[Path-Shaper]

(posting the opening scene a bit early, to drum up interest):





With the night, came the Ninjas. Here to restore their lord's honor, for the
theft and destruction rained down upon his houshold by the out-lander pirates.
Recovery of the stolen gold was a lesser priority than vengeance.

The ninjas that slowly rowed up to the becalmed pirate ship on that moonless
night were just grateful for the opportunity to serve a noble master. Long
since disgraced and cast out, they had wandered from one daimyo to another
looking for a leader who would restore their sense of purpose in life - even
if they had to die to prove their worth.

And not long after finding a daimyo who would take them in and make use of their
vast, murderous skills, that lord's castle had been ransacked, while he had been
away on business, and the ninjas had been guarding his caravan.

So he had sent them forth, following swiftly with tireless arms across an occasionally
angry sea. Now, a week after their relentless pursuit had began, the spirits of the
ocean and sky had blessed them - the wind had failed the bloated black ship, leaving
it vulnerable to infiltration. Masters of not just killing, but subterfuge, the ninjas
donned their disguise, determined to make their revenge not just bloody, but slow and
terrifying ... it wouldn't due to kill the crew quickly, in a single night.

They decided to wait until a full day had passed, to better study their enemy, and
choose an appropriate revenge. They expected blood-thirsty murderers, perhaps not
brilliant but at least cunning, and skilled in their own crude fashion with a variety
of weapons. They expected savages, rapists, barbarians.



... they didn't expect a pack of drunken, buggering idiots.



***


The body hung from the yardarm like a leaf from a tree on a windless day,
swaying gently from the motion of the ship on the waves. It certainly didn't
sway from the breeze - there hadn't been a trace of wind for nearly a full day
now, and hopelesness had began to set in among the violent crew of the ship.

Never minding the mindset of his crew, Blackbeard looked up with some satisfaction
at the corpse. Old Norwood hadn't necessarily been a bad fellow, but you could
only push the captain of a ship so far before you had to pay the consequences.

"Well," he said with a bit of forced cheer, "at least his didn't piss himself, like
Billy."

Nods of relieved assent to that, though it was just a reminder as to the lack of wind
that had stranded the Black Goat - it had been a breezy day, not so long ago, when Billy
had been hung for ... something, it was hard to remember what. In any case, the fat
bastard sure'd had a full bladder. Some of the men had been forced to wash their faces,
and in extreme cases, dip their clothes in the ocean.

"In any case, I suppose his share's mine," Blackbeard continued, with more honest cheer,
"seeing as how's the offense was against me, mostly. Me and my ship. Litiguous damages,
I suppose. Anyways, it's already locked up in me chest, so that seems fair." He took
another swallow of that rice piss he'd stolen from the Nip boat they'd bumped into a
few days back - when the wind was still blowing, and belched happily.

The crew began to turn away, swigging from their own bottles of various and hard to identify
liquors, muttering under or over their breaths, stroking the supple, hard, polished
wooden grips of their pistols with slightly more pleasure than necessary, each of them
wondering in some deep and slightly less pissed part of their mind just why the gold
had to go to the Captain, when maybe it should have been split equally, like the original
booty from that slant-eye's castle. Not that pirates were team-players, exactly ... and
if any of them had been paying closer attention, or had been even remotely sober, they
might have noticed that even after killing off a mutineer, their crew was a tad larger
than it had been that morning. And not just because people were seeing double.

Waves lapped gently against the teak hull, rythmic and peaceful, and the sun shone down
without malice. A parrot cawed on a pirate's shoulder, there was the slightest rustle
from unfurled canvas, and in a secluded corner of the gun-deck a screeching monkey tried
vainly to sodomize a cannon-ball.

It was going to be a long day.





Consider this thread closed until the game starts.

This post has been edited by Path-Shaper: 17 February 2009 - 11:25 PM

[Path-Shaper]

Game Mechanics

1 - General Structure
Players may begin posting as soon as the mods announce that the game has started on the thread. The game begins during the day. The day ends when when a sufficient number of people have voted to lynch a player (remove that player from the game) or voted to end the day without a lynch. Many games also have time limits on the days, and if no consensus is reached when the time expires, the day ends with no lynch (36 hours is the time limit for the present game). When the day phase has ended, night begins. The mods will then post a scene reporting the outcome of the day. Players may continue posting in the thread (unless they've been voted out) but no voting is allowed. Night ends when the mods post the morning scene reporting the outcome of the night actions. Day and night phases continue to alternate until the game ends.

