The factions
There are four factions in Mafia: The Innocents, the Mafia, the Monsters and the Camorra. There can also be rogue roles.
The Innocents
The most numerous faction, and one which is always present. The basic innocent role is Citizen. The citizens fear and want the complete eradication of the other three factions, and are willing to get their hands dirty to make it happen. If the citizens are clever and united, they can use the Day Round execution as their weapon, but otherwise the other three factions may control them and confuse them into killing each other!
The Mafia
This faction exists in every game. Their basic role is Mafioso. The mafia wants power over the other factions, and will keep murdering until the few remaining players are appropriately fearful and subdued, or in other words, until they outnumber the remaining factions. Some other roles are (or can choose to be) in the Mafia, but they are merely pawns to be discarded, their lives not counting towards the victory of the Mafia (however, they win if the Mafia wins and lose if the Mafia loses).
The Monsters
The supernatural threat that can spread faster than swine flu - There are 2 roles in this faction Werewolf and Vampire. Irrational and bloodthirsty, the werewolves are by no means immortal, but will seek out and attack a victim every night, potentially killing it or turn it into a fresh new werewolf (regardless of their previous role). Individualistic by nature, werewolves may sometimes attack each other or even themselves! Werewolves only exist in sufficiently large games, and win when every player alive is a Werewolf.
The Vampire is a new ally to the Werewolf; The Werewolves faction was renamed to Monsters faction and can now contain Vampires, Werewolves or both. If werewolves are the uncontrollable beast of the monster faction, the vampires are the classy, smarter and more vulnerable part. With no blood thirst or compulsions, the vampire only feeds when desired. However vampires are socials creatures and can be cumulative roles, such as giant clam, freemasons and are also susceptible to disease.
The Camorra
If your town grew too big for just one, this criminal organization will show up. It plays exactly like the Mafia, murdering every night and creating a double headache for the Innocents. However, they are enemies of the Mafia as well, and want each other gone. When the Camorra is available, some of the Mafia supporting roles are (or can choose to be) in the Camorra. The Camorra only exists in sufficiently large games. Its base role is the Camorrista.
Rogue roles
Rogue roles are roles which have no allegiance for any faction - They play for their own interests. Currently the only rogue role is the Lawyer.
