Re: [pbmserv-dev] Werewolf!

[Ted Rathkopf <ted-pbmserv-lists@rathkopf.net>]

I ordered 200 oxen, but Richard Rognlie <rrognlie@gamerz.net>
sent me this instead:

> Any ideas on how to resolve the "how do the werewolves select a victim?"
> "what to do if the oracle is already dead?" and "how to select a lynchmob
> victim?" issues?

I'm thinking that the easiest ways to do some of these things might be
outside the game server itself.  Perhaps by having an AI overseer that
is a player in every game.  This overseer will know who the
werewolves are and who the oracle is.  When the oracle makes a
selection, or when the werewolves make a selection, they tell the
overseer.

Now here's the catch.  The overseer doesn't relay this information to
the game server immediately.  The overseer holds on to this
information until dawn.  (How dawn is determined will be discussed
later.)  

And since the overseer knows who the oracle is, when the oracle dies,
the overseer just makes sure that it hides this fact from the
werewolves by not relaying their moves to the server immediately.
Similarly, if there is only one werewolf, the overseer can delay dawn
to help hide the fact that there was no discussion.

* How do the werewolves select a victim?

Have a special command, like chat, for the werewolf game.  "wchat" for
instance, that just goes to the werewolves.  Once they've decided,
they each submit their decision to the overseer, perhaps just with a
message command.  The oracle, also submits his question to the
overseer.

At dawn, the overseer sends the moves to the server.  The move will
either be "victim,query" or, if the oracle is already dead,
"victim,proceed."  The server processes this move and sends out
results.

* How to select a lynchmob victim?

Then, go to a non-sequential move where everyone submits their votes
for the lynching.  If there is a majority, lynch.  If not, have
another non-sequential vote until there is.

After the lynching, go to a sequential move, with it being the
overseer's turn.  The overseer waits for input from the oracle and
werewolves, and on we go.

Issues:

Nags will be a problem.  If we're waiting for a werewolf or oracle, it
will be the overseer's turn.  Only it will know what the holdup is.


-- 
Ted Rathkopf