Minstrel: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:25, 4 March 2023

"And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me... And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be... If you'll not fail to tell me that you love me... I simply sleep in peace until you come to me."

Appears in Information

Type	Townsfolk
Artist	John Grist

The Minstrel makes everybody drunk if a Minion dies.

Character Text

"When a Minion dies by execution, all other players (except Travellers) are drunk until dusk tomorrow."

Examples

During the first day, the Pacifist dies. That night, players act as normal, because the Pacifist is not a Minion. During the second day, the Judge executes the Godfather. That night, everyone is drunk, including the Demon, so nobody dies. During the third day, a Minion who is protected by the Devil's Advocate is executed and dies, because the Devil's Advocate is drunk. Again, since a Minion died during the day, the Minstrel makes everyone drunk.

The Assassin is executed, so the Minstrel makes everyone drunk. The next day, the Godfather is executed, so the Minstrel makes everyone drunk again. The Demon could not kill on either night. The next day, the evil Apprentice Mastermind is exiled, so that night everyone becomes sober again, because the Minstrel ability doesn't trigger from a Traveller being exiled.

During the day, the Assassin dies, so the Minstrel makes everyone drunk. The following day, the Zombuul is executed and dies for the first time. Good wins, because the Zombuul is drunk and so has no ability.

Tips & Tricks

At first glance, the Minstrel does not seem that powerful, but in actuality you gain some of the most reliable information in the game. After any day with an execution, you know with confidence that if anyone dies at night, the recent executee is not a Minion. Since an executed Demon typically ends the game (Zombuul and Mastermind aside), you can in fact be reasonably confident that they are actually good!

If the town does successfully execute a Minion, the Minstrel ability will activate, and nobody will die that night. This does not mean that a night without death is any guarantee that your ability was the cause though. In Bad Moon Rising, there are as many reasons people don't die as there are reasons they do (e.g. Exorcist, Innkeeper, Po charging up)! To be sure your ability is the cause and the recent executee should be condemned, do some sleuthing - since you affect all abilities in the game, you should be able to find evidence that other abilities did not work as expected. As an example, characters like the Chambermaid or Gambler could get odd results. Additionally, nobody will be safe from execution (e.g. Pacifist, Devil's Advocate), and characters like the Tinker will not randomly die that day.

Gun for executions! The more executions, the better chance you have of getting a minion. Good players may be reluctant to execute anyone who isn't a demon suspect as the death count can be unexpected and heavy in Bad Moon Rising, but it is worth it to remove powerful Minions like the Assassin or Mastermind from play before they can do too much damage. Combined with the one night reprieve your ability grants on successful execution, your ability should be plenty of incentive to be more aggressive than usual!

Demons may be less likely to target you since they underestimate your power! Unless Minions are getting executed left and right, the Minstrel is likely to survive a little longer than other townsfolk without protections, simply because a Demon is going to be much more worried about an Exorcist or a Tea Lady surviving for another night. Take full advantage of this blind spot - hopefully by the time the evil team realizes what a danger you are, a Minion or two has fallen!

If your evil team is a little more savvy, they may be keen to target you earlier, especially if the good team is zeroing in on some of the Minions. Keeping your identity under your hat for a few days can allow you to spring an unpleasant surprise on these clever sorts, since they won't know that you've blocked them from acting and exposed a demon until nobody gets to act. Your unexpected death can also be an indicator that you were hot on the trail of a minion that the evil team really didn't want confirmed as such.

Bluffing as the Minstrel

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

The Minstrel is a good passive or 'cover' bluff. There is not much you need to do other than remind people that you are the Minstrel every so often. Because it is easy, some good players will pretend to be the Minstrel to cover the fact that they are the Exorcist, for example. You can do the same.

At least once per game, get the Demon to avoid killing of a night time. If no other deaths occur, this will simulate what occurs when a real Minstrel is in-play and a Minion is executed. If you do this after a suspicious player is executed, not only do you confirm the group's suspicions in that player's nefariousness, but you also convince the group that they were drunk that night - which throws a huge spanner in the works for characters that rely on night-time information and feedback, such as the Exorcist, Chambermaid, Gambler and even the Moonchild.

If you are claiming to be the Minstrel, and a fellow evil player is executed, having the Demon kill as normal that night is a great way to convince the group that the executed player was good. You may not even need to say anything more than the fact that you are the Minstrel - and let them figure the rest out themselves.

Encourage executions - of players other than yourself and your Demon, of course.

If a real Minstrel is in play, and you are the Demon, choose not to kill every so often so as to throw the Minstrel off the scent. If a Minstrel is assuming that the group just executed a Minion when they in fact executed a Townsfolk, then not only will that Townsfolk look evil, but the rest of the good players will assume they were drunk tonight (due to the Minstrel ability), even though they were completely sober.

