Rubicon [Concluded]

[TinCow]

It was just a stream, little more than a tiny trickle of water. It sprang from the Apennine Mountains and flowed lazily eastwards, to the Adriatic. Shallow and narrow in many places, it was hardly an obstacle for a man on foot, let alone horseback. Gaius Julius Caesar had bridged the Rhine during the Gallic Wars. That was a mighty river; wide, deep, and fast-flowing. Caesar's legions had crossed it without a second thought. Twice.

Those same legions stood with him still. Legio XIII Gemina was arranged down the road behind him. Others, like Legio VI Ferrata and Legio III Gallica were still marching from their main encampments. These were not the inexperienced levies that the Senate so often raised from rural Italy, they were veterans of countless battles. Caesar's army was powerful and loyal to him alone, yet for all this might, the tiny Rubicon gave him pause.

He stood on the north side, with the dirt of Cisalpine Gaul under his feet. It was good soil, solid and fertile, but it was still subjugated barbarian land. The other side, only a few cubits away, was Italy. The other side was Roman. At that moment, in that spot, Gaius Julius Caesar was proconsul and governor of Transalpine Gaul, Cisalpine Gaul, and Illyricum. The moment he stepped forward, across that little rivulet at the head of a legion, he became a rebel and an enemy of the Republic.

Earlier that day, disturbing news had reached Caesar at Ravenna. A bill had been pending before the Senate to prosecute Caesar for various trumped-up 'crimes' he had committed as governor. This was simply the latest move by Pompey and the Optimates to tear down their greatest opponent. The loyal Populares tribunes Marcus Antonius and Quintus Cassius Longinus had vetoed the bill, but had then been forced to flee Rome under threat of violence. Without the presence of the tribunes, the bill would pass and Caesar would be stripped of all rights, titles, and powers. He would be ruined financially, forced into exile, and his career as a Senator and general would be over.

There were only two options. Caesar could accept the bill and humbly submit to the punishments, content to live out the modest life of an exile far from Rome, or he could take up arms in his own defense. Gaius Julius Caesar was not a humble man, but open rebellion was not something easily contemplated. Civil war was not without precedent in Roman history; Caesar's own uncle, Gaius Marius, had attempted it and succeeded for a short while. Lucius Cornelius Sulla had succeeded for even longer. Even so, it was a daunting prospect. And so fate found Gaius Julius Caesar staring at the Rubicon as the sun set on January 10, 49 BC, deep in thought.

He turned and looked at those loyal friends who had gathered nearby, his complexion dark and his brow furrowed. Speaking loudly, but to no specific person, he said, “Still we can retreat, but once we pass this little bridge, nothing is left but to fight it out with arms.” Murmurs circulated amongst those within earshot. All had marched here knowing full well what was planned, but a plan is entirely different from an action. As Caesar turned back to gaze on Italy, all eyes settled uneasily on him.

For a long time the party remained frozen in uncertainty. No one was willing to be the first to step across the Rubicon, not even Caesar. After a few moments, a low murmur began off to the side, and several men extended their arms, pointing across the river. There, on the other side, was a simple shepherd. As the men watched, he sat down and pulled out a flute from under the folds of his tunic. As he began to play, the notes drifted across the water, soft and melodious. He played a tune that was haunting in its beauty, and soon all thoughts of rebellion had passed from the minds of those nearby.

The sound wavered, dipping into gentle lows and barely audible highs, and before they realized what they were doing, several legionaries had crossed over the Rubicon to better hear the shepherd’s flute. As this scene unfolded, Caesar’s mind alone remained unclouded. As the first legionary took the first step across the mystical Rubicon, his mind cleared and his doubts faded. Unsheathing his gladius, Caesar gestured towards the Heavens. Those nearby noticed this grand movement and attention once again focused on the leader of the Populares. He turned to them and said in a strong and confident tone, “Let us go where the iniquity of our enemies call us.”

With that, the spell of uncertainty and hesitation was broken and the party began to move. First in ones and twos, then by the dozen, and finally en mass, the army began to cross the Rubicon. Standing now on the south side, watching the advance, Caesar’s face hardened into grim determination.

