Tol-in-Gaurhoth (Isle of Werewolves)

[mormegil]

Put me on the "tentative I'm willing to give my spot to others if needed" list

[Azaelia of Willowbottom]

Whoops...forgot to put in my occupation...
I would like to be a village girl who sells flowers

School starts for me next week, unfortunately...but as long as days and nights each last 24 hours, I should be able to make it online at least once each day.
7PM EST is a good time for me...if things get too much later, I start running into danger territory: "Hey! Get off the computer! It's a school night! Don't you have homework to do?"...

[Shelob]

An occupation? erm...how about a Student of the Ancient (long-dead) Gadian Language?...or a llama farmer, it amounts to the same thing...

[Gurthang]

Well, sad to say, I will not be playing in this game. I would really like to, since I've only played in 1 total, but college has already started and I don't want to be able to free up time to study. Maybe when things settle down, I will be able to participate, but that probably won't be until WWXI(since ten might be an invitational).

I will, though, try to read through as much as possible and keep track of Black Beorning kills! (See sig.)

[Folwren]

I should like to play, if there's room left.

If we're choosing occupations, I would like to be what I'm usually in Mafia. Jack, the Blacksmith. To the public eye, naturally.

[Boromir88]

I sadly will be following Gurthang and won't be in the next game. I enjoyed playing and would hope to play in the near future, but I've been bogged down in some work proceedings and had to withdraw from the RPG I was in. I just don't see myself able to make a commitment towards the next game and would much rather see it taken by someone who can. Have fun, hope to join again soon.

[arcticstorm]

hmmm occupation, how about a detective, I haven't seen that one used

[Gil-Galad]

don't forget me on the list!

[Encaitare]

Updated the list in post 1105. There is one spot still open, and I still need occupations from many of you.

[Shelob]

1. Folwren...18. Folwren - blacksmith

By my count we've got 2 spaces left...Folwren's on the list twice...

[Kath]

Hmm, I think I'll be a gardener.

[Encaitare]

Oops! Shelob, you are indeed correct. I'd forgotten that Folwren had already signed up. 'Tis fixed.

[Firefoot]

Alas, I wish I could play but this is a really busy time of year for me (there are Days where I leave at 7 in the morning and don't get home until 10 at night...), so I'll be sitting this one out. Have fun, everyone.

[Gil-Galad]

I think i'll be like Harvey Birdman, an Attorney at Law...plus i get a bird, Avenger!

[Meneltarmacil]

I've already said that I was the zookeeper, and even gave the list of animals at my zoo. (Lions, tigers, monkeys, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, gorillas, wolves, bears, and I'll add some sea lions and a reptile house to that, by the way)

[the phantom]

As for my occupation, you may enter "apothecary".

[Holbytlass]

I am the cow-fertilizer seller

[Durelin]

I was considering pulling out, but...

the phantom returns? And Saucie? And there are a few new faces? And Enca is the mod? How can we pass this one up?!

I am so totally in.

*coughs*

Make me the Mistress of 1337 (c)CoDWorld.

[SamwiseGamgee]

Is there room for me? If so count me in, please.

[The Saucepan Man]

I shall be an itinerant mushroom harvester.

[Folwren]

This ought to be fun. I'm excited that I'm able to join.

I'm sorry to bother people, but I'm somewhat confused with all the different characters that I saw mentioned in the last game. I noticed several titles that seemed to be of some importance that I wasn't aware of even being in existance in the regular game of Mafia, which I've heard this compared to.

I am thinking that the Werewolves are the same as the Mafia.

The Seer, I guess, is the Sherrif?

But I can't place the Bear or the Cobbler...and the Cobbler might have been just some whim in the last game that someone threw in for humors sake, I don't know.

So before the game starts, I'd really like a quick run over of the characters, rules, and times that the nights and days are played. Don't be too extravagant, or else it'd be a waste of your time.

Thanks, though, for your trouble.

- Folwren

[Glirdan]

I would definetly like to join!! If there's room of course. If so, I'll be the village teacher (if someone hasn't taken that yet).

