~/*Witchhunt Returns to GitP*\~ (replacement sought)

[Mannikath]

Greetings old friends!

This is Chocolate Pi, that guy who kinda started the whole Witchhunt thing. Sorry about that.

I've always seen games as concepts deserving of iteration and evolution, and mafia as a game type with the most room to grow. Fast-forward to today, and that evolution has continued a great deal. GitP's forums has been selected as a pilot community for the modern vision of Witchhunt due to it's meaningful history with the game. Take a moment to have a look, and I think you will be blown away; this is magnitudes unlike any other mafia-style game you've seen before.

Game Rules

Spoiler

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Witchhunt Rules 6.6

Preface: This setup assumes no sort of bastard modding. What players see is 100% what they get; no false or misleading information should ever presented in-game to players by the moderator.

Overview

Witchhunt is a game in which two groups seek to control their town by killing the other: The Villagers and the Witches. There are fewer members of the Witch team, but their identities are secret. Whichever team successfully kills all of their opponents wins.

The game continuously marches through a daily cycle. The length of each "game day" cycle can vary; a real life game "day" might take 20 minutes, while a forum game "day" might take a week. Each phase has an announced deadline, at which point the game automatically transitions to the next phase.

The first half of the cycle is Day. During the Day players may make open discussion in the public forum thread, and decide on a target to lynch. Any living player may vote for any other living player, and a true majority (more than half) is required to lynch. When a majority is reached, the person is automatically lynched. (If the deadline arrives, no one is lynched.) During this discussion, it may prove important to conceal information or lie. There is no restriction to what players can say or claim, though civil dialogue according to the context (such as obeying forum rules) is expected.

During Night, players may not use the public discussion. (In a real life, game, the players would close their eyes and put their heads down as if "asleep" for the Night.) The Witch Coven, whom are given a private means of communication, collectively selects a target to kill each Night. (Though by plurality) Various individual events affecting specific players may happen at night as well. (more on that in a moment)

The results of the Witches' foul deed will be announced at the start of the next Day, as the cycle continues. Players can use this new information to discuss who the Witches might be and vote for suspects.

In addition to a typical deadline, both Day and Night have a minimum deadline; the game will not transition to the next phase before this time, which prevents overly hasty shenanigans.

Note that unlike some other games, there is no "card flip" (announcement of the player's identity) on death!

Guardian Angels

When players die, they are NOT eliminated from the game. Instead they continue to serve their original team as a Guardian Angel. Each Night, the Guardian Angels may vote to protect a target; the protected player cannot die that night for any reason, including if targeted by the Witch Coven.

Angels vote by simple plurality, so dead players who do not wish to continue participating can do so with minimal consequence. Angels see all events that take place in the game (except Coven voting) and may discuss the game freely with each other; using this information, they can make a big difference, but there is a key limitation to their power...

Angels may only collectively protect any individual player once per game. This means that dead Witch players can still assist their side, by working to "waste" precious Angel protections on key players.

If there is a tie among the Angel vote, all targets are protected. This powerful option risks exhausting the Angels' power, and allows dead Witches to more easily waste protections. Angels must protect each Night. (If all Angels refuse to vote at Night such that no one is protected, all those Angels lose their right to vote in the future.)

Note that if a person is targeted with a kill at Night and survives, the town is still informed that they were targeted! This is very valuable information that can help the Villager team a great deal!

Meddlesome Demons

While dead Witches may be naughty Angels and try to waste some of those precious one-time protections, they will usually become outnumbered quickly. To maintain the mischief, dead Witches may choose to permanently convert to a Meddlesome Demon at any time.

At the same time as the Angel vote, the Demons vote to block one living target from being protected by the Angels tomorrow Night. In this way, the dead Witches try to block the Angels just like the Angels try to block the living Witches!

Like the Angels, Demons vote by plurality and can only block each player once per game. They may only block one target per Night. (Ties block no one.) Demons can no longer vote on the Angel protection, and can never convert back to Angels.

Player Assignments (Roles and Team)

Each player is given two assignments: a unique role, and a designated team.

Unique roles provide every player with a special, unique ability of some sort. These abilities may be offensive or defensive, mechanical or informational. Powers granted by your role only apply while you are alive.

