wD Mafia Master Post

[worcej]

2 cents: all of these rules are unnecessary as they already exist (B) or can be self-regulated (A and C).

[Chaqa]

An official Kouncil memo should be coming once we get approval from the app store and the secret cult of lizard men that runs WebDip.

[ghug]

Official Kouncil Response:
1. A GM is entitled to conduct confirmations however they see fit. The Kouncil continues to advise conducting confirmations shortly (~2 days or less) before the game starts in the signup thread, but a GM concerned about integrity is welcome to take the extra step of requiring Discord confirmations (or confirmations on whatever other platform being used in game).

We encourage anyone who rarely uses Discord to set their online status to Invisible if they're concerned about being seen, and we don't condone anyone using online status as a solving tool.

2. We will not be making any changes to the rule at this time, since nothing has changed since this most recently came up in February. Refer to the existing rule:

IV.

Also during the game, multiple players changed their avatars and signatures. Some of these changes involved game-relevant (though unimportant) information.

Signatures and avatars are also new additions to webDiplomacy’s forum, and pose a challenge for us because, much like the +1 system on the old forum, there is no log of who used the function, when, and how. Changes to signatures and avatars cannot be tracked unless someone actively sets out to log a user’s signature and avatar over time, which we consider an unreasonable overhead for GMs. We have discussed several solutions, including the following:

• Players may have signatures and avatars but may not convey game-relevant information in them at any time.
• Players may have signatures and avatars but may not change them after their in-game death until the conclusion of the game.
• Players may not have signatures or avatars while playing.

The last solution—an outright ban—is the most sensible from an overhead perspective, but we don’t wish to be fun police, as we know you enjoy these functions. For now, we announce a new rule which bans the conveying of game-relevant information via signatures and avatars, but we will continue monitoring the situation to determine if a better solution exists. As always, we welcome your feedback and suggestions.

3. The Kouncil will consider punishments for flaking (failing to meet minimum participation requirements and not notifying the GM of the need to be substituted) going forward. Incidents will be handled on a case-by-case basis with consultation with the GM of the game in question, and will likely begin with warnings for first offenses before escalating to game bans.

[Jamiet99uk]

All Hail The Kouncil!

[brainbomb]

Cool so no changes to anything
So who is up next

[dargorygel]

Rhk

[brainbomb]

Rhk

As in the demon?

[Jamiet99uk]

I'm just snipping this as a reminder that this is the rule on signatures and avatars:

The last solution—an outright ban—is the most sensible from an overhead perspective, but we don’t wish to be fun police, as we know you enjoy these functions. For now, we announce a new rule which bans the conveying of game-relevant information via signatures and avatars.

Contrary to previous slanders against my good name, I have never violated this ruling, and undertake that I shall continue to abide by it in future.

I may change my Avatar and Signature from time to time, as it amuses me to do so.

[damo666]

I'm just snipping this as a reminder that this is the rule on signatures and avatars:

The last solution—an outright ban—is the most sensible from an overhead perspective, but we don’t wish to be fun police, as we know you enjoy these functions. For now, we announce a new rule which bans the conveying of game-relevant information via signatures and avatars.

Contrary to previous slanders against my good name, I have never violated this ruling, and undertake that I shall continue to abide by it in future.

I may change my Avatar and Signature from time to time, as it amuses me to do so.

Ok #1

[brainbomb]

So to be clear; during an active game while playing as town; changing your signature to say “I am not mafia, goddammit”, is completely unrelated to that game and does not relay anything relevant to that game.

[ghug]

Kouncil Ruling

Our position on profile pictures and signatures has been that they pose the potential to become a problem because they're indetectably editable. In particular, someone could signal new information (even after their death), or inadvertantly give the impression that they've done so. In the interest of not being draconian, we've opted to not legislate fun and ask that you please be mindful of this risk when making these changes.

There was a mishap in the last game where people believed Jamie's adding of policeman's garb to his profile pumpkin may have been a hint that he was the cop. Because this was not a widely held belief and because it was the first time, we've opted to not ban changes during games, but please consider that this happened and try to be more careful in the future, because there will be little choice but to ban it if it happens again.