School starts for me next week, unfortunately...but as long as days and nights each last 24 hours, I should be able to make it online at least once each day.

Im in the same boat as Azaelia however. I should have time after homework. Wednesdays and Fridays will be the only problem days. Other then that, Im fine.

[Kath]

Folwren all the characters and their roles will be explained in the mods first post in the game (thankfully!). Only the Cobbler and the Werebear are really new but if you're still confused you could maybe PM the mod or players who have previously held those roles for help? They'd probably be best at explaining.

[SamwiseGamgee]

I thought I'd take this opportunity to voice some opinions on the characters and system of WW VIII from the point of an ungifted innocent villager for Enca to take on board for WW IX.

Firstly, the werebear. A controversial decision to include it, I think. However, despite initial reservations and frustrations I realised that it did add avery new and random air to the game. Fact is that we nailed the wolves very early in WW VIII. Now, there may have been some luck involved in that, but I think a lot of it had to do with people now being very experienced at the game, and the werebear as a new character keeps it fresh. Also, on a personal note, maybe one day I'll get to be the Beorning, and I think that'd be so much fun!

Secondly, the cobbler. I feel that WW IX should go without. Durelin's confession basically sealed the fate of the game, and though I'm very happy to have won, I didn't like that. I think that if there is a werebear in the game then there should not be a cobbler, pointing to what happened with Durelin. If, however, the goal of the cobbler was redefined so as his/her goal was to aid the werecreatures, that would be entirely different.

Thirdly, mass lynchings. Again, I'm really happy to have won, but I think they should be banned. I do not, however, think that this should be done by allowing retractable votes. The definite nature of the voting in WW VIII really made the whole process much better and more enjoyable- you were always thinking, "I only have one vote today, I must use it wisely." But back to mass lynchings- yeah, don't like them, but at the same time I can't see an effective way to rule them out except banning them, and I'm not really comfortable with that kind of nannying, so maybe they'll just have to stay there.

On a final, practical, note: I felt the 48 hour period for day and night was good, as it allowed everyone reasonable opportunity to get online.

[Holbytlass]

With Meneltarmacil's zoo and stealing this idea from an episode of CSI I watched last night, my product is 'zoo-doo' fertilizer.
Here's my opinions on somethings...
I like SamwiseGamgee's idea on the cobbler helping all werecreatures, after all, their life sucks so bad I'm sure they'd like anyone to destroy the village. I'm for non-mass lynching and I go as far as 'nannying' and say ban it. I think the Beorning needs to be played some more because it is new and maybe that's why some are reluctant with it. And newbies who're joining us, don't worry, you'll catch on really quick and it's so much fun.
I'm for any start time as long as it's 24 hour cycle.

[SamwiseGamgee]

Yeah, don't you think Eomer of the Rohirrim is just being frumpy about the Black Beorning? You're living in the past, man; the times they are a-changing; wake up and smell the cheese etc, etc.

[littlemanpoet]

Granted, the games aren't always set in a Medieval time, but Middle Earth is often the general place for our version, so I thought I'd help out a little by offering a list I found in a great historical fiction book:

Wheelwright
Trader in crockery and pewter
Ironmonger
Fish seller
Cordwainer
Butcher
Baker
Cloth-seller
Tailor
Silversmith (intriguing possibilities in a werewolf game?)
Carpenter
Leatherworker
Bellows-maker
Glover
Hatter
Yarnmaker
Rabbitseller
Spicer
Greengrocer
Garlic seller (again, interesting possibilities?)
Poultry merchant
Cooper (barrel maker)
Coal seller
Salt merchant
Oatmeal seller
Hog dealer
Wool merchant
Carter
Mason
Shepherd
Coppersmith
Money lender
Cheese seller
Tanner
Aulnager (exacter of fees and fines from the local feudal lord)

There are probably more, but this list was all in one place, so I thought I'd offer it.

I left out the sacred professions as they are not appropo to Middle Earth.

[Glirdan]

Ok, I changed my mind for a profession. I want to be a chesse seller! GO CHESSE!!!!!!!!

