Board Thread:Survivor 22: San Marcos/@comment-25438226-20170208233838/@comment-9755360-20170211021141

"I have heard that you’re a very bitter juror. If you’re sitting in the jury right now, give me an example of the things that you would be bitter about have you been voted out at F4."

I honestly don't think I am so bitter, but if anything, I probably would've been bitter at Sim and Nick. I would've been mad at them for not taking Chris out and giving him an easy win, and I would've probably said some negative things about their games too.

2. "Let’s say there was a time in the game where you really need me to align with you. How are you going to convince me to trust you despite of the rivalry that we have?"

I would probably try to go at it from a logical view. If I really need to align with you, I would try to show you how I'm screwed if I don't, and how I'd owe you one of you helped me. I'd try to show you how helping me would be beneficial to your own game, and how we could achieve a mutual goal, despite our rivalry. Even rivals can band together against bigger threats, and that's what I'd try to convince you of.

3. "I never wanted to bring this up, but I just think I had to because some people are discrediting you for your moves. What are some of the ideas that other people brought up to you that you wouldn’t have thought of by yourself?" I wouldn't have thought of the Austin vote myself. By the time, I knew that I'd put myself in a bad position if I stayed with the Catarinas, due to the 5-2 advantage that would occur the vote after, but I didn't know how I would approach things. Chris and Claudia approaching me, offering to take out Austin was perfect for me, but working with them to do it wouldn't have been something I could've thought of on my own, since I wasn't sure they'd agree to do it. Another idea I didn't think of was swapping votes from Claudia to you at the F9. In the end, that was  amessy decision that almost sent me home, but I can't deny that I wouldn't have thought of changing plans so late myself.

4. "Do you agree with me that you made things happen? If not, who do you think between Sim and Nick mostly made things happen?"

Yes, I agree that I made things happen. At the F12, I tried out different