2 - Day Phase
During the day, players may post in the thread and vote. Some roles may have special powers which can be used during the day.

2.1 - Voting Mechanics
To vote for a player: bold that player's name.
To vote to end the day without a lynch: bold the word night.
To change your vote: bold the other player's name (or bold night).
To remove your vote without casting a new vote: bold the phrase remove vote.

2.2 - Voting Restrictions
You may only vote during the day phase. You can only have one vote outstanding at any time. You may not edit a vote into a post. You may not edit a vote out of a post.

2.3 - Bold Restrictions
The use of bold should be limited to voting. If you want to emphasize a players name or another word, you can underline the word or post using a different color

2.4 - Majority Defined
A majority means either more than half of the active players voting for one player's lynch or half or more of the active players voting to go to night without a lynch.

2.5 - Ending the Day
The day ends as soon as a majority is reached (or, if the game has a day time limit and the players fail to achieve a majority, once the time limit has elapsed). Anyone lynched is no longer an active player and must not post in the thread. Votes can no longer be withdrawn and new votes cannot be cast until the night phase ends.

2.6 - Evening Scene
The mods will post a scene shortly after the day ends to report the results of the day actions. If the day ended with a player's lynch, the mods might also reveal information about the lynched player, such as the player's alt or alignment. This is the mods' choice, and they'll explain what, if any, information will be revealed in the game rules. There are no hidden clues in the evening scenes.

3 - Night Phase
During the night, players may post in the thread but may not vote. Some players will have the ability to perform special actions. Once again, the mods decide which roles will be included for their game, so be sure to fully read the game rules and any role descriptions which may be included.

3.1 - Performing a Night Action
If your role includes the ability to perform a special action at night, you need to PM the mods to indicate the action you wish to take. Most, if not all, roles have the ability to "withhold" their powers (i.e. take no action). This will be made clear to the roled players, and, usually, to all other players as well. If you chose to not perform your allowed action, you must PM "no action" to the mods. Most games have a time limit on nights (12 hours is the time limit for the present game). All players must PM their night actions to the mods within this timeframe. Players are strongly encouraged to send their night actions as soon as possible. You may also send in a PM for your special action during the day phase, this is very strongly encouraged.

3.2 - Contingent PM
If you send in a PM during the day phase, you may choose to list alternative actions contingent on the manner in which the day ended. If none of the contingencies you list actually occur, your PM will be disregarded, and you must send a new PM to the mods (example: if Meanas is lynched I kill Kaschan, otherwise I kill Hood's Path).

3.3 - Provisional PM
You may choose to send a provisional PM if you want to further consider your night action but do not want to extend the night if all other roled players have decided upon their actions. Provisional PMs must be clearly marked as such. A provisional PM will not be acted upon by the mods until it becomes a 'definite PM.' A provisional PM becomes definite as soon as ( a ) you confirm your choice with another PM, ( b ) all other roled players that need to send night actions have done so, or ( c ) the time limit for the night has expired.

As a courtesy to other players we ask that you confirm your provisional PM as soon as you are able.

3.4 - Last Resort PM
In extraordinary circumstances you may be allowed to send in a last resort PM. A last resort PM will not be acted upon by the mods until ( a ) you confirm your choice with another PM or ( b ) the time limit for the night has expired. Should you need to send a last resort PM, you must first seek the mods approval by explaining the circumstances that necessitate such a PM. Last resort PMs are accepted only at the discretion of the mods.

3.5 - Failure to PM
If not all PMs are received within the time limit, everyone who has failed to send in a PM will be considered to have taken no action. In addition, those who failed to send in a PM will be warned by the mods or may risk further penalties.

3.6 - Changing a Night Action
PMs to the mod can be changed at any point before the new day is announced. A PM is considered to be changed only after the mod receives and has read the PM. The player bears the risk that the mod will post the morning scene after the player has sent in a new PM but before the mod has actually read it.

3.7 - Abusing the Time Limit
If the mods have included a night time limit, it begins as soon as the previous day ended, regardless of when the mods posted the evening scene. However, this time limit is a maximum limit, and all players should send in PMs as soon as they feel comfortable doing so. Players (and mods) prefer shorter nights, as people are anxious to see who may have died and to begin voting again. If the mods feel that a player is abusing the time limit by unreasonably stalling, they may force the player to take no night action or take other appropriate action.

