Werewolf
Werewolf is a roleplaying event popularized on the heRO server, based on the game Mafia with more of a fantasy theme. There is no killing involved (not PvP nor PvM, anyway), so you don't have to be a certain level to join! The only thing you need is some maturity, patience, and a reasonable understanding of the English language.
There's a lot to explain. If you've been directed here by another player, then no wonder! This is the quickest way to get up to speed with everything. It's no fun having to repeat the rules and how the roles work every game, trust us.
Some hosts have different styles of hosting. It's typically best to ask your current host about anything, although they may have it posted on the forums. If so, you'll need access to the Werewolf subforum. Ask one of the group leaders (Silk, Slate, or L. Malady) to add you.
The Rules
- No talking during the night turn.
- We can't stress how important this is. If you talk, move, emote, or do pretty much anything on the night turn, the players can tell who is and who isn't in a chat room. This gives away roles, and basically spoils everything.
- No talking if you are dead.
- Dead men tell no tales. This rule sees a bit of leniency; so long as they don't say anything vital or try to distract the players, they are allowed a few words (just not many).
- No peeking in the chatroom when it's not your turn.
- At all.
- No PM (Private Message) to other players. This includes party and guild chat.
The Roles
At the start of each game, each player is given a role, typically via PM. This information is for your eyes only (meaning you don't tell anyone), and it will heavily influence how you play. On the outside, everyone looks like a peaceful villager, but much more may be hiding underneath.
Primary Roles
These roles are in almost every game, and play a vital part in how the game works. Only perhaps one out of every twenty games will not include any of these. ALL of these roles are only active during the night phase, except for the "chief," which is more of a secondary role than anything.
The Host
Games of Werewolf cannot start without a proper host. The Host organizes everything, assigns roles, and keep the game flowing. They announce day and night and when it's time to vote. Essentially, they are the director, and should always be listened to. It is the only role that isn't optional.
Villager
The Villager is the most basic role. They are the innocent, and are considered the protagonists.
The Seer
The Seer is a highly valued commodity, for they alone can see the innocent from the sinners, even though they are mere villagers. They have the ability to view the true form of one player (and only one) each night. There is only one of their kind.
The Alchemist
The Alchemist are men of magic and science in one simple villager. They possess two potions (that will last them the entire game unless used; they get no more, no less): a Potion of Life, and a Potion of Death. This role comes forth shortly after the meeting of the Wolves. They may use their Life Potion to bring the mortally wounded to wellness, use their Death Potion to silence someone forever, use both Potions, or use neither on any given turn, so long as the options are available. There is only one of their kind.
Werewolf
The number of these foul beasts typically range from two to five, depending on the number of participants. They wear the face of normal villagers by day, but at night, their true forms show to devour an innocent villager. They are considered the antagonists.
Village Chief
Also known as Mayor, this is an elected role that is decided on the very first day. This person looks like a normal villager, of course, but they may very well be any of the above roles. The Chief is supposed to orient the conversations and guide his people to finding the Wolves (unless, of course, they themselves are a wolf). The Chief normally gets two votes when hanging time comes around, and if there is a tie, their choice prevails.
Secondary Roles
Sometimes, when there are quite a few players, hosts might add some additional roles. These are some of those extra roles.
Cupid
Ah, Cupid! Bringer of love, weaver of fate. Cupid may make any two people (including themselves) fall in love at the beginning of the game. They are only allowed to do this once. Once the Lovers have been chosen, they are both PMed. Neither know of the other's role, but as they say, love is blind. When one Lover dies (be it during the day or night), the other commits suicide out of their all-consuming grief. The goal of the Lovers is to survive to the end of the game, regardless of their respective roles, and let love prevail!
The Hunter
The Hunter is a mere villager- nothing more, nothing less. The only advantage they bear is their bow, and a deadly arrow. When they are about to die (night or day), they are allowed to use their arrow and kill someone (they decide who they kill, but they do not know exactly what they have killed). The target will die at the same time as the Hunter.
The Idiot
The Idiot, being such a simple man, will reveal his role to the other players when the noose is slipped around his neck. The villagers take pity on the innocent man, allowing him to live. This will carry on ad infinitum, making him essentially invulnerable during the day.
The Drunk
The Drunkard will, more often than not, be found in the local inn during the day, drowning themselves in alcoholic beverages. He is the last to leave at night, at which time he is so drunk, he cannot remember where his home is. In his drunken stupor, he tumbles around the streets, eventually entering someone's house. If the person is home, that makes them a Villager. However, if they are anything else (including the benign roles), they are out in the street. The Drunkard gets to choose whose house they stumble into, essentially making them a cheap Seer who can only know if someone is something special- not what they are.
The Priest
The Priest is somewhat like Cupid, in that at the beginning of the game, they choose two players- a Blessed and a Cursed. However, the effects of their linked destiny is somewhat darker. If the Blessed player is about to die in any situation, divine intervention is felt, and the Cursed will die in their place. However, the Cursed is of no use if they are killed before the Blessed is put into danger.
The Cultists
The Cultists are nefarious villagers who sacrifice their fellow people in the name of their dark God. Each night, they hunt a victim (much like the Wolves)- and everything is fair game. Their goal is to burn everyone else. However, since their numbers are so low, they win with the Villagers when the Wolves are killed...with a very sad smile.
