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[Mephansteras]

Well, you have to be able to check the topic often enough to answer any rules questions and take vote tallies. I use a spreadsheet to keep track of everything (google docs is awesome), although that's not strictly necessary.

Otherwise, a simple mafia like this is pretty easy. There aren't a lot of power roles to worry about and all of the basic configurations are reasonably balanced.

Just make sure that if you do run one that you get an experienced player to be your IC so that someone can give advice to the newcomers.

[JoshuaFH]

What's required to host one on these forums, other than getting the quicktopic set up for the mafia /dead folks (which I'm playing with now and think I got the hang of)?

Pondering the idea of running the next Beginner's.  A beginner host in a beginner's mafia ftw?

This is what I got:

Be clear and consistent with the rules. Consistent is much more important than clear.
Have an idea of how game balance works.
Keep all necessary knowledge at hand, to make sure you don't make stupid mistakes. (Meph recommends a spreadsheet, but I just dump everything in a plain text file)
Try very hard to not accidentally confirm or deny anything when answering a player's questions.

There's some sources at MafiaWiki that teach how to mod, some I recommend:

http://mafiascum.net/wiki/index.php?title=Game_Balance

http://mafiascum.net/wiki/index.php?title=Modding_Guide_by_Green_Liquid

There's a bunch more, but all that is a real hassle to read as it is.

Also, to distribute roles in an unbiased manner, I suggest a random role distributor. I recommend the one I use:

http://adv-random-gen.sourceforge.net/rand-gen/index.php?gen=mafia

and of course, be active. You're the mod, you need to answer questions and lay down the law when necessary.

[dakarian]

Thanks for the random generator.  That'll make things much easier than, say, random.com.  I'm also reading the sources now.  A good thing is that I'm going to stick to the similar setup as here: 2 mafia, 1 possible Godfather, 1 possible cop, 1 possible doc.  Easier than, say, trying to make Religious mafia work. 

Spreadsheet.. yah, I'll be using that.  Blah, I use one for everything else. 

Activity..Only slip there is that from 2pm to 2am est I'm at work.  Since there's no hammer I'll be able to set deadlines accordingly.

I guess I'll look into it.  Thanks for the advice.

[Mephansteras]

I find it very helpful to just set deadlines for my schedule and make sure that they're at least 48 hours for a day and 24 hours for a night. That way everyone gets a chance to log in.

I also find that it helps to be specific with deadlines and to give reminders.

So I frequently do something like:

Reminder, day 1 ends at ~5pm Pacific Tuesday. Usually after a vote tally.

[JoshuaFH]

If you'll notice, I've started copying Meph's habits in Weirdo Mafia. Which I think is a good thing.

[dakarian]

How about extensions?  I know if the group asks for one then it can be given, but is it by majority?  A certain number of active folks?  Is it different if there's requests to end the day early?

[JoshuaFH]

The way I've decided to do it is like this:

1 person wants extension: No effect
2 People: 1 hour
3+ people: extend to a much longer time, perhaps a day.

[Mr.Person]

At some point, you're just going to have to make some rules up for some situation. The worst you can do is confuse everybody, so don't worry so much.

[dakarian]

Alright.  I'll give it a go. 

You have been warned.

[Sonearage]

Dun-dun-duuuuuuuuuuuuuuun

[Alexhans]

My stance on deadlines is:

More than half the people request an extension...

You grant a 24 hs one.

And no more.

The end.

Also, once there's a hammer vote... People may talk until the mod locks the topic.  But that lynch is set.

[JoshuaFH]

Even the IRC mod program can be dissuaded from auto-lynching if you unvote fast enough Alex!

[dakarian]

I'll ponder about the extensions.  Mostly, though, it'll depend on how active everyone is. 

As for the Hammer, I'll accept people hammering then requesting to end the day (or if the conversation dies out afterwards).  I didn't put "majority lynch" in though so this game, the game goes on even after a 'hammer'.

[Alexhans]

Even the IRC mod program can be dissuaded from auto-lynching if you unvote fast enough Alex!

WRONG.

[JoshuaFH]

Then what about those times that I saw it, heh?!