@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 <div class='example'>
-The Professor chooses a dead player who is claiming to be the {{Good|Tea Lady}}. The player is actually the {{Good|Lunatic}}. Nobody is resurrected.
+During the first day, the {{Good|Pacifist}} dies. That night, players act as normal, because the {{Good|Pacifist}} is not a Minion. During the second day, the {{Traveler|Judge}} executes the {{Evil|Godfather}}. That night, everyone is drunk, including the Demon, so nobody dies. During the third day, a Minion who is protected by the {{Evil|Devil's Advocate}} is executed and dies, because the {{Evil|Devil's Advocate}} is drunk. Again, since a Minion died during the day, the Minstrel makes everyone drunk.
 </div>
 <div class='example'>
-The Professor resurrects the {{Good|Grandmother}}, who learns a good player’s character. At dawn, all players learn the {{Good|Grandmother}} player is alive, but not that the player is the {{Good|Grandmother}}.
+The {{Evil|Assassin}} is executed, so the Minstrel makes everyone drunk. The next day, the {{Evil|Godfather}} is executed, so the Minstrel makes everyone drunk again. The Demon could not kill on either night. The next day, the evil {{Traveler|Apprentice}} Mastermind is exiled, so that night everyone becomes sober again, because the Minstrel ability doesn't trigger from a Traveller being exiled.
 </div>
 <div class='example'>
-The drunk Professor chooses to resurrect the {{Good|Minstrel}}. Unbeknownst to the Professor, the {{Good|Minstrel}} was regurgitated by the {{Evil|Shabaloth}} and is now alive. The Storyteller shakes their head no, because the Professor must choose a dead player. The Professor chooses the dead {{Good|Fool}} instead. Nothing happens because the Professor is drunk, and the Professor cannot use their ability again.
+During the day, the {{Evil|Assassin}} dies, so the Minstrel makes everyone drunk. The following day, the {{Evil|Zombuul}} is executed and dies for the first time. Good wins, because the {{Evil|Zombuul}} is drunk and so has no ability.</div>
-</div>
 </div>
@@ Line 56: / Line 55: @@
 == Tips & Tricks ==
-* Use your ability as early as you possibly can! Evil players will ''really'' not want to keep you around, so getting your ability to trigger as soon as possible will give you an edge. Additionally, it is more likely that players who die early in the game will be good Townsfolk, since they are in the majority and evil will be protecting each other.
+* At first glance, the Minstrel does not seem that powerful, but in actuality you gain some of the most reliable information in the game. After any day with an execution, you know with confidence that if ''anyone'' dies at night, the recent executee is not a Minion. Since an executed Demon typically ends the game ({{Evil|Zombuul}} and {{Evil|Mastermind}} aside), you can in fact be reasonably confident that they are actually good!
-* Use your ability as late in the game as you dare! While risky, you can't underestimate how disruptive the resurrection of a confirmed Townsfolk at the end of the game can be for the evil team. The good team will be able to rally around both you and your revived Townsfolk, and the evil team will have a lot less options for disguising themselves as the game has worn on.
-* Remember that if your ability fails, the dead player is either evil ''or'' an Outsider. Don't jump to conclusions ''right'' away - you could've targeted a confused {{Evil|Zombuul}} or  {{Good|Lunatic}}!
-* Resurrect players who died at night, rather than players who were executed. It's not as sure a thing as in other editions, but players who die at night were ''probably'' targeted by the demon, and are therefore most likely good.
+* If the town does successfully execute a Minion, the Minstrel ability will activate, and nobody will die that night. This does not mean that a night without death is any guarantee that your ability was the cause though. In [[Bad Moon Rising]], there are as many reasons people don't die as there are reasons they do (e.g. {{Good|Exorcist}}, {{Good|Innkeeper}}, {{Evil|Po}} charging up)! To be sure your ability is the cause and the recent executee should be condemned, do some sleuthing - since you affect ''all'' abilities in the game, you should be able to find evidence that other abilities did not work as expected. As an example, characters like the {{Good|Chambermaid}} or {{Good|Gambler}} could get odd results. Additionally, nobody will be safe from execution (e.g. {{Good|Pacifist}}, {{Evil|Devil's Advocate}}), and characters like the {{Good|Tinker}} will not randomly die that day.
-* Resurrect executed players if you believe the town has made a mistake! If your ability works, you have absolved an innocent townsfolk. If it doesn't, well, you can be very sure that they were right to execute them the first time. (Bonus strategy: Reveal yourself to a player you believe to be good, and ask them to be deliberately executed so you can bring them back, proving both of you. Especially effective early in the game!)
+* Gun for executions! The more executions, the better chance you have of getting a minion. Good players may be reluctant to execute anyone who isn't a demon suspect as the death count can be unexpected and heavy in [[Bad Moon Rising]], but it is worth it to remove powerful Minions like the {{Evil|Assassin}} or {{Evil|Mastermind}} from play before they can do too much damage. Combined with the one night reprieve your ability grants on successful execution, your ability should be plenty of incentive to be more aggressive than usual!