The Heart
The Heart is a noble role. When someone dies, they are able to sacrifice themselves, giving their own lives to let the other live. They may intervene at any death, but they've only one life to give. They can only save someone once, so it is advised that you use this chance wisely. If the Heart happens to be Blessed, the Cursed will die in their stead.
The Shield
The Shield bears an honourable burden on its shoulders; to serve and protect. Essentially, they are able to safeguard one person (either per night or per game- being decided on). Unfortunately, their protection does not extend to those bound by fate, i.e. Cursed and Lovers (it can directly protect one, but if the other Lover of the one it's protecting dies, the protected dies, too). Neither does it extend to themselves: when they are attacked, they must die, as they are only mortal.
The Rogue
The Rogue is currently under construction. Basically, they are able to break into someone's house and potentially steal someone else's role. However, due to their possibilities of becoming very overpowered, it's still being ironed out, as well. Will remain here for future reference.
The Turns
Life alternates day and night, by day the angry villagers discuss the werewolf problem and at the end of the day they vote on a person to hang, while at night the werewolf feed on an innocent victim. So as you've guessed it there's quite a bit of killing happening in this seemingly peaceful village!
First day turn
How the first day works depends on the host. In some cases, the essentials of it are sorted out while the roles are put in order, while with others, it acts as a full day where the villagers are allowed to speak and get through the formalities. Either way, a chief is elected to lead the villagers into the howling darkness of uncertainty. Note that the howling is both literal and metaphorical.
Typically, if a chief is elected when the roles are handed out, the game actually starts in the middle of the night turn. However, if it acts as a typical day turn after the game has been started, there will be no hangings, as there have been no crimes to accuse anyone of.
Night turn
At night, all is quiet (this means any action such as talking and any form of movement is forbidden!). I will open up a chatroom, the title will indicate who is allowed to enter, anyone violating this rule will be muted and kicked out of the event with no prize.
"The Seeress turn"
The seeress enters the chatroom and tells me the name of the player she wants to see revealed to him/her. The seeress cannot ask "Who's the werewolf" rather they can ask, "Is this person: [insert name] a werewolf". Once his/her turn is done the seeress exits the chatroom and the night continues.
"The werewolf turn"
All the werewolf enter the chatroom at once, they must then talk amongs themselves to decide on a victim.
"The Alchemist turn"
The alchemist enters the chatroom, I will then inform him/her of the victim he/she sees lying down. The alchemist can then decide on one of the following:
- Revive the person with the life potion.
- Use the death potion on someone else.
- Do both of the above.
- Do nothing.
Of course if one of the potion has been used already that option is no longer available.
Regular day turn
The sun rises and the villagers notice one of the following:
- The death of a villager (which can also be the seeress or the alchemist since they are also villagers). This is what happens in most turns.
- No deaths at all (this means the alchemist has used his/her life potion).
- 2 Deaths! (this means the alchemist has used his/her death potion).
Afterwards the villagers spend the whole day discussion, accusing and talking to each other (this usually lasts a few minutes). The goal of this usually animated discussion is to try to unmask a werewolf (if you are a villager) or to try to have an innocent villager accused (if you are a werewolf). At the end of the "day" everyone votes on whom they think should be hangged.
Before I reveal the identity of the chosen player, he/she gets a few last words (one line).
After the hanging is over, night falls and the angry villagers go to sleep.
The goal of the game
The game alternates between day turn and night turn, until one of the following situation occur:
- The humans win if they kill all werewolves.
- The werewolves win if they kill enough villagers so that the numbers are even. (Two werewolves and two humans, or one werewolf and one human.) At that point they can rise up and slaughter the villagers openly.
[If the game is played with cupid, the lovers win if they succeed to both remain alive until the end.]
In summary...
The villagers are trying to figure out who's a werewolf; the werewolves are pretending to be villagers, and trying to throw suspicion on real villagers.
The seeress is trying to throw suspicion on any werewolves he/she discovers, but without revealing himself/herself to be the seeress (because if he/she does, the werewolves will almost certainly kill him/her that night, since he/she's the greatest threat to werewolf national security.) Of course the seeress can reveal himself at any time, if he/she thinks it's worthwhile to tell the other players what he's learned. Also of course, a werewolf can claim to be the seeress and "reveal" anything he wants. If you are the seeress it's usually a good idea to check your village chief, since he/she has 2 votes and influences the game, it's a good thing to check if the chief is on your side.
If you are the alchemist, you only have 2 potions for the whole game, so it's usually a good thing to be careful with them. Alchemist usually use their life potion to bring back to life someone important, such as the Seeress, themselves or the village chief. It's also usually advised to not use your death potion too early in the game, you want to wait until you have a hunch someone is a werewolf, otherwise not only is it a waste but you stand a good chance of killing an innocent!
The only information the villagers have is what other players say -- and who dies. Accusing someone of being a werewolf is suspicious. Not accusing anyone is also suspicious. Agreeing with another player a lot is suspicious, and therefore so is pretending not to agree with another player. Never voting to kill a particular player is very suspicious for both of them. So all in all almost everything can be suspicious XD
