Difference between revisions of "Spy"

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<p><span class="fck_mw_template">{{Infobox town|summary     = A secret eavesdropper that listens to the mafia at night|abilities   =   None|ability     = No|investigator = Spy or [[Blackmailer]] |strategies  = None|level = [[:Category:Advanced Roles|Advanced]]|type = [[:Category:Support Roles|Support]]}}
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{{Infobox town|summary = A stealthy eavesdropper who listens in on secret conversations.|abilities = Hears what people say during chats at night (Mafia, Triad, Cultist, and Masons).|ability = Yes|investigator = Trespassing.|type = [[Town Power]]|}}
 
[[Category:Town Roles]]
 
[[Category:Town Roles]]
[[Category:Advanced Roles]]
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[[Category:Town Random]]
[[Category:Support Roles]]
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[[Category:Town Power]]
</span>
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</p>
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==Overview==
<h2>Overview</h2>
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The [[Spy]] is a specialized Town role whose abilities have changed through the development of the game from being able to listen to PMs (no longer the case) to being able to listen to Mafia / Triad night chat and see the Mafia / Triad's targets.  Although many players do not find the Spy to be particularly powerful, it has the potential to reveal a good deal of important about the Mafia / Triad and prevent them from using more advanced strategies while the Spy is still alive.
<p>The Spy is one of the less powerful Town roles but has the potential to reveal a lot of information about the Mafia as well as prevent them from using more advanced strategies whilst the Spy is still in play. The role has the ability to view anonymous Mafia chat as well as anonymous Mason chat and has the ability to see the Mafia's target depending on the settings.
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</p>
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Specifically, a Spy will be able to read the Mafia / Triad's night chat (but not see the names of the players speaking).  Depending on the host's settings, a Spy may also be able to see the Mafia's kill target and / or other targets as well.  These abilities can be very useful in confirming which players are likely Town members, because it would be very rare the the Mafia / Triad members would visit each other, as opposed to members of the Town or Neutrals. 
<h2>Strategies</h2>
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<ul><li> Simply having a Spy in the game makes it impossible for the Mafia to utilize any strategy that requires a lot of communication amongst themselves and in that sense, the Spy is extremely valuable (even more so if the Spy was selected at random)
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Spies are also able to view any Mason night chats or Cult night chat that are taking place in a game as well (but, just as before, not the names of the players speaking).  This ability may be very useful in a Mason / Cult type setup.
</li></ul>
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<ul><li> Sending Personal Messages (PMs) to [[Sheriff]]s or [[Investigator]]s about what sort of roles the Mafia has in situations where their roles are random can prove to be invaluable to the town. A Spy can also claim this themselves but puts their life at risk to do so.
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Overall, the Spy is a mind-game role and can be very powerful in the hands of an intelligent or experienced player, who is able to use and process the information received in order to confirm certain players as (likely) Town and help to lead the Town to lynching other more suspicious players.  In contrast, a Spy is a much weaker role in the hands of a less experienced player, because the information received is much more indirect in nature (anonymous night chat and a list of Mafia / Traid targets, as opposed to exact information about who the Mafia / Triad members are).
</li></ul>
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<ul><li> Communicating with the [[Mason]]s is a key part of Spy play in a game involving Masons. The Masons can reveal themselves to the Spy at night and have the Spy send a PM to the Masons the following day (or if PMs are disabled the Masons can have a spy say something obnoxious in chat such as slipping the word "fruit" in one of their global messages). This essentially provides even more confirmed innocents for the Town to work with.
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==Strategies==
</li></ul>
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* Having a [[Spy]] in the game makes it difficult for the [[Mafia]] to utilize any strategy that requires a lot of communication amongst themselves.
<ul><li> With regards to dealing with Mafia chat, it is often difficult to make concise judgements outside of simply knowing their roles or strategies. Often Mafia may deliberately mention a fellow Mafia player by name in order to deceive the Spy or lead them to lynching an innocent the following day. However, some Mafia may drop their own names in chat with the belief that the Spy will dismiss them as innocent and hence some mind games can be played between the Mafia and Spy.
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** If the [[Mafia]] is unaware that there may be a [[Spy]] in the game, they may reveal critical information during their night chat about their roles, actions, identities, desired targets, or thoughts on Town members.
</li></ul>
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** For this reason, it is highly recommended that Mafia / Triad members not use their names in night chat and attempt to refrain from talking to much about various players in the game. Otherwise, they may end up divulging valuable information that can be reported to the Town by the Spy and used against them.
<ul><li> Mafia may also drop other clues completely unintentionally, clues that don't particularly pertain to identities or roles. For example, if in a game during the day there is only one player that utilizes proper spelling and grammar, and in the mafia chat there also happens to be a player using proper spelling and grammar then there is a strong possibility that the player during the day with proper spelling and grammar is a member of the Mafia.
