Hello. If you're reading this, then I'm going to assume you either understand Meta or that you have no clue what it means. This topic is meant to put light into what I believe is the proper way to handle Meta and going over what it exactly is. You can read more about Meta from this guide (https://epicmafia.com/topic/65563), also.
To start, Meta is unavoidable in games. There is no way around it as Mafia is a game based on social interaction, and that you are playing with humans who display certain characteristics and emotions throughout. Meta, which is short for metagame, is basically prior knowledge of a player or person and using said knowledge to read them. It's very unlikely that you will find a player who plays the same as another, even if it could be relatively close.
Meta is a scent, not a tell.
This is something that has been drilled in my head over and over. Meta can be a good lead but you should never concentrate your full read on someone based on prior assumptions as most people are not static and will change the way they play, especially stronger players. You need to find a balance between understanding someone and their playstyle and understanding what they're doing at that moment in time.
Don't disregard meta completely.
I know some players who will tell me that meta, either as an argument about themselves or another, is completely null. It's fairly easy to disregard and play off the environment you're in, but if you do so then you are giving yourself a bit of a disability as you're not using your full knowledge to your advantage. All players are readable, whether they want to admit or not. There is always something that someone will do as either alignment that will tell you if it either comes with ill intent or is genuine. Play more with people. Get to know them. Get them in situations that make them uncomfortable and start deciphering their thought process. You will become a stronger player in the end because of it, I promise.
N1 Meta
More often than not, you'll find yourself in a game where someone will attribute meta as to why they themselves are town due to someone being killed. This is can be a bad tactic on their part and I will not say that all people are instantly scum for it, but you should never find yourself doing this as it's borderline abusing meta, which is a punishable offense in itself. Yes, the chance of you killing your friend for a game you joined only for him is partially unlikely, but there is also the matter of you doing that knowing that people would townread you for it. This will always be completely null and if I catch any of you doing it I will have some very stern words for you. Don't do it.
Meta as an argument
Meta comes in different forms and is not always about certain actions that happen in the game. Meta can easily be something as simple as "I wouldn't bus my partner in D1! I'm a better player than that!" This statement itself becomes meta as the player is talking about himself and a certain action that he wouldn't do as town to possibly be townread for it. There can come a time where this is completely true but these little snippets shouldn't be the focal point of reading a player as again, scum can as easily say this as town can. These are one of these times where you need to think more about the intentions of a player to make such an argument and perhaps go over if what he said was believable. Then it just boils down into fact-checking.
Final words
I want to say that not all people need to use meta in the same way that I do. The best way to use it is finding a way that you like to, as you likely don't think the exact same as me. Try and experiment with your own meta also, just to see what you can get away with. It can be fun at times and even rewarding if you ever want to trip someone up who thinks they've got a beat on you, or you want to use an alternate account. I hope you understand a bit more about meta after this reading this guide and I look forward to playing with you.
