Showboat

Summary

"If you are not mad as an in-play Townsfolk, a Townsfolk might die, even if you are dead."

The Showboat shows off their prowess by imitating others, but if they fail, the devil gets his due.

• The Showboat must pretend to be a Townsfolk character; hopefully one that is in play.
• If the Showboat is not mad they are a Townsfolk, or the Townsfolk they are mad as is not in play, the Storyteller can kill a Townsfolk.
• If the Showboat continues not being mad, the Storyteller can kill additional Townsfolk.
• The Storyteller chooses which Townsfolk die.

How to Run

At any time, if you believe the Showboat is not being mad about being an in-play Townsfolk, then you can decide to kill a Townsfolk.

If the Townsfolk dies during the day, declare this to the group. They die - mark them with a shroud.

If the Townsfolk dies at night, declare they died at dawn.

Examples

Tips & Tricks

• Be as mad as possible as a Townsfolk you think is in play. Claim to be that character. Give the information that character would know. Claim to use your ability. Claim, loudly and often, that any other player claiming to be that character is lying. Get them killed if need be, but don't let up if they die.
• If you admit to being the Showboat, that will count as "not being mad that you are an in-play Townsfolk" and will almost certainly cause a Townsfolk's death. Best not say this.
• If you can have a private conversation with player's claiming a duplicate role and tell them that you are the Showboat, then they may agree to get stop trying to waste their time killing you. e aware though... if the Storyteller overhears you claiming to be the Pixie, then you will no longer be "mad" and someone important may die. Similarly, if the player you tell is evil and then tells the Storyteller what you said, then you will no longer be "mad" will get someone killed.
• Be pro-active when being mad. The Storyteller wants to see you make an honest effort to convince the group that you are a character that you are not.
• Don't be particularly worried about dying, unfortunately your ability continues to work alive or dead. You're still a good player though.
• When the Showboat is on the script, don't be too suspicious of two players claiming to be the same character. They may very well be two good players just playing their characters well. Of course, the evil players know this, and may be doubling up with their bluffs. Whether the two players are both good (and one is the Showboat), or whether one player is evil and is doubling up, it is probably best to execute one of the players anyway. Hopefully, you'll be executing an evil player or the Showboat.

Bluffing as the Showboat

When bluffing as the Showboat, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

• The Showboat is an excellent fallback bluff if your more difficult/risky claim is falling apart under you. Even better, claiming Showboat will muddy the waters as to why players are dying at night.
• "Reveal" secretly to a couple of players to gain their trust. This is a good move as a regular Showboat, and if they believe you, they'll cover for you when other players become suspicious of your haphazard or confusing information claims. Because you're identity can cause more deaths, players will be compelled to protect your identity. However, they won't necessarily care if you are alive.
• One huge advantage of bluffing Showboat is the ability to confuse the Outsider count. Urgently whispering to good players that "that Ambassador is lying, because I'm the real Outsider!"