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</li></ul>
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* If the host has enabled the "Can see all Mafia targets" setting, the Spy can be a very powerful role and keep a detail log of which players have been visited by Mafia / Triad members.
<h2>Options</h2>
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** This can be very valuable information because as mentioned above, Mafia / Triad members rarely visit each other so their targets are almost always Town members or Neutrals.
<ul><li> Can see Mafia chat - (Default: On)
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** However, there are certain Mafia / Triad members who can visit each other (for example, a Janitor / Incense Master) so this strategy is not always successful.  Also, to the extent the Mafia / Triad knows there is a Spy in the game, they could target each other where possible to create misinformation.
</li><li> Can see Mafia target - (Default: On)
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** Also, please note that Spies do NOT see target switches; you will always see who the [[Mafia]] plan to target, not who they actually target. [TO CONFIRM]
</li><li> Can see Mason chat - (Default: Off)
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</li></ul>
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* In terms of [[Mafia]] chat, it is often difficult to draw conclusions because a smart Mafia / Triad will be aware of the possibility of a Spy and compensate accordingly by attempting either not to say much or to provide misinformation.
<h2>Notes</h2>
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** For example, If the game contains a set role [[Spy]], it is very unlikely the Mafia will provide any credible information in their night chat as they know you are listening to them.  They may, however, use reverse psychology and mention their player names because they will assume you won't believe them.
<ul><li> Along with the [[Mason]] and [[Jester]] the Spy is one of three roles with no active night ability.
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** In contrast, if the [[Spy]] comes from a Random role, the likelihood of the [[Mafia]] is speaking genuinely is somewhat higher, but still not assured by any means . In this case, [[Mafia|Mafia members]] may still take precautions and deliberately feed misinformation in case a [[Spy]] is in the game.
</li></ul>
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** As the [[WIFOM|mind games]] / WIFOM can be endless with Mafia chat information, it is helpful to use your best judgment in terms of determining what sounds credible (in terms of genuine slips by the Mafia / Triad) and what seems like manufactured information / leads being given which may be false.
<p><span class="fck_mw_template">{{RoleNavigator}}</span>
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</p><a _fcknotitle="true" href="Category:Town_Roles">Town_Roles</a>
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* Furthermore, the [[Mafia]] may also drop other clues unintentionally in terms of typing and spelling patterns.
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** For example, if one player utilizes very proper spelling and grammar in day chat, and in the [[Mafia]] chat there is also one player using very proper spelling and grammar, then there is a reasonable possibility that the player with proper spelling and grammar is a member of the [[Mafia]].
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** However, some [[Mafia]] may deliberately capitalize on this by typing differently between day and night, or by imitating Town members' typing styles in their night chat in order to mislead you.  A smart Mafia / Triad will always be concerned about he possibility of a Spy in the game and may employ these types of mind games / WIFOM tactics to keep you from being as useful as possible.
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==Options==
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* Excluded from randoms - (Default: Off)
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** Because some hosts are not a fan of the Spy role in particular, they choose to enable this option which reduces or excludes the possibility of there being a Spy in the game.  As always, however, it makes sense to check the list of possible roles at the top of your screen to see if there could be a Spy.
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* Can see all [[Mafia]]/[[Triad]] targets - (Default: Off)
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** Given the Spy isn't a particularly strong role to begin with (at least compared with more concrete investigation-type roles), many hosts choose to enable this option in order to give the Spy more possible information and allow him to be more helpful with his leads.
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* Can see [[Mafia]]/[[Triad]] kill - (Default: On)
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** This option relates to one of the Spy's main abilities.  It is virtually never disabled by most hosts these days, as it would make the Spy essentially useless and only able to listen to night chat.
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==Notes==
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* Along with the [[Mason]], [[Mayor]], and [[Executioner]], the [[Spy]] is one of four roles with no active night ability.
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* [[Spy]] can spawn from a [[Town Power]] if it is ruled an [[Mechanics#Impossible Randoms|Impossible Random]].
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==Trivia==
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* [[Spy]] used had the ability to read all [[Private Messages|PMs]] sent between players.  However, this ability was removed in May 2013 because it allowed Spies to confirm themselves by reading test messages sent between players.  Allow a Spy to be a self-confirmed Town role was seen as too strong so the role's abilities were changed to what they are now.
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{{RoleNavigator}}