Roles however, are separate from team assignments. Most roles can be given to either a Villager or a Witch. While there are only these two teams, there are a few special team assignments that put players in a special place on their team.

For example, a select few Villagers are designated as Holy Villagers. Certain especially powerful roles are marked Holy, and these will always be given to the Holy Villagers. (This ensures that Witches never get their hands on the most potent abilities.) These Holy Villagers are commonly the highest priority Witch targets, thanks to their strong powers.

Another special type of Villager for extra-large games (~30 players) is the pair of Village Lovers. These two Villagers get random roles like everyone else, but suffer a particular curse: If one dies, the other is killed as well. However, there is an upside: One of those Holy Roles is Cupid, who will be informed of both Lovers and subsequently supply them with immunity at Night as long as he lives. Because Lovers can privately communicate and take advantage of both their unique Roles, they are potentially a big thorn in the Witches' side.

Junior Witches and Village Spies

Two other special team assignments are used to smoothly scale the game for larger sized groups.

"Normal" Witches are specifically known as Elder Witches. Unlike them, Junior Witches are "sleeper-cells": they do not start in the Coven that votes to kill each Night, nor do they appear to be if anyone "checks" them with a role power. Instead, they are the Witch team's "Round 2" or "Plan B"! Junior Witches permanently join the Coven the first night after the Coven fails to select a target for the first time.

This is usually because all the original Witches are dead, though it's possible that there are one or two left who are "faking". However, there is a catch that encourages the Witches from doing this until as late as possible...

There are also Village Spies, who also sneak into the Coven but are actually on the Villager team! They will join automatically the same Night the Junior Witches do, but a few seconds sooner--the Junior Witches will not be able to be sure if the players they find waiting for them are real Elder Witches, or Spies! Naturally if there really is a Spy who snuck in, the Witches urgently need to kill him that Night before he can expose them all! Inviting the Junior Witches into the Coven without being sure the Spies are dead is truly opening Pandora's Box!

• The Junior Witches know each other at the start of the game, but nothing else.
• The Village Spies know each other at the start of the game, but nothing else.
• The Elder Witches know who the Juniors/Spies are collectively, but not which is which!

As the game goes on, the Witches can watch these players carefully and try to figure who are the Junior Witches and who are the Village Spies. Dare these two Witch groups try to communicate under the town's nose? The time will likely come where the Elder Witches pass the torch on to their Junior sisters; will they be able to track down the Village Spies before then?

The King's Court

Large mafia-style games can be chaotic and random at the start, and drag on for a very long time. To help combat this, large games of Witchunt (15 or more players) have a special feature known as the "King's Court."

There is a Holy role (always a Villager) named the King: the first Night, the King must select four other players to join his Court. The Court then behaves sort of like another Coven: an elite group voting in secret during the Night to kill a target, who will be discovered when Day starts. The primary difference, besides that they might be working to help the Villagers, is that the Court only kills on even Nights. (The King will pick new members Night 1, and they will begin their routine killing Night 2.)

Players should spend time during the first Day to "campaign" and argue why they would (or wouldn't) be a wise choice for the anonymous King to select. Dare the Witches try to sneak onto the court and manipulate it?

Additional roles beyond the King may start on the Court automatically, or possibly join it. Unlike the King, these role are not "Holy" and thus could be Witches...

Should the King's Court ever fall below three members, it is disbanded the next Night they would meet and cannot be reformed. (This event is announced publicly.)

Role List





F.A.Q. List:

Is this ruleset designed for real life or online play?

Both. Without compromise, the mechanics and balance of this ruleset is designed to support both types of games instantly. Of course, they are very different games in practice--online the Witch team enjoys robust private communication but suffers from a decisive, permanent record--but the stability of the game mechanics is intentionally suited for both.

Do the (Elder) Witches start the game knowing each other?

Yes. In addition to having immediate access to private discussion in online games, Elder Witches are always given explicit notification of the start of the game. This would include everyone in the Coven identifying each other, and getting to see who all of the Junior Witches and Village Spies are. (Collectively; the Elder Witches are not sure who is which.)

What about Junior Witches? Or Village Spies?

