Mark guaranteed and flexible slots separately
A fixed Sheriff slot and a Random Town slot do not provide the same certainty. Keep guaranteed roles in one column and flexible categories in another so duplicate claims are not called impossible when a random slot can still support them.
Close a slot only with strong evidence
A public flip closes a slot. A revealed Mayor closes its unique role. A confident claim without mechanical confirmation does not. Over-closing the role list creates false counterclaims that evil can exploit.
Treat cleaned deaths as missing variables
A cleaned role does not disappear from the setup—it becomes unknown. When Janitor hides a role, leave an unknown occupied slot in the model instead of assuming every visible role is still available.
Recount after each death
Claim space can change dramatically overnight. Two Town Protective claims may coexist on Day 2 and become impossible on Day 4 after the Random Town role flips elsewhere. Old claims need fresh evaluation.
Use impossibility as a question, not instant guilt
When the claims no longer fit, identify the smallest conflicting set and pressure those players. The contradiction tells you at least one story is wrong; it does not automatically tell you which one.
Live role-list example
Consider a hypothetical Custom list with one Town Investigative slot and one Random Town slot, with every other Town slot accounted for. Sheriff and Investigator claims can coexist while the flexible slot is open. If a reliably identified Doctor occupies that Random Town slot, both investigative claims can no longer fit. This example is not the published Classic role list.
Common mistakes
- Treating flexible categories as fixed roles.
- Closing a slot from an unconfirmed claim.
- Forgetting cleaned deaths occupy unknown role space.
- Refusing to recalculate after new flips.
Keep a ledger of confirmed and assumed slots
| Slot | Current record | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Town Protective | Player 4 claims Doctor | Claimed, still open |
| Random Town | Player 9 revealed Mayor | Publicly established ability |
| Random Town | Player 2 died with hidden role | Unknown occupied slot |
This is an example ledger, not a published mode list. Maintain a separate row for each flexible slot. A Forger can make a death display the wrong role, so write down which conclusions depend on trusting a graveyard label.