-* Successfully resurrect a townsfolk, and you are going to be one of the more trustworthy good players in the game. While you won't be totally free of suspicion (the {{Evil|Shabaloth}} is always a concern), you and your revived Townsfolk will know you can trust each other 100%, and most other players will want to join your circle! Use this to your advantage to rally the good team in the face of evil.
+* Demons may be less likely to target you since they underestimate your power! Unless Minions are getting executed left and right, the Minstrel is likely to survive a little longer than other townsfolk without protections, simply because a Demon is going to be much more worried about an {{Good|Exorcist}} or a {{Good|Tea Lady}} surviving for another night. Take full advantage of this blind spot - hopefully by the time the evil team realizes what a danger you are, a Minion or two has fallen!
-* When picking who to resurrect, consider telling the player ahead of time what you intend to do. Not only does this lend credibility to the fact that you aren't the {{Evil|Shabaloth}} (since the Storyteller chooses who is regurgitated), but it also means the player can warn you off if they are an outsider who is bluffing as a townsfolk for whatever reason. Additionally, if the player agrees to go along with this plan and doesn't come back, you can be much more confident that they are evil, since they had the chance to stop you and didn't!
+* If your evil team is a little more savvy, they may be keen to target you earlier, especially if the good team is zeroing in on some of the Minions. Keeping your identity under your hat for a few days can allow you to spring an unpleasant surprise on these clever sorts, since they won't know that you've blocked them from acting and exposed a demon until nobody gets to act. Your unexpected death can also be an indicator that you were hot on the trail of a minion that the evil team really didn't want confirmed as such.
 <br>
-== Bluffing as the Professor ==
+== Bluffing as the Minstrel ==
-When bluffing as the {{Good|Professor}}, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
+When bluffing as the {{Good|Minstrel}}, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
-* You can't resurrect anyone. Be prepared to explain why your ability failed. The Professor is often a more difficult bluff than other good characters in [[Bad Moon Rising]], so you will need to think ahead.
+* The Minstrel is a good passive or 'cover' bluff. There is not much you need to do other than remind people that you are the Minstrel every so often. Because it is easy, some good players will pretend to be the Minstrel to cover the fact that they are the {{Good|Exorcist}}, for example. You can do the same.
-* Claim to have used your Professor ability on a player that the group considers to be suspicious. You can claim to have wanted to "test" to see if they were actually a Townsfolk or not. Choosing a suspicious player will more likely make you look like the good player, so is more useful if you are a Demon as opposed to a Minion.
+* At least once per game, get the Demon to avoid killing of a night time. If no other deaths occur, this will simulate what occurs when a real Minstrel is in-play and a Minion is executed. If you do this after a suspicious player is executed, not only do you confirm the group's suspicions in that player's nefariousness, but you also convince the group that they were drunk that night - which throws a huge spanner in the works for characters that rely on night-time information and feedback, such as the {{Good|Exorcist}}, {{Good|Chambermaid}}, {{Good|Gambler}} and even the {{Good|Moonchild}}.
-* Claim to have used your ability on a trusted good player. When nothing happens, the group will assume (unless you can convince them that you were drunk or poisoned for some reason) that one of you is evil. And the odds are, that if they are trusted, you are not. This strategy is more useful if you are a Minion, as being executed can often be a good thing.
+* If you are claiming to be the Minstrel, and a fellow evil player is executed, having the Demon kill as normal that night is a great way to convince the group that the executed player was good. You may not even need to say anything more than the fact that you are the Minstrel - and let them figure the rest out themselves.
-* If the Demon is the {{Evil|Shabaloth}}, and a player is regurgitated at night, this can look identical to a Professor resurrecting someone. If you think this might happen, or if you have quick wits and can claim in the morning that last night's surprise living player was due to your efforts, you can convince the group that you have used your ability effectively. This is doubly damaging if the regurgitated player was actually a fellow Minion.
+* Encourage executions - of players other than yourself and your Demon, of course.
-* If you are good player, bluffing as a Professor that has used their ability (and nothing happened) can be a great way to stay alive long enough to use your actual ability. Demons are usually not interested in attacking Professors that have lost their ability, since they are no longer a threat. For example, if you are the {{Good|Courtier}}, but want to ensure that you survive long enough to use your drunking ability, claiming to be a Professor that no longer has an ability will usually let you live long enough to do so.
+* If a real Minstrel is in play, and you are the Demon, choose not to kill every so often so as to throw the Minstrel off the scent. If a Minstrel is assuming that the group just executed a Minion when they in fact executed a Townsfolk, then not only will that Townsfolk look evil, but the rest of the good players will assume they were drunk tonight (due to the Minstrel ability), even though they were completely sober.
 </div>