The inactivity in Serial Killer is frustrating the hell out of me right now.
I mean, I guess it has always frustrated me. I know that I was one of the strongest campaigners for resetting the regulars list because there were several individuals who never really played anymore but were getting dragged from round to round just for the sake of being there. I still stand by that idea in theory but it seems as the issue is far more pervasive than I had estimated.
Truth be told, I've been starting to feel burnt out of the game just like so many of the others who aren't playing right now. I don't generally engage in rounds behind the scenes like I used to unless some detail jumps out at me (like the killer last round starting to target non-Americans). Otherwise, I pick a number that seems unlikely to net me a high-involvement role and just keep tabs close enough to know the general progression of the game and when it's time to vote.
The problem is it seems like even that is an above average commitment level anymore. And honestly, I don't know what we need to do to bring the excitement back up.
My first instinct was to add more roles to the game to keep it fresh and get more people involved. I'll be honest, I've been trying to come up with support roles for the killer for a long time. Right now, the odds are so stacked against the killer that barring an extreme stroke of luck and/or some well placed manipulation, there is no way the killer can even remain competitive. The only one that I've really been able to think of has been a "counter spy" who the killer chooses before the other roles are selected. They would be able to ask once per cycle if a certain player had a role. If that player did have a role, the "counter spy" would be able to reveal it to the killer and wear down the direct competition.
But I know that there are several individuals who don't like the additional roles. They think it bogs down the game and makes the people who don't have a role feel even less involved in the action. I get that. I don't agree with it necessarily but I do get it.
That said, there are two ideas that were presented in the last couple of posts that I want to comment on.
NeoAC said:
@SK: I'm starting to wonder if we shouldn't make Round 49 a sort of international version and hold it in Forum Games to try and attract some new blood for the offering.
As much as I try to delude myself, Serial Killer is not an RP with Forum Game elements. It is a Forum Game with RP elements. I wish that we could have a strong story based narrative but it seems as though the major attempts at it have fallen flat. We've had a couple "RP" centric rounds that have fallen short of the original expectations and my grand master plan of having an epic backstory spanning between the deaths of multiple people over multiple rounds didn't take off as I had imagined it might. At it's core, we are a game first. The writing comes second to the mechanics.
Plus, Neo, what category did we win for that award you are displaying on your badges? I think that alone tells us we are in the wrong subforum.
Going back to games runs the risk of the thread being buried. But we also should be invigorated by the energy running around in there. If you're afraid of losing the thread, then bookmark it. If you're afraid of degrading the writing quality in this thread then consider the number of deaths that have actually been written and/or actually appreciated in the past couple rounds.
RaNDM G said:
Nah, I'd get rid of most roles entirely. Have a killer, a small team of 4-5 players supporting him, and a mob of 15-25 players trying to snuff them out. Killer's team can control votes early on, but as rounds progress, they'll have less power versus the mob.
We can keep the Spy and Medic for the mob, but nerf those roles. Have a longer period between questions and limit the number of Medic saves allowed in a round. There isn't a real need for double-voters or entwined players in big games, nor would anyone want to bring back dead players with so few roles.
The only unaffected role would be the Arbiter. That's a neat trick; let's keep it in.
I both agree and disagree with you on this. Killer plus a small team of allies strikes me as being a lot more fair and a lot more exciting. It redistributes the odds a little more fairly and balances the game out.
My disagreement comes from the slashing of roles. As I said, I'm in favor of more game mechanics rather than fewer. That's just a philosophical difference. That said...
I absolutely hate the Entwined in their current state. The second biggest head scratcher last round was the fact that the entwined didn't know the identity of their partner. If they don't know that fact, what's the point? They are simply a regular player with a crippling disadvantage. HAAAAAAAAATE!
Digression aside, I wouldn't be opposed to fewer roles if the consensus was that they were really dragging the game down. I just would need more proof that everyone feels that way. I really do love the idea of different roles playing off each other to add spicy combos to the game.
I love this game. I really do. Nothing frustrates me more than the fact that very few seem to care at all anymore. :/
Something needs to change.