Two questions about this game:

1. Are you allowed to talk about what role you think someone might be? For example "I just used a Hermit card on blue and it said he's a shadow" (although of course you could be lying) or "Be careful, orange has 4 equipment cards, might want to steal from him in case he's Bob to stop him from winning."

2. Are you allowed to make alliances and negotiate during the game? For example "If you don't attack me, I won't attack you" or "Let's gang up on red."

It seems confusing to me because I couldn't find anything in the rulebook that says you can't do any of the above things, but both groups I have played this game with have said that you can't because it's "common sense."

The situation I was in was that I was Allie, and in order to discourage them from attacking me I tried to tell them that I wouldn't attack anyone unless they attacked me first, but before I could say that another player just said "you can't do that." But it seems to me like without the ability to make deals, Allie has almost no control over whether she gets attacked.

Nothing in the rules is against it, and this game would be very boring if you can't talk with the other players about things like that. Now, that's my opinion, and if those groups have house rules that say you can't, abide by them. I personally, though, would find the game dull and mostly pointless if you can't talk about things like that.

That being said, it's usually best to keep information about their cards to yourself, as a shadow wouldn't reveal another shadow, or a hunter another hunter, and it can expose you just as well as the person you're tattling on.

Good questions to ask, and really I imagine it will vary from group to group; I don't have the time to check the rulebook at the moment, but I believe you are not allowed to talk about what you find with a hermit card, period. Even if that wasn't the case, I personally think it does go against the spirit of the game to say "he's shadow" or "he's a hunter" or whatnot. You can, however, let your actions speak for you. Use a hermit card on someone you could potentially attack, then based on the info you receive, attack them or not, sends a pretty clear message.

As far as alliances and negotiations go, that I'd think has a little more wiggle room and I personally don't see any harm in it. I'd still say you can't intimate who's who, but I see no harm in saying, "I won't attack anyone unless they attack me." That being said, if you say certain things when you're certain characters then it becomes a code of sorts and then it crosses that dangerous line of "too much information."

So, ultimately, go with what the group agrees to, sit back, relax, and have fun; there's the old saying that, "Actions speak louder than words," and in this game it's particularly true; try letting your actions or their actions speak and see how it goes.

It's clear that we are not allowed to leak any information on the identity of others. Others have to do their deductions by themselves.

I don't see it against the rules to make alliances, but others don't have to agree with the alliances. By making such statements, others can have a clue of this neutral's identity and they can decide what they want to do.

Seeing how players are allowed to reveal themselves for free at any time during the game, it follows that you can talk about anything you want.

All of my player groups tend to not talk about identities, because it serves to single oneself out more often than not. As far as alliances go, most of us end up attacking those who have attacked us before, and lay off of those who have been nice. Or just kill everyone. Both are in the nature and spirit of the game.