How To Play Mafia

Mafia, also known as Werewolf, is a social deduction game that involves players taking on roles as members of a community where some are secretly mafia members trying to eliminate the innocent civilians without getting caught. The game is played in two phases: a day phase where players discuss and vote to eliminate a suspect, and a night phase where the mafia covertly eliminate a townsperson. The objective for the townsfolk is to identify and eliminate all the mafia members, while the mafia’s goal is to outnumber the townsfolk. Here’s a detailed guide on how to play mafia:

Setting Up:

Number of Players: Ideally, you need between 7 to 12 players. You can have larger games of up 20, even 50 people. More players make the game more complex and interesting, but it would be recommended that you be veteran host.
Roles: Distribute roles secretly using cards or coins. The basic roles include:
- Mafia: Their goal is to eliminate the civilians.
- Townsperson: They try to figure out who the mafia are and eliminate them.
- Detective: A special townsperson who can investigate one player’s alignment each night.
- Doctor: A special townsperson who can choose one player to protect from being eliminated each night.
- Additional roles (optional) can add complexity, such as the Serial Killer (works alone to eliminate everyone), the Jester (aims to get themselves eliminated), etc.
Moderator: Choose a non-playing moderator to oversee the game, manage phases, and narrate the storyline.

Game Play

Night Phase

Begin with Night: The game starts with a night phase where everyone closes their eyes. The moderator then calls for the mafia to wake up and silently choose a victim to eliminate.
Special Roles Act: After the mafia has made their decision, the moderator calls for other roles with night actions (e.g., Detective, Doctor) to wake up individually and perform their actions.
Day Breaks: The night ends, and the moderator narrates the events of the night, including any deaths.

Day Phase

Discussion: All surviving players discuss the events. They can share suspicions, accusations, and defenses. The goal for the townsfolk is to deduce who the mafia members are, while the mafia aims to mislead and sow discord.
Voting: After discussion, players vote on whom to eliminate. The person with the most votes is eliminated and removed from the game. Their role is revealed after elimination.
Evening Falls: The day phase ends with the moderator transitioning to the next night phase. The cycle repeats.

Strategies and Tips

For Townsfolk: Communication is key. Share suspicions logically but be wary of revealing too much if you’re a special role, as the mafia may target you next.
For Mafia: Deception and blending in are crucial. Create doubt about others’ roles and defend your fellow mafia members subtly.
Special Roles: Use your abilities wisely. The Detective should be discreet about their findings to avoid becoming a target, while the Doctor should try to predict who the mafia might attempt to eliminate next.

Winning the Game

The game ends when all the mafia members are eliminated (a win for the townsfolk) or when the mafia outnumber or equal the townsfolk (a win for the mafia).

Additional Rules and Variations

Role Variations: Introduce more complex roles as players become familiar with the basics. Roles like the Vigilante (a townsperson who can eliminate players at night), the Double Agent (appears as a townsperson but is actually mafia), or custom roles can add depth.
Time Limits: Implement time limits for day discussions and decisions to keep the game moving.
Silent Eliminations: For a twist, the moderator can choose not to reveal the roles of eliminated players immediately, increasing mystery and difficulty.

Detailed Roles in Mafia

Understanding the roles in Mafia is crucial for playing effectively. Here’s an in-depth look at some common and special roles within the game. Note that roles can vary and be adjusted for different game settings or variations.

Basic Roles

Mafia (or Mafioso): Members of the mafia work together during the night phase to choose a townsperson to eliminate. Their goal is to remain undetected and to eliminate enough townsfolk to gain control of the town.
Townsfolk (or Villager): Regular members of the town with no special powers. Their goal is to identify and eliminate all mafia members through discussion and voting during the day phase.

Special Roles

Godfather: The head of the mafia who appears as a regular townsperson to any investigative roles. This makes the Godfather harder to detect. If the Godfather is killed, another mafia member usually takes over.
Detective (or Investigator): A townsperson with the ability to investigate one player each night to determine whether they are mafia or not. This role is crucial for gathering information and guiding townsfolk decisions.
Doctor (or Healer): A protective townsperson who can choose one player to protect from elimination each night. They play a key role in safeguarding key townsfolk or themselves from mafia attacks.
Sheriff: Similar to the Detective, the Sheriff can investigate one player each night. However, the specific abilities and what they learn can vary based on game rules (e.g., identifying non-town roles, not just mafia).
Vigilante: A townsperson with the power to eliminate one player at night. This role must be used wisely since killing a fellow townsperson can be detrimental to the town’s chances of winning.

Unique Roles (Variations)

Jester: A player whose objective is to be eliminated during the day phase by convincing others they are a threat. Winning for the Jester often means they get to influence the game’s outcome by choosing a player to eliminate from the game after their death.
Serial Killer: A solo role with the goal of being the last player standing. They eliminate one player each night and must balance between removing mafia and townsfolk to survive.
Witch: A role with the ability to use potions at night, such as saving a player from death or eliminating a player. The Witch must strategically decide how and when to use their limited potions.
Cupid: At the beginning of the game, Cupid chooses two players to become “lovers”. If one lover dies, the other dies from a broken heart immediately. The lovers may have different roles and objectives, but they gain an additional win condition of being the last two standing.
Amnesiac: A player who starts the game without a role. At some point, usually after a certain number of nights, the Amnesiac remembers their role, which could be any role as determined by the game setup or a role of an eliminated player.
Executioner: Their goal is to get a specific townsperson (their target) lynched during the day. If their target is eliminated at night or the Executioner becomes a target, they often become a Jester.