Trepa Mayfield
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Post by Trepa Mayfield on Nov 3, 2009 21:47:01 GMT -5
Every mod has to deal with the problem of inactivity, right? Some mods institute a strict post threshold, modkilling anyone who goes under that. This keeps the game brisk, but runs the risk of tipping the game in an obnoxious manner. Others substitute exclusively. This keeps game balance a non-issue, but runs into logistical problems with finding subs who won't quickly become disinterested. Some mods even throw their hands up and ignore it, which is nice for the mod, but can lead to a boring and stagnant game.
I believe I have created a bridge that nicely alleviates the problems: the comatose rule, which goes like this:
Firstly, the mod allows for substitutions up to a point. This could be any-ware from 'End of Day 1' to 'End of Night 4' to 'when I run out of people on the sub bench'. Whatever. The point is that that there's a defined line, one that won't have people wondering 'hmm...can I sub out or not?'.
Then, after that point has passed, the comatose effect kicks in. If someone posts less than the official Lower Post Threshold (which is again, entirely up to the mod), they go comatose. Comatose players are untouchable and don't count towards win conditions, and so are effectively dead. But! Unlike a modkilled player, the comatose player can jump back in the game anytime in the next Day/Night cycle by simply posting again. Easy. And if they don't, they are modkilled.
This way, mods don't have to modkill someone who was on vacation, or forgot about the game but is back now, while simultaneously encouraging people to actually play and not lounge on the sidelines.
Thoughts?
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Post by special on Nov 3, 2009 23:34:01 GMT -5
Every mod has to deal with the problem of inactivity, right? Some mods institute a strict post threshold, modkilling anyone who goes under that. This keeps the game brisk, but runs the risk of tipping the game in an obnoxious manner. Others substitute exclusively. This keeps game balance a non-issue, but runs into logistical problems with finding subs who won't quickly become disinterested. Some mods even throw their hands up and ignore it, which is nice for the mod, but can lead to a boring and stagnant game. I believe I have created a bridge that nicely alleviates the problems: the comatose rule, which goes like this: Firstly, the mod allows for substitutions up to a point. This could be any-ware from 'End of Day 1' to 'End of Night 4' to 'when I run out of people on the sub bench'. Whatever. The point is that that there's a defined line, one that won't have people wondering 'hmm...can I sub out or not?'. Then, after that point has passed, the comatose effect kicks in. If someone posts less than the official Lower Post Threshold (which is again, entirely up to the mod), they go comatose. Comatose players are untouchable and don't count towards win conditions, and so are effectively dead. But! Unlike a modkilled player, the comatose player can jump back in the game anytime in the next Day/Night cycle by simply posting again. Easy. And if they don't, they are modkilled. This way, mods don't have to modkill someone who was on vacation, or forgot about the game but is back now, while simultaneously encouraging people to actually play and not lounge on the sidelines. Thoughts? Sounds good in theory, but won't it encourage people, especially Vanillas to avoid the mid-game? They won't be killed, and they'll swarm back in towards the end to add to the Town count. just a thought. Scum might also be able to use it to prolong life. If someone feels they'll garner suspicion, they go comatose. Town doesn't get any info on thm and must play on...Until they return Day 5 or 6 or so, and force Town to use a lynch on them.
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Trepa Mayfield
FGM
Does Not Follow Directions
The only kind of panda worth preserving.
Posts: 989
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Post by Trepa Mayfield on Nov 4, 2009 9:42:17 GMT -5
Yeah, I thought of that too. That's why players can only be Comatose for a Day/Night cycle before being modkilled.
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Post by The Real FCOD on Nov 4, 2009 12:51:34 GMT -5
I think the potential for abuse is too high. Even allowing a player to sit out one cycle is too powerful. I don't think there's an issue now, really. If you're going on vacation, everyone knows about it ahead of time so they don't mod kill you. If you're going to be absent for more than a reasonable amount of time you don't sign up or you get subbed out/mod killed.
--FCOD
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Post by Hawkmod on Nov 4, 2009 12:54:29 GMT -5
It runs in to the same problem any of these types of proposals run into. It can be gamed. Don't want to be lynchable/night killable for a Day/Night, simply don't post. Hell if you just have everyone post under the threshold except a mason or two, you can practically guarantee a town victory. It won't encourage posting as much as it will attempts to beat the system.
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Trepa Mayfield
FGM
Does Not Follow Directions
The only kind of panda worth preserving.
Posts: 989
[ Exalt | Smite ]
Karma:
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Post by Trepa Mayfield on Nov 4, 2009 13:16:24 GMT -5
I thought of that too. Remember, comatose players don't count towards win conditions. So if all the townies but the masons went comatose, and there were 3 scum, then the scum could win before the townies came back.
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Post by Hawkmod on Nov 4, 2009 13:26:34 GMT -5
I thought of that too. Remember, comatose players don't count towards win conditions. So if all the townies but the masons went comatose, and there were 3 scum, then the scum could win before the townies came back. Well, then the townies could come back and the scum will be outed. It might not work, but it would become a battle of the players vs the mod rather than against each other, which is not ideal.
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Post by special on Nov 4, 2009 14:36:02 GMT -5
In my most recent game, I just left the players for the Town to deal with. Granted, my 2 missing players were Scum, I think it would also work for Townies. It punishes whatever side they are on a little, though, which isn't fair. And I'd already burned through 4 subs
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Post by Hawkmod on Nov 4, 2009 16:12:02 GMT -5
In my most recent game, I just left the players for the Town to deal with. Granted, my 2 missing players were Scum, I think it would also work for Townies. It punishes whatever side they are on a little, though, which isn't fair. And I'd already burned through 4 subs Well, I think 6+ non participants is a whole nother problem by itself that isn't going to be solved by strong substitution rules.
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Post by Mister Blockey on Nov 5, 2009 14:39:11 GMT -5
The comatose thing is way too easy to game I think.
Just make people warn ahead of time if they're going to be out of town, and if they're killed, so be it.
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Post by Pleonast on Nov 10, 2009 10:48:54 GMT -5
My current philosophy is that the players need to take care of non-participants and lurkers. It's a Mafia game--let the players decide.
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