Dominions Mafia--MP Format Idea

[Belac]

This is a random MP game idea: Dominions Mafia. I am not suggesting to run such a game now, but I just want to get feedback on the idea.

16/20 players, 4 teams of 4/5. But 1 player on each team is secretly a mole, and on Team Mole. The 3/4 real team members win if their team is victorious; the mole wins if Team Mole is. Each player knows who is on their team, and the moles know who the other moles are, but the lineups of the other teams are secret.

[Gandalf Parker]

Interesting. It makes much of the complaints about NAPs and such moot since the more problematic actions would in fact be well within the games theme.

Consider adding it to the game-idea thread.
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=35083

[Festin]

I like it. Such game has potential to be very interesting and intense. Plus, the idea of a sinister Cabal of pretenders secretly plotting to take over the world is just thematically cool.

[Meglobob]

Thats a interesting and cool idea!

I suppose the moles would work within there team for a while, trying to manipulate events until as many non-moles were dead as possible. Then a massive surprise backstab on all remaining non-moles (who would potientially ally against the moles?!?) to try and get the win.

Probably create alot of paraonia and possible funny situations like two moles pretending to fight one another but losing little etc...

[pyg]

I think you are hitting on an essential concept here. Diplomacy is bigger than skill in Dom3 MP, so fixed diplomacy(teams/no diplomacy raND) changes the game in an important way for people who take this game way to seriously.... don't make me name names. Team games are the most fun I've had in Dom3 MP(NvV:I,NaV). My teammates have had a lot to do with that. On the other hand I've observed that team MP hasn't treated everyone as well as me. Perhaps they've just chosen/not their teammates that well.

This brings me to what I suggest for this concept: Teams should self select (via forum PMs/irc/etc.) and sign up as a team that is also commited to finding subs for team for the game (with expected delays, and sighs). I think team games need to sacrifice the bonus of anonymity, and hopefully nation balance of teams will occur before signup, to avoid contention.

I like the political intrigue of the mole concept in a team game.

[Septimius Severus]

Interesting, I was thinking of doing something like this or at least providing a means by which it is possible in NaV 2. I am considering letting team alternates "mingle" in their own seperate forum, where they would be free to make deals, exchange info, betray their own teams, and so forth amongst each other. This would give our alternates a more active role whilst providing this intrigue.

I am glad to see the interest increasing for team games, in whatever form they take.

[Gandalf Parker]

For the NaV game I was looking into whiteboards (but as usual I wandered away in senility).
Some seem to allow creating an account (such as team name) then upload an image. After that everyone can alter it with paint tools online.

I picture uploading the game map. Then everyone colors in provinces they own, mark arrows for army movements, keep notes, strategize to avoid conflicting orders.

Hmmm with the mole thing that might not work so well for this game. But it would be cool for other team games for the team to have a shared strategy map.