“The die is cast.”

[TinCow]

The basic format for the general Game Rules is taken from the excellent set created for Capo de Tutti Capi II. Many thanks to Seamus Fermanagh for writing them and for allowing me to use them. I greatly encourage everyone to join Capo de Tutti Capi III when it begins later this year.

Game Summary:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

At its basic level, the game involves two mafia families (Caesarians and Pompeians) and the town (Senate). However, this is not a simple mafia vs. town game. The town itself is divided into two Factions, the Populares and the Optimates. This is representative of the historical political divisions in the Late Roman Republic. The game takes place in 49 BC, shortly after Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon, plunging the Republic into civil war. Historically, the Populares faction supported Caesar, and the Optimates faction supported his rival, Pompey the Great. Pompey opposed Caesar with the claim that he was supporting the Republic, but in reality it was a conflict between the two men for absolute power. Whether the victor was Caesar or Pompey, the result would have been a Dictator, and the Republic was almost certainly doomed.

In this game, the Senators can choose a third option that was little more than a pipe-dream in 49 BC: they can put aside their factional differences and individual ambitions and attempt to save the Roman Republic by eliminating both the Caesarians and the Pompeians. This is the usual form of a town vs. mafia game, with the added complication that the mafia families are also dueling. Survival until the end of the game is not necessary for this victory. If you are a Senator (townie) and you die, you can still win if both mafia families are eliminated before either is victorious. Saving the Republic is a noble cause, and you will be remembered for all time as a virtuous defender of liberty.

However, the Senators can also follow in the footsteps of their historical counterparts and take sides in the Civil War. All Senators have a SECOND, optional, victory condition. This victory condition is to eliminate all players from the opposing faction and survive. Survival is necessary if you go this route, as you are choosing to turn Rome over to a Dictator. If that occurs, his name will go down in history and yours will be forgotten. So, in order to gain anything, you need to be alive to reap the material rewards of backing the winning horse.

You may be wondering why any Senator would choose to try and help one of the mafia families, when death is a serious possibility. There are multiple reasons. First, dying while trying to eliminate the other faction does not mean you have lost the game. It only means you can no longer win by eliminating the other faction. If both mafia families are eliminated after you have been killed, you will still be victorious, even if you were happily killing the other faction while you were alive. Second, the mafia might very well win. If you think this is likely to happen, you may be able to win with them by joining in their efforts to eliminate the other half of the Senate. Third, for all you know, the other half of the Senate have all chosen to destroy you anyway. Just as with a straight mafia victory, if they get the upper hand and eliminate your faction, you're doomed, even if you're dead! A pre-emptive attack might be a good idea to ensure that this never happens. Finally, playing with the mafia is fun!

So, where do the two mafia families fit into all of this? Simple, both families want to eliminate each other AND all of their opposing family’s supporters (Populares or Optimates). They don't need to eliminate their own supporters in the Senate to win. After all, if all armed opposition has been crushed, the faction that leans their way will quickly be groveling at their feet or otherwise enjoying the fruits of backing the victor, no matter how much they may have secretly wished to uphold the Republic.

For the Senate, the choice of what to do will be difficult. No one will know which faction the other players belong to at the start. If you want to save the Republic, how can you trust the other Senators when some of them may be out to kill you? If you want to aid the Dictators, how do you contact them without giving yourself away to the enemy?

For the Caesarians and Pompeians, the choice of strategy will be equally difficult. Unlike the Senate, you will have a few allies whom you can trust completely. However, you will have to fight your counterparts who are just as strong as you, as well as half the town. You can greatly increase your power by convincing your faction of the Senate to turn against their opponents. Make those expendable Senators do your dirty work, while you sit safely on the sidelines! But, how do you do this without giving yourself away? Can you even trust your own supporters, when they always have the option of winning by eliminating both the Caesarians and the Pompeians? How do you know you aren't being infiltrated by any Senator you choose to trust?

