Nine sins of players in the "Mafia"

1. Paranoia

A paranoid type is one of the most dangerous players in any game. This person does not believe any arguments and will not stop until he succeeds.

Well, if he has a red card, especially Sheriff’s role, he becomes a dedicated player for the team and bravely defends the Citizens. However, it works only if he is not paranoid about an actual Citizen. In that case, he is basically playing for Mafia. Unfortunately, for his teammates this player will be a hard work. They will have to put up with this behavior and accept that he is incapable of perceiving arguments.

Do not confuse this paranoid state of mind with confidence. The paranoid type does not listen to others, because his opinion is the only one that counts. A confident person stays open-minded during the game and even can change opinion if good arguments are provided.

There are two types of paranoids: passive and active. Passive paranoid chooses a player to follow during the game. Aggressive paranoid attacks one particular player, and sometimes there is no reason for that. Their goal is not to win a game as a team, but to indulge the paranoia and exclude an unpleasant participant.

2. Rudeness

Despite the fact that Mafia is just a game, sometimes it is difficult to cope with negative emotions. The main thing to remember is that all participants just play their roles, and it is pointless to respond rudely when someone votes against you. Your rude behavior will ruin your mood and an atmosphere of the whole game. Do not swear, do not interrupt others, and watch what you say.

If you notice that someone is wrong, state your position calmly and provide it with arguments. It shows your high level as a player and maturity as a person. Mafia is a psychological game that teaches you to recognize emotions of others, but also helps you to improve your own.

3. Rigidity

One of the most typical mistakes in Mafia is a fixation on one thought. Of course, it is good when you have your own opinion and you are able to defend it. However, usually it shows that you are too stubborn and not able to see clearly what is going on around.

Players with black cards benefit if two Reds start blaming each other. Victory in that case will not belong not to Mafia, but to the endless stupidity and rigidity of the Reds. To avoid this, do not focus your suspicions on the same candidate and listen to the arguments of others. It is important to develop a flexibility of thinking and to be able to take someone else's opinion into consideration.

4. Overconfidence

Overconfidence is a hypertrophied confidence that makes you believe in qualities that you do not really have. This kind of person thinks he is better than others in every aspect, and does not doubt his victory. It is not even about the team, the victory belongs to his highest self.

Of course, it is amazing to be a confident person. Nevertheless, it should be based on your real abilities, and your opinion should be provided with logical arguments. It is great to have a desire to win, a problem starts when you are fixated on yourself and think that you will win constantly. Sometimes, being dominated by the ego, people cannot see clearly what is really happening. It stops your development as a player. Everyone makes mistakes, even you, so just live with that.

5. Carelessness

Attentiveness and ability to concentrate are important qualities for any player. Experienced players are able to notice gestures or mimics and interpret it in a right way.  Beginners usually do not notice such small things because of a lack of concentration. This quality requires constant training, it does not come that easy.

Your character and attitude towards the game affect the game more than a card you get. If for any reason you cannot completely concentrate on the current game, it is better to take a break. Play only with a clear head.

6. Principles

Usually, people respect a person with strong principals, and it is considered to be a positive quality. However, sometimes it seems unnecessary to stick with the same thoughts and behavioral patterns. Most beginners simply do not know strategies of the game and try to hide their cowardice behind principles. It becomes a good excuse when they try to defeat themselves.

Do not put yourself in such position. Other players will not see you noble and confident because of that, they will consider you stubborn and close-minded. Of course, stick to your own interests, but do not forget about the team you are playing for! Before making any decision, just think about its pros and cons one more time, or even ask a teammate that you trust for an advice.

7. Indifference

An apathetic player is the exact opposite of an overly emotional participant. Such people do not fully integrate into the game, they are just indifferent to what is going on. They do not want to ask questions and argue, their reactions are slow, speeches are monotonous. It is hard for them to concentrate and remember what happened during the game. Indifferent players can even spend the whole game playing with their phones, that is a completely disrespectful and need to be addressed.

Yes, you might be tired, and might have a psychological burnout, but just do not carry these emotions through the game. Do not start playing if you do not have any desire and not 100% emotionally ready to participate actively. Otherwise, your apathetic mood will ruin the game to everyone else around you.

8. Hysterics

Do not let emotions influence your decisions. One of the keys to success in any game is an ability to keep your mind calm. Experienced players can successfully argue and debate without yelling and intimidating others. Hysteria will not make your argument better, it only proves that you are emotionally unstable. Even if your arguments are quite logical, other players most likely will not want to listen to you if you are constantly angry and disrespectful.

9. Bringing up personal things

The last one and one of the most unpleasant sins in any game. The only way to overcome it is to consider other participants as game numbers, not as your friends or enemies. Of course, you can use information you already know about these people. If there is a friend playing with you, you will know his reactions better and take an advantage out of that. Nevertheless, do not rely only on this, and never transfer personal relationships into the game. Do not build your logic and strategy based only on likes/dislikes.

Everyone makes mistakes. All the above describes sins that affect all participants in one way or another. The main thing is perspective, you need to learn how to notice these weaknesses in yourself. Acknowledgment that you can have these sins and can overcome it raises your level as a player.