Junior Witches are given notification of each other and share a private discussion (prior to joining), but don't know anything about the Elder Witches watching over them. Same goes for the Village Spies, who also have a private discussion of their own. (prior to joining)

Can a Village Lover be a Witch? Or Both? What about Holy, or Spies? If there's a Village and Witch Lover...

No, stop right there. Village Lover is a special team assignment, just like all those things listed. It says "Village" in the name, right? Doesn't get easier to remember than that!

What exactly does "target" mean?

A target refers to any living player, of the person in question's choice. (Including him or herself) Group kills (like the lynch) can be targeted explicitly at no one, if the group really wants to for some strange reason.

What exactly does "extra life" mean?

Having an extra life means that you will always survive the next thing that would otherwise kill you, at the expense of the extra life. You can have multiple extra lives, though this is highly unusual. Online, you are informed of how many extra lives you currently have.

Can I explicitly vote to lynch no one?

Yes, as town, Court, or Coven. Half of the group voting this way is considered a majority.

What happens if a Priest/Bishop checks a Junior Witch or Village Spy?

The Priest and Bishop check if someone is "in the Coven"; are they currently in the Coven? That's all there is to it, no exceptions. (Easy!)

What roles are Holy?

The ones with the gold cards: Priest, Acolyte, Bishop, Nun, Cupid, and King.

Do I have to use my role power?

Almost all abilities are optional; most rules text includes "may". Roles that announce themselves when they use their power can abstain, to take their secret to the grave if they wish.

Does the Henchman get private communication (in online games) with the Inquisitor and Oracle?

Yes, and separately!

The Bishop/Hunter/Entertainer say they trigger when at least half the town is dead; how is that rounded?

As you accurately read, it says "at least"; it rounds up. (i.e. triggers only when 8 of 15 players are dead)

Can you explain the exact order these defensive options would go in?

First would be the Pauper's "join the King's Court" ability, as the role states. Then any "unlimited" protection--be it from Angels, Cupid, or the Gambler/Recluse abilities--will absorb a kill before it consumes an extra life. The Martyr jumping in is the final defense, only possible if there is no protection or extra lives. (As the Martyr role states)

What if the Martyr saves someone at Night, but is protected by the angels?

The Martyr indeed lives. As a bonus, their protection effect still applies to the person they saved! Somehow that seems like cheating, but who can argue with magic?

What if the Martyr is protected by Cupid, does that work? Can they save people without dying?

Cupid's role is carefully worded to prevent this; a Martyr Lover still dies while saving people. They should consider saving their "better half" instead!

Can we get a list of private information text presented to the players, such as what they would normally receive in a start-of-game private message?

Relevant parts of the source code that generates text from both the server and client sides will be made available in the future once it becomes semi-finalized.

In the meantime, I will be happy to provide this information on an individual request basis; the fact that this info is thus available to anyone who so asks means that such knowledge is meaningless. Someone claiming to be the Priest who is quoting their check result strings as "proof" may have just gotten that information by request.

Who wins ties?

Witches win all ties or stalemates, of any nature.

Witchhunt may be the most refined mafia-style game setup there is (thanks to countless games across several communities, GitP included), but that's only half the story today. Modern Witchhunt doesn't even require a mod!

It has Moscone.

Moscone Information

Spoiler

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Moscone is a custom game logic and messaging platform built for Witchhunt.

Moscone runs everything in the entire game automatically, from the first role assignment to the last hammer vote. It provides all players with completely accurate and up-to-date vote information, ability control, and game log access. It provides its own messaging system for game use, combining the best aspects of a forum and an IRC chat along with several mafia-game specific features.

Witchhunt can still be played using a forum thread for general discussion, if the community is so inclined. However, the need of using QTs is made vastly obsolete.



The game logic has full control over the various chats, including who can view them, who can post in them, and automated "mod-messages" that bridge the game between the discussion and the game log. In addition to private group chats as called for by the game, all players have a private log as well.

Not only are all players properly governed by this new system, but the mod and anonymous spectators as well.



But it's not just designed for the game on the backend. In addition to highlighting posts made by yourself or the mod, Players can enable colored filters that highlight the posts of players of known team affiliations. (such as Witches highlighting posts of their coven-mates) The game logic meticulously maintains these new view permissions for each player, and all players are given full access at the game's end as shown in the screenshot above. (Which should make for fascinating re-reads...) Filters exist for team affiliation, role allies (King/Queen/Duke, Inq/Henchman/Oracle), and Court membership.

