This is Critical Failures' Master Phalla thread. It is for signups for running Phalla games, and discussion of game mechanics. Keep the thread strictly on-topic. Generally, there will be one main Phalla running (with up to two threads), as well as up to two smaller Phallas. Signups are required for the main game. No dead threads, and the game will be run in the same threads where the signups take place. This is going to be the system until we start having problems, at which point I will probably fix those problems in ways that no one will like, so play nice.
What is Phalla?
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.
Posts
visiblehowl - Calvin and Hobbes
devoutlyPATHETIC - Test Labs
The_Reflection - 24: Day 9 BioTERROR
Phalla Moderation Waitlist
Games On Hold
Old Games
Old Games not in CF
G&T
SE++
Moderator Forum
Rules
Minis
Old Links: Old CF Master Phalla Thread, Old Moderation Waitlist Thread, Old Mechanics Discussion Thread
12:55 PM 9/18/06 (meaning the first 'gameday' was 9/19/06)
See here and here for descriptions of old games.
PM me if you're interested in being a co-host
It wasn't there when I re-signed up, and I just wanted to cover all my bases.
It isn't necessary, but it's usually good for keeping track of who's been waiting to run one longer.
Before, people would usually mention their idea here, so we could keep track of who has a mini in mind(though there's no signup list, it's more of a courtesy thing).
*by which I mean: use a different site for that.
Mechanics talk and such should be allowed.
You dirty thief!
haha.
I have things working for a Survivor Mini myself, but there's no reason we can't both do [the same theme]. Minis, as I'm sure someone else has already told you, are smaller (usually 20 people) and do not last as long (like around 5 days, I think, instead of 8 to 10 or so for main games).
Your idea will work.
Which I should probably really start thinking about since I'm like 4th on the list of people who aren't putting it off/banned/whatever.
Also thorgot, is it alright if I take one of the mini-slots for your game? I basically need to put sign ups early enough I'm able to work out all the submitted roles into a functional game. Depending on the length of your game I'd like about a week to work it out. Since it's going to involve a thread being up here it's probably best to "use" on of the mini-slots for it.
they don't it be like it is but it do
I'll ask people to assign a special ability to the role they create. What, how many, and which powers make it through to the final stages are the editing/balancing work I think I need a week for.
Yes.
On the main phalla list, in a year or so, I should be ready to make another game.
No game theme selected as of yet.
Also: If anyone would be willing to Photoshop the game logo into The Phalla Ends With You I'd be really grateful
Maybe there already is a font out there.
Thanks a lot guys. I really appreciate the effort, since this is about the limit of graphics work I did for my last Phalla:
Might run it starting at the end of next week
Hey! That was my role PM.
That was good times. Don't discount the power of simplicity.
I'm going to be doing another one like Court of King Phallis, only this time it's bigger badder and better. I'm talking a 40 person game with the same wonderful bidding mechanics, but with lots of other stuff added.
Rock Band DLC | GW:OttW - arrcd | WLD - Thortar
how does one get added to the list of old minis? was it so bad that it got deleted from memory?
How long is the waiting list approx in time/length? I need to figure that out before saying i'll do it.
Democrats Abroad! || Vote From Abroad
I have no idea how it disappeared when I copied it from the old list. Fixed.
If I sign up to run a phalla in the very distant future and then find that I can't, is that like, blacklistable offense?
Democrats Abroad! || Vote From Abroad
All I'm saying is that if you can't run your game, let us know well in advance. And by well I mean several months. Nobody wants to rush their game and feel like it could have been so much better afterwards.