Mafia: Vendetta Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Components
• Setup
• Game Flow
• Day
• Night
• Victory
• Order of Actions
• Special Characters and Their Abilities
  • Leaders
  • Other Citizens
  • Mafia
  • Loners
  • Yakuza
• Game Variants

Components

• 10 plastic masks
• 30 role cards:
  • 6 citizen leaders (Detective, Priest, Judge, Journalist, Jailer, Sheriff)
  • 5 special citizens (Doctor, Sleepwalker, Bodyguard, Beauty, Groupie)
  • 5 ordinary citizens
  • 3 loners (Maniac, Ripper, Con Artist)
  • 4 special mafia (Godfather, Thief, Lawyer, Informer)
  • 4 ordinary mafia
  • 3 Yakuza
• 21 host cards (one of each different role)

Setup

For the game you need a group of six or more players. The optimal number of players is eight to twelve.

One of the players becomes the host. You may determine this at random or give the role to the most experienced player. The host does not take part in the game itself; instead, they observe the players, direct their actions and make sure the rules are followed.

Exception: a six-player game. In this case a temporary host is chosen for the first round. The temporary host receives a game role and plays in accordance with it. As soon as one of the players is eliminated, that player becomes the full host and monitors the players' actions until the end of the game.

Next, choose the roles to be used in the game.

For beginner groups we recommend using only ordinary citizens, ordinary mafia and one of the leaders: the Detective or the Sheriff. Once you are familiar with the game you can add other special roles, but do not overdo it.

The composition of roles depends on the number of players and is determined by the following table:

Players (excluding host)	Citizens, total	Of which: leader	Of which: special citizens	Criminals, total	Of which: special mafia
6	4	1	0	2	0
7	5	1	0	2	0–1
8	5	1	0–1	3	0–1
9	6	1	0–1	3	0–1

General rules for selecting roles:

• There should be roughly twice as many citizens as mafia.
• Citizens may have only one leader.
• Special roles (that is, anyone other than ordinary citizens among the citizens, and anyone other than ordinary mafia among the criminals) may make up about one third of each side.

Also remember that if the citizens have no "shooting" roles, they will find it harder to win, so in that case it is worth increasing their number somewhat.

In a game of 12 or more participants you can use two different criminal groups: the mafia and the Yakuza. How to do this is explained near the end of the rules.

After the roles have been selected, shuffle the chosen cards (there must be as many as there are players, not counting the host) and deal one role face down to each player (again, not to the host). Each player looks at their role and hides the card so that no one else can see it (simply turning it over is enough). A player may, and must, reveal their card to everyone only if they have been eliminated from the game. Until then, all role cards must stay face down.

In addition to role cards, each player receives a mask, which they will use to cover their face during the night. Remember to peel off the protective film from the masks before your first game. If there are not enough masks for everyone, that is no problem: at night it is enough to simply close your eyes.

The host receives small role cards, one copy of each role taking part in the game. These cards are used to show players' roles during the game.

Game Flow

The game consists of day and night periods, which alternate with each other. During the day the players hold an open discussion, trying to expose the criminals and punish them. At night the criminals kill their victims, and the abilities of most special roles are used.

Once all players have received their roles and looked at them, the host announces: "Night has fallen. Everyone falls asleep." Everyone must cover their faces with masks or close their eyes. The host then says: "The mafia wakes up." At this command all players who were dealt a mafia role (including special mafia characters) open their eyes and silently get to know one another. The host then gives the command "The mafia has met and fallen asleep again" (the mafia close their eyes), and then "Day has come. Everyone wakes up." Now everyone opens their eyes and begins the discussion of who among the players might be mafia.

The special "introductory" night, during which the mafia get to know one another, happens only at the start of the game. If other special characters take part, for example a leader, the host also wakes them in turn so that they can learn who is who. No shooting takes place during the "introductory" night, and nobody uses abilities. Once the introductory night is over, the regular alternation of day and night begins, as described below.

Day

During the day the players discuss who among them may be a criminal. After the discussion they must nominate one or more candidates and then hold a vote on each of them. The player whom the largest number of participants vote to condemn will be subjected to a lynching: they must reveal their role and leave the game.

During the day the goal of the citizens is to work out who the real criminals are. They may base this on what they heard or sensed during the previous night, and on the statements of other players. The goal of the criminals is to remain unrecognized and, if possible, to have a citizen, preferably a special character, lynched. However, they should not overly shield their own, since the citizens may become suspicious.