This is in addition to the full rules pages, role listings, gameplay tips, and art that is available in the client.



The messaging system puts the players first. You can use the @ symbol to direct your post to a specific other player, highlighting the post on their view and notifying them. Also, including certain hastags (#vote, #unvote, #watch, #unwatch) with appropriate parameters will automatically issue those game commands, in addition to being bolded automatically.

Speaking of, tags for bold, italics, and underline are accepted. I couldn't decide whether to use HTML or forum tags, so it accepts them interchangeably.

The copy button generates a notepad-friendly textdump of the current window's entire log. The search button lets you search for posts with a string, specify a post range, posts by author, or posts by target. (@) The post count is automatically displayed in all views.

The search is client-side, which means it is instantaneous with no server-constraint limitations, unlike a forum.
The messages are stored permanently, so the history is absolute and universal, unlike a chat.
A message preview can be rendered immediately straight into the message view, unlike a forum or a chat.

The moderator can specify an anti-spam time limit for making more than 2 posts. ("You have to wait X seconds/minutes from your second-to-last post.") This can encourage players to make fewer, bigger posts, without being restrictive and preventing EBWOP. In other words, less rigid than a forum, more structured than IRC, and totally customizable towards either direction.

On GitP, I am looking to begin signups for a relatively large game to tentatively start on Friday, June 1st.

I am anticipating running this game's public discussion in a forum thread (this one), and naturally using Moscone's built-in messaging for everything else. While the game doesn't require a moderator, I will be actively around to answer questions, provide assistance, govern the forum discussion, and of course write some quality flavor text for the start of each Day!

The maximum supported player count is 30 players. I will start with as few as 12, but whatever the case will prepare at least a 10% replacement list.

The anticipated game speed will be 96-hour cycles: 80-hour Days, 16-hour Nights.

You can now signup on Moscone.

I look forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces again; it's been entirely too long.

-Chocolate Pi aka Mannikath the Acolyte Priest

[Internet Flea]

In as the Werewolf.

[Ramsus]

In as the Spy!

[Penguinator]

Ah. You know, I've run two Medieval games (which are based on Witchhunt), but I've never really gotten to play one quite like it. At least, not more than one day...

In am I.

[Istari]

Is the Inquisitor on the role list twice intentionally?

Also those chatlogs were sooo perfect. Double Homestuck/Ponies reference is the best thing ever.

[Gnomish Wanderer]

I'm in yadda yadda yadda

[Internet Flea]

I'm not entirely sure if Mannikath's going to check this thread, so I'll mention the game proper is through that link at the bottom of his post.

[Penguinator]

My computer can't handle Moscone, so include me out.

Hell with my fun...

[Ramsus]

@Penguinator: You might be able to convince Manni to run a version of you for it or something and relay stuff to you? I dunno. No idea how viable that is.

[Lady Serpentine]

I've wanted to play in one of these since getting into this, and Moscone seems to be working, so I'm most definitely in.

[RuneboundShade]

In. (Hehe, yeah, EtherChild is me.)

[Vesth]

In for me

So how does Moscone actually work? What is DLP?

[Internet Flea]

I think DLP stands for Drama/Litigation Ponies.

[Ur-Quan]

I was in before others, but I decided to delay my post here. Delay shall be no more!

[Eternal Drifter]

...I just can't stay away forever, can I?

I wish to join... but I'm having problems getting onto the program... it keeps wanting to install an update, and I keep accepting, but still can't get it... Can I get a little help?

Eternal the Mad Priest Acolyte and ignorant Wizard, reporting for duty!

[Gray Mage]

I'm not entirely sure if Mannikath's going to check this thread, so I'll mention the game proper is through that link at the bottom of his post.

I think so, since he said that the public discussion will be here.

I'm a bit unsure about how Village Spies work. Would it be possible to scrifice/kill more then one suspect each night? Because if not and more then one spy joins then the witches would be done for, right?

Also, what exactly does "join first" mean? I'm not seeing it.

