Phalla is the Penny-Arcade Forums' version of
the party game Mafia.
The Basic Rules
The "village" consists of all players in the game. Included in the village is a small number of bad guys. Normally, the bad guys all know one another at the beginning of the game, but nobody else knows anything about anyone other than themselves.
Each day (normally 24-hour period) the village discusses and publically votes for one person to be executed that night. At the same time, the bad guys choose one person to kill each night and PM the name to the narrator.
The good side wins if all of the bad guys die. The bad side wins if the number of good guys is less than or equal to the number of bad guys (on the assumption that at that point, they control the vote plus get their kill, so it's inevitable).
Usually, there will be one or more "special" roles among the good guys (and occasionally among the bad guys). Exactly who holds each role is only known to that person, although how many of each role exist is most often known.
Each night, the narrator gives the details of who died, and normally whether they were a bad guy. Some games also include clues or outright statements if someone who died is a good special.
Standard Special Roles
Roles will have different names depending on the theme of the game. Listed below are the usual "generic" terms for each role. Normally, specials exercise their power by communicating with the narrator via PM.
Seer -- once per night can "investigate" a particular person and find out from the narrator if they are a bad guy. Variations of seers may be able to determine a good special as well, although they may be unable to distinguish them from a bad guy.
Vigilante -- once per night can kill a person of their choosing.
Guardian -- once per night can protect someone from any death other than execution by the village. Whether they can protect against multiple attacks on one person in the same night is up to the narrator.
Masons -- a group of good guys, usually of similar size to the group of bad guys, who start the game knowing each other, and that they are all good.
Common Variations
Many larger games contain multiple groups of bad guys working at cross-purposes.
At least one game has included a council elected every other night who are able to overturn the popular vote. Normally, this shifts the execution to the person who got the second-most votes.
The typical size for a group of bad guys is 3, although an individual game may have more, particularly if there is only one group of bad guys in a larger game.
Common "House" Rules
You may not communicate regarding the game with someone who is dead, unless there is some specific mechanic in place to do so. In that case, communication normally goes through the narrator.
You may not use any anonymous method of communication to discuss the game. Forum-based PMs, external IMs, and e-mails are allowed as long as the person you are talking to knows who you are.
You may not use screencaps to "prove" anything to anyone.
Normally, everyone gets a "flavor" role in the game. Bad guys and good specials usually get a normal "villager" role in addition to their special role. This keeps people from using their initial PM to verify someone else's role. The two most common ways to do this are to (a) use the exact same message to everyone, or (b) give everyone a unique villager role.[/QUOTE]
Posts
Welcome to the world on this side.
Zot is like my clone.
That's a reserved bandwagon.
Welcome to the world on this side.
The PhalLounge :: Chat board for Phalla discussion and Secret Santas :: PhallAX 2013
Critical Failures IRC! :: #CriticalFailures and #mafia on irc.slashnet.org
in
"When B-Movie Stereotypes Attack"
Starring: A Loose-cannon cop seeking justice, and a Fedora wearing mobster trying to take over the underworld
Co-Starring: The angry chief, the hooker with a heart of gold (still taking applicants)(hey, I think I see a pretty princess who could fill the role), and many more
Coming Soon To A Theater Near You
Just saving time.
Borderlands 2 PA Xbox Metatag - Bazillion Guns
Maybe you should start backstabbing more people. Eventually the newcomers won't even recognize you as a being of pure evil at the rate you're going.
Which phalla was it?
*Goes to search*
Vampire.
I was neutral, so it wasn't really backstabbing. Just a trade of information.
Borderlands 2 PA Xbox Metatag - Bazillion Guns
"Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do."
They're not upset because I went and fixed that trainwreck of a game, killing most of you evil dudes.
And plus, I was neutral. So I could do what I want. Shame on the good network for trusting someone with loyalties only to himself.
Still can't believe the Sabbat/bad network lost that one, tho'.
Borderlands 2 PA Xbox Metatag - Bazillion Guns
@Bryceforvice on Twitter Facebook
Borderlands 2 PA Xbox Metatag - Bazillion Guns
Welcome to the world on this side.
Oh, on a completely unrelated note, if anyone is thinking about going to the movies and the choices are between Beowulf and No Country for Old Men, definitely see No Country. That is one damn fine movie.
One of the best I've seen in a while.
But on another unrelated note, I didn't know No Country came out already. I will definitely be seeing it very sooon
@Bryceforvice on Twitter Facebook
Is there going to be a crossdressing Thor in this game?