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Semi-Priest
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A Semi-Priest is a player who is restricted in who they can hammer. The role typically exists to create associative tells in ELo and other similarly small gamestates.
Standard version
A standard Semi-Priest is given the name of another player, and cannot hammer that player; attempting to do so is a rules violation punishable via modkill. For a Mafia Semi-Priest, the specified player would typically be a randomly chosen Town-aligned player. For a Town Semi-Priest, the specified player could be either alignment (determined by the moderator in advance, based on setup balance considerations).
Variations
The Semi-Priest is a loosening of the restrictions on the Priest, who cannot hammer at all.
In larger games, a Semi-Priest would normally be given a list of players they cannot hammer, or a characteristic of players that they cannot hammer, rather than being restricted to being unable to hammer a specific player. Without such a modification, the role is unlikely to have any noticeable effect.
The role is comparable to Savior; however, a Savior is trying to prevent anyone eliminating a given player, whereas a Semi-Priest is typically fine with their target's death as long as they do not perform it personally.
It can also be seen as a converse of Supersaint, placed on the player who should not hammer rather than the player should not be hammered.
Use & Balance
Semi-Priests are normally given to members of the Mafia to make them commit to a ELo strategy; normally Mafia members can wait to see how the ELo is going before deciding on a strategy, but a Semi-Priest's restrictions normally requires them to be more active. This can help prevent a ELo stalling out.
Giving the role to a townie may serve as a means of starting discussion in the early game (why that person in particular?) without overall having much impact on the setup. It will, however, generate large amounts of modWIFOM.
Play Advice
At ELo, if your role is known to exist in the setup, try to avoid ever getting into a 1v1 with the player you cannot hammer; otherwise, the Town are likely to arrange things to force you to be the hammering vote, even if you otherwise win the 1v1. This in turn means that it will be particularly important to convince that player in particular that you are town. In an emergency, you may have to start a 1v1 against someone else to avoid the losing situation.
Sample Role PMs
The standardized Role PM for "Semi-Priest" describes the passive ability as follows:
- As an unmodified passive ability:
You must not attempt to cast deciding votes that eliminate name.(edit)
- As a passive ability with a modifier:
You must not attempt to cast the nth deciding vote that eliminates name OR deciding votes that eliminate name on day n.(edit)
Example (unmodified)
Welcome to game! You are a Mafia Semi-Priest.
Your team-mates are names. You may talk to them here during night phases and confirmations only.You must not attempt to cast deciding votes that eliminate name.
You have the following active ability:
- Each Night, if no other member of your faction is performing this action, you may target a player. Assuming no interference with your action, that player will die.
You win if at least one mafia member is alive and all other players are dead (or if nothing can prevent the same).
Confirm by replying to this PM with a summary of your role.
Example (modified)
Welcome to game! You are a Mafia Odd Day Semi-Priest.
Your team-mates are names. You may talk to them here during night phases and confirmations only.You must not attempt to cast deciding votes that eliminate name on an odd-numbered day.
You have the following active ability:
- Each Night, if no other member of your faction is performing this action, you may target a player. Assuming no interference with your action, that player will die.
You win if at least one mafia member is alive and all other players are dead (or if nothing can prevent the same).
Confirm by replying to this PM with a summary of your role.