have a reason
Omanes Alexandrapolites
12-13-2007, 22:20
Really, we want this round to drag on for as long as possible (72 hours). This will ensure that we can extract the most from every player before we choose who to lynch.
Sadly for now, there isn't too much to go on. Despite this, I have my suspicions over woad&fangs who has just cast the second vote upon me. Why does he wish to risk lynching somebody this flippantly henceforth losing a chance to interrogate every player and find the best suspect? This may be sketchy, but I think its worth exploiting.
Vote: woad&fangs
woad&fangs
12-13-2007, 22:23
Because Me and Caius are the bounty hunters and once we lynch you we can break the standoff and outgun the rest of you.:yes:
Omanes Alexandrapolites
12-13-2007, 22:27
Because Me and Caius are the bounty hunters and once we lynch you we can break the standoff and outgun the rest of you.:yes:Just out of curiosity, why does lynching me result in you having the ability to break the standoff?
woad&fangs
12-13-2007, 22:35
Ex
I shoot Charge
I communicate with Caius so right after I send my PM, he'll send his and kill Factionheir
Our two kill orders will be the first in
Factionheir and Charge are dead so they can't shoot anyone
I trust those odds.
Unvote: Omanes
I think that you're innocent for now so I'll
Vote: Charge
Because Me and Caius are the bounty hunters and once we lynch you we can break the standoff and outgun the rest of you.:yes:
My role name doesn't match yours.
woad&fangs
12-13-2007, 23:07
Then what is your role?
interesting game :bow: but no ideas...
Vote: woad&fangs
quite not like when people shoot at me.
Omanes Alexandrapolites
12-14-2007, 13:35
From what I can gather, I think its probably more advisable to lynch one of the bounty hunters rather than the bandito. Their plans are simply too risky, and could result in the death of the sheriff.
From what I can gather, I think its probably more advisable to lynch one of the bounty hunters rather than the bandito. Their plans are simply too risky, and could result in the death of the sheriff.
The bounty hunters have something in common with the town: they are also looking for the bandio...
Why would the town need to lynch those players with mutual interests?
The bounty hunters have something in common with the town: they are also looking for the bandio...
Why would the town need to lynch those players with mutual interests?
Becoz they may 'blindly' shoot Sheriff and we should protect him.
obvious...
Tally:
woad&fangs 2 (Omanes, Charge)
Omanes 1 (FactionHeir)
Charge 1 (woad&fangs)
3 votes needed for lynch.
Myrddraal
12-14-2007, 18:56
With the death of the ginger haired man, tensions in the group are at an all time high.
Woad&Fangs informs the goup that he and Caius are bounty hunters, here because they heard the bandit was in the area, but Caius claims never to have seen Woad&Fangs before.
Silence follows. One man makes as if to move to his horse, but at the last minute, his hand drops to his holster, and whips out his revolver. Hard on his heels, a second man raises his rifle.
DRAW!
Two people have broken the standoff.
Those who reply PM me first will shoot first! It's now a matter of luck and speed, but also of targetting.
If after the first round the Sheriff is killed the Bandito is still alive, he will escape. If the Bandito is killed the shootout will end after one round.
If after the first round both the Bandito and the Sheriff are still alive, I will announce the results, and we will have a second round of shooting.
Good luck!
Myrddraal
12-15-2007, 15:40
If I don't recieve all orders within 12 hours those who haven't told me who they want to shoot will not shoot.
Myrddraal
12-16-2007, 04:30
With the death of the ginger haired man, tensions in the group are at an all time high.
Woad&Fangs informs the group that he and Caius are bounty hunters, here because they heard the bandit was in the area, but Caius claims never to have seen Woad&Fangs before.
Silence follows.
To the Sheriff, Charge, Woad&Fangs' strange claims lead to the obvious conclusion. He's lying, so it's time for him to hang. He takes a step forward, noose in one hand, the other hand on holster.
Woad&Fangs glances nervously to his partner. The pair have been collecting bounty together for years now, and that glance is enough for FactionHeir to understand.
Woad&Fangs makes as if to move to his horse, but at the last minute, his hand drops to his holster, and whips out his revolver. Hard on his heels, FactionHeir raises his rifle.
Charge is focussed on Woad&Fangs, and though he's drunk, shooting is second nature to him. He draws, and both men fire from the hip, but Woad&Fangs is a professional, and the Sheriff is drunk. Charge's shot flies wide as he collapses to the ground.
Omanes has had his eye on FactionHeir, and so reacts quickly when the bounty hunter raises his rifle, but to his horror FactionHeir's rifle is pointing right into his eye. The impact of the bullet flings him backwards, his stolen revolver dropping from his limp hand, concealed under his poncho.
Though a deputy, Caius' job in the previous years has mostly been one of keeping a fresh supply of whiskey for his boss, and his reaction speed isn't what it used to be. He's sees Woad&Fangs' gun fire, sees his target, and himself draws to protect the Sheriff. Though his draw was slow, his accuracy is spot on, and Woad&Fangs crumples to the ground.
FactionHeir sees his collegue and buddy go down, and swings his rifle, cocking as he moves. Caius reacts faster this time, and both men stare at each other down the barrel of a gun.
A dead Sheriff, a dead Mexican, and a Mexican Standoff.
