The Game Master / Judge
Author: Vitaly - mr. Koteo (Brisbane Mafia Club)
Judge Responsibilities
In Sports Mafia under FIIM rules, the Judge is the sole authority and execution system of the game.
The Judge does not interpret the game. The Judge runs the game exactly as defined by the rules.
Core responsibilities:
Procedural Control
The Judge ensures that:
all phases occur in the correct order
no phase is skipped, repeated, or altered
all actions are executed at the correct time
There are no exceptions.
Information Control
The Judge controls all official information in the game:
role distribution
night actions and results
voting results
eliminations
The Judge must:
use only official gestures and commands
avoid any additional signals (tone, pauses, reactions)
Enforcement of Rules
The Judge enforces:
speaking rules
voting rules
night posture rules
all FIIM restrictions
Violations are handled immediately, according to the disciplinary system.
There is no “ignoring” or “letting it pass”.
Authority and Finality
All Judge decisions are:
final during the game
not subject to discussion at the table
There is no space to argue with the Judge.
Running a Smooth Game
A correctly judged game is:
predictable
structured
uninterrupted
The Judge must maintain continuous control of tempo and flow.
Clear Phase Commands
All transitions must be explicit and consistent:
“Night”
“City wakes up”
“Voting”
No additional wording. No variation.
Immediate Transitions
There are no delays between phases:
once a phase ends, the next begins immediately
no informal pauses or commentary
Strict Speaking Control
only one player speaks at a time
interruptions are stopped immediately
speaking time is equal and enforced
Stable Tempo
The Judge must:
prevent rushing
prevent delays
maintain equal timing for all players
No Extra Communication
The Judge does not:
explain player actions
comment on the game
assist players in understanding situations
The Judge only executes the procedure.
Handling Disruptions
All disruptions must be handled immediately.
The correct response is:
detect → pause → resolve → resume
(Not “ignore” and not “adjust later”.)
Types of Disruptions
Procedural Disruptions
Situations where the game process is interrupted or unclear, for example:
simultaneous speaking that prevents continuation
unclear nomination state
incorrect sequencing of actions (detected immediately)
ambiguity in whether a phase has legally completed
Action:
the Judge calls a technical timeout
restores correct state strictly according to rules
resumes the game from the correct point
No reinterpretation. No compensation.
Behavioural Violations
Player actions that break table discipline:
speaking out of turn
interrupting
excessive emotional behaviour
ignoring Judge instructions
Action:
immediate penalty according to rules (escalation handled in Chapter 27)
Rule Violations
Direct violations of FIIM rules, including:
illegal communication
breaking night posture
unauthorised gestures or signals
interference with voting procedure
Action:
immediate enforcement (no delay, no negotiation)
Key Principle
A disruption must never be allowed to influence the game state.
Neutrality and Control
Neutrality is a requirement, not a preference.
The Judge must maintain complete independence from the game outcome.
Neutral Behaviour Requirements
The Judge must:
use the same tone for all players
apply rules identically in all situations
avoid any visible reaction to events
What Is Not Allowed
The Judge must not:
react emotionally
show approval or disapproval
hesitate differently based on players or situations
give implicit information through timing or behaviour
Control Standard
The Judge maintains control by:
speaking clearly
acting immediately
enforcing without hesitation
If enforcement is delayed, control is lost.
Best Practices for New Judges
These are operational principles that ensure correct judging under FIIM.
Enforce Immediately
Every violation must be addressed at once.
Delay leads to:
escalation of disorder
loss of authority
inconsistent game state
Use Fixed Commands
All commands must be:
short
consistent
repeated exactly the same way every game
Eliminate Ambiguity
If a situation is unclear:
call a technical timeout
resolve it strictly according to rules
resume without discussion
Maintain Separation from Players
The Judge is not part of the table.
The Judge does not:
engage with players
respond to arguments
explain decisions during the game
Control Before Chaos
The Judge must act:
before players escalate
before interruptions grow
before structure breaks
Late control is ineffective.
No Retrospective Changes
Once an action is executed:
it is final
it is not reversed
it is not corrected later
Game state always moves forward.
Judge Mindset (Operational)
The Judge operates as:
a system, not a participant
a controller, not an observer
The standard is:
execute rules precisely, without influence, without delay.
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