Latest revision as of 22:38, 9 November 2016

Spy
Affiliation Town
Summary A stealthy eavesdropper who listens in on secret conversations.
Goal Lynch every criminal and evildoer
Details
Has Night Ability? Yes
Abilities Hears what people say during chats at night (Mafia, Triad, Cultist, and Masons).
Categories Town Power
Investigation Results
Sheriff Not Suspicious
Investigator Trespassing.

Overview

The Spy is a specialized Town role whose abilities have changed through the development of the game from being able to listen to PMs (no longer the case) to being able to listen to Mafia / Triad night chat and see the Mafia / Triad's targets. Although many players do not find the Spy to be particularly powerful, it has the potential to reveal a good deal of important about the Mafia / Triad and prevent them from using more advanced strategies while the Spy is still alive.

Specifically, a Spy will be able to read the Mafia / Triad's night chat (but not see the names of the players speaking). Depending on the host's settings, a Spy may also be able to see the Mafia's kill target and / or other targets as well. These abilities can be very useful in confirming which players are likely Town members, because it would be very rare the the Mafia / Triad members would visit each other, as opposed to members of the Town or Neutrals.

Spies are also able to view any Mason night chats or Cult night chat that are taking place in a game as well (but, just as before, not the names of the players speaking). This ability may be very useful in a Mason / Cult type setup.

Overall, the Spy is a mind-game role and can be very powerful in the hands of an intelligent or experienced player, who is able to use and process the information received in order to confirm certain players as (likely) Town and help to lead the Town to lynching other more suspicious players. In contrast, a Spy is a much weaker role in the hands of a less experienced player, because the information received is much more indirect in nature (anonymous night chat and a list of Mafia / Traid targets, as opposed to exact information about who the Mafia / Triad members are).

