How many Mafia members?

[PaxZRake]

I've been looking to mod my own mafia game, and I was wondering what a good ration of mafia to town is?

I'm thinking 1/5 is probably good, but I wanted to check, as I've never really thought about it.

[Amora's_best_friend]

My rule of thumb:

m = 1/3w + 1

where m = number of players in the mafia; w = the total number of players.



(I just made that up right now, so it's prolly different to what I use in games. My games have been generally balanced though, so I could be laughing.)

[anonym0use]

This topic is discussed at length in the tips for running a mafia game thread (above).

That said, you can read gems such as:

"Ignatz's JLA for instance had: 14 town, 6 mafia, and 5 independents... "

AND

"I usually do 22% mafia, 23% neutral, 55% town. I also adjust the neutral win conditions based on how powerful the mafia or town is."

FYI You don't have to read the whole thread, just the last two pages.

[anonym0use]

I'd also check finished games to see...

1.) what their ratio was, and

2.) how close the game was.

[Amora's_best_friend]

It depends how jokey you want the game to be.

I was going to have only 3 mafia members in one of my Funny games, each of which would appear good when investigated, all with really strong powers, but I felt it was less fun than it originally sounded.

[get_1]

I feel that the mafia needs about 1/3 of the total players to have a good shot.

but the best rule of thumb I've heard (and I can't remember who said it) is: "However many you think is good (fair), and then add one more."

[Amora's_best_friend]

but the best rule of thumb I've heard (and I can't remember who said it) is: "However many you think is good (fair), and then add one more."

I said that first for a joke.

"Hey. Inventing new maxims all the time!"

[PaxZRake]

Thanks guys.

I think I'll see if I can't find someone to co-mod, or at least check my roles. I think I have a good grasp of what I'm doing, but I don't want to make sure everyone gets an interesting active role.

[KitsuShel]

Awww, I thought you were going to ask, "How many mafia players does it take to screw in a lightbulb?"

[DarqFeonix]

Awww, I thought you were going to ask, "How many mafia players does it take to screw in a lightbulb?"

That one's easy: just over half. :)

[Jackofhearts2005]

And it'll take 2 days.

Cause nobody really wants to do anything on day 1.

[DarqFeonix]

And it'll take 2 days.

Cause nobody really wants to do anything on day 1.

What do you mean by that? Why are you so intent on screwing in that lightbulb right now, when the bulb *just* blew out? You seem really intent on screwing-in that lightbulb. Almost like you know for a fact it's one of those new-fangled ones that last for 50 years.

Lynch: JackofHearts2005

[Space Jawa]

Awww, I thought you were going to ask, "How many mafia players does it take to screw in a lightbulb?"

Depends on whos win condition screwing in the lightbulb is! :p

[Reibello]

The misdirector says have fun trying to find where the bulb goes!