Edit: Seen the examples, if the JW and Spies join the same chat as the EW, wouldn't the junior witches know who are the elders and who are the spies?

PS: Glad to have this game back.
PPS: The first three cards are numbered backwards, going 3 -> 2 -> 1.

[Mannikath]

I will be checking this thread, but I am heavily preoccupied for the next ~48 hours. I'll be around regularly when the game starts in full.

Penguinator, and anyone else having problems: All you need is Flash, which every modern web browser except the one in iOS supports.

You can check if you have Flash and what version here: http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/...sh-player.html

In Google Chrome, Flash is built-in and auto-updates.

Alright g2g, I'll drive-by-answer-game-questions later.

[Penguinator]

This is what happens: "Install Flash #whatever?" "Yes." "An error occured while trying to install." "Okay." "Install Flash #whatever?" "Yes." "An error occured while trying to install." "Okay." "Install Flash #whatever?" "Yes." "An error occured while trying to install." "Okay." "Install Flash #whatever?" "Yes." "An error occured while trying to install." "Okay."

Preeeetty sure I can't play.

[Gray Mage]

This is what happens: "Install Flash #whatever?" "Yes." "An error occured while trying to install." "Okay." "Install Flash #whatever?" "Yes." "An error occured while trying to install." "Okay." "Install Flash #whatever?" "Yes." "An error occured while trying to install." "Okay." "Install Flash #whatever?" "Yes." "An error occured while trying to install." "Okay."

Preeeetty sure I can't play.

What browser do you use?

[TBFProgrammer]

In (which puts us at minimum).

[MethosH]

So. Many. Rules. I'm. In.

[TBFProgrammer]

Edit: Seen the examples, if the JW and Spies join the same chat as the EW, wouldn't the junior witches know who are the elders and who are the spies?

I suspect that anything posted prior to your entering the discussion will not be seen. The program automatically alters posts based on what you know and certain other things. For instance*, your own posts will show as light green, posts made by coven will show as black if you are coven and posts made by heroes your role knows to be heroic will show in gold. Furthermore*, if someone starts a post with @<YOURNAME> you will see that post in red.


*Drawn from reading the MSPA game that is currently active



EDIT: MethosH, you have to sign on to Moscone too.



EDIT2: I agree with Sapo, he is a loose cannon (info gleaned from Moscone sample games).

[Internet Flea]

I think so, since he said that the public discussion will be here.

I'm a bit unsure about how Village Spies work. Would it be possible to scrifice/kill more then one suspect each night? Because if not and more then one spy joins then the witches would be done for, right?

Also, what exactly does "join first" mean? I'm not seeing it.

Edit: Seen the examples, if the JW and Spies join the same chat as the EW, wouldn't the junior witches know who are the elders and who are the spies?

PS: Glad to have this game back.
PPS: The first three cards are numbered backwards, going 3 -> 2 -> 1.

I think the point is that the witches need to wait until late game when there's a good reason to believe most or all of the Spies are dead.

Junior Witches would know who the Spies are, but Spies would know who the Junior Witches are too, and the Elders can't tell them apart. (The Elders could always announce themselves anyway which would have the same effect.)

...I think.

[Saposhiente]

In as the 14th role
People with Flash problems: Try getting it directly http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

[usourselves&we]

Well, looks like we signed up for this just in time if it is starting in the next 24 hours.

We won't be able to white text there

[Internet Flea]

Well, looks like we signed up for this just in time if it is starting in the next 24 hours.

We won't be able to white text there

I think it'll probably be delayed; he lost three days of recruitment. Just put <ignore></ignore> around it and we'll all pretend.
...wow, I just read my sig and surprised myself.

[The Zoat]

In! For the holy spirit!

[usourselves&we]

The Zoat you will need to sign up here in the GitP game, as it does not show you on there at this current time point.

[Tom the Mime]

I'm in and signed up.

[Internet Flea]

A couple of rule questions.

The Oracle says "if the person is targetted". Does that specifically mean attacked, or does it count if the priest scries them as well?

Do Elder Witch Oracles get the number of living witches that are not spies, or do they just get information they already have?

Does hitting a target that has multiple lives count as a successful kill for Vigilante purposes?

EDIT: Do Angels know who the Demons are, and can Demons still talk in Angel Chat?