First of all to note, it was the Annoying Orange, not any sort of pumpkin.

Second of all, clarification please:

I changed my profile picture on purpose with the intent of softing that I was the Cop (which I was not), in order to draw a NightKill. It wasn't a mishap, I did it deliberately and admitted so in the God Thread as soon as I was killed.

Your ruling says "we've opted not to ban changes during games but we will ban it if it happens again".

Could you clarify this position please?

I do not believe I did anything wrong by altering my avatar in the manner described. If I do it again, will that be considered a violation, or not? Your ruling that it isn't banned, but it will be banned, is confusing.

We had not realized you did this intentionally. This behavior is explicitly disallowed. Please do not do something similar again. I thought we were clear about this when it first came up, but if we weren't, I apologize.

There is no record of changes to profile pictures (or signatures) which makes them difficult to police. Sending messages through these means is prohibited for the same reason that out of game communication and post editing are prohibited. For now, the Kouncil ruling (that you are allowed to have fun with these things but not use them for anything game related) stands, but in light of the fact that the tool was used maliciously, we may consider a stricter ruling.

[Jamiet99uk]

First of all to note, it was the Annoying Orange, not any sort of pumpkin.

Second of all, clarification please:

I changed my profile picture on purpose with the intent of softing that I was the Cop (which I was not), in order to draw a NightKill. It wasn't a mishap, I did it deliberately and admitted so in the God Thread as soon as I was killed.

Your ruling says "we've opted not to ban changes during games but we will ban it if it happens again".

Could you clarify this position please?

I do not believe I did anything wrong by altering my avatar in the manner described. If I do it again, will that be considered a violation, or not? Your ruling that it isn't banned, but it will be banned, is confusing.

We had not realized you did this intentionally. This behavior is explicitly disallowed. Please do not do something similar again. I thought we were clear about this when it first came up, but if we weren't, I apologize.

There is no record of changes to profile pictures (or signatures) which makes them difficult to police. Sending messages through these means is prohibited for the same reason that out of game communication and post editing are prohibited. For now, the Kouncil ruling (that you are allowed to have fun with these things but not use them for anything game related) stands, but in light of the fact that the tool was used maliciously, we may consider a stricter ruling.

Oh shit, you're right, Ghug.

Fair Cop (quite literally). Thank you for the history lesson.

I did once, when avatars were a new thing, alter my avatar in the way I admitted above.

I had actually forgotten that. I confirm that since the above ruling was handed down, I have abided by it, and I undertake that I shall continue to do so.

[Jamiet99uk]

I've even found the avatar I made at the time.

[Jamiet99uk]

So to be clear; during an active game while playing as town; changing your signature to say “I am not mafia, goddammit”, is completely unrelated to that game and does not relay anything relevant to that game.

What if your signature had already said that before the game, and it continued to say that during the game?

Like for 90% of the Olympics, across more than one game, my signature was "I'm Town" but since I set it before the game started, and drew attention to it in the sign-up thread for the whole shebang, I wasn't conveying game-related information.

[Jamiet99uk]

When is next game?

[kingofthepirates]

When is next game?

Everyone asking “when is next game” and “what is next game” no one asks “how is next game” and thus next game is sad… does no one care for the emotional wellbeing of Next Game?

[DiplomacyandWarfare]

When is next game?

Everyone asking “when is next game” and “what is next game” no one asks “how is next game” and thus next game is sad… does no one care for the emotional wellbeing of Next Game?

I think you're misunderstanding the situation. Next Game is a time traveler and we need to find out where they ended up so we can go back and save them.

[damo666]

The next game is before the one after that.

[Jamiet99uk]

Update: Due to various delays and things, I might be running the next game. Setup has been submitted for review, sign-ups will follow in a day or two, once reviewed.

[dargorygel]

We have some great setups, but the Kouncil thought we should do a more simple game. Jamie submitted it and I expect it will be posted for sign-ups by this time tomorrow.