Okay this seems like a no brainer to me but... large arguement ensued over the forms of communication used during the game.

My contention is that all communication must be verbal and infront of the players present or else how do you know a secrecy rules hasn't been violated. The situation was caused when two revealed cylon players started to exchange a series of text messages between each other to strategize how to end the game. They claim to have not violated the secrecy rules but there is no way to verify that. (and of course they didn't want to produce their phones) This will probably bring and end to our playing the game if we can't get a reasonable agreement from the boards or a clarification from fantasy flight as the players were split right down the middle over what the rules say and of course what is left out. Thoughts...

I agree. Part of the game is the other players being able to infer about what you're talking about when you make your suggestions (i.e. I told my cylon partner game before last that when he started his turn, he should draw a yellow skill card. Others might have inferred that I was holding the Fleet Mobilization super crisis).

Communication should be open. Any form of communication besides verbal and int he presence of all players is in violation of the game spirit. And it circumvents the enforcement of the secrecy rules.

I can see why it would split a group. I'm not sure it would bother me if they confided to each other with notes or something. You already know they are both Cylon's. You know they are going to be plotting against you. Do the specifics really matter? It's kind of like an rpg in that you are playing a character in the game. In an rpg notes are passed all the time. Would it really spoil the game? *shrug* I don't really think so.

spirit said:

Secrecy rules apply to Cylons. What if one texted the other "I threw in 5 against that skill crisis, don't bother". That spares the other cylon resources. No? How about if one of them texts to the other "I have the massive assault supercrisis, so it's okay to pick an attack crisis when using the caprica location, because I can move the jump prep track back two spaces".

Those are legitimate concerns, IMO. In short, since you asked, specifics do matter.

Furthermore, this game isn't played like an RPG by a great many people, including the OP. If they played it like an RPG, they probably wouldn't have a note-passing disagreement to begin with. Many people play this game for mechanical interaction and the interesting social interaction it makes due to the traitor mechanic, not so they can re-enact some of Chief Tyrol's more boneheaded moves.

What if someone used codewords to win the game??

Same thing. Just because you come up with a new way to reveal information that's supposed to be secret doesn't mean it's okay to do it. Or talk to your partner without anyone else knowing about it. Code words, texting, note passing they're all a means to an end and they should all be avoided when playing BSG.

This game is too good to ruin through this petty disagreement.

You all need to come to an agreement and stick to it, if you don't like it you can always go back.

I think if you wanted to play the spirit of the game then all planning should be at table same for everyone else. I think you're both going to know that you're working to the same goal anyway so there's not going to be any big surprises. Also it's so easy for the cylons to win anyway you don't want to go making it even harder for the humans.

My dad did something pretty funny about this topic. He started talking spanish to my grandpa when we were playing the game. i kept hearing my name and i told them they better not be talking about the game because i never learned much spanish

The rules also don't explicitly state that you can't toss a coke on the board if things are going poorly for you. Does anyone find that acceptable? You have to apply some common sense when you play a game. Those who can not.... well, there's never going to be a rulebook good enough for you.

I am also against exchanging notes, etc. between players. One more reason: if cylons could be allowed to do it, humans should be, too. And this is definitely not in the spirit of the game.