Dilemma

A dilemma is one where there are two options presented, neither of which are clearly good for the player.

As it applies to Mafia, a Dilemma occurs when it appears that multiple factions must cooperate to win, and frequently the Townie(s) in the game appear to be Kingmakers. Here are a few common examples.

• Three-player endgame: One Townie, one Mafioso, and one Serial Killer.
• Four-player endgame: Two Townies, one Mafioso, and one Serial Killer.
• Five-player endgame: One Townie, and two Mafiosi each from different factions.

In these situations, if the Townie votes for anyone it is tantamount to suicide - the scumteam they don't help destroy will just endgame them.

As with most dilemmas, the correct response is to take a third option and No Lynch. There is absolutely nothing the scum can do in this situation but follow suit.

At Night, the dilemma shifts to the scum. The only way for either scum to win is for them to shoot the other scum. But if both scum do this, then the Townie(s) will be the only player(s) alive, and the Town will win. This is a disheartening outcome so late in the game!

The other option, shooting the Townie, is clearly suboptimal. Going with the three-player example above, if the Mafioso shoots the Townie and the Serial Killer shoots the Mafioso, the Serial Killer wins (and the Mafioso feels dumb afterward). Thus, to the scum, the choice is between giving victory to the other scum or the Townie.

It is worth noting that depending on the moderator, if BOTH scum shoot the Townie, the result can either be a joint win or a draw. In particular, if the result would be a draw, then there is no real reason (beyond nicety) for the scum to shoot the Townie at all.

Therefore, these types of endgames in theory should always result in a Town win - even though there are more scum than Town alive, and arguably the Town would deserve to lose by that point.

Caveats

One should always play fairly when one holds the winning cards. ~Oscar Wilde

In theory, that's how the dilemma works. There are a few instances where dilemma scenarios can take unplanned directions.

• If one of the scum is Bulletproof, then the Townie is indeed a Kingmaker deciding whether to lynch the Bulletproof scum (and lose to the other scum) or do anything else (and lose to the Bulletproof scum).
• If both scum are Bulletproof, then the Townie is a Kingmaker, but in a different way - the game is much more likely to end with both scum alive.
• If it is not known that the game should be in a Dilemma state for whichever reason, then none of the "rules" of the dilemma apply. This is not common, but ideal for allowing scum to trick the last Townie into voting the way they like and thus avoid the inevitable Town win. In general, the scum have arguably lost the game when the Town realizes they are in a dilemma scenario.
• The scum may propose a truce and offer to play for the joint win or draw, as in the Prisoner's Gambit. This is arguably playing against their Win Condition, though.