Post by kass on Jul 18, 2014 6:30:38 GMT
So. This round has been a hot-ass mess to put it plainly. Our massive-ass alliance of 6 planned to target Jay or Katie (there was really no preference between the two for the majority). I, of course, wanted to keep Katie in. She's a close friend of mine so I wasn't about to let Austin unceremoniously dictate her ejection. The frustrating part about this is that I've been playing with my emotions...again. From a game perspective, it may be better to not rock the boat and send Katie home, but at the same time, Katie's a reliable vote for me going forward and I'd much rather keep a reliable vote on my side than one who probably won't be on my side when push comes to shove in Jay. I tried my best to sanely and calmly lobby my reasons for booting Jay over Katie, but Austin was having none of that. He was (and still is) deadset on voting Katie. I've been trying and trying but at some point, it hit me. Austin's move to take out Katie is more than eradicating an outsider. It also works to his advantage to boot Katie because that's one less vote that would be under my control.
So, I had a super special STRATEGY SESSION with Katie and Brian. We were talking and talking about what we could possibly do to deflect this vote from Katie. We all compared notes and realized that not only are Yul and Austin a pair, but both Yul and Austin have offered multiple Final 2 deals to people. Brian got one from Yul and Austin, I got one from Austin. Austin's initial plan was to take out Katie/Jay/Candice in that order (Katie and Candice are two reliable votes for me so I started to put the pieces together). Once Final 5 hit, his plan was to give his idol (which by the way, did I mention Brian had to tell me he had the Hades idol?) to Brian, make the vote 3-2 between Brian and Yul, Brian would play the idol to take out Yul. This made sure Austin had no blood on his hands. He clearly was either not going to honor that deal, OR he was going to take out Brian or I before Final 5 so he wouldn't have to live up to it. I feel like I'm kind of stupid now that everything is adding up. Austin's been playing me for a fool this entire time and of COURSE I fall for something like that.
The plan as of late? It was to take out Yul. Last night, it was going to be Austin but both Brian and I became incredibly guilty because we really have grown fond of Austin and talking to him about our lives and talking to him in general. Unfortunately, Austin's intentions to firm up a Final 2 deal came literally 6 hours ago. He said it was implied but he wanted it to be certain. I realized then that he had no intention of bringing me to his endgame so unfortunately, I can't let him be a part of mine. So we were all set to vote out Austin but Brian and I's guilt took over and we decided to vote Yul because we simply liked him less and actually assumed he was more of a threat. BUT then Yul wins Immunity -_-. Seriously? I mean, I know it's Murphy's Law but still it pisses me off that Yul of all people won.
After Yul won Immunity, Brian and I had to confirm that we were in fact voting for Austin over say, Jay. We came to the conclusion that as much as we liked Austin, he presumably didn't want us in his endgame plans so ultimately, the vote should be for Austin. But the real kicker? The plan is to blindside him with his idol so he can't use it. I mean, from a strictly personal standpoint, I feel horrible for the guy. Austin is someone who I've grown to really like and appreciate in this game, but at the same time, I can't move forward with someone as intelligent, charismatic, and cunning as he is; especially if he's not definitely on my side. I feel like a total scumbag for doing what I am to Austin, but at the same time, if he's going to do the same to me, is it really scumbagging him? No.
Ultimately, once this Austin vote pans out, I'll have to determine what my best plan is for the endgame. My only concern with this Austin vote is that I'll be giving Brian too much power at 7. As much as I like Brian, I don't trust him not to vote out Katie or Candice at 7. While he claims we have a Final 2 pact, he has to be aware that I'd have a significantly better shot at beating Katie or Candice than I would against him. But then, he is a bit conceited. Brian's a great kid but he's going to let his arrogance get the best of him. At the same time, the jury will definitely respect his gameplay over mine. He took charge and will say he did. In actuality, our alliance has been more of a partnership. In fact, I feel like I've been the one at the center of most of the people in our group (sans LJ and Teresa) and I've had good connections with them. I think if I made it to the end with someone like Brian, I might be able to pick up the votes of Todd, Julie, Candice, and Katie (assuming I'm not the one who fucks her over). Brian would more than likely get Teresa and LJ's off the bat. Something tells me Yul won't be too fond of me after this vote off so I'd put his vote in the Brian category. At that point, that would make it 4-3 in my favor with Austin and Jay being tossups. I feel like I'd have a slight edge with Austin and Jay over Brian so I might actually be able to feasibly beat Brian in a Final Tribal Council if I fight hard enough and word myself well enough.
Ultimately, my ideal boot order would be as follows...
8th: Austin (Explained to death above).
7th: Yul (Yul is a social threat and the second biggest one behind Austin. If it were up to me, I'd have booted him tonight but dammit he got immunity).
6th: LJ (LJ's a non-entity to me so I have no problem with booting him then.)
5th: Jay (He does NOTHING so keeping him till 5th will just make the end rounds easier and even if he Immunity hogs his way to the end, he can't win).
4th: Brian (Ideally, I'd take him out at 4 but it wouldn't kill me if he won Immunity. Reasoning? He's the biggest threat out of the other three that aren't me.)
Final 3 Predictions?
3rd: Candice (She'd get blasted for being under my thumb and control for the entirety of the game presumably.)
2nd: Katie (Katie would probably rack up a few votes from some understandably bitter jurors)
1st: Me! (I think I'd be able to sell that out of the three of us up here, I was the one who played the all-around best game. I kept a good relationship with my allies and I kept my targets unaware until it was time to strike and I never made it personal).
Final 2 Predictions?
