Post advice / recommendations here

[Judge Sam]

Maybe you could post a little bit of advice or recommendations for the game here for new players. Tell em a little bit about what to expect or what the game is like. Try and remember what it was like the first time you saw the Spies board and what ya were thinking, help em out a bit!

[DC]

Oh man, I could write a thesis on this topic.

But I won't. Everyone who plays Spies experiences the game in a different way. So all I'm going to say - at least for now - consider yourself warned: This game is nothing like what you'd expect. You couldn't begin to imagine how fun, intense, tricky, rewarding, frustrating, and amazing this experience is until you've actually played.

Your second experience will be nothing like your first.

Your third experience will be nothing like your second.

It just keeps getting better.

So my advice is simple: Go in with no expectations and play hard.

[David L]

I also could write a thesis on this topic (and probably have at some point.)

Expect to see the best and worst that humanity has to offer: from heights of brilliance to depths of stupidity; from incredible feats of altruism to utter selfishness; from utter emotional detatchment to public demonstrations of incredible pettiness.

My advice to newcomers?

1) Play hard.
2) Play nice.
3) Respect the host.
4) Enjoy yourselves.
5) Don't get personal.

[Dave]

If it's going to be anything like last game I'd say expect the unexpected. Anything could happen and things (especially people's opinions!) can change in a heartbeat.

Expect to be overwhelmed at first, expect to get suspected, expect to have to defend yourself but most importantly expect to have a lot of fun! The more you put into the game and the more you bond with everyone, the better the game will be for you.

Finally the most important thing of all I'd say... if you're lucky enough to have a role DON'T REVEAL IT! Use it as a get out of jail free card if you're about to be exiled.

[mastermofo]

1. Being nice gets you nowhere... Being a bitch attains victory!!

That's all you need to know, at least from a personal Mofo standpoint based on the 5 games that I've played ;D

[katrien]

Do not inspire others to be a bitch, Trey. I will personally come to Georgia and strangle you if I have to face off against another Hydra.

[Lvl 16 Stats Wizard]

Haha, I have to concur with Katrien over Trey on the "bitch" question.

I will say this to newbies though:

- In all but one Spies game, the majority of citizen power roles have gone to completely new players to the series.

- In all but one Spies game, the majority of spies have been completely new players to the series. In the most recent of the series, Spies 5, five out of the seven spies had never played in a previous Spies game.

What this proves, I think, is that Sam is FAIR. He will give power roles to newbies or make them spies if they put in good applications. (Not that I'm suggesting it isn't fun being a "vanilla" citizen - sometimes it's more fun to have nothing to rely on but yourself and your social and investigative powers, and it certainly puts less of a target on your back.) So do the best application you possibly can - this game is worth it!

[Ryan]

I have advice based on the 3 seasons I played, and each one was quite different for me.

Season 3 I was Anneliese, and had a citizen role. My recommendation is that often times, as a citizen with a role, you'll probably feel like you are on the verge of being imprisoned or exiled without much justification. Season 3 taught me more than anything else that, unless extremely carefully planned, DON'T. PANIC. The second you do is when the spies infiltrate just about everything and can easily run the game. Also, trust YOURSELF and not others at least until the 4th or later week. There is a 99% chance you won't accurately nail a spy for the right reasons unless you've spent a fair amount of time with them, and even then, you can be wrong. While there are more citizens to trust, you just never know. Don't take the risk until you are sure someone is safe. Even then, you can be wrong.

Season 4 I was the Final Spy, Zander. The format for this game was a little bit weird with the dueling spies, but I think my advice would hold for a contemporary season as well. Do NOT get personal with the game. Part of the magnifence of spies is that you get to be someone different, and you should attempt that as much as possible because that freedom isn't abundant in other games As Zander, I was basically myself with a (temporarily) fancier vocabulary, and got very attached to people in the game as well as emotionally involved in my survival to the game. It made for a very difficult and exhausting experience and tempted me to not return for Season 5. Your experience as a spy, which is most likely never going to be repeated, should be fun - don't make it something you'd never want to do again.

Season 5 I played as Brody and was imprisoned in the 4th week. This is my proudest accomplishment in Spies, actually, because I feel like it was my best character work and I have a lot of fun being a scathing jerk. But most importantly, this season was the one where I got to play how I really wanted to. I basically came out of the gate being a pretty obvious citizen, and was able to actually help catch some spies in the process before I left. Also, it was so much fun for me following along in the Loser's Lounge it was something I had never had the chance to do (As I was imprisoned 1 week before the Finale in Season 3, and was exiled on the night of the Finale in Season 4), and I loved it. I would always encourage someone no matter how new or old they are to the series to not give up once they're eliminated - I had more fun following along and guessing than I did actually being in the game.

