Suffice it to say that, if we are picking someone to lynch this DP, I think we have to pick among those who cannot be confirmed by their night actions, which includes everyone who has not claimed (myself included). I say that while BK remains highest among my scumreads. I also say it knowing that most of those who fall into that category are people I’m behaviorally reading as town, so that does narrow the options for a lynch substantially.
Here’s the list of people I’m unwilling to lynch in this DP in order of most to least:
JoeBob: Innocent Child. Nuff said.
GP: has a claimed role that will rapidly confirm itself during the NP. If he doesn’t, that means he’s the obvious lynch next DP or he’s dead during the NP.
Savant: some may disagree about my putting him this far up, but despite the lack of a hard claim, he has said he’s clearly confirmable, so whatever his role is, it will either become clear next DP or he’ll be on the chopping block.
Pie: claimed the main character of the series and a role that can be watched. It’s not a slam dunk, but it is a testable role on some level. I’ve got a question into Luna about it, so this might change.
BK: claimed doctor and major character, though his behavior has been all over the place. The role is nonetheless somewhat confirmable.
That leaves 4 choices, including me. I’ll leave myself out for obvious reasons and list from least to most sus.
Vader: he’s been a black box when it comes to his claims, but his behavior comes off as very townie throughout. He’s my “if necessary” choice, but I’d prefer both of the options below to him.
Austin: the Bleeder claim makes basic sense, but could easily be a relatively safe fake claim. I know some people are sussing him based on how much he pushed back on claiming, but Barney and BK did the same and not all of them can be scum. His choices for lynches don’t make much sense to me, but I also don’t think scum would keep pushing on those lynches. Maybe this is just WIFOM thinking, but if scum wants a mislynch this DP, they’re going to pick easier targets that haven’t already been written off. Couple that with his decision to keep pushing the Pie wagon even directly after he claimed Mark Grayson and it just doesn’t scream “scum” to me. It also doesn’t help that, with BK as my scumread, I’m looking for a plausible pairing with him and I just don’t see it with Austin. They’ve been too antagonistic and it doesn’t come off as bussing. Same with Pie. I’d be willing to consider this choice, but my gut tells me it’s the wrong way to go.
Barney: I have his character down to a few plausible options based on his softclaim, but I end up feeling pretty null on him behaviorally. The nature of his softclaim gives him more room to shift than I’d like, and much as I agree that his frustration over the wagon felt natural, I could see him pushing back like that as scum.