3rd: Katie (I'd probably throw the Final Immunity if we were Final 3 just so I didn't have to vote one of them out but if I did win, I'd take out Katie because she could have a slim chance of scraping a few votes up off the floor).
2nd: Candice (Same reasons as Final 3 predictions).
1st: Me! (In a Final 2 between Candice and I, I think I can beat her but it's never good to get overconfident.)
Ultimately, I feel great about where I stand right now. That could change as the game progresses but I really feel like after this vote, I'll have a solid shot at winning.
So, I had a super special STRATEGY SESSION with Katie and Brian. We were talking and talking about what we could possibly do to deflect this vote from Katie. We all compared notes and realized that not only are Yul and Austin a pair, but both Yul and Austin have offered multiple Final 2 deals to people. Brian got one from Yul and Austin, I got one from Austin. Austin's initial plan was to take out Katie/Jay/Candice in that order (Katie and Candice are two reliable votes for me so I started to put the pieces together). Once Final 5 hit, his plan was to give his idol (which by the way, did I mention Brian had to tell me he had the Hades idol?) to Brian, make the vote 3-2 between Brian and Yul, Brian would play the idol to take out Yul. This made sure Austin had no blood on his hands. He clearly was either not going to honor that deal, OR he was going to take out Brian or I before Final 5 so he wouldn't have to live up to it. I feel like I'm kind of stupid now that everything is adding up. Austin's been playing me for a fool this entire time and of COURSE I fall for something like that.
The plan as of late? It was to take out Yul. Last night, it was going to be Austin but both Brian and I became incredibly guilty because we really have grown fond of Austin and talking to him about our lives and talking to him in general. Unfortunately, Austin's intentions to firm up a Final 2 deal came literally 6 hours ago. He said it was implied but he wanted it to be certain. I realized then that he had no intention of bringing me to his endgame so unfortunately, I can't let him be a part of mine. So we were all set to vote out Austin but Brian and I's guilt took over and we decided to vote Yul because we simply liked him less and actually assumed he was more of a threat. BUT then Yul wins Immunity -_-. Seriously? I mean, I know it's Murphy's Law but still it pisses me off that Yul of all people won.
After Yul won Immunity, Brian and I had to confirm that we were in fact voting for Austin over say, Jay. We came to the conclusion that as much as we liked Austin, he presumably didn't want us in his endgame plans so ultimately, the vote should be for Austin. But the real kicker? The plan is to blindside him with his idol so he can't use it. I mean, from a strictly personal standpoint, I feel horrible for the guy. Austin is someone who I've grown to really like and appreciate in this game, but at the same time, I can't move forward with someone as intelligent, charismatic, and cunning as he is; especially if he's not definitely on my side. I feel like a total scumbag for doing what I am to Austin, but at the same time, if he's going to do the same to me, is it really scumbagging him? No.
Ultimately, once this Austin vote pans out, I'll have to determine what my best plan is for the endgame. My only concern with this Austin vote is that I'll be giving Brian too much power at 7. As much as I like Brian, I don't trust him not to vote out Katie or Candice at 7. While he claims we have a Final 2 pact, he has to be aware that I'd have a significantly better shot at beating Katie or Candice than I would against him. But then, he is a bit conceited. Brian's a great kid but he's going to let his arrogance get the best of him. At the same time, the jury will definitely respect his gameplay over mine. He took charge and will say he did. In actuality, our alliance has been more of a partnership. In fact, I feel like I've been the one at the center of most of the people in our group (sans LJ and Teresa) and I've had good connections with them. I think if I made it to the end with someone like Brian, I might be able to pick up the votes of Todd, Julie, Candice, and Katie (assuming I'm not the one who fucks her over). Brian would more than likely get Teresa and LJ's off the bat. Something tells me Yul won't be too fond of me after this vote off so I'd put his vote in the Brian category. At that point, that would make it 4-3 in my favor with Austin and Jay being tossups. I feel like I'd have a slight edge with Austin and Jay over Brian so I might actually be able to feasibly beat Brian in a Final Tribal Council if I fight hard enough and word myself well enough.
Ultimately, my ideal boot order would be as follows...
8th: Austin (Explained to death above).
7th: Yul (Yul is a social threat and the second biggest one behind Austin. If it were up to me, I'd have booted him tonight but dammit he got immunity).
6th: LJ (LJ's a non-entity to me so I have no problem with booting him then.)
5th: Jay (He does NOTHING so keeping him till 5th will just make the end rounds easier and even if he Immunity hogs his way to the end, he can't win).
4th: Brian (Ideally, I'd take him out at 4 but it wouldn't kill me if he won Immunity. Reasoning? He's the biggest threat out of the other three that aren't me.)
Final 3 Predictions?
3rd: Candice (She'd get blasted for being under my thumb and control for the entirety of the game presumably.)
2nd: Katie (Katie would probably rack up a few votes from some understandably bitter jurors)
1st: Me! (I think I'd be able to sell that out of the three of us up here, I was the one who played the all-around best game. I kept a good relationship with my allies and I kept my targets unaware until it was time to strike and I never made it personal).
Final 2 Predictions?
3rd: Katie (I'd probably throw the Final Immunity if we were Final 3 just so I didn't have to vote one of them out but if I did win, I'd take out Katie because she could have a slim chance of scraping a few votes up off the floor).
2nd: Candice (Same reasons as Final 3 predictions).
1st: Me! (In a Final 2 between Candice and I, I think I can beat her but it's never good to get overconfident.)
Ultimately, I feel great about where I stand right now. That could change as the game progresses but I really feel like after this vote, I'll have a solid shot at winning.