How long does a game usually last? Plus other q's.

[brujah]

Ok, for a start, I'm sorry if this isnt the way to ask questions about the game. But Ive never played a DM game, and in fact, until this week never even heard of one. I've learned as much as I can from reading websites, and from reading the threads of played games, but that doesnt mean i completely understand everything.

 

How long does a game usually last? It looks like some of these games last weeks or even months. I dont see how such a slow pace works. Does everyone agree to be on and posting at about the same time each day? Are there set aside times for certain things? It seems like everyone would generally need to be on at the same time for OPTIMAL enjoyment.

 

And I actually already asked two members through PM, but I figured Id ask again for the entire player base to see. I was curious as to how much environment interaction you're allowed to have. For example, in the SAW MAFIA game going on. I was wondering if it would be ok to have your character go over and inspect the dead chick that was hanging down anove the group at first(Marcy). Or are all player actions set by the one running the game?

 

It seems to me that the only information you use to determine who the other players are, are based on what they say in the thread. But theyre not talking as the character, theyre talking as themselves. Those of you that have played this awhile must think my questions are very stupid, but Im just trying to grasp the general idea. For example, in the SAW MAFIA game, I would have immediately suspected anyone that initially helped get Marcy down. Dont ask why, but thats what I would first think. And is it ok to make such an assumption based on what someone labeled as "environment flavor" or are you suppose to base it solely on whats said in the threads by the players themselves.

 

Sorry if my questions appear stupid. Ive never seen these type of games before.

[LilyElizabeth]

Hi and welcome to DM. I'll take a stab at some of those questions.

 

Since the DM community is world wide, we are all online at different times. That makes it difficult to keep up a fast pace. That's why the games take a while. A well-planned game should last about 3 weeks. (A larger game would have more killing roles to shorten the time, etc.) Sometimes you'll see a faster one. I like to run games with 24 hour phases. That wouldn't work for a larger, more complicated game, though.

 

I'm not sure how to answer the question about enviroment. Usually the scenes are just flavor, to make the game interesting or to fit it to the theme. I suppose clues could be given in the scenes, but I've never seen it. It would be fun to play a game like that. (Even more fun to mod it.....hmmm.)

 

I hope I was able to help some. Your questions aren't stupid, they are good questions. Having learned mafia here, this is "normal" to me, so it's interesting to see it from an outsider's pov.

[Sakaea]

My LOTR game I just ran only lasted 3 day cycles, or about a week. But that was abnormally short, as the town was amazingly good/lucky.

Looks like you might have given Lily an idea....you gave me one, that's for sure...

[SBoydW]

The length of a game (Mafia) depends on a lot of factors. Like, number of players, complexity of the roles involved, how much time the Moderator(mod) sets for "days" and "nights", activity of players, et cetera. I've been in some games that lasted about two weeks and I've been in some that have lasted for a month.

 

As for posting, because there are people from all over the world that post and participate in Mafia games, there isn't really a set time that everyone agrees to be on at. For mafia the Mod will say that a "day" will last for 72 hours (just an example), and in that time frame everyone is expected to participate and be active.

 

As for what you can do in a game, it all depends on the game your playing. For the most part what actions you can take are dictated by the role the mod assigns you. If you are not assigned a role then the only action you are allowed is a vote once a day for a person you feel is most likely mafia (if your a townie innocent). For the most part, it's just debate and finger pointing trying to figure out who is naughty and who is nice.

 

I hope that explains some of what you're asking... Here's a good resource that should answer anything else. http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/topic/56481-welcome-to-dm-mafia/

[Verbal32]

As far as interacting with the environment, we have done that here a little bit. DPR had it in some of the Suras games, and it was done on another site, but mostly for flavor. DPR's actually had game reasons.....but mostly you just pay attention to what the players post.