Board Thread:Debate of The Week/@comment-28112409-20171025060017/@comment-32994909-20171029170059

It has to be Bodyguard, especially in Vanilla ToS.

Anyway, here's a few reasons:


 * In early game a Bodyguard is just better, where there is no confirmed townies, so nobody needs to exactly be saved, the Bodyguard is just looking for an evil role to take down with him.

On the other hand, a Doctor early game doesn't help much. It may heal evil roles who are killed by other evil roles or other townies, and healing a random unconfirmed townie is not exactly helpful either.


 * Doctor is weak against Neutral Killings, in the case of Werewolf, the Doctor will protect the townie he's healing but die in the process, whilst Bodyguard will protect the townie he's guarding, kill the Werewolf and die in the process. In case of Arsonist, a Doctor can't stop the dousing nor the ignition, whilst a Bodyguard can kill an Arsonist whilst he's dousing.


 * Late game a Bodyguard is still better, if it's three townies and two mafia, a Bodyguard kill can reduce it to two townies and one mafia. A Doctor healing will keep it the same, and finding and lynching a Mafia is more difficult than just flat out killing them at night.


 * A Doctor's healing is too subtle, it's not easy for a Doctor to confirm himself, Doctor is easier to fake than Bodyguard. However, Bodyguard kills an attacker and dies in the process auto-confirming himself and taking up a Town Protective slot.


 * Town needs kills! It's 9 town vs 4 mafia v 1 Neutral Killing vs 1 Neutral Evil, taking out an evil role at night in exchange for a Town role is devestating for the evils, as it's a profitable trade, one townie from the 9 they have for 1 evil for the lousy 5 they have.


 * Finally, Bodyguards can guard a revealed Mayor whilst Doctors can't.