It seems werewolf-games draw catastrophies to themselves like magnets...
Just as someone already off the game I'd just like to say a few things.
The basic rule says that people should not interact amongst themselves privately while a game is underway eg. like no PM's or such. The reason for that is simple and understandable but very hard to follow. Many people like to socialise both online and in RL with their mates even if a game is going and it's hard and foolish to try and deny anyone from social relationships. Like in my case, I may play a WW-game during a weekend / holidays when
Lommy &
Greenie are at my place and are in the game as well - but I couldn't imagine myself refusing their company because there is a WW-game on.
So the question - as I see it - is not so much whether you are in contact with other people in the game while the game is on but about the nature of your contact with those other players. And here I do understand why
Mith feels hurt.
Yes, it happens every now and then that we (Lommy, Greenie, myself) fex. read the thread together and there are spontaneous reactions to things said in the thread as well as some calculated or forced ones made in that company while reading but we at least try to minimize that kind of exposure because of the danger lurking there. I mean it's probably one or two times
Lommy has gotten a more than a good hint of my role because I have slipped something unintentionally. And that is bad, gamewise.
But gathering around to actually discuss the Werewolf - even if not specifically this one as you say and which I honestly do believe - seems to be a bit off the mark. And making a mutual decision that goes into the game just makes it worse. It's like some of the people had their own "meta-game" when all were not in place. So I can also see why some who were not involved in the msn-discussion feel left as outsiders of the game as well.
And clearly
Mith had specifically said she wouldn't like to see the retracktable votes being used carelessly and that the unnecessary use of them was subject to a modfire...
I don't see a reason for anyone to restrain themselves from meeting each other in RL or in msn (or myspace or other Downs-discussions) but some restraint could be in place as to what is discussed while a game is going - even if it is basically "harmless".
Yes it was half the players (or just almost a half?) but still the other half of the players and the mod were outside the discussion which led into those votes that were "true" in-game.
Had that vote for
Legate been spontaneous it would have been hilarious - at least to my view it would have been. But put yourselves into the shoes of a mod who realises that the people playing have been plotting outside the game to act in one way or another in the actual game. I'm probably too sanguine a person to have been offended by that personally but it would have led me to think about those who were not part of the practical joke and how they would feel about it.
Anyway I do suggest that you
Mith let the game go on and maybe give those who partook in the
Legate-vote an official "warning" meaning fex. that they have no longer a right to use a retractable vote or something like that. That way there would be a consequence and still the game could go on.
It would be sad to see such an interesting set up & story and a fabulous gathering of players go wasted just because of an ill-advised prank.
Hoping to see this game to the end!