MAFIA

Mafia is perfect for large parties. The game requires a minimum of 3 players, but 8+ players are recommended. The basic concept is that members of the dreaded mafia have infiltrated the community and the concerned citizens, need to root them out. So every day a town meeting is held to vote for someone that is suspected of being a member of the mafia and lynch them. Every night; the mafia secretly meet and pick a civilian to kill; the civilians learn about it in the morning from the narrator of the game. In addition to mafia who kill during the night, there is a cop, which is an innocent who may learn the team (mafia or innocent) of one player every night starting on the second night. There is also a doctor, an innocent who may protect a player from the mafia every night. Other characters may be added to the game to increase the excitement. During the day the players must use their investigating skills to lynch off the mafia.

The narrator of the game will be in charge of this application. Once the roles have been randomly assigned, have everyone close their eyes and call out each character and tap the appropriate players on the shoulder, indicating to them which character they will be playing. Another set up technique using a deck of ordinary cards give each person a card, being very careful that no one sees what anyone else gets. If someone sees, collect the cards reshuffle and re-deal; it's important that it be secret. Be sure to explain this to everyone several times -- there is nothing worse than having someone ask in a loud voice 'what does the queen mean again?'

Characters: Mafia: Ace, Cop: King, Doctor: Queen, Prostitute: Joker, Scientist: Jack, Dentist: 2, Civilian: 3

It's important that no one reveal their cards or identity until they are dead. It is recommended that even after the player dies, to keep their identity secret. This way people can’t start calculating who is left and it makes things more interesting. Dead people are allowed to open their eyes at night but must not participate in the game in any other way. Have people keep their cards face down in front of them throughout the game and collect when they die.