I haven't had a chance to get to Rich yet this game. I do suspect Rich but hadn't been able to pull all his posts yet. You people have wasted a lot of my time discussing the stupid mistake I made instead.
Now that I've done that, yes I strongly suspect Rich. And I think his theory about Pappy and Ice is crap. I've just been focused more recently on the way Lady G and Taysius have been posting so they caught my attention and have used up most of the time I have for this game.
That said, here's what I think of Rich and his posts.
Chill, I started suspecting Rich from the time he said this... (in red).
Rich is one of few players who could openly admit being scum like that and still get away with it because we'd likely attribute the remark to his snide sense of humor.
Rich is right about this. Ice has later remarked about that game that he got lucky... getting 3 accurate shots in a row surprised even him.
Facetious comment or blatant opinion. Either way, it dissuades us from shooting FF. When Rich posted this, I was more suspicious of those who were poking at FF early in the game. But the more FF has "contributed" since, I have him among my suspects. If FF turns out to be scum, which is likely, here is a nice subtle way Rich was discouraging us from shooting him.
Agreed with Rich at the time and still do. IMO Ice wanted that gun so bad he didn't care Wizard had to die just so he could get it.
Normally, Rich as mafia would suggest Jspigs is innocent or they're distancing. In this game, however, it's real easy for scummates to play both sides against the middle and build strong cases against members of their own team. Statements in posts and suspect lists can be explained away later and we get no patterns from vote analysis or nightfall events to base comparison. We get very a few misses (not to mention UDs) and the mafia win is virtually guaranteed. Most of their team is, therefore, expendable.
No matter who's on which side, how well the town does, or how the mod tries to tweak the rules a little to make this game better balanced, I doubt we'll ever see the town win playing this format.
Example in point of what I just said above. Thanks to the loss of Wizard, the UDs, and Ice throwing us off by acting scummy early on so he could get the gun.... Rich and Lady G both get shot and flip scum... and the town still lose this game. The numbers favor the mafia too much.
Rich wanted us not to shoot Jspigs. I think the mafia liked the idea of maybe the town battling it out between Rich and Lady G instead as both they are both hard to pin down just in the thread without actual lynch votes or invest results. That's all it would take.... once the dust cleared, Jspigs would turn out to be their ace in the hole for the win. This being Jspig's very first game, we'd naturally avoid giving him the gun.
Rich has wanted us to shoot Lady G and has said so many times. This serves them 2 purposes... this tends to clear Lady G a bit more in the minds of those who think Rich is scum and it makes Lady G seem more scummy to those who view Rich as possibly innocent.
Another post from Rich I glossed over when it was made. Now, it's hard to tell if FF or Jspigs is their teammate. Rich seems to have been protecting both of them all along.
Posts like that just make my head hurt.
When all else fails... just openly admit you're mafia and no one will take that seriously.... at least, not from Rich.
Now Rich does a flip-flop.
Adding to the confusion about Lady G.
And now we get to Rich's spin on Pappy's invest result clearing Ice as an innocent....
Nicely throws out that suggestion
Again, Rich isn't interested in really helping the town.
Noncommittal so it's a safe post to make. The important thing is he raises doubt about Pappy and Ice.
Rich settles on his teammate and someone else (me) who's suddenly drawn the town's attention.
I honestly think Rich really doesn't care who we shoot. At this point now, the mafia already knows they're going to win no matter which way the shots play out.
Rich opts for consistency regarding Lady G and calls my game sloppy. Nice touch there, Rich.
Rich gets cranky.
Rich urged us to shoot Lady G but lowers that to put me first on his list. Still sticks with his previous case against Lady G.... but it's still better to shoot me first so that delays us shooting Lady G.
Rich has caused all the "damage" he feels is necessary and simply leaves it at that.