3.8 Preventing Night Actions
Except where expressly noted, no night actions prevent any other night actions sent in from taking effect.

3.9 - Morning Scene
The night phase ends when the mods post the morning scene. The mods will post the scene shortly after all night action PMs have been received. The scene will report any player deaths that occurred during the night, and might also reveal information about the lynched player, such as the player's alt or alignment. There are no hidden clues in the morning scenes. As soon as the scene is posted any players who have been killed at night will no longer be active players and can no longer post in the thread. The time limit for the new day will begin with the morning scene.

Section 4 - Endgame
The game will continue to alternate between day and night phases until the game ends. The game can end after either a day or night phase.

4.1 - Winning Conditions
The game ends once one faction has reached its winning conditions, which the mods will state in a later post.

Mafia is a team game. Once one faction achieves its winning conditions, all members of that faction have won whether or not they are active players when the winning conditions are achieved.

4.2 - Ending Scene
The mods will post an ending scene and declare the game over shortly after one faction achieves its winning conditions. If for any reason it becomes impossible for either faction to achieve its winning conditions, the mods will declare the game a draw.

The game is only over when a mod posts the ending scene. Even if you know (or believe you know) the result of the game before then, you may not post in the thread unless you are an active player.

4.3 - Calling the Game Early
The mods reserve the right to end the game at any time before a faction achieves its winning conditions provided there are compelling reasons to do so. In general, the mods will end the game early as soon as one faction's victory becomes inevitable.

4.4 - Spoilers
When the game is over, the mods will reveal the alts and roles of everybody who played and also give everyone access to the spoiled spectator threads on the discussion board.

RULES

All players must:

A1) Have an account on malazanempire.com/forums

A2) Log in and view the thread and the discussion board anonymously at all times, unless they have informed the mods that this is not possible for technical reasons

A3) Post at least once every 36 hours. Any player who has not posted within the last 36 hours will be automatically modkilled, whether or not the mods announce this on the thread. Warnings will be issued after 24 hours and subsequently closer to the deadline.

The mods may grant extensions to this limit in some cases (if so, they will give details in a later post). However, if they have not posted on the thread to announce an extension before the 24 hour limit is reached, no extension will be granted, whatever may have been said elsewhere. Please contact the mods as early as possible if you wish to request an extension.

A4) Send in role prescribed night actions (including the desire to take no action) within the time limit

A5) Treat everybody else playing with courtesy and respect

A6) Make any edits the mods request of them as soon as possible, whether or not they believe that the posts need to be edited.

A7) Contact the game mods as soon as possible if they feel you are at risk of breaking a rule or fear they or another person may have already done so.

A8) You must not edit previous posts unless to change spelling or grammar.

Players must not:

B1) Act in any way intended to reduce the chance of their faction achieving its win conditions. (However, should all surviving members of a faction agree that they wish to resign and end the game early, they may do so by PMing the mods privately, without stating their intentions on-thread until the mods post to announce that the game is over.)

B2) Discuss the game with any other living players outside this game thread except when told they may do so in their role PMs.

B3) Reveal any information about the game at all in any other thread than this one, or in any other forum (including message boards and chat rooms) where it may be seen by a living player.

B4) Give anybody access to any of their accounts (including game alts, if the game is using them), either here or on the mafia discussion board.

B5) Attempt to obtain advice about the game from anybody not currently playing.

B6) Post information on the thread relating to another player's past or current activity on (or absence from) the board that would not otherwise be available to anybody reading the thread.

B7) Quote, in whole or part, PMs from (or other private conversations with) the mods on the thread, or discuss the timing of any PMs sent to the mods.

B8) Post on the thread at any time after they are dead until the mods themselves post on the thread to announce that the game is over. Any posts accidently made after death should be immediately edited blank.

B9) Make any bets about the game.

B10) Offer to break any of these rules or any other rules the mods have set in place for the game, encourage others to do so or help to conceal the fact that rules have been broken.

B11) Revealing the name of your character is expressly forbidden both in the living thread and in the beyond, doing so will result in a modkill and the removal of your player from both here and heaven.

AND JUST SO YOU KNOW

C1) Failure to comply with the rules may result in any punishment the mods deem appropriate, including, but not limited to: a request to edit posts; formal warnings on thread; "modkilling", lashing, spanking, paddling, the rack, thumbscrews, waterboarding, time-out, death and/or ending the game prematurely in favor of one faction or none. Except where clearly stated in the rules, the mods are free to respond to any rules violation in whatever manner they wish. In all cases the mods' decision on these matters is final.

