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13:04, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

The Backstabber's Ball.

Posted by smokinbarrel
smokinbarrel
member, 712 posts
Tue 13 Sep 2016
at 23:18
  • msg #1

The Backstabber's Ball

Have you ever played "Mafia" (a.k.a. "Werewolf")? Simple premise--a "Werewolf" or "the Mafia" stalk a village, killing one person each night. By day, the surviving villagers debate the suspects, and vote one out. It's a race to see if the killer can eliminate everyone before they're caught!

A friend & I would like to run that premise with a twist--you'll play a canon character from "the Multiverse". Any canon character in any genre and medium is fair game--animation, comic books, film, literature, TV, etc. We'll start with a "Whodunit", and give players a chance to nab the "Backstabber".

Each "Ball" would be finite. Once the killer is caught, or last victim dies, we stop. New games would just be a new thread. Players have the option of hosting Balls, and we'll add roles for larger casts.

Would this interest anyone?
SWolfe
member, 49 posts
Wed 14 Sep 2016
at 01:29
  • msg #2

The Backstabber's Ball

If I recall correctly some of the players had special abilities, which were standardized.  Are you suggesting to replace these with the powers of the character chosen from the Multiverse (e.g., someone choosing Superman gets x-ray vision) and if so how is this managed?  Seems like it could overwhelm the game itself.
smokinbarrel
member, 713 posts
Wed 14 Sep 2016
at 01:37
  • msg #3

The Backstabber's Ball

It depends on each game, but the basic idea would be an in-game mechanism that prevents players from solving the game with game-breaking powers. For example, Emma Frost could roleplay mind-reading with other players, but psi-screens would prevent her from conveniently learning the killer's true identity.  You'll depend on detective work.

There may be an option for a few players to take heroic roles that allow 1 free guess per round, if the Cast is large enough (15+). Otherwise, debate, interrogate, and read carefully for clues!
smokinbarrel
member, 714 posts
Wed 14 Sep 2016
at 20:46
  • msg #4

The Backstabber's Ball

The Backstabbers have access to any tools short of Omnipotent Godhood for their kills and secrecy. If you need the Vorpal Blade & Witching Cloak from Fables, the Backstabbers could use them with a reasonable case (knowledge of items, or a connection to that world, or a helpful Host). If you're a Backstabber, you should go over the top and make a memorable kill! Simple, but deadly, also works.
eggellis
member, 29 posts
Wed 14 Sep 2016
at 21:23
  • msg #5

The Backstabber's Ball

I have never heard of Mafia until now but this sounds very interesting to me.
smokinbarrel
member, 715 posts
Wed 14 Sep 2016
at 21:31
  • msg #6

The Backstabber's Ball

We called it by a different name where I played it, but it's a fun game when you broaden the premise to unlimited opportunities for locale, theme, and Host/Players!

Examples:

A game set in the Star Wars universe, but Co-Hosted by an original Sith Hutt and Cologne (of Ranma fame), with characters including Dick Dastardly, Willow Rosenberg, one of the Visitors from V, and Emma Frost.

A Halloween game hosted by Elvira, with appearances from Dormammu & Umar, Ghost Rider, Phantom Stranger, Anita Blake, Mina Murray (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), Jason Voorhees, and Michael Myers. Yeah!

A game hosted by Mojo (of <i>X-Men
notoriety) with Nexus, The Mask, Dani Moonstar, The Tenth Doctor, and The Bionic Woman (among a colorful cast)!

You see where we can go with this?

Now, it's Freeform because we're eliminating players based on surreptitious kills and votes. That's just the fastest way to eliminate contestants.
This message was last edited by the user at 21:37, Wed 14 Sept 2016.
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