How to Win:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Every role PM will have a specific list of victory conditions. The game will end immediately after any player meets their victory conditions. Unlike in most mafia games, depending on what happens it may be possible for some mafioso AND some townies to share in the victory.

Game Phases and Basic Gameplay:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

At the outset of the game you will be randomly assigned a role, the role PM explaining the particulars will be sent to you, and shortly thereafter, play will commence.

The usual sequence of 24-hour days and 24-hour nights will be followed. Day and Night phases may be extended where necessary to account for outside events/unusual situations. In no instance will the time period be decreased below 24 hours. The first phase of the game will be a Night phase.

Day Phase: Each day the Roman Senate (town) will vote to Proscript (lynch) one living player. Each Senator can cast one vote (see below for procedure). TinCow will write up the results of these votes and post them for general consumption, along with any juicy particulars about the Proscriptions. The game then proceeds to the next night phase.

Night Phase: Every role has something to do at night – even if your choice is to do nothing. Since every role can be active in some manner, all players should PM TinCow during each night phase to indicate their actions. I will respond as quickly as possible, and will write up results that take effect immediately prior to the next day phase.

Actions: All roles will have actions or abilities that can be used at certain times during the game. These will be listed in your role PM. No player may use more than one night action in any single Night Phase, even if more than one kind of night action is listed in the role PM. You must pick which kind of night action you want to use each night from those available to you. If you are submitting an order to kill or protect someone, feel free to provide whatever level of detail you wish. Within the constraints of playability I will endeavor to create write-ups that conform to your requests, but reserve the right to edit them if necessary for game play purposes.

PM Example:

Night 4: Working with TosaInu and Ser Clegane, I will kill Seamus Fermanagh.

If your night action requires multiple people and one of the partners in your group fails to PM me, or should they PM me with different instructions (accidentally or on purpose), you group may not have the requisite numbers to perform a given night action successfully. The write up will indicate that failure, but will not reveal who was to blame for the failure.

PMs and PM-ing:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

As you have probably already noted, significant parts of the game-play involves PMs sent back and forth between the Host and the players.

PMs are expected each night from all players who wish to be active so that I can write-up the actions for a given night and provide you with the results. Every person who submits a night action PM will be sent a response indicating what occurred after the deadline has expired. Please be patient while waiting for your response PM, as it may take a while to write them depending on how many are submitted.

PLEASE get your PM to me by the deadlines posted in the thread. PMs submitted after the corresponding deadline has expired will not be counted.

Voting:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Every living player may vote to Proscript (lynch) one player per day. You may vote or not vote at your choice. Please be aware however, that persistently avoiding the voting process will result in your removal from play. While the game-master reserves the right to remove someone from play when/if needed at their discretion, as a “rule-of-thumb” missing 3 votes in a row is likely to result in your removal if you were also not participating in the discussion during that time.

To Proscript (lynch) a player, the proper procedure is:

Vote: INSERT NAME HERE - To vote for the death of a living player
Vote: Abstain - To indicate you do not want to vote for anyone some reason.

To be counted, a vote MUST be posted in bold typeface using the following format:

Vote: TinCow

To change a vote, you must first unvote in the following manner:

Unvote: TinCow
Vote: TosaInu

If you do not wish to vote for anyone, but still want to register as active, you may abstain in the following manner:
Vote: Abstain

Alternatively, you can choose to vote for no proscription of any player during that round in the following manner:

Vote: No Lynch or Vote: No Proscription

If the No Lynch/Proscription option leads in votes when the time limit expires, no one will be proscripted during that day phase.

YOU MAY NOT EDIT A VOTE. You are free to edit the rest of the post but in order to alter your vote you MUST enter the change in a new post so that it is easy to keep track of.

Rules pertaining to gameplay by dead players, screenshots, etc.:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The dead may post in the public thread, but cannot vote or carry out any actions. Dead players may not reveal their roles publicly or privately. Dead players may not quote from a PM unless that PM has been posted in the public thread by a living player. Dead players may not reveal, recount or allude to their previous night or day actions (or results thereof in the case of investigations) publicly or privately – even to confirm a previously made public or private reveal. Dead players may not communicate about the game in any manner outside of the game thread.

