Monday, September 23, 2024

Greedy Alex (Third Party): Overview and Strats

 

(AI Generated artwork)

Greedy Alex is a third-party role in Deck Mafia whose objective is to steal 50% (rounded up) of the total cards submitted or distributed to all players. Alex’s strategy revolves around card theft, sneaking through the game undetected, and making sure not to be killed or outed by other third parties or alignment checks. Alex's ability to steal entire decks makes him a threat to both town and scum factions, though he isn’t an outright enemy of either. Here’s a guide on how to play Greedy Alex to ensure a successful, sneaky victory.


Primary Objective:

  • Goal: Steal 50% (rounded up) of all cards in the game before it ends. If successful, Greedy Alex wins and leaves the game, revealing all the cards he has stolen along with the owners.
  • Challenges: You lose if you die or if the game ends without stealing enough cards. You also risk having your theft attempts fail if a third party or alignment check player visits your target at the same time.

Key Abilities:

  1. Even Day Card Thief:

    • On even days, you can target a player and steal their entire deck. This gives you access to their night action cards, which you can use the following night, but you must ditch any day action cards.
    • This ability allows you to acquire cards aggressively, making even days crucial for accumulating power and getting closer to your win condition.
  2. Odd Night Card Thief:

    • On odd nights, you can target a player to steal their entire deck. In addition to this, you steal 50% (rounded down) of the decks of any visitors to your target, effectively making this ability a twofold card theft opportunity.
    • You can also steal from dead players during the night, making odd nights particularly valuable for hitting players who might have been recently killed but still had useful cards.
  3. Ditched Cards Still Count:

    • Even though you may not be able to use all the cards you steal (because some get ditched), those cards still count toward your win condition, making it more about quantity than usefulness in gameplay.

Passive Actions:

  1. Limited Detection:

    • You can only be detected by specific card-based roles: Day Motion Detector, Activity Cop, and Watcher. While this limits the ways you can be detected, it also means you must be wary of any players that might hold these cards, as they can expose you.
  2. Sneaky but Cowardly:

    • If your target is visited by another third party or someone with an alignment check action, your theft attempt will fail. This makes it risky to target high-profile players who are likely to be investigated or visited by multiple roles.
    • This passive ability requires you to be careful about who you target. You need to avoid attracting attention, especially from players who are under heavy suspicion or scrutiny.

Strategic Playstyle and Tips:

1. Early Game: Observe and Plan Your Theft Targets

  • Gather Information: Use the early game to observe which players are accumulating cards or are less likely to be under heavy scrutiny. High-profile players who are leading town or scum may not be the best early targets, as they could be investigated or heavily visited by other roles.
  • Stay Under the Radar: Don’t draw unnecessary attention to yourself. Greedy Alex’s survival is key, and if other players catch wind of your presence, they may work together to eliminate you. Since you can't survive interactions with third-party killers like Trolls or fulfillers like Diamonds, you should avoid making yourself a target.

2. Even Days: Aggressive Card Theft

  • Target Players with Full Decks: On even days, aim to target players you believe have a large deck of cards. This is when you can make your biggest gains.
  • Be Selective: While tempting to steal from powerful players, they might also be under investigation or receiving multiple visits, making them risky targets. Choose players who are actively playing but not drawing too much attention to themselves.
  • Use Stolen Night Action Cards: After stealing a player’s deck, you can use their night action cards on the following night. This is an opportunity to deal damage, gather intel, or protect yourself using the resources of other players.

3. Odd Nights: Hit Multiple Targets

  • Take Advantage of Multiple Visitors: The odd night card thief ability allows you to steal from not just your target, but also any players who visit them. This ability makes odd nights crucial for maximizing your card theft.
  • Steal from the Dead: You can also target dead players on odd nights, making them safe targets with no risk of failure. This can be a reliable way to steal cards without worrying about other visitors or alignment checks.

4. Avoid High-Profile Targets on Odd Nights:

  • Third Party and Alignment Checks: Since your theft attempts fail if your target is visited by third parties or alignment-checking roles, avoid targeting players who are likely under investigation or being watched by factions. Play cautiously, and aim for players who are less likely to draw visits.

Mid-Game: Stealth and Card Accumulation

5. Play Around the Detection Cards

  • Stay Out of Sight: Your limited detection means that only certain card-based roles like Motion Detector, Activity Cop, and Watcher can detect you. Be cautious about players who might hold these cards, and avoid targeting them directly.
  • Ditch and Replenish: Since you automatically ditch the cards you start with when you steal new ones, focus on replenishing your deck with stolen cards, and ditch the ones you don’t need.

6. Maximize Your Theft on Odd Nights

  • Multiple Steals: Odd nights are where you can potentially steal from multiple players in one action. If you think a key player is about to be visited by others, targeting them can result in a huge influx of cards, which helps get you closer to your win condition.
  • Play Safely: On odd nights, you also have the option to steal from dead players, which minimizes your risk of failure and gives you a more secure source of cards.

Late Game: Secure Your Win Condition

7. Stay Low-Key but Efficient

  • By the late game, you should be close to your win condition, having stolen 50% of the total cards in play. At this point, it’s crucial not to draw attention to yourself, as players will likely start hunting for third parties and might deduce your presence.
  • Don’t Overplay Your Hand: Be careful not to steal too aggressively in the late game, as that could make players suspicious. Balance your thefts with staying out of sight and avoiding being a target for lynching or night kills.

8. Finalize Your Steals

  • If you’re close to reaching your card quota, focus on safe targets, like players who are less likely to be visited or dead players. This ensures you secure your final cards without risking detection or failure due to other visitors.

Final Thoughts:

Greedy Alex thrives on stealth, card theft, and playing the long game. By carefully selecting your targets, avoiding high-profile players, and using your odd night multi-theft ability strategically, you can accumulate enough cards to fulfill your win condition without getting caught. Stay under the radar, avoid interaction with dangerous third parties, and ensure you reach your goal of stealing half the cards in play.

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