[the guy who be short]

It appears I have a wedding ceremony to go to on Sunday. This wouldn't be a problem if the first 24 hour stage was a night though - hint hint.

Secondly, before I choose my role: where's the village set? The Shire? Somewhere less fun?

Um. That's it really. End transmission.

[arcticstorm]

Yea change my profession also to one on tha tlist: a coppersmith

[Bergil]

If there's still room, sign me up! I'll be a "very bad carpenter"

[wilwarin538]

Change mine to please. To a tailor.

Yeah, six hundred posts!

[mormegil]

I was thinking along the lines of being a travelling merchant and trader with not specialty. So basically a general merchant.

Oh and thank you LMP for you list of appropriate jobs.

[The Saucepan Man]

I think we need to be careful not to stack the odds against the Villagers simply because they won the last game.

There are a number of tactical options available to players on all sides in this game. Mass lynchings, if allowed, are one such tactical option. But remember that they can be used, in appropriate circumstances, by the Werecreatures too to severely deplete the Villagers' numbers. And they are only effective for the Villagers in limited circumstances. They need at least one known innocent and are generally unfeasible when there are two or more werecreatures, or one werecreature plus the Cobbler, still on the loose.

Having said that, I have no problem with introducing measures to nullify mass lynchings. I would prefer to retain non-retractable votes for the reason stated by SamwiseGamgee, so one option might be simply to choose one Villager at random when two or more are tied for votes. An alternative, which might allow for more tactical play, would be to make the first vote decisive in the event of a tie. In other words, when there are two or more Villagers tied, the one voted for first is lynched.

I am nervous about the Cobbler being allowed to help the Beorning since the Beorning can be difficult enough to track down as it is. An alternative would be to remove the Cobbler from the game as and when all the Wolves are killed off.

[Encaitare]

We now have 21 players:

1. Folwren - blacksmith
2. Shelob - student of the Ancient and Long-Dead Gadian Language; a llama famer on the side
3. Holbytlass - seller of "zoo-doo" fertilizer
4. the guy who be short
5. Meneltarmacil
6. WaynetheGoblin - dentist
7. wilwarin538 - tailor
8. Alcarillo - mayor (not for voting/tiebreaking purposes, just the village mayor)
9. Durelin - Mistress of 1337
10. Saucepan Man - mushroom harvester
11. Kath - gardener
12. the phantom - apothecary
13. Azaelia of Willowbottom - flower-selling lass
14. Cailín - constant crocheter
15. arcticstorm - coppersmith
16. Nonnacedak
17. mormegil - merchant
18. Gil-Galad - lawyer, has a pet bird
19. SamwiseGamgee
20. Glirdan - cheese seller
21. Bergil - very bad carpenter

Unless someone has a problem and needs to back out of the game, this list will be final.

Responses to some questions and points:

There will be a bear. Just because it's fun. It gives the villagers another objective, and come on, we don't want to be doing the same game over and over again. That's why I like the idea of the cobbler aiding the bear as well. The village is big enough for it -- what are all of your thoughts on this concept? And as for mass lynchings... I don't really think they are the best idea, but as a last resort I think it's okay. Let's just say that your Mod will generally frown upon mass lynchings except as a very last resort ... and I've got a meeeean frown. How about the cobbler stays, but to make it fairer for the villagers, mass lynching is allowed as a last resort?

We will continue to abide by the Irretractable Rule of Voting.

Yes, DAY will be 24 hours and NIGHT will be 24 hours. This will allow everyone to check in at whatever time is convenient. The first 24 hours shall be NIGHT 1.

Hmmm... where shall our village be set? I think it shall be a town which has fallen into disrepair. Everyone but these 21 (22 including me) have moved away in search of bigger and better things, while we have remained, trying to scrape by. It's on the border of a dark and looming forest.

Since we have all our players, I am going to start deciding roles. This will be done completely at random (seriously, I've got little scraps of paper and a fedora in which to put them). Think about what I've said about the cobbler. As soon as the cobbler's function is decided, I'll send everyone their roles. Looking forward to a great game!

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

I told my brother about this last game of Werewolf. Conversation was like this:

"They caught all the wolves already!"