No screenshots may be used, from or to anyone, for ANY purpose – this includes during PMs. You may, however, quote ANY PART of ANY PM that I send you, including role PMs and action result PMs. You may also fabricate role PMs and action result PMs as you see fit.

Chatlog conversations may be referenced/quoted, but may not be copied via screenshot. Note: it can be difficult to maintain role secrecy during chat conversations.

"Suicide" will only be allowed for players who are unable to continue playing for real life reasons. If you need to remove yourself from the game, please send me a PM and I will write you out of play in a suitably amusing and/or embarassing manner.

It is VERY STRONGLY suggested that all players enable “invisible” mode so that technology is not used to trap you. If you remain visible while on the Org boards, your activity can be logged and compared against a normal profile providing clues as to your role, working partners, etc.

Game Roles:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

(Note: Any excerpts from role PMs listed below are for sample purposes only. The final format is subject to change before the game begins.)

Caesarians (3 Players):

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Caesarian Dictator: Gaius Julius Caesar (Caesar) - Abilities Secret
Caesarian Legate: Marcus Antonius (Mark Anthony) - Abilities Secret
Caesarian Legate: Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus (Calvinus) - Abilities Secret

Victory Conditions for all Caesarians:

Eliminate all Pompeians and Optimates Faction Senators. You will be victorious even if you are dead if this condition is met while any other Caesarian member is still alive.

Pompeians (3 Players):

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Pompeian Dictator: Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey the Great) - Abilities Secret
Pompeian Legate: Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio Nasica (Metellus Scipio) - Abilities Secret
Pompeian Legate: Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (Ahenobarbus) - Abilities Secret

Victory Conditions for all Pompeians:

Eliminate all Caesarians and Populares Faction Senators. You will be victorious even if you are dead if this condition is met while any other Pompeian member is still alive.

Populares Senators (Half the town): All have unique names and at least one special ability:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

POPULARES SENATOR FULL NAME (NICKNAME)
Senator
(Populares Faction)

Victory Conditions:
(1) Eliminate all Caesarians and Pompeians. You will be victorious even if you are dead if this goal is met.

OR

(2) Survive and eliminate all Optimates Faction Members, including Pompeians.

Role Description:
Night Actions:
(1) With 1 other Senator, you can investigate one player per night. Successful investigations will show the target's faction.
(2) With 2 other Senators, you can attempt to protect one player per night. Any player you protect will be very difficult to kill that night.
(3) With 3 other Senators, you can attempt to kill one player per night.

Special Ability:
Secret

Optimates Senators (Half the town): All have unique names and at least one special ability:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

OPTIMATES SENATOR FULL NAME (NICKNAME)
Senator
(Optimates Faction)

Victory Conditions:
(1) Eliminate all Caesarians and Pompeians. You will be victorious even if you are dead if this goal is met.

OR

(2) Survive and eliminate all Populares Faction Members, including Caesarians.

Role Description:
Night Actions:
(1) With 1 other Senator, you can investigate one player per night. Successful investigations will show the target's faction.
(2) With 2 other Senators, you can attempt to protect one player per night. Any player you protect will be very difficult to kill that night.
(3) With 3 other Senators, you can attempt to kill one player per night.

Special Ability:
Secret

Praetor/Consul (2 of each, names secret):

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

PRAETOR FULL NAME (NICKNAME)
Preator
(Populares Faction)

Victory Conditions:
(1) Eliminate all Caesarians and Pompeians. You will be victorious even if you are dead if this goal is met.

OR

(2) Survive and eliminate all Optimates Faction Members, including Pompeians.

Role Description:
Night Actions:
(1) Lictors (Protect) - As you are Praetor in 49 BC, you have a group of lictors to guard you. You can send your lictors to protect one player per night. Any player you protect will be very difficult to kill that night. Alternatively, you can have your lictors remain at your side to protect you instead. Either way, you must submit a Night Action PM with your orders. Your lictors will not protect anyone, including yourself, if you fail to submit a Night Action PM.

