What is Mafia
Mafia is a great role play game with a detective plot. According to it, the mafia appears in a peaceful city, and honest citizens can no longer sleep peacefully, because every night the criminals kill one of them. During the game, ordinary citizens need to figure out and neutralize the mafia, otherwise it will take over the city.
The participants draw cards and, depending on the image on them, determine their role. The game is divided into two periods – day and night, which replace each other. At night, everyone closes their eyes, only the mafia wakes up and determines the victim. During the day, all the characters are awake and discuss who the criminal might be. At the same time, the real bandits try not to show it, pretend to be peaceful residents and try to put honest players on the wrong track. At the end of each day, a vote is held, and the most suspicious resident, according to the majority, leaves the game, revealing the card.
Who will win – civilians or the mafia – depends on intuition , logic, the ability to observe and manipulate.
What you need to play Mafia
There are special game sets with colorful cards on which all the roles are indicated.
However, a regular deck of cards will do, from which you need to select several cards of black and red suits, depending on the number of players. The mafia is marked in dark, and civilians in red.
You can also use masks to cover your face at nightfall. However, this is more of an ambience and optional attribute of the game.
How many people can play mafia ?
You can play with three people, but the process will be boring and too fast. The optimal number of participants for a dynamic game is from 8 to 11.
In a company of 3 to 6 people, the role of the mafia is assigned to one, from 7 to 9 – to two, from 10 to 11 – to three. If there are 12 or more participants at the table, divide the total number by 4, round the value up – that is how many people will be criminals.
How to play Mafia
Determine in the company who will be the leader. He will take part in the game from the side and will coordinate the process.
1. The host deals each participant one card face down. The players figure out their role , hiding it from the others. The first night is announced, everyone closes their eyes. Then, on command, the mafia members open their eyes, get to know each other, and on the host’s signal, fall asleep again.
2. At the command of the leader, the city wakes up. Residents look closely at each other’s behavior, trying to notice who among them is the mafia. Each in turn can tell a short biography or say the phrase: “I am a peaceful citizen / I am not the mafia.” After this, a discussion begins, during which the players must identify the criminals. Any arguments are allowed : you can accuse, suspect, defend someone who seems harmless, or even remain silent. The candidates who have caused the most doubts are put to a vote. It is announced by the leader. The one against whom the maximum number of votes is eliminated from the game, showing everyone his card. If two participants have scored equally, each gives an exculpatory speech, trying to convince the city of his innocence, and the vote takes place again.
3. Night falls again and everyone closes their eyes. The host announces: “The city falls asleep, the mafia wakes up.” The criminals open their eyes and agree with gestures on who to kill, showing this to the host. On the signal, the mafia falls asleep.
4. A new day begins, everyone opens their eyes. The host announces who has become a victim, this person is eliminated from the game. He can say the last word and say who and why he considers the mafia. The characters begin the discussion again, put the candidates up for voting and determine who leaves the game.
5. A night with a murder and a day with discussion, voting and determining the eliminated follow each other. This continues until the civilians figure out all the mafiosi. Or until the criminals kill all the honest players.