Also, everyone will play differently. Some people like to be mysterious, or laid back, and some like to run things and be thick-headed. Not one playstyle is right for the game, nor is one more right for catching spies. Don't let others get you down, play how you want to play. There is, however, a fine line between being inactive and laying low, so please give the game everything you have. Sam works his ass off to make this series amazing, and the least his players can do is show him respect and follow along

[Good Advice]

Beware of mythical 7 headed creatures. Here is a brief, but detailed, guide on how to successfully deal with any encounters.

1. Do not directly engage the hydra. Direct confrontation with a giant hydra of bitches will result in personal frustration, humiliation, and desire to cut each and every one of their heads right off. This leads in to the 2nd point:

2. Do not cut off a hydra head. For it has been written: "If thou slayeth one head from the mighty hydra of bitches, ye shall be graced with temporary satisfaction, but it shall pale in comparison to the eternity of suffering thou will be certain to experience as the head groweth back anew, with a pair of it's kind." In layman's terms, if you cut off one hydra head, two more will pop up in it's place. This is a documented fact. Do not test this theory.

3. Unfortunately, the guide to dealing with "A Giant Hyrda of Bitches^TM" ends here. Despite years of intense study, no real solution has been identified as a surefire means to eradicating such vermin. The only 100% guaranteed way to survive an encounter is abstinence. Simply avoid the hydra.


For some more practical advise: Have fun. Play to win, but most importantly, play for enjoyment. Sam puts together a killer game, but the best part of spies remains the people involved. Get to know your fellow players and enjoy yourself.

[lfbprod]

I would definitely suggest that people download an advanced version of an instant messaging service, especially one that consolidates all of your windows into one with tabs for each conversation. It saves space and time when you need to be shuttling back and forth between multiple important conversations with everyone else.*













*Lies

[katrien]

Darla will be behind a Carly lynch.

[lfbprod]

There is no greater truth.

[DC]

Bumping this since the game begins this weekend.

There's a lot of good advice here, especially the advice to not reveal your role (!!!!), don't panic, be nice to the host, and don't trust anyone too much.


My last bit of pre-game advice is for round 1, try to take it easy.

- The topic of actives v. inactives will almost certainly come up - you will NEVER get a consensus on this, so just chill and do not get so worked up about it.

- Everyone's on edge during round 1 because no one wants to be exiled first. If you get accused first, do not panic. You have a much better chance fighting your way out if you keep your cool, speak reasonably, and come up with a better alternate choice than you do if you flip out.

- Write observations in your confessional. Things you notice in round 1 will help you make decisions later.

- Be nice to others. Round 1 is when the newbies decide if they like the game or not. If someone's first impression of the game is a bad experience, they may idle out.

- Come up with harmless icebreakers. In Spies 5 we played "never have I ever". Not only was this activity fun, gave people something to do, and helped people get into character, it also resulted in a lot of fun drama

[Spy Bitch]

Too much advice for the Citizens! Some Spy tips:

1. You are a "Citizen". Act like one. Find "suspects" for you to Exile.
2. Work with your Spy friends. Ask them for advice if you need help or if you are confused on what to do.
3. Adapt, adapt and adapt. Things will get thrown at you like roles, twists and investigations. Take them, plan and do not panic.
4. Never type in the wrong chat window. 'Nuff said.
5. Use logic. Logic will make the Citizens think that you are speaking with reason and that you are on their side.
6. Never lie. Lie only about your alignment, nothing else, if possible.
7. Use the Spy Headquarters. It is there for a reason.
8. Fake roles can work. Plan accordingly.
9. Don't stress out. Being a spy is a stressful job. If you need a break from the game, then do it. The last thing you want is to do something stupid (like Number 4) because you were tired, sleepy or flustered.
10. There is a system to chaos. It just differs for every person. Find your own style and make it work for you.

Good luck, friend.

[After Party]

Number one rule: Never, ever, post drunk. You'll make mistakes and things that seem to make sense after some tequila don't hold up under the sober light of day.

[Dlunk Spu]

My two cnts:

Igore thst lst peice ov adfice! *Hic*

[DC]

I thought my advice was applicable to both spies and citizens, actually.

[mysterion]

Don't and I mean DON'T whatever you do DON'T forget to vote; you'll mess up the spies plans!

[sluticia]

how can you forget the most important recommendation?? have fun!