Okay, I was reading back to make up a vote count. As I went, though, different points about the possible makeup of the vamp team at game start caught my attention. Then I went back to check other things.... as a result, the posts I'm quoting may not be in the right order. Sorry about that, I'm just on and off the computer today. If there's something out of order that makes this read differently, please point that out.
Not that I want to disagree with this vote, but if there is a team of three, or four (I would guess three) why couldn't all the vampires be random. The lead can talk and get advice.
Agree with the random assignments. I see no reason to question what Labby's told us.
In a traditional mafia format, I'd also figure we have 4 evils (roughly 25% of 16/17 players). However, the vamps get a 50/50 shot at recruiting new vamps. This being sort of a team building format, I'd say they started with something less than 4.
Lab: so do we have a vamp team already at the start or did the lead just have a bite at the beginning of the game like was discussed in the sign up? I thought you were going with the latter but the rules make it seem like it's the other...
I personally don't think Lab would handpick anyone for the lead role. Other than the new players, anyone could be a good lead.
Plus:
This makes it seem like the vamps still keep their bite even if the lead is dead. The only thing that they lose is the extra bite...not all that important...
Could you clarify that also Lab?
Agree with Pappy. There isn't really any clue from the rules or Lab's statements (IMO) that let's us assume who's a vamp or who's not.
All roles were assigned randomly through an online random number generator. The role of Dracula and the other vampire(s) were chosen randomly, Dracula did not get to pick for the start of the game/day 1. There was no tweaking of roles.
The vampires do not lose their bite if Dracula dies, but Dracula will lose their one time extra bite if they die before it is used. The bite is a 50/50 turn vs. kill after night 1...night 1 is automatic turn unless they happen to bite a townie PR (would be an automatic kill in that scenario).
As Lab confirmed the vamp team didn't start out with a single Lead Vamp who could bite someone early.... (before nightfall).... that seems to eliminate 1 evil player at game start. I don't think it's a full team of 4 players either (as noted above). So that leaves us with either 2 vamps or 3 vamps.
In the part I highlighted in red, above. Lab phrased her post to name 1 Dracula and unspecified
vampire(s). So again, that reinforces my idea that it could be either 2 or 3 on the team... most likely 2 instead of 3.
Total of 2: 1 Dracula and 1 unspecified
vampire (<-- singlular).
Total of 3: 1 Dracula and 2 unspecified
vampires (<-- plural).
I know... it's picking nits and a bit of a reach trying to interpret Lab's intention. Still, this lends support to a possibility that we're not up against a full vampire team...... yet. Lab Rat is nothing if not precise whenever possible, so her usage there would accurately reflect a 2-person scum team without pinning that down any further.
What in the rules make you think there is a "team" already?
Why would a new player not make a good choice?
This was a good question. Not sure now, but this may have been what prompted me to go back and look again. (And why the quotes I've pulled might be out of order.)
Generally the numbers are used to indicate the number of players per role at the start of the game...Lab also doesn't mention the lead getting to choose a teammate at the start so the only other option would be to have a vamp team at the start. Lab expressed her opinion that she did not want the lead to be alone at the beginning so either we have a team or the lead vamp got to pick someone. That's what I want clarified...
Ok, makes since to me.
Well, I personally could see a new player being picked..but thats just me I spose.
So, it looks like Lab clarified and we do have a "team" from the start, and they get bites so we could be overcome by vamps pretty easily it looks to me.
Taking all these points into account, they likely have a team. I just doubt it's a full team already, as I found nothing to indicate from Lab or the rules that that's an all or nothing thing.