The men stare at each other for a long time, till finally FactionHeir lowers his rifle, Caius keeps his revolver raised.
FactionHeir nods at his fallen comrade. "You got your man." He steps towards where Omanes lies, and pulls him up by the collar; "And I get mine. We're quits"
FactionHeir slings Omanes' corps onto Woad&Fangs' horse, then goes over to the fallen body of his friend, and kneels beside him. His face is emotionless as he puts a hand on Woad&Fangs' face and closes his eyes. His respects paid, he rises, and mounts up. Caius still has his revolver raised.
"You better look after that badge" says FactionHeir, nodding to where Charge lies, "This town is gonna need a Sheriff".
With those words, he spurs his horse forwards and rides out of town, heading for Elbayo where he will collect the bounty. The deputy, shaken up, takes Charge's Sheriff's badge, and, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, heads for the Saloon.
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9528/banditve4.pngOmanes: The Bandito- Total Defeat
https://img217.imageshack.us/img217/2296/drunkcowboyho9.pngCharge: The drunk Sheriff - Total Defeat
https://img70.imageshack.us/img70/8487/uneasycowboyxg0.pngAndres: The unarmed Deputy- Total Defeat
:cowboy:Caius: The armed Deputy - Total Defeat
https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2648/bountyhunterwy0.pngFactionHeir: Bounty Hunter - Total Victory
https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2648/bountyhunterwy0.pngwoad&fangs Bounty Hunter - Minor Victory
Myrddraal
12-16-2007, 04:34
Thanks all for playing, I hope you enjoyed it. Congratulations to FactionHeir and woad&fangs.
I think in hindsight the Bounty Hunters were too powerful in the shootout phase. I wanted team of two in the voting, but didn't really think abut how powerful they would be if they coordinated and synchronised their shooting. I think if I were to repeat this format, one of the bounty hunter roles would have to be unarmed, and perhaps give the second (unarmed) deputy a weapon.
Do you think that game setup worked? Would it be worth a repeat? (not straight off of course :smile:)
PS, like the custom smileys?
EDIT: here is an explanation of the shootout phase, the exact proceedings aren't so clear from the write up:
woad&fangs shoots Charge
FactionHeir shoots Omanes
Charge tries to shoot woad&fangs, but woad&fangs shoots him first.
Omanes tries to shoot FactionHeir, but FactionHeir shoots him first.
Caius shoots woad&fangs.
FactionHeir
12-16-2007, 11:38
I knew it was Omanes :grin:
Very enjoyable yet short game, thanks for hosting!
I think it was adequately balanced, however you could make it that the bounty hunters cannot coordinate.
Omanes Bandito?
:wall:
gah, need more exp..
Originally Posted by Evil Bandito Omanes
:laugh4:
Andres confused me on round 1, I thought my deputies are bounty hunters....
Looking forward to next one :2thumbsup:
Myrddraal
12-16-2007, 14:33
Well with 1 lynch, 2 coordinated bounty hunters firing first means they take out all but 1 player. That's too powerful. We could have it without having the bounty hunters communicate, but I thought it would add an extra factor to consider with the voting, when trying to work out who's who. Trying to see who coordinates, or might be trying to hide the fact that they're coordinating their votes.
Having said that, any team will be powerful when there's so few players, so maybe the game would be better without a pair who know each other to be innocent, and who can coordinate.
EDIT: perhaps have the bounty hunters know each other, but not allowed to communicate out of thread? That would rely on the bounty hunters playing fair, but I think it would be quite balanced.
What numbers will be in the next game?
could be around 8, so BH team wont be so powerful, and game will last longer...
If only Omanes' name would have started with an "A"...
"Amanes Alexandrapolites"... :stupido2:
Short but fun game. Thnx for hosting Myrddraal :bow:
woad&fangs
12-16-2007, 15:10
EDIT: perhaps have the bounty hunters know each other, but not allowed to communicate out of thread? That would rely on the bounty hunters playing fair, but I think it would be quite balanced.
That sounds like a good solution.
Fun game with a good storyline and I loved the idea of a mexican standoff for a minigame.
Myrddraal
12-16-2007, 16:23
Not a true mexican standoff of course, since I hid the identity of the one to fire first :smile:
Omanes Alexandrapolites
12-16-2007, 18:06
As the bandito I didn't really get a chance to do much interrogating and analysing before the stand-off was broken.
After a few minutes of thought, I decided to kill FactionHeir. It was the logical choice to me - he wasn't one of the bounty hunters/players who's role was in debate (supposedly Caius and Waldinger) and I thought that perhaps Myrddraal would have given him the sheriff role rather than Charge.
It seems that in the end I was completely wrong, mostly thrown by the fact that Waldinger claimed Caius was his partner when actually he wasn't.
Anyhow thanks for hosting Myrddraal :bow:
Myrddraal
12-16-2007, 19:29
I could have been very different.
First of all I'd like to congratulate Omanes on keeping his nerve when the vote was tied between him and Andres. I would have shot I think, and probably got killed for it.
The unbalance was because as soon as one of the bounty hunters was threatened, they acted. They had nothing to loose, and a lot to gain. It shouldn't ever be that way in a game which is supposed to be something close to a mexican standoff. There isn't supposed to be a situation where breaking the standoff isn't a risk.
vBulletin® v3.7.1, Copyright ©2000-2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.