It is very easy to become disillusioned with the game and often people let this bleed over into stupid decisions that cost the lives of people who have supported them. Rather than do that I try at the very least to make sure when I'm logged in, I'll play the game the way I believe it should be played.

There are a few options that people who have been here for a long time have to employ. The first is to take a break. I personally can only tolerate so much of this game at a time before it begins to grate on my nerves. It can be extremely rewarding when you see new people flourish, even if their advancement is at the cost of your own. It can also be extremely tedious watching people repeatedly make the same errors. I think you have to always maintain your purpose for being here - to have fun. When you aren't having fun anymore? Time for a break.

I'd like to pretend that I jump at the opportunity to be a crewleader whenever I can, but that would be a lie. The real reason I often take the opportunity and I apologise for how arrogant this sounds, is because I don't think there are many people who can do a better job of it than I can. If I believe that I can further the cause of whomever I'm connected to better in a leadership capacity than I can in whatever my current one is, I'll step forward. I also know that I get reactions from people, good and bad, which is more likely to make the game entertaining.

The reason I am often chosen for this is because of the reasons you listed, I have seen a lot. I've been through virtually every scenario you can encounter and even the times I made the wrong decisions, I believe you learn from them and store it for next time. This is why people like me and other experienced players repeatedly get the big jobs even to people who don't know us that well.

Is it less of an experience? I would say so. As my crew will tell you, there is very little I actually do for the betterment of me personally that isn't motivated by the betterment of them and us a whole. When I was coming through the ranks and building my own name I had people equally as willing to devote themselves to the cause rather than personal gain and I guess that is just something that comes with age.

The other way to keep the game fresh is surprisingly simple, join someone else. Most new players will follow their friends around, being in the same families with the same people and be making their enemies. This is the way the game begins for most people on MafiaReturns and some of the most satisfying characters I have ever had arose when I was vying with the same few names. I'd say that a good enemy can motivate you as much as a good friend. However, after awhile even that becomes stale and rather than getting caught in the rut, it is much more beneficial to change it up a bit. I've joined leaders who despised me just to see what it was like and it is often even more rewarding proving yourself to someone who hates you rather than someone who adores you.

The final option is in how you choose to play your character. A lot of people just do the same things again and again. There is nothing set in stone here and no 100% flawless, 'how-to' guide on being a great Mafia player. Some people get massive satisfaction from role-playing in the Streets and bars, others from having great guns. Why not mix it up a bit? Focus on being a great hitman, then focus on being a great street speaker, then focus on being a pickpocket, then focus on being a great RHM, then focus on being a master tactician, then focus on being adept at the politics of power and so and so on. Whilst it appears that there is only one way to play MafiaReturns, that is deceptive and a lot of the intrigue behind the scenes is the most enjoyable and difficult part to master.

I would also say that IRC is not everything it is cracked up to be. I personally only really use it to complain about being beaten to IAs and to chew the fat. It is entirely possible to build a reputation and a legacy solely through the game.

To summarise this rather longwinded response, I feel motivated by those who deserve to achieve success achieving it with my help, rather than any personal accolade.

~G~warble.

I cant stay away for good my first character died in the original SVDM. I sometimes take a break, last one was over a year. I come back becausecof the peopleci meet on here and the addictive j nature of the game. I think its the power you can accumulate.

Well, some time back, A character I had worked really hard on died. I felt very, very disappointed. I felt like quiting this game for good, as in permanently for all time. Then the next day I woke up, I almost instinctively walked over to the computer sat my ass down and created a new character. I know it feels idiotic but then my life seems to be revolving around this game.  

It's frustrating to work so hard to make your way up only to start all over again after a war. It's the challenge.  And the people.  There are so many funny, warm people on here.  The value of meeting new friends on here is immeasurable.

Oh crap I didn't know I came back so many times. Now I'm sad to look back on all the characters.. I guess I keep coming back for the challenge of attempting to prove certain people wrong about me. Also I looooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeee the friends I've made nothing will ever compare to them.

Well fuckin said, Gwarble.  My last break lasted almost seven years :)

Because this game is addictive and takes over you bored time, sitting around staring at a T.V or interacting with others from all over the world is just way too hard to resist, I tried after my last kill to say screw it then I thought about my friends I have made ,then I become concerned with finding them again.. so I start over  J

"How are you guys able to just push the reset button after just spending hundreds of hours on a character that went to waste?"

I think that it's interesting that you put it that way.  "went to waste."  I think that the possibility of death is one of the things that makes this game so great.  The fact that in one second all of your hard work could disappear.  And you put in all of those hours of work so that, when that one moment comes, you are as well prepared as possible.  No offense to anyone who plays WOW or Runescape or any of that crap, but it's sort of a joke to build up a big character on there, because you can't die.

