Yep, Brain is co-gm'ing (which is in the initial announcement). But it's not just Brain pushing this, I think it's a good idea and a good rule too, for reasons I briefly laid out. The intention isn't to "force" players to read their PM or to create a cumbersome check-in process to confirm it. (Which is why the decision was to simply add it to the rules and continue to play by the honor system.) The goal was to get consensus that not reading one's role PM from the start of game is not a valid game strategy. Part of what prompted this is that when Squigs announced he hadn't read his role PM in the Cultafia game, there were some questions about whether or not that was within the rules. I think that's telling.
I'm interested in hearing more opinions. If there's strong support for the rule, I'll implement it. If there's mostly opposition, or if people aren't sure and want to discuss it elsewhere, I can let it drop and play the long game (
). I want Mafia XL to be fun and people to enjoy the game, and certainly don't want Mafia XL to be remembered as that time we rules lawyered a game to death in the signup thread.
