Tinker

Outsider•Bad Moon Rising

An Outsider completely at the mercy of the Storyteller, who can kill them whenever it best balances the game or creates confusion. While their death is a hindrance, the timing can provide clues or even confirm their alignment if it happens during the day.

Wakes

Never

Causes Death

Yes

Selects

Alignment

Static

Ability

You might die at any time.

Night Ritual (Storyteller Instructions)

Other Nights

"The Tinker might die."

Strategy Guide

Playing As

Come out publicly after you die, especially if at night, to help the town determine if your death was the Storyteller's choice or a Demon kill.
If you die publicly during the day, use your confirmed good status to lead the town and coordinate trusted information.
Consider bluffing as a high-value target (like an Exorcist or Professor) to draw the Demon's attack, saving a useful Townsfolk.
If you survive to the final few players, warn the group that the Storyteller might kill you suddenly to ruin the vote count.
Asking to be executed can remove the Storyteller's agency over your death, ensuring you don't die at a moment that causes the Good team to lose.

Playing Against

Be skeptical of a Tinker claim that survives until the final day, though realize the Storyteller may be doing this intentionally to obfuscate the player count.
If a player dies unexpectedly during the day, treat them as a confirmed good Tinker (unless a specialized killer like the Assassin is suspected).
Avoid wasting executions on the Tinker since they usually die on their own, unless a Godfather is in play and needs a trigger.
Track night deaths carefully; if the Tinker dies alongside a Demon victim, it confirms multiple kill sources, but a solo Tinker death obscures whether the Demon acted.

Interactions

Godfather

Executing the Tinker during the day triggers the Godfather's ability to kill at night.

Grandmother

If the Tinker is the grandchild, the Grandmother can help verify if a death was due to the Tinker ability or a Demon attack.

Gossip/Gambler

The Storyteller may use a Tinker death to mask or simulate the extra kills caused by these characters.

Zombuul

Evil players (especially Zombuuls) often bluff as Tinker to explain why they are 'dead' but the game continues, or to cover for nights with no kills.

Professor

Resurrecting a Tinker confirms the Professor's ability, though the Storyteller may simply kill the Tinker again shortly after.