RAINBOW SOCKMAN READS #3
Dragon D. Luffy --
(#1, #2 no change) -- As before, I still think he is genuine, but I'm certainly not discounting the possibility of him being mafia. That said, I'm almost getting ready to drop him, since I am seeing a bit of what sanmateo said regarding him coming up with what he needs to say after people have asked him to. For example, I asked him to name a top suspect and he said Golden, but before he had previously expressed no top suspect. That's a minor point, though, and it's possible he noted my request and picked one with a gun to his head, so... I still feel the same way about him at the moment. He still is contributing in a way that seems genuine and reasonable, but I don't feel solid about it to move him up to even "moderate" yet. So while I have been firm in this, I want to stress that.
Elohcin --
(#1 No read or unsure, #2 no change) -- I am feeling solid about Elo after her exchange with me and I feel as though I am seeing engaged civilian Elohcin as opposed to engaged baddie or disengaged baddie Elohcin. Her thoughts, while at first confusing to me, were clarified in a seemingly genuine fashion. I also do not think she would have fabricated such a suspicion on me if she did not believe it, especially with that reasoning. That said, I want to hear more from her.
sanmateo --
(#1 Very slight mafia read, Very slight civilian read) -- Although I would still like to see more affirmative statements from him, his interaction with DDL struck me as more genuine than not, and I think he was feeling genuinely frustrated, hence the escalation.
Black Rock --
(#1 No read or unsure, #2 Very slight mafia read) -- BR answered my call to hear more and her subsequent contributions to the game have been in typical BR meta (she gets more active and assertive as the game progresses) and reasonable. Back up to very slightly civilian she goes.
Epignosis --
(#1 No read or unsure, #2 no change) -- In #2, I said I believe his attempts to generate discussion have been genuine, but I'm far from convinced. Despite his aggression against me, I actually stand by this because he clearly wanted my input and was willing to press me until he got it (and I didn't really have anything to say). I know he acts this way regardless of alignment and many times I've been unable to issue much of a statement on him. This doesn't really change here.
JaggedJimmyJay --
(#1, #2 no change) -- In #2 I said: "Still seems like normal Jay to me. Not seeing anything alarming just yet, but I'm hesitant to trust him, since he does an impressive civilian attitude even when he is mafia." This still holds.
Roxy --
(previously No read or unsure) -- I want to hear more from her, but her posts thus far have been opinionated in typical Roxy fashion. Pending more contributions I can get a more solid (and accurate) read on her... hopefully (though doubtful).
Sloonei --
(#1 previously Very slight civilian read, #2 Very slight mafia read) -- I dropped him earlier to see how it would gain reactions from him and others, and whether it would push him to suddenly come up with suspects, but he's stuck by his guns (or no guns) and contributed in his own way. A return to very slight civilian for him.
Turnip Head --
(previously No read or unsure) -- In #2 I said, "his unique approach to this game, despite not saying much so far, has me leaning very slightly civilian." His explanation of his vote seems genuine, though it still strikes me as unique that he jumped the gun with his vote. I stand by my previous assessment, since his early vote and subsequent behavior make me feel really mixed about him.
acrosstheaether --
(#1, #2 no change) -- She has graced us with her presence, which appears relatively similar to RYM Day 1, in which she tends to lack confidence in any reads she may develop, so she nonchalantly does not bother to develop them, a la A Person for us Syndicate players (but perhaps not as extreme). She also said she is busy with uni which seems reasonable. I'm not sure what to make of her yet.
birdwithteeth11 --
(#1, #2 no change) -- Seems like normal BWT and I know he is very busy. Not sure what to make of him yet.
Dom --
(#1, #2 no change) -- POST MORE, DOM. Dom likes to question people aggressively and often has some good insight, even if we don't often see eye to eye. In addition, in my first game ever, Dom pursued me like crazy and was right, and it started a beautiful but complicated mafia rivalry between us. I know he's capable of really contributing to this game, but I also know his life is crazy busy at the moment. So while I'm certain it's not an attempt to lay low on purpose... POST MORE.
fingersplints --
(#1, #2 no change) -- Like usual, splints has contributed her thoughts so far, but I do want to see a lot more from her. Not sure what to make of her yet.