Participation in Senator Groups:
(1) You count towards the success of Senator kill, protection, and investigation groups. If you join a group, you will not be able to use your lictors to protect anyone, including yourself.

CONSUL FULL NAME (NICKNAME)
Consul
(Optimates Faction)

Victory Conditions:
(1) Eliminate all Caesarians and Pompeians. You will be victorious even if you are dead if this goal is met.

OR

(2) Survive and eliminate all Populares Faction Members, including Caesarians.

Role Description:
Night Actions:
(1) Lictors (Protect) - As you are Consul in 49 BC, you have a group of lictors to guard you. You can send your lictors to protect one player per night. Any player you protect will be very difficult to kill that night. Alternatively, you can have your lictors remain at your side to protect you instead. Either way, you must submit a Night Action PM with your orders. Your lictors will not protect anyone, including yourself, if you fail to submit a Night Action PM.

Participation in Senator Groups:
(1) You count towards the success of Senator kill, protection, and investigation groups. If you join a group, you will not be able to use your lictors to protect anyone, including yourself.

Special Roles (Number Secret): Names Secret - Abilities Secret - Victory Conditions Secret

Signed-up (37/37): GAME FULL
Beefy187
GeneralHankerchief
Andres
Greyblades
LittleGrizzly
Sasaki Kojiro
everyone
johnhughthom
AggonyDuck
Yaropolk
'khaan
spL1tp3r50naL1ty
Chaotix
Khazaar
Ichigo
White_eyes:D
Jolt
Tiberius of the Drake
Cultured Drizzt fan
Don Corleone
Glenn
A Very Super Market
Iskander 3.1
Captain Blackadder
pevergreen
atheotes
Tratorix
YLC
woad&fangs
navarro951
Lord Winter
mini
Ignoramus
TheFlax
Cronos Impera
Beskar
Caius

Replacements:
Gaius Scribonius Curio
ATPG
Thermal Mercury

[Beefy187]

[GeneralHankerchief]

In.

[Andres]

It seems like this one has everything to become a really dirty game with lots of backstabbing, treason and drama.

I was going to take a long break from mafia...

Damn you, TinCow.

In.

Gah

[Greyblades]

IN.

[TinCow]

It seems like this one has everything to become a really dirty game with lots of backstabbing, treason and drama.

I've been pondering how to put the Prisoner's Dilemma into a mafia game since Capo II. Game Theory and mafia are a match made in heaven IMO, so this is my attempt at combining them. I do also have a particular love for introducing chaos into games, so this setup has been especially appealing to me.

[LittleGrizzly]

Sounds intresting... I like the fact townies can go one of two ways... this should be good...

In if you didn't guess...

[Sasaki Kojiro]

In

[everyone]

hmm...first Mafia game I'm participating in. I'll give it a shot.
in.

[Caius]

One thing:

It is VERY STRONGLY suggested that all players enable “invisible” mode so that technology is not used to trap you. If you remain visible while on the Org boards, your activity can be logged and compared against a normal profile providing clues as to your role, working partners, etc.

Not anymore I'd say. Looking at the profiles you will see who saw the profile, hence they could get info...

[TinCow]

Alright, I thought about it during my commute home and I've figured out a way to expand to 37 that I think will retain the balance. Most of it is irrelevant to you at the moment, but one change needs to be publicly posted. There will now be two Consuls (both Optimates) and two Praetors (both Populares). I have updated the rules post to reflect this.

[Jolt]

Consuls being Gaius Julius and Gnaeus Pompeus? They were the historical consuls.

[TinCow]

Consuls being Gaius Julius and Gnaeus Pompeus? They were the historical consuls.

The game takes place in 49 BC. All roles are real people who were alive at that moment, and their roles and factions follow the lives of their historical counterparts as closely as possible within the limits imposed by balanced and entertaining gameplay.

I will say no more than that.

