But first, an essay from the Gods.

The Illusion of Choice

In previous SE Mafia games, players were told not only their role, but their allegiance. The world -- according to mafia -- is extremely simple in design: Town is good, Mafia is bad. Such simplicity has been expanded by SE, with multiple mafia, multiple mason groups, condition-based Splodeys, and anough other conditions that the simple game of mafia here appears to sites as mafiascum as a convoluted, overwrought, unplayable mess.

But we kept playing. And we kept being told what side we were to support. But, more often than not, those who were told to support the town found -- in mid-to-late game situations -- that a fraction of the town had control over the groups' decision-making. sythe controlled Sensible Ninjas. Aidentas "owned" the days in Epicerie, even after being recruited. The Awesome Club in Androids. -_- in almost every game. Any surviving investigator in a game with consistent protection.

Choice. Did we choose to sit back, and let the few lead the many against the few? Or is this concept related to the nature of large-scale mafia? Are we each too disaffected by the size of the game surrounding us, or the lack of apparent simplicity in these games' laws to step forward for ourselves? Do we get lost in the proverbial crowd?

Have I turned into Carrie Bradshaw? Should I get fitted for my Manolo Blahniks? Why am I asking you?

Choice. Did we want two informed minorities going against each other? One on our side, one not? How Manichean that concept seems to my delicate toes.

Choice. Why did we, the town, have to support one minority over the other? If the mafia intrigues us more than the masons, why can we not back the mafia?

Sensible Caesar. Choice. The vast majority of people could openly attempt to choose whom to support. The game did not exist on the concept of a simple society. You could actively choose your support, and both the Senate and Caesar had options in how to gain your support. In actuality, they still do have the ability to gain your support through a number of ways, but many of these ways died with the end of Dies III.

Well, he we are. Dies IV, and I'm at the back end of the rulebook. I've had to enact a condition that -- while included into the official rules -- I did not expect to see used, least not so early into this game.

For those of you who have supported Caesar, you are under no obligation to change your affiliation.

For those of you who were watching the day period, and were trying to decide which side had your best interests at heart, you are under no obligation to choose an affiliation.

For those of you who are drifting along, wanting to play the game but too absent from discussion to make a vote, too timid to think for yourselves, too busy waiting for someone to step forward and lead you, the declaration made yesterday was for you. If you want a simple game, then follow the outline I provided for you yesterday.

You do not have to treat Caesar as Mafia, and Senate as Mason. Contrary to a comment made yesterday, Caesar may be well Mason, and Senate Mafia. They may both be Mafia, or they may both be Mason.

...Or maybe the Roman Mob are the bad guys we want. :p

You need not burden yourselves along the illusion of choice, because all roads, despite their various starting points, lead to one place. Be you slave or Senator, Censura or Caesar, you are mortal, and you can be immortalized in this game.

No role is truly dismissable, no matter how disaffected you may feel. Play the game, speak out, ask questions. If you're genuinely confused, PM me; I'll either clarify things, or smile at you and obfuscate in the ways GMs are want to do.

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The Slave Revolt

Bacchus Maccabeus, the original Censura of Rome, was a great scholar of the collective effervescence found in the lower classes, especially in lands not as enlightened as Rome. He knew of Spartacus, and he wished that slaves everywhere would overthrow their shackles and overthrow the Republic; spilling its corrupt bowels from here to Ostia. Despite his noble life, and service to the betterment of Rome, he found all of the noble parties (the Optimates, the Senate, Pompey, Caesar, even Sulla and Cato) corrupt, with their best interests in mind, and not those of the people.

Had he been a lesser man, he would've resigned himself to being unable to affect change, diligently pursuing a complete roll of all members of Roman lands. Instead, he sought to use his investigative ability to bring forward the revolt.

He nominated Facius Textus to the Senate... Who was killed by Biggus Dickus.

Bacchus Maccabeus died, not knowing what would happen to his dream of a slave uprising.

Effrego Dei (Theolypse) was Vidi Vici Veni's slave. What his tasks were... I'm not going to speculate. However, Effrego Dei was elevated to VVV's Senate Position. With the announcement yesterday of a dissolving government, and the new Censure's lack of ability to appoint any slaves to the Senate in the near future, Effrego Dei was the Slave Revolt's last hope.

He was killed by Antony. Well before he role-revealed last night. While last night was Effrego Dei's Splodey night, he was not skilled enough a warrior to fall Antony.

The Slaves lose.

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Mark Antony's Punishment

As the government does not completely dissolve until the end of Dies IV, Caesar was publically furious that Antony killed a senator. Caesar announced that for the actions he has committed, Antony must be sentenced to death in the Arena.

As Rome has a severe Gladiator shortage, 50 Aureii (enough to buy a few kills) have been printed for the person who causes Antony's death in the Arena. Of course, if you lose to Antony in the Arena, you die.

If one wishes to participate, one should PM me or leave a message in IRC.

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Night Kills

Titus Tarquinius Regulus (Zelgius) and Odious Toga Litmus (macst34) were found dead on the edge of Rome. In Odious Toga Litmus' hand was a Gaelic weapon, signaling that he was the Gaelic Non-Citizen. T. T. Regulus was the Worker of the Aventine, and decided that he would fight back against his attacker.

A Senator came by later to kill T. T. Regulus, but, having seen the carnage before him, ran back to his residence. He had thankfully formulated his decision too late in the evening... For his sake, at least.

Sus Fornaticus (foobar) was also dead, apparently from Praetorian hands. He had been the Worker of the Esquiline.

---
29 remain.

PLAYER LIST:



PREVIOUS DAYS:

Dies 0 - http://www.sensibleerection.com/entry.php/73117
Dies I - http://www.sensibleerection.com/entry.php/73155
Dies II - http://www.sensibleerection.com/entry.php/73205
Dies III - http://www.sensibleerection.com/entry.php/73240
IRC - http://www.mibbit.com/networks/esper/semafia.html

The Public Forum (Expand to view) - http://groups.google.com/group/thepublicforum

FINANCES:

As the pending dissolution of the government makes debt collection not feasible, the only finances that matter are the buying of protection/night kills. No one can enter default.

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SUMMARY:

Each member of the Roman Mob still has the ability to choose if you wish to support the Senate or Caesar. Those who do not want to choose would do well to read the End of Dies III message again.

Theolypse dead. Slaves lose.

Antony killed Senator, sentenced to death in the Arena. All interested parties PM me or come to IRC.

macst34 and Zelgius kill each other.

Foobar dead.

Senate kill.

No defaults, no problem.

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NOTES:

Plexer and Omagus23 are on notice.

The Senate will use their final opportunity to vote on two issues:

1) Vote to have an orgy on Dies V.

2) Vote to ban "no votes". (Enforceable by the Roman Mob)

The Censure of Rome needs to have one more Senate nomination by the end of Dies IV.

You can still choose which side you wish to support. If you do not care for choice, then follow the end of Dies III message.

RULE CLARIFICATIONS:

Caesar's death can only occur when Caesar is vulnerable. Remove the nest, and the eagle can fall.

Mercenary kill/protections can only be successful if a mercenary is making himself available for work. If a kill/protect fails, most likely such failure is due to not having a mercenary available.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

The "hate your players" remark is one that sythe and I have discussed whilst talking SEMafia GM planning. The comment is not indicative of my feelings towards any player, either inside or outside of this game. The line suggests a theoretical concept behind game design.

The rulebook for this game is 193 pages long... Yes, I was very bored. Yes, I am quite undersexed. No, I am not spending all of Dies IV getting drunk at the brothels.

...There's a chance Dies V will be an orgy, after all.

(That is one big wall of text)