Discussion of candidates is usually limited to no more than five to seven minutes. When that time is up, the players must settle on their suspects and begin the vote. The host names each suspect in turn and counts how many hands are raised in favour of condemning them. The one who gets the most votes is lynched.

If you wish, you can modify the voting process. For example, you may choose only one candidate and vote on them alone; if fewer than half of the participants vote to condemn, that candidate is deemed innocent and the next suspect is chosen. There are only two mandatory rules: a player may not be voted for more than once in the same day, and each day one (and only one) player must be subjected to a lynching.

A condemned player is considered killed. Neither their role nor any abilities of other players can save them from this. They announce their role by showing their character card, and leave the game. The dead may not take part in the game in any way: they may not discuss, vote or comment. Remember that if you are playing with six players, the first player killed becomes the host of the game.

Night

After the lynching, night falls. The host announces: "It has grown dark, everyone falls asleep." Then they call the special characters one at a time; those characters open their eyes, use their abilities and close their eyes again. The order in which special roles act, and the description of their abilities, are given below.

If a player with a special role has been killed, there is of course no need to call them at night. The main thing that happens at night is shooting. When it is the mafia's turn to shoot, the host announces: "The mafia wakes up and chooses a victim." The mafia open their eyes and agree by gestures on whom to kill. Once they have agreed, the host announces that the fatal shot was fired and sends the mafia back to sleep.

The host continues calling characters until all of them have carried out their prescribed actions. Only after that does the host announce the start of a new day. At that point the host tells everyone who was killed during the night: the named players reveal their cards and immediately leave the game. They do not get a chance to tell the others anything. Nor can they know who killed them.

Then a new day discussion begins, and everything repeats until one of the sides wins.

Victory

The citizens win as soon as they manage to remove all the mafia from the game.

The mafia wins if the citizens cannot win. It is not necessary to wait until the last ordinary citizen dies: if at some point the mafia becomes the majority, it wins, because the citizens are doomed both at night and in the daytime vote.

If the sides are numerically equal, the mafia also wins.

Order of Actions

At night the host calls characters and lets them act in the following order:

Beauty — Thief — Informer — Doctor — Bodyguard — Lawyer — Mafia shoots — Yakuza shoot — Leader — Maniac or Ripper — Groupie — Godfather — Con Artist

Naturally, only those characters who are in the game are called. If a character was killed before they had the opportunity to use their ability, the host still calls them, but the actions of a player who has been killed in this way have no consequences.

Special Characters and Their Abilities

Leaders

There may be only one leader in the game. We recommend always playing with a leader. If you play without a leader, increase the number of ordinary citizens.

All leaders act at night immediately after the mafia (and the Yakuza) have made their shots. If the leader was killed by a shot, the host still calls them, pretending that everything is fine with the leader, but their ability is wasted, and in the morning they are announced as dead.

Detective. Can either shoot one player or learn their role. At night, after the mafia's turn, the host announces: "The detective wakes up." The detective opens their eyes and decides whom they want to check or shoot. To check, they point at the player in the usual way; to shoot, they make a shooting motion. The host may ask what the player meant, and the player must confirm their choice with a nod or another gesture. Then, in the case of a check, the host shows the detective a small card with the role of the player being checked. When the detective's action is complete, the host says: "The detective has fallen asleep."

Priest. Can either shoot one player or learn their role. That player learns the identity of the priest. At night, after the mafia's turn, the host announces: "The priest wakes up." The priest opens their eyes and decides whom they want to check or shoot. To check, they point at the player in the usual way; to shoot, they make a shooting motion. The host may ask what the player meant, and the player must confirm their choice with a nod or another gesture. Then, in the case of a check, the host shows the priest a small card with the role of the player being checked, and touches the player being checked so that the player opens their eyes and learns who among the players is the priest. When the priest's action is complete, the host says: "The priest has fallen asleep." The player checked by the priest also closes their eyes.

Judge. At night can learn the role of one player. During the day can save one player from lynching. At night, after the mafia's turn, the host announces: "The judge wakes up." The judge opens their eyes and points at the player they want to check. The host shows the judge a small card with the role of the player being checked. The host then says: "The judge has fallen asleep." During the day, if after the vote a player is due to be lynched but the judge spoke in their defence (did not raise their hand), the host announces that the player has been acquitted. Naturally, the host must not reveal the identity of the judge (although the players may try to work out who the judge is among those who did not raise their hand). However, the judge can block the vote in this way only once per day: the next condemned player will then certainly be lynched. Note that the judge can effectively grant themselves immunity during the daytime vote. However, they can still be condemned if they spend their ability on another player and become the next candidate for lynching themselves.