[Caius]

Alright, I thought about it during my commute home and I've figured out a way to expand to 37 that I think will retain the balance. Most of it is irrelevant to you at the moment, but one change needs to be publicly posted. There will now be two Consuls (both Optimates) and two Praetors (both Populares). I have updated the rules post to reflect this.

Thank you.

[Beskar]

Big thanks for the change, TinCow.

Would be great to get away from the Swords of the Moon game. That was bottoms-up before the game started because I used humour and people pounced on that.

[navarro951]

Finally, one for my people ROMANS FOR THE WIN! im super in!

[PershsNhpios]

beatus ille qui procul negotiis,
ut prisca gens mortalium,
paterna rura bobus exercet suis,
solutus omni faenore,
neque excitatur classico miles truci,
neque horret iratum mare,
forumque vitat et superba civium,
potentiorum limina,...

Just to put you all in the mood.

If all characters are historical, I must say, I don't think anyone here is virtuously or justly qualified to play the part of Catus!

[Lord Winter]

In, although I won't be able to participate much until wensday. Let me know if thats a problem Tincow.

[Jolt]

beatus ille qui procul negotiis,
ut prisca gens mortalium,
paterna rura bobus exercet suis,
solutus omni faenore,
neque excitatur classico miles truci,
neque horret iratum mare,
forumque vitat et superba civium,
potentiorum limina,...

Just to put you all in the mood.

If all characters are historical, I must say, I don't think anyone here is virtuously or justly qualified to play the part of Catus!

Cato was an incorruptible conservative. Not so difficult to play such a role. Cicero however, would be the most difficult one to play.

[navarro951]

Cato was an incorruptible conservative. Not so difficult to play such a role. Cicero however, would be the most difficult one to play.

I agree, very tough one.

[mini]

my first mafia game, let's see how this goes

[Andres]

I would hope to god that all these people trusting sasaki have a damn good reason for doing so... and i hope to god someones accounting for sasaki nights actions as well...

Apart from lots of hoping to god to stay alive i have to basically convince sasaki not to get his lackeys to vote for me also...

Apart from spL1tp350naL1ty not a lackey... cool name as well...

No LG, you don't have to prove anything. I suggest that the man who claims to be the center of all townie actions proves his innocence in this thread the next round.

It's a very bad idea to blindly follow the lead of a "Senator" who has not been thoroughly examined and put under pressure.

[Cultured Drizzt fan]

you know whats funny? even after all of this killing we are right back where we started, it is a equal senate. The status quo remains unchanged.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

you know whats funny? even after all of this killing we are right back where we started, it is a equal senate. The status quo remains unchanged.

You are keeping track of such things?

No LG, you don't have to prove anything. I suggest that the man who claims to be the center of all townie actions proves his innocence in this thread the next round.

It's a very bad idea to blindly follow the lead of a "Senator" who has not been thoroughly examined and put under pressure.

I can if need be. But the fact is, setting up vig groups that attack protection groups is a neutral action. All it does is confirm that those involved were not performing another night action on that night. If I was protecting specific targets and trying to get other people killed then you would have cause for concern.

[Andres]

I can if need be. But the fact is, setting up vig groups that attack protection groups is a neutral action. All it does is confirm that those involved were not performing another night action on that night. If I was protecting specific targets and trying to get other people killed then you would have cause for concern.

And so far, all your actions worked out fine? Why aren't you posting a list of all those who refused to cooperate so far, including the Optimates?

That doesn't give away much, does it? And it gives town something to work with in case you die and you can no longer post such a list.

And I would of course like to see something that proves your innocence. It can wait until the day phase.

[Chaotix]

It's necessary to unvote from an abstain?

[Cultured Drizzt fan]

You are keeping track of such things?

well I am dead, I have nothing better to do then to read the summary thread over and over again.... you pick up things you missed on the first read through.

[ULC]

Thank you TC for the most honorable death.

Of course Andres, why should we care about the Populares! They are so totally for the Republic that only Optimates would betray the Senate to the Tyrants.

My suggestion is to not listen to the pitiful rhetoric Andres and GSC, they are both like in mind, and I feel that they do not have the best interests of the town at heart nor spirit.