Chiang Mai Mafia: Rules and Guidelines
This unique version of Mafia has been refined over months of gameplay in Chiang Mai. If you’re looking for a fun, engaging game for a group, this is perfect! Below are the rules and roles for this version of the game.
Setup
- Group Size: Best played with 10-12 people. Minimum of 7. More than 12 can become chaotic.
- Roles: Each player gets 2 roles determined by cards. The host selects specific cards from a deck:
- Black King (K): Killer (Active in any position)
- Red Kings (K): Killer (Active only on top)
- Black Jacks (J): Policemen (Active in any position)
- Red Jacks (J): Policemen (Active only on top)
- Red Queen (Q): Doctor
- Red Ace (A): Assassin
- Joker: Hunter
- Number Cards: Villagers
- Shuffle and deal 2 cards per person. Each player chooses which card to play first by stacking them face down.
Important: If someone gets both a King and a Jack, reshuffle and redeal the cards.
- Host Role: The host manages the game, narrates the events, and ensures rules are followed.
Gameplay Overview
The game alternates between Night (roles act) and Day (discussion and voting).
The goal is for Villagers and Policemen to eliminate Killers, or for Killers to eliminate Policemen and dominate the town.
Night Phase
-
All players close their eyes.
The host calls out roles to wake up and act silently, in this order:
Killers (Black/Red Kings):
- Black King is always active; Red King only active if on top.
- Decide unanimously who to poison. Inform the host by pointing.
Doctor (Red Queen):
- Wake up and choose one person to vaccinate.
- If the vaccinated player wasn’t poisoned, they get an extra dose.
Two doses = overdose and death. The doctor must track vaccinations carefully.
Policemen (Black/Red Jacks):
- Black Jack is always active; Red Jack only active if on top.
- Investigate one person by pointing to the host. The host gives a thumbs up if their top card is a Killer, thumbs down otherwise.
Assassin (Red Ace):
- Can eliminate one player. This kill cannot be cured.
- On the first night, the Assassin may choose to refrain from killing. From the second night onwards, they must act.
-
All players open their eyes.
The host announces the deaths (without revealing the causes or roles).
- The top card of the deceased is removed. If a player loses their second card, they are eliminated.
Day Phase
- Funeral Speeches:
- The first 5 eliminated players get a 20-second farewell speech. They can say anything but cannot reveal their roles.
- Discussion:
- Surviving players discuss who might be a Killer. Killers try to mislead the group, while others attempt to uncover the truth.
- The host allows 3 minutes for open discussion.
- Uninterrupted Speeches:
- Each player gets 20 seconds to share their thoughts or suspicions.
- Voting:
- Players vote on who to eliminate.
- 1 card = 1 vote, 2 cards = 2 votes. Players can split votes or abstain.
- The player with the most votes loses their top card.
- Tiebreaker: If there’s a tie, only tied players participate in a second vote. Each tied player gets 20 seconds to defend themselves.
Everyone else must use all votes and if the tie persists, find a fair way to decide (e.g., random selection).
- Next Night Begins:
The host repeats the process, calling out all roles (even if the role is eliminated) to maintain the game’s mystery.
Role-Specific Rules
- Killers: Remain in the Killer group even if you lose your King card.
- Doctor: Be cautious of overdosing players with unnecessary vaccines.
- Policemen: Investigate strategically to identify Killers.
- Assassin: Use your kills wisely to influence the game.
- Hunter (Joker): When the Hunter dies, they can choose one player to take with them to death.
Winning Conditions
- Villagers/Policemen Win: All Killers are eliminated.
- Killers Win: All Policemen are eliminated.
Tips for the Host
- Speak clearly and maintain the pace of the game.
- Use consistent phrases for role calls (e.g., “Killers, wake up… Killers, close your eyes”). This avoids giving away clues about active roles.
- Keep track of eliminated cards and ensure fairness.
This refined version keeps the game exciting and ensures clarity for both veterans and newcomers. Enjoy your Mafia nights!
Contributing
Have ideas to improve the game or found something unclear? Contributions are welcome!
Feel free to create a pull request (PR) with your suggestions or updates. Let’s make this game even better together!