"Wow, so when's the next game?"

"Don't actually know, you see.........there's still a bear for them to kill."

"So the Werewolves are dead.....and the game of Werewolf continues?"

"...........yes."



Absurd, surely. If we get bored of the Bear are we going to throw in another creature who kills at random and can only be found at random? Or why not throw in a fifth side - a crazy villager intent on killing everyone including himself. The game is built on the two sides of Villagers and Werewolves. Adding a third side seems quite negative to me.

Werewolves win! - NOOOOO!!!!!

Villagers win! - Hooray!!!

Bear wins! - um.....fine, whatever.

I have liked pretty much every addition to the game. The Guardian is brilliant; the Cobbler is fantastic; the Hunter too (though admittedly it confused me at first). But I do not like the Bear at all.

So there.


Edit: Sorry Enca, poor timing on my part. Didn't know you were starting so soon.

[Encaitare]

Perhaps I should indicate what the roles will be. This is assuming that we keep the cobbler. It is this humble young lady's opinion that more gifteds = more fun, so here goes:

In this village there shall [tentatively] be...
1 Seer
1 Ranger
1 Hunter
1 Cobbler
1 Black Beorning
2 Shirriffs
3 Werewolves

The rest of you are ordinary villagers. This village is [fairly] democratic, so speak up! Let's hear what you think of this!

Cross-edited with arcticstorm and Kath... apparently arcticstorm and I are of like mind.

[arcticstorm]

Originally Posted by mormegil

I think the size of the village should determine some of the roles we add (ie Shirriffs, werebear, etc...)

I would like to propose that for future games the following should be true:

13 players: 3 wolves, 1 seer
14-15 players: 3 wolves., 1 seer, 1 guardian, 1 hunter
16-17 players: 3 wolves, i seer, 1 guardian, 1 hunter, 1 cobbler, 1 cursed
18-19 players: 3 wolves, 1 seer,1 guardian, 1 hunter, 1 cobbler, 2 sherriffs, 1 cursed, 1 mithomaniac
20-22 players: 3 wolves, 1 seer, 1 guardian, 1 hunter, 1 cobbler, 2 sherriffs, 1 bear
23-25 players: 3 wolves, 1 seer, 1 guardian, 1 hunter, 1 cobbler, 2 sherriffs, 1 bear, 1 cursed
26-30 players: 3 or 4wolves, 1 seer, 1 guardian, 1 hunter, 1 cobbler, 2 or 3 sherriffs, 1 bear, 1 cursed, 1 mitho

[Kath]

I think that going over 22 players would be making the games too large and too complicated. They're confusing enough as it is at the moment, especially for people who haven't played before. it has been suggested that we have more than one game going on at once but that was shot down though I can't remember why. Making a cut-off point would be a good idea and maybe Downers who have played before could give up spaces if new people want to play to keep the numbers down a bit. Because can you imagine having the bear, the mytho, the cobbler and the cursed villager as well as 3 wolves! It would be insane!

[Mithalwen]

I would only say that three wolves to 18 players including a full set of gifteds is too weighted in favour of the village. The basic form was 1 in four players is a wolf and the wolves still can win (as in the original game despite a blinding start by the village). I think the mythomaniac is a more interesting variable than the cursed and is a useful option if the numbers don't quite justify the addition of a extra wolf. I personally would not bother with Shirriffs ..... Love the Werehamster and cobbler...... but it means a bigger game.

Also I would ban the set up mass lynchings to ensure a technical village victory. It is rather Pyrrhic if only one person is left alive and while I would not argue the legality with The Saucepan Man, I still regard it as against the spirit of the game and effectively cheating. After all the wolves may only lynch one person a night..... and if they have only a whelk's chance in a supernova of winning it is all rather pointless.

But then I seem to be the only person who likes retractable votes so ....... anyway I doubt my nerves could stand playing another game.... took it all far too seriously and found it far too upsetting ( on a par with an encounter with OFSTED) ....but I would maybe mod again sometime ... now I know the pitfalls and hopefully how to avoid them.......