Mafia Discussion: Do you prefer a perfectly balanced game, or a semi-crazy swingy game?

I am interested in the mafia communities opinion on this matter, because my opinion has sort of changed on the subject. I used to prefer better balance but lately I think I like the idea of role crazy a little bit. I mean I think every mod should strive to balance the game as much as possible, and at least try not to leave one side a glaring strength or weakness. But it's rare that it won't be argued in an endgame that a game isn't balanced anyway.

Would you rather have an all vanilla/goon game (which I guess is as close as you can get to perfect balance) or a game where most or all players actually have a night action?

If I had to choose one or the other, I would pick a game where most or all players have a role. If I didn't have to choose one, I would pick both with games in the middle as well. I think variety is good. If I were to mod a game, I would make it balanced with normal roles, but also throw in one or two weird or obscure roles as well.

You can sign up to be a mod via this list, ya know

I don't have time to mod a game right now.

You have to wait in line it could be a few months before it's your turn

I know, but I don't know that I'll have any more time a few months from now.

I wish neutral roles were used.

What do you consider to be neutral roles? Examples?

survivor is one...amnesiac is fun as hell. jester is fun.

Neutral roles? Those like roles that can be town and mafia? or third party?

Jesters

Guys I am mafia lynch me

Heaters are so obvious in Town of Salem

Jesters

Yes. 

Swingy games are only fun as counterpoint: a surprising change of pace. Having to learn an entirely new game dynamic every time out is fatiguing and it doesn’t give the group time to establish regular dynamics.  The way I remember it, the very traditional first games in the beginners series were often the most interesting - I was better able to discern patterns in the noise. 

Honestly, I understand where you are coming from. For example, I think it would be cool to run a series of games based strictly on drafters open set up for quick fires. I feel like it would be a cool baseline for forming metas based on familiar patterns, as a core game design running along side normal-hosted mafia games. 

I haven’t looked at those QFs. 

That is the idea I had in mind. My first one was basically a beta test of that idea. Been thinking about running another with slight tweaks based on feedback.

Sounds like a cool idea, hope to see it in motion.

I absolutely loved doing my role madness game, and I was very happy that it was balanced so well. Balance is key, and otherwise it's great