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[Bookthras]

Paranormal has a pretty strong set of roles, yeah.  One thing we don't really seem to have much of is closed setups that aren't BYORs or bastards, which can be kindof cool.

I actually prefer games where the possible roles are known; it allows for more cunning strategy. Knowing ahead of time what you may be up against gives it a more tactical feeling. That's one of the reasons I prefer Paranormals to Supernaturals, within the Meph-Universe. Not that I scoff on closed setups like BYORs, but the more open the better, I think (as long as there's some variety beyond the standard doctor/cop/godfather/blocker).

Which reminds me: one thing I really don't like, and I'm very very glad games here never seem to have, are messed up sanities. Paranoid/naive cops are stupid. If I get an action response from the mod, I like knowing I can trust it. Thanks mods for not messing with that.

Mafiascum has some interesting ideas.  Two that jump out is one that each team had an overlord that could buy abilities for his team, and another where the power roles were auctioned off between mafia and town.

Which also reminds me, on the topic of "buying" abilities: whatever happened to those roguelikes you were running? They seemed to be a lot of fun, and I wouldn't mind playing one.

[Toaster]

I've been running other games instead.  I'll put RM4 on the short list for my next game.

[They're also a ton of work to mod- I might cut the flavor bit for finding an item, as it's usually some variant of "you kill X monster and get an item" or "you trip over a rock and find Y."]

[Dariush]

Fuck RMs, let's try that overlord idea.

[Toaster]

Actually, I think part of the appeal was that neither side knew that role existed.

[GlyphGryph]

I think flavour is most important to me. I play mafia to have fun, and flavour is the best way to do that.

[Shakerag]

Added summary section to the top.  Thanks for contributing so far, everyone!  Anyone lurking about is welcome to share anything they'd like, even if you haven't played much at all. 

[Mephansteras]

I'm amused that Paranormal is being referred to as a category.

[Think0028]

There have been over 20 Paranormal games, there are Paranormal spinoffs... I think we can call it a category now, personally.

[Toaster]

It's not a category- it's a sensation.

[Dariush]

This subforum should be renamed to 'Paranormal Mafia _{and some other kinds too}'.

[Vector]

I like light bastards/puzzles (there needs to be some guidance or way to figure out the puzzle, so that we're still playing mafia with each other).  My favorite is still Rysith's Semi-Bastard.  On the other hand, sometimes it's fun to play something completely obtuse, like Neruz's Bastard game.

I also like playing mountainous games with activity/experience entrance requirements.  BMs are a special kind of fun, but I don't really want to play a BM unless I know it's a BM (read: I, too, think it is not fun to play a mountainous game that is mostly nub without understanding that the goal is not to scunt hum, but to teach).

BYORs with carefully balanced mechanics are also entertaining.

Basically, I like my setups fairly simple and open (though as I count "Cybrid" as fairly simple, YMMV) or complex, albeit carefully balanced, and closed.  It should be clear to everyone what their role is, and everyone who has a power role should have some risk or careful thinking that's suggested by the role.  The VTs should not be in a situation where they're so outnumbered that they feel completely useless.

I'm really into novelty, except for my petulant love of mountainous games which are expected to have novelty created by the players.  As long as the feeling is fresh but recognizable as mafia, I'll play it.