In the next version of Graffiti, we will support the ability for users to create a mob.

Think of a mob as a way to interact with your close friends on Graffiti

For example, you can see comments they write, you can pool everyone's street cred to claim territories in your city, you'll unlock the "Mob Leader" or "Mob Member" badges, and it just sounds cool.  Starting a mob isn't an aggressive or evil endevor!  We think it's an entertaining part of the application.  As long as it does not degrade the community or quality of comments, we think it's an interesting feature to keep around.

Anyway, here is how we envision this working:

1. You can start or join a mob.  The only catch is: you must have at least 100 street cred to start a mob.  We do this to ensure that only mobs are being created by our most active users who truly enjoy using the application.
2. When you create a mob, you will be given an invite code.  Give this to your friends so you get credit when they sign up for the service.  They'll simply enter that code in on the "Mob" screen to join your mob.

Using mobs to claim territories

Claiming territories is one of the coolest features of a mob.  When you invite a friend to your mob, their street cred is added to the "street cred pool."  The pool consists of all the mob members' collective street cred.  This amount converts into regular credits, which give you the ability to claim territories.

For example, if you have 50 street cred, and you start a mob, your mob pool is 50 street cred.  When you invite your friend who has 50 street cred and they join, your mob pool is 100 street cred.

• 1 credit costs 100 street cred
• Major territories in downtown or busy areas typically cost about 5 credits (this will vary depending on the city)

As you can see, it is to your advantage to invite your friends who are using the application the most.  They will contribute more street cred, which will allow you to claim territories.

Claimed territories pay back street cred

Let's say you claim a block in downtown Palo Alto.  Whenever anyone writes a comment in that area, your mob members earn street cred.  It's typically divded evenly amongst your members, so if you have 3 members, one new comment written in your territory pays out 0.33 street cred to each member.  If you have 10 members, one comment would pay out 0.10 street cred.

After your team has accumulated a significant amount of street cred, you will unlock new features quickly in the application.  You will also earn rare badges that nobody else can get.  There are a few other secrets about this, which the earliest mobsters will discover.

Unlocking mob badges

One badge is for "Mob Leaders" (those who start a mob), the other badge is for "Mob Members" (those who join a mob).  The ranking works like this:

• Start a mob - unlocks "Mob Leader Level 1" badge
• Start a mob + have 1 active member - unlocks "Mob Leader Level 2" badge
• Start a mob + have 3 active members - unlocks "Mob Leader Level 3" badge
• Start a mob + have 5 active members - unlocks "Mob Leader Level 4" badge
• Start a mob + have 10+ active members - unlocks "Mob Leader Level 5" badge

If you're joining a mob:

• Join a mob - unlocks "Mob Member Level 1" badge
• Join a mob + recruit 1 active member - unlocks "Mob Member Level 2" badge
• Join a mob + recruit 3 active members - unlocks "Mob Member Level 3" badge
• Join a mob + recruit 5 active members - unlocks "Mob Member Level 4" badge
• Join a mob + recruit 10+ active members - unlocks "Mob Member Level 5" badge

Gotchas

Right now, you can only create or join a mob.  Once you join a mob, you cannot start your own (we will eventually add the ability to leave a mob and start a new one).

Only mob leaders may claim territories.  It's in your best interest to claim territories in the most active areas.