C2) Feel free to PM your thoughts (or questions) to the mods. We love to hear them!

C3) The mods reserve the right to amend the rules during the game if we realize we've forgotten to cover something.

-------------------------

As well as running the game on this thread, the mods are also responsible for administering the spoiler thread on the temporary forum and anybody not actively involved in the game (whether spectators or dead players who no longer wish to play) can request access to this thread by PMing the mods. Only dead players will have access to the Beyond. Please note that while in general the mods will be happy to let anybody have access to this thread, they do reserve the right to refuse access to anybody for any reason. Accordingly, please do not ask anybody other than the mods for access to the spoiler thread or give yourself access to it, even if you have the power to do so. Any posts found to contravene these rules will be deleted and the responsible players will be added to a blacklist for any future games run my this mod.

Once given access to the thread, spoiled spectators should also take note of the following rules, and must not:

D1) Share any information from the spoiler thread with living players, or post such in a forum where it may be seen by living players.

D2) Offer any advice, hints or strategy to living players.

D3) Make personal attacks on players in the game or on posters in the spoiler thread itself

D4) Post on the game thread before the mods announce that the game is over.

D5) PM living or dead players with comments on the game.


Game Specific Rules

Day Time Limit :- 36 hours
Night Limit :- 6 hours
Modkill limit :- 36 hours

Weekend break :- Game will continue as usual, but modkills are disabled from friday lunchtime until monday lunchtime GMT.

(This was cut-and-pasted from 39, hope there's nothing game specific ...)

[Path-Shaper]

Game Specific Rules:


* Day-Kills will not end the Day, only specific actions will do so.

* The mod reserves the right to kill anyone at any time for whatever reason, or likewise to resurrect anyone
at any time under whatever damn conditions he well pleases.

* Remember that Night only lasts six hours, or whenever one of us gets on to end it. Provisionals, everyone.

* I'm tired from lack of sleep, sore from moving snow, and usually drunk. This will be reflected in my behavior. Enjoy.

* Role-playing is strongly encouraged, and in some cases even mandatory.

* Actions are resolved in the following order (note: all or none of these abilities may be in the game): Guard, Find, Heal, Recruit, Kill


Win Conditions:

Pirates: Survive, acquire gold, kill the Ninjas
Ninjas: Kill all Pirates.

This post has been edited by Path-Shaper: 19 February 2009 - 03:51 AM

[Path-Shaper]

Alt passwords have been sent.

Role PMs have been sent.

Hopefully I didn't fuck any of that up ... so if not ... GAME ON, BITCHES.

[Kaschan]

FIRST!! GAME ON!

^ just needed to let everyone know it is go time.

[Rashan]

Segundo a correo.

[Kaschan]

I don't understand FOREIGN languages. I have a problem with them.

[Rashan]

De verdad?

[D'riss]

I have arrived!!

[D'riss]

Why are we not on page 4 yet?
Where is everyone T^T

[Kaschan]

How can you prove that YOU have truly arrived? What if I or someone else arrived in your guise? What then? The coming of the Apocalyse, I tell you.

[D'riss]

Fine, I am not here








Now I am here

[Kaschan]

INCONCEIVABLE!

That one such as you would try to match wits with I. So I pose to you this question...
are any of us truly anywhere?

[D'riss]

No of course not, that would just be inconceivable!
We are of course a figment of a supernatural being's imagination. We neither exist nor do we not exist..

[Kaschan]

I must disagree my dear sir.
For if we neither exist or do not exist than such wasteful things like Sleep wouldn't be necessary.
Yet I must needs sleep.

This post has been edited by Kaschan: 18 February 2009 - 06:50 AM

[Kaschan]

It was nice to get a early lead on the spam bots, yet when I wake up I'm sure there will be PAGES of spam courtesy of Grief.

Then we can set off to start a war

[D'riss]

SLEEP!?!?!?!?!? Sleep is for the weak.
If you can't train your body to withstand not going insane without sleep, you must be pretty weak indeed, my good sir

[Kaschan]

I require SLEEP because I am Mohinder, and I need to rest up for a long day tomorrow.

[Kaschan]

Wrong game, I am sorry.

And now I must get to sleep for real. Soon many more will join you to try and overcome my WITS. But all shall fail because I am trained in wise(ass)ness

[D'riss]

Fine T^T Leave
I never wanted you here anyway