All the time, when I'm describing this game to a friend, they eventually ask, "so, what happens when you get killed?"  And I proudly boast, "Well that's it!  You start all over again.  It's the real deal."

It's the fact that your hard work could disappear at any second that makes it that much more cathartic--and, thus, that much more valuable and fun.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

Talking about it that way kinda makes me think about the value of my REAL life, haha, since it also could disappear at any moment.

Well having recently had a 6 month old character die, I can say what brings me back is the people. 

I've been playing for about 5 months or so and what helps me keep playing this game ( even though the work I put into each character is my blood, sweat, and long hours ) its worth the effort because you get to meet wonderful people who help you and want to get to know you, not like most games that I play that people just want to use you or just trade with you. I have made great friends who live all over the place and who do very interesting things with their lives and I find it as a personal gain from getting to know how their lives have been going and how they manage to go with life in their every day routine (idk if I spelt that right). But, yeah thats what keeps me coming back giving my effort more and more.

It's a way for me to step out of the norm and delve into a character.  i love creating the scenery, the costume, the person behind the name.  For me, I can't just half ass something.  All of my previous characters had a story, a life, a reason they came to be in this thing of ours, as does this one...that is what keeps me coming back.

I've been on here for a few years, on and off respectively, and it's possibly the curiosity that keeps bringing me back. You make connections with people; ridiculously deep connections for some. When I die and decided to "leave," I find myself wondering what happened to everyone else. I make the mistake of recreating an account just to "check in," and then fall into that vicious cycle of addiction all over again ;)

Ignoring the obvious reason - the people.... this game is like NASCAR to me (No offense to race fans).  A crapload of round and round circles with the occasional forward progress, and occasionally getting passed.  But in my mind, that is just the work that leads up to the two most important things.... the accidents (wars!) and the finish line (Crewleader/Godfather/Badass account with a nuke).

When I play, I am often on auto pilot until a situation lights a fire under my ass, then and only then do I really play with purpose.  It also sort of serves as a social experiment to me.  I get a kick out of people responses to various prods and reactions to random situations.  I get a kick out of new people who take to this game and get really involved.  I get a kick out of people who take it waaay to serious and throw tantrums (me included, I'll admit).  I really get a kick out of watching a new player bloom into a regular.  I really get a kick out of watching people with inflated egos get knocked down a few pegs, and likewise, watching small nobodies really spin this world of ours into their own and become people of importance - even if its just in our online little world.

I have no clue. For the most part it's the people and the love of the game. Even though I've been one to butt heads with people, I still enjoy the presence of the people I don't get along with. I've played for about four years and slowly am learning more and more each day. Not so much how to kill, RP or something so much as a skill to build but more a leadership roll. I use to purely focus on having a gun, but now I try my best to learn effective decision making. Luckily, I've had people to help me and I've learned quite a bit.

Gwarble, Lucretia_Borgia (Sayyid), Tish, Smoke, Scarface22, Sao, JTG, Clipper (I know right lol), Marco, Scarin, Kendra, Keats, Authed, Fatality, Chaz, Tiggy, but he list goes on of those who have taught me effective decision making and I couldn't thank them enough. Up until January 2008 I never had made it past Capo. In the last year I've had 1 Don, 3 Consigliere, and 2 boss accounts. Two CL's and the rest were all RH/LH except for one and all of that was thanks to those that took the time to help me learn how to play the game better at what I was already lacking.

I think it's that I learn something new everyday. Whether it's about someone, the game or even something completely outside of the game. It's enjoyable.

I'm a bit with Hashimodo on this one. It really takes someone or something big to spark me into the game when I'm playing, otherwise I just kind of float along, if you will. I suppose, however, that I really do enjoy the idea of being able to have a facade in the streets, playing through scenes and hitting smokes with the best of them. I think the complete basis of returning is the people I become acquainted with through the game. 

JakeSully has a fantastic list of people that have influenced this Thing of Ours for years, and I love coming back to hear from them. Sure, I have actually had the fortune to meet some in person, but it's even better to see someone grow from a name, to a character, to a virtual person. Maybe I'm just a little hooked on the psychology of the game ;)

I have friends here that in any other case i can't talk to and so that i can mve up in rank and maybe become godfather or Don

pretty good question man i don't know how i do it either....

just too addicted

I would also say that IRC is not everything it is cracked up to be. I personally only really use it to complain about being beaten to IAs and to chew the fat. It is entirely possible to build a reputation and a legacy solely through the game.

In other words, you're a big admirer of mine. I'm glad we've got it out in the open. Feels better eh?

I have played a few of these and normally its the rp side and the community, im new to MR but I had a lot of friends at the other ones and always went back because of them reasons, and I will here too plus it gets highly addictive.

I come back for friends. Those who have helped me that now need my help. I come back for fun. Just because I want to see what happens next. I come back for those reasons and dozens more. The fact is you always come back