A very smart question was asked:
Is there not anything the denizens can do to protect themselves from the demons?
Obviously the demons have the upper hand in the basic rules I have laid out so far.
To be honest, with a small group of less than 9 playing (for the first time) I didn’t expand the rules any beyond what is basically necessary for game-play. The game will be pretty short - two to four turns at most.
However, once 9+ people play there are optional, advanced rules. Or we always have the option to implement them with seven playing. That’s why we have this discussion, so we can make it better together
My ideas on expansion include additional denizen roles based on our professions:
Warrior - could choose another denizen (other than the ruler) to protect (not themself) (Of course not knowing who the demons are, there is a chance they would be protecting a demon)
Cleric - choose another denizen (or themself) to bless. Nullifying the curse of they choose wisely.
Rogue - choose another person to ‘spy’ on, learning their alignment (denizen or demon).
Naturally, there would be caveates - you cannot reveal proof of your role (like sharing the PM from the narrator, if you tell someone something the Folish only have your word to go on). And you cannot use the advantages of the additional roles while serving as Ruler.
Those in the warrior and cleric roles would communicate their decisions to use their ‘powers’ privately with the Narrator, after the current ruler has announced their decision (to banish or not) and before the end of Riftershine is posted and Demons Eyes begins.
The Narrator would communicate the actions of the Warrior and Cleric on the notice board only in response to a successful block of a curse.
(Harry was almost cursed! But the demons were not aware that a cleric had bestowed their blessing...) or something similarly silly.
A Rogue role can communicate at with narrator during Demon Eyes only to learn the alignment of 1 other player - and not whole serving as Ruler.
Also - the powers of the roles can be used once per GAME.
Thoughts?
Maybe once we play once or twice, adding some extra roles would be fun to help the game extend.