Strategies

  • Having a Spy in the game makes it difficult for the Mafia to utilize any strategy that requires a lot of communication amongst themselves.
    • If the Mafia is unaware that there may be a Spy in the game, they may reveal critical information during their night chat about their roles, actions, identities, desired targets, or thoughts on Town members.
    • For this reason, it is highly recommended that Mafia / Triad members not use their names in night chat and attempt to refrain from talking to much about various players in the game. Otherwise, they may end up divulging valuable information that can be reported to the Town by the Spy and used against them.
  • If the host has enabled the "Can see all Mafia targets" setting, the Spy can be a very powerful role and keep a detail log of which players have been visited by Mafia / Triad members.
    • This can be very valuable information because as mentioned above, Mafia / Triad members rarely visit each other so their targets are almost always Town members or Neutrals.
    • However, there are certain Mafia / Triad members who can visit each other (for example, a Janitor / Incense Master) so this strategy is not always successful. Also, to the extent the Mafia / Triad knows there is a Spy in the game, they could target each other where possible to create misinformation.
    • Also, please note that Spies do NOT see target switches; you will always see who the Mafia plan to target, not who they actually target. [TO CONFIRM]
  • In terms of Mafia chat, it is often difficult to draw conclusions because a smart Mafia / Triad will be aware of the possibility of a Spy and compensate accordingly by attempting either not to say much or to provide misinformation.
    • For example, If the game contains a set role Spy, it is very unlikely the Mafia will provide any credible information in their night chat as they know you are listening to them. They may, however, use reverse psychology and mention their player names because they will assume you won't believe them.
    • In contrast, if the Spy comes from a Random role, the likelihood of the Mafia is speaking genuinely is somewhat higher, but still not assured by any means . In this case, Mafia members may still take precautions and deliberately feed misinformation in case a Spy is in the game.
    • As the mind games / WIFOM can be endless with Mafia chat information, it is helpful to use your best judgment in terms of determining what sounds credible (in terms of genuine slips by the Mafia / Triad) and what seems like manufactured information / leads being given which may be false.
  • Furthermore, the Mafia may also drop other clues unintentionally in terms of typing and spelling patterns.
    • For example, if one player utilizes very proper spelling and grammar in day chat, and in the Mafia chat there is also one player using very proper spelling and grammar, then there is a reasonable possibility that the player with proper spelling and grammar is a member of the Mafia.
    • However, some Mafia may deliberately capitalize on this by typing differently between day and night, or by imitating Town members' typing styles in their night chat in order to mislead you. A smart Mafia / Triad will always be concerned about he possibility of a Spy in the game and may employ these types of mind games / WIFOM tactics to keep you from being as useful as possible.

Options

  • Excluded from randoms - (Default: Off)
    • Because some hosts are not a fan of the Spy role in particular, they choose to enable this option which reduces or excludes the possibility of there being a Spy in the game. As always, however, it makes sense to check the list of possible roles at the top of your screen to see if there could be a Spy.
  • Can see all Mafia/Triad targets - (Default: Off)
    • Given the Spy isn't a particularly strong role to begin with (at least compared with more concrete investigation-type roles), many hosts choose to enable this option in order to give the Spy more possible information and allow him to be more helpful with his leads.
  • Can see Mafia/Triad kill - (Default: On)
    • This option relates to one of the Spy's main abilities. It is virtually never disabled by most hosts these days, as it would make the Spy essentially useless and only able to listen to night chat.

Notes

  • Along with the Mason, Mayor, and Executioner, the Spy is one of four roles with no active night ability.

Trivia

  • Spy used had the ability to read all PMs sent between players. However, this ability was removed in May 2013 because it allowed Spies to confirm themselves by reading test messages sent between players. Allow a Spy to be a self-confirmed Town role was seen as too strong so the role's abilities were changed to what they are now.
Roles
Town Bodyguard, Bus Driver, Citizen, Coroner, Crier, Detective, Doctor, Escort, Investigator, Jailor, Lookout, Marshall, Mason, Mason Leader, Mayor, Sheriff, Spy, Stump, Veteran, Vigilante
Mafia Actress, Agent, Beguiler, Blackmailer, Caporegime, Consigliere, Consort, Disguiser, Framer, Godfather, Heartbreaker, Janitor, Kidnapper, Mafioso, Soldato
Triad Administrator, Deceiver, Diva, Dragon Head, Enforcer, Forger, Incense Master, Informant, Interrogator, Liaison, Silencer, Vanguard
Neutral Amnesiac, Arsonist, Auditor, Cultist, Electromaniac, Executioner, Jester, Judge, Lover, Mass Murderer, Poisoner, Scumbag, Serial Killer, Survivor, Witch, Witch Doctor