![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Werewolves!
Jul. 6th, 2010 10:11 pmI wanted to talk about my wonderful weekend, but then I got caught in the train during the one day in months where I didn´t have a ticket and was too depressed. So, I had an awesome weekend. Now I want to talk about Werewolves.
Werewolves is an awesome game I first encountered during singing camp. I have no idea how many people know it; in a crowd of fifteen people, it´s usually two or three, and two more know the online version Mafia. (Wikipedia has the English article under "Mafia", which is apparently the original name, but I like "Werewolves" better. More atmosphere.) The big disadvantage is that you need about eight players, plus a game leader. But it works with a group of twenty, it´s easily prepared, it takes a bit long to explain but is easy to learn, and it´s so much fun! (Except for the people who die in the first round and then have to watch. Silently. The dead don´t talk. That can be the tiniest bit frustrating.)
Now go look up the rules. Which always change depending on who you ask and you really don´t need all the roles, so it´s not as complicated as it looks, promise!
Types of players:
The Super Detective
Always knows exactly who is a werewolf and doesn´t hesitate to say so. Feels inwardly justified every time he gets killed (no matter if during the day or during the night.) Is always frustrated by his fellow players´ lack of belief in him. (Sometimes has an amazing stroke of luck or intuition.) If there are more than one or two of him per game, conflict is inevitable.
The Waverer
Always has three different theories about each person. Interpretes every action both against and for another player and explains his moral conflicts extensively. Is usually very apologetic right before condemning the victim. Tends to follow either the majority or the loudest voice. (Often they form the majority.)
The Silent Observer
What the name says. Hesitates to say anything because he could be wrong and the others could use it against him, or simply because he really has no idea. Is often accused of being guilty because he´s "too silent", regardless of the fact that he´s always like this.
The Tactician
Usually an experienced player with a refined strategy. Tries to reason with the others and uses "proof" ("B suspected A, A was a werewolf, B must be innocent!") to do so. Is often silent during the first or the first two rounds to gather information. Gets very frustrated when the others behave irrationally and is supremely vindicated when he´s right. (Usually very clumsy as a werewolf.)
The Evil One
Has the good - or bad, depending on his preference - luck to be a werewolf in the first two rounds and convinces everyone that he´s a good guy in the third one "because it would be extremely unlikely for me to be a werewolf again!" He is, of course, a werewolf. After that he tends to get killed almost immediately regardless of any actual evidence.
And of course there are various combinations of those types.
I love this game, and I´m so happy every time I get a chance to play it. We played six or seven games on Sunday evening at a friend´s birthday party, and since I organized it (well, I and one other), I was game leader for most of the night, which is fun, too. The two times I played I won. And okay, usually a team wins, but when I was healer I identified every living werewolf in the third round and when I was a werewolf I was elected mayor, saw two fellow wolves killed and then led my remaining comrade to a triumphant victory.
...Is it full moon, btw?
Werewolves is an awesome game I first encountered during singing camp. I have no idea how many people know it; in a crowd of fifteen people, it´s usually two or three, and two more know the online version Mafia. (Wikipedia has the English article under "Mafia", which is apparently the original name, but I like "Werewolves" better. More atmosphere.) The big disadvantage is that you need about eight players, plus a game leader. But it works with a group of twenty, it´s easily prepared, it takes a bit long to explain but is easy to learn, and it´s so much fun! (Except for the people who die in the first round and then have to watch. Silently. The dead don´t talk. That can be the tiniest bit frustrating.)
Now go look up the rules. Which always change depending on who you ask and you really don´t need all the roles, so it´s not as complicated as it looks, promise!
Types of players:
The Super Detective
Always knows exactly who is a werewolf and doesn´t hesitate to say so. Feels inwardly justified every time he gets killed (no matter if during the day or during the night.) Is always frustrated by his fellow players´ lack of belief in him. (Sometimes has an amazing stroke of luck or intuition.) If there are more than one or two of him per game, conflict is inevitable.
The Waverer
Always has three different theories about each person. Interpretes every action both against and for another player and explains his moral conflicts extensively. Is usually very apologetic right before condemning the victim. Tends to follow either the majority or the loudest voice. (Often they form the majority.)
The Silent Observer
What the name says. Hesitates to say anything because he could be wrong and the others could use it against him, or simply because he really has no idea. Is often accused of being guilty because he´s "too silent", regardless of the fact that he´s always like this.
The Tactician
Usually an experienced player with a refined strategy. Tries to reason with the others and uses "proof" ("B suspected A, A was a werewolf, B must be innocent!") to do so. Is often silent during the first or the first two rounds to gather information. Gets very frustrated when the others behave irrationally and is supremely vindicated when he´s right. (Usually very clumsy as a werewolf.)
The Evil One
Has the good - or bad, depending on his preference - luck to be a werewolf in the first two rounds and convinces everyone that he´s a good guy in the third one "because it would be extremely unlikely for me to be a werewolf again!" He is, of course, a werewolf. After that he tends to get killed almost immediately regardless of any actual evidence.
And of course there are various combinations of those types.
I love this game, and I´m so happy every time I get a chance to play it. We played six or seven games on Sunday evening at a friend´s birthday party, and since I organized it (well, I and one other), I was game leader for most of the night, which is fun, too. The two times I played I won. And okay, usually a team wins, but when I was healer I identified every living werewolf in the third round and when I was a werewolf I was elected mayor, saw two fellow wolves killed and then led my remaining comrade to a triumphant victory.
...Is it full moon, btw?