G-Man --
(#1, #2 no change) -- No idea what the hell is going on with G-Man. I really don't know if he's cursed (which would be very strange in a Day 1 before any night actions) or if he's faking it to get a Day 1 free pass (if he is, then brilliant but super risky move on his part, but it seems unlikely). So ?????????
Metalmarsh89 --
(#1, #2 no change) -- MM seems to be playing in a manner that's relatively par for the course, though I'm glad to not see the self-vote this go-round. It's probably a stretch to say he "usually" self-votes but he has been known to do so out of frustration as well as to measure responses and put pressure on other players. Usually he does engage actively in discussion but can be a bit slow to develop reads; consequently, his Day 1 vote here doesn't surprise me, but I do wish he would have explained it more or withheld it to more accurately represent his feelings. I can't make heads or tails of MM yet.
Golden --
(#1 No read or unsure, #2 no change) -- Something about Golden still feels "off" enough for me to keep him in the "very slight" mafia read range, but it's definitely minor, and I do agree with some of the points TH made. However, I do recognize that it's a pretty weak case.
TinyBubbles --
(#1 and #2 No read or unsure[/color]) -- She's new not only to The Syndicate but to mafia in general, so I'm trying to keep that into consideration, but the declaration of intent to random vote set of MP ALARM BELLS OF RAGE, especially given how much has happened in this game. For now, I will give her the BotD, since I do realize this game is surely intimidating for a new-to-mafia player's second game ever, especially if that first game was extremely low key. But dropping her to my very slight mafia read is a prod to get into the game.
Bass_the_Clever --
(#1 No read or unsure, #2 Very slight mafia read) -- And down he goes, but only to the "slight" read level, since I'm still far from sure we're seeing a baddie Bass here. That said, I'm really putting the pressure on him now by making him my top mafia read at the moment. Good points: I feel he engaged me and the thread in what he is thinking more than he has in recent games. I hope he continues this in the future. Bad points: His throwing out my behavior as something to keep an eye on, as if to bandwagon. Not having any suspects (though this is par for the course). He finally started throwing out slight pings but only after I prodded him considerably, which lines up with meta, but makes me feel as though he's hiding something from me. He could be a civilian hiding something, but he shouldn't be, and I really want him to engage more.
For reference:
Very strong civilian read
Strong civilian read
Moderate civilian read
Slight civilian read
Very slight civilian read
No read or unsure
Very slight mafia read
Slight mafia read
Moderate mafia read
Strong mafia read
Very strong mafia read
CRAP, my perfection got the best of me. Lol. This still feels a bit rushed but it wasn't as rushed as I intended and I'm a bit later leaving for class than normal, but I'll still make it on time, just it'll be close. So I really have to go, folks. Later today, assuming I get the time after class, I want to see if I can ISO some folks or re-read some (or all, if I'm lucky) of Day 1 to see if my feelings change. Some of the content is fuzzier than other portions and I've been here consistently even.
This early in the game I want to stress that I don't even feel moderate about nearly anyone. Still trying to get a feel for everyone and everything that's happened. Trying not to unfairly bandwagon anyone as I have in prior games, with feelings that were truly slight or moderate, blown out of proportion. I still find this approach for organizing my thoughts more helpful thus far.
[-Mass Effect Mafia banner-]
My point stands though. I've seen him do this in maybe every game I've played with him. I think he's batting about .500 with this tactic. Someone said MP should have forbidden discussion of the topic, but that isn't going to stop Epi from pursuing the angle. He's seen, and I've seen, enough baddies lie about those very kinds of things to know that it's at least worth discussing, even if some people don't think it's kosher to do so.
Fiddler on the Roof
Just kidding, I wish, because that was a lot of fun.