Journalist. Can choose two players to learn whether they are on the same side or on different sides. At night, after the mafia's turn, the host announces: "The journalist wakes up." The journalist opens their eyes and points at two players whom they want to check. By any unambiguous means, the host shows the journalist whether these two players are on the same side or on different sides. Special roles are not taken into account in this: for example, the Godfather and the Yakuza are on the same side, the criminals; likewise the Beauty and the Sleepwalker are citizens. When the journalist's action is complete, the host says: "The journalist has fallen asleep." If the two players are on the same side, the host may, for example, nod or show one finger; if they are on different sides, the host may shake their head from side to side or show two fingers. The host may not answer the journalist's question aloud, since that could give information to the other players. Nor may the host let the journalist understand which side the checked players belong to.

Jailer. Can learn the role of one player. If that player is a criminal, they are sent to jail at once. After the jailer dies, all prisoners are released from jail. At night, after the mafia's turn, the host announces: "The jailer wakes up." The jailer opens their eyes and points at the player they want to check. The host shows the jailer a small card with the role of the player being checked. The host then says: "The jailer has fallen asleep." If the checked player turns out to be a criminal, they are immediately sent to jail. From that moment they may not use their abilities, and in the morning the host announces who has become a prisoner. Prisoners may not vote, shoot or use abilities, but they may take part in the discussion. If the jailer is killed, all prisoners are freed and regain all their rights. The jailer's action does not apply to loners, but the jailer still learns their role. If the jailer checks the role of a player who was falsely accused by the informer, that player is considered mafia and is sent to jail, even if in reality they are an ordinary citizen.

Sheriff. Can shoot one player. At night, after the mafia's turn, the host announces: "The sheriff wakes up." The sheriff opens their eyes and points at the one they want to shoot. The host then says: "The sheriff has fallen asleep." In the morning the residents find one more body in the streets.

Other Citizens

Doctor. Before the shooting, can choose another player. That player cannot be killed this night. At night, before the mafia's turn, the host announces: "The doctor wakes up." The doctor opens their eyes and points at the player they want to protect. The host then says: "The doctor has fallen asleep." If during this night the player chosen by the doctor is due to be killed, they do not die. However, the killer must not learn that their shot missed, and the lucky player must not learn that someone tried to kill them.

Bodyguard. Before the shooting, can choose another player. Dies in their place if that player is due to be killed this night. At night, before the mafia's turn, the host announces: "The bodyguard wakes up." The bodyguard opens their eyes and points at the player they want to protect. The host then says: "The bodyguard has fallen asleep." If during this night the player chosen by the bodyguard is due to be killed, they do not die; the bodyguard dies in their place. The protected player must not learn that someone tried to kill them.

Sleepwalker. Pretends to be one of the mafia. If killed by the mafia, the mafia may shoot one more player. Whenever the host announces that the mafia has woken up, the sleepwalker also opens their eyes and behaves as a member of the mafia. They must not tell anyone what their role is or which of the players are mafia. If the real mafia work out the sleepwalker (for example, from their vote), they may kill the sleepwalker at night, and immediately after that they get the right to one more shot.

Beauty. Before the other actions, can choose one player. That player cannot use their abilities this night, but also cannot be killed. At night, before the mafia's turn, the host announces: "The beauty wakes up." The beauty opens their eyes and points at the player they want to deprive of abilities and, at the same time, protect. The host then says: "The beauty has fallen asleep." If during this night the player chosen by the beauty is due to be killed, they do not die. However, the killer must not learn that they missed, and the lucky player must not learn that someone tried to kill them. In addition, the player chosen by the beauty does not use their ability this night, although they do not know this themselves (the host calls this player and lets them carry out the action as usual, but it has no consequences). If the beauty chose the only mafia member in the game, the mafia kills no one that night. If a mafia member was chosen but there are other criminals, the killing takes place as usual.

Groupie. Can choose one player. If that player is a leader, learns their role. At night, after the mafia's turn, the host announces: "The groupie wakes up." The groupie opens their eyes and points at the one they want to check. The host nods if this is a leader, and shakes their head if it is not a leader. The host then says: "The groupie has fallen asleep."

Mafia

At night, when it is the mafia's turn to shoot, the host announces "The mafia wakes up and chooses a victim." The mafia open their eyes and agree by gestures on whom to kill. Once they have agreed and communicated their choice to the host, the host announces: "The mafia has fired its shot and fallen asleep." In the morning the victim of the mafia is announced as killed (if no one has protected them).

Do not forget that the special characters of the mafia also take part in the shooting.

Godfather. Can choose one player. That player may not vote during the day. At night, after the mafia's turn, the host announces: "The godfather wakes up." The godfather opens their eyes and points at the player they want to deprive of the right to vote. The host then says: "The godfather has fallen asleep." In the morning the host announces which player may not vote (however, that player is still entitled to take part in the discussion and to be accused). The vote is held as if this player were not there. They neither vote for nor against anyone.

Thief. Can choose one of the players. That player may not use their abilities this night. At night, before the mafia's turn, the host announces: "The thief wakes up." The thief opens their eyes and points at the player they want to deprive of abilities. The host then says: "The thief has fallen asleep." The chosen player does not use their ability this night, although they do not know this themselves (the host calls this player and lets them carry out the action as usual, but it has no consequences).

Lawyer. Can learn the role of one player. At night, before the mafia's turn, the host announces: "The lawyer wakes up." The lawyer opens their eyes and points at the player they want to check. The host shows the lawyer a small card with the role of the player being checked. The host then says: "The lawyer has fallen asleep." During the night shooting the lawyer may use the information they learned, but they still have to convince the other mafia members that their choice is correct. They may not voice what they learned at night, and may not directly tell their accomplices that they are the lawyer.

Informer. Can choose one player. If anyone learns the role of that player, the host must announce that this player is mafia. At night, before the mafia's turn, the host announces: "The informer wakes up." The informer opens their eyes and points at the player they want to frame. The host then says: "The informer has fallen asleep." If during this night anyone checks the chosen player (wants to learn their role), the host must show the mafia card instead of the player's real role. If the journalist is the one checking, the host behaves as if the player chosen by the informer were mafia. It is not recommended to introduce the informer into a game in which there is no character able to learn the roles of other players.

Loners

A loner is a third side in the game. A loner wins if all players except for them are killed. There may be only one loner in the game. We do not recommend introducing a loner into a game with fewer than ten participants. A loner replaces one of the mafia.

Maniac. Can shoot one player. At night, after the mafia's turn, the host announces: "The maniac wakes up." The maniac opens their eyes and points at the one they want to shoot. The host then says: "The maniac has fallen asleep." In the morning the residents find one more body in the streets.

Ripper. Can shoot one of the players, if that player is not an ordinary citizen. At night, after the mafia's turn, the host announces: "The ripper wakes up." The ripper opens their eyes and points at the one they want to shoot. The host then says: "The ripper has fallen asleep." If the chosen player is not an ordinary citizen (in other words, they are mafia, a leader or another special citizen), they are killed, which the host announces in the morning.

Con Artist. Can choose one player. During the day that player votes the same way the con artist does. At night, after the mafia's turn, the host announces: "The con artist wakes up." The con artist opens their eyes and points at the player whose vote they want to use. The host then says: "The con artist has fallen asleep." In the morning, when the votes are counted, the host tells the chosen player how they must vote (based on how the con artist voted). The host must not reveal which player is the con artist (unless the con artist reveals themselves).

Yakuza

The Yakuza is another criminal group, which competes with the mafia for power over the city. The Yakuza may be used in the game under the following rules. First, there must be 12 or more players. Second, the mafia roles are split in half between the mafia and the Yakuza (for example, if the game should contain 4 mafia, 2 of them become Yakuza and 2 become mafia). Third, loners and special mafia characters may not be used in a game with the Yakuza.

The Yakuza shoot immediately after the mafia, but the shots of both criminal groups are considered to have happened simultaneously. Thus, if the mafia's shot killed one of the Yakuza, that Yakuza still keeps the right to their dying shot that night.

To win a game with the Yakuza, a criminal group must not only deprive the citizens of any chance to win, but also eliminate all its rivals from the other camp. Thus, the Yakuza win if the citizens cannot win and all the mafia have been killed.

Game Variants

There are many variants of the rules of "Mafia", and this booklet presents only one of them. Naturally, you may play "Mafia" in whatever way is most convenient for you. Just be sure to agree before the start of the game which variant of the rules you will be playing.