Tol-in-Gaurhoth (Isle of Werewolves)

[Boromir88]

Well, to follow the other two...In the up in coming WW game...

Name: Boromir

Occupation: Town Coroner

Age: Unknown, he forgot.

Race: Laconic Loreman

Gender: Male

Weapons: Odd surgical instruments used in his studies. I mean really what else do you expect?

Appearance: See avatar...oh wait...um.. more like this guy in the center

Personality: Serious psychological problems, I mean he cuts up dead bodies for a living...

History: He has been the Town Coroner now for 17 years. He was born, raised, and grew up in [insert name of village]. With the trauma of cutting into dead people for 17 years he has developed alternate personalities and they may pop out at anytime...

[Alcarillo]

Name: Alcarillo

Occupation: Bartender

Age: Middle-aged

Race: Something terribly witty and alliterative

Gender: Male

Weapons: Beer bottles, wine glasses, etc.

Appearance: Bald with a funny moustache. Wears basic bartender garb.

Personality: Average-ish. Best described as nice, okay, fine. Nobody knows him that well. He's just the bartender.

History: Has lived in Hamlet for all his life. He has been the bartender at the Ugly Duckling for a long time, beginning his career when his father quit.

[dancing spawn of ungoliant]

Is there still room for me? I'd like to play, too.

[littlemanpoet]

I'll play unless you don't need the extra body to lynch.

I'll be: The crotchety old wise man, former barrister (or whatever you called them in this fantasy village).

[Saurreg]

I'll sit this one out.

Hey! I do believe Eomer has broken the "not-more-than-three" curse!

[The Saucepan Man]

Wow! This is going to be a big game. I count 18 definates and 2 possibles already. Firefoot's game had 18 players and lasted 2 weeks!

With so many players (and more likely to want to enroll), I think that some thought needs to be given to the balance of the game. The Wolves prevailed in the last game, but it was a close run thing resulting from (I thought) some excellent play from the Wolves and the Cobbler. Many more than 18 players and consideration ought to be given to starting with 4 Wolves or cutting down the number of 'gifted' villagers.

On another note, I don't want to deter anyone, but I do think that everyone who agrees to play should be sure that they can guarantee being available (barring unforeseen consequences) for at least two weeks. A day's absence here and there on the part of one or two players is OK, but much more than that and I think it affects the balance of the game.

Also, I do think that OOC comments concerning absences and the like should be kept out of the game and posted either on this thread or a separate "admin" thread for the game. Otherwise, they can influence the game and this, I think, should be avoided as far as possible.

Finally, I have been wondering about the shirriff role. Lmp noted on the Werewolf VII thread that, being unable to declare themselves while both were still alive, they had little influence on the game. I agree to an extent, although they can come into their own (albeit probably for no more than one day) when one is killed by the Wolves and the other therefore becomes a known innocent. I do think it somewhat artificial if they are unable to declare themselves while they are both alive but the survivor is able to do so when the other dies. On the other hand, allowing them to declare while alive does make them very powerful.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this or on the other roles or game balance generally?

[The Saucepan Man]

Another thought - if there are enough people interested (say 24+), we could always have two games running at the same time.

[littlemanpoet]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

I have been wondering about the shirriff role. Lmp noted on the Werewolf VII thread that, being unable to declare themselves while both were still alive, they had little influence on the game. I agree to an extent, although they can come into their own (albeit probably for no more than one day) when one is killed by the Wolves and the other therefore becomes a known innocent. I do think it somewhat artificial if they are unable to declare themselves while they are both alive but the survivor is able to do so when the other dies. On the other hand, allowing them to declare while alive does make them very powerful.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this or on the other roles or game balance generally?

Well, since you brought it up and it's a pet topic of mine, I agree on the artificiality you point out. On the other hand, as I mentioned on VII, there are enough experienced players that in any size game, it seems to me that the shirriffs are an unnecessary role. There are other ways for the villagers to take the iniative from the werewolves; they just have to be creative enough. I do certainly enjoy playing a shirriff, but the role, when played right, may be too powerful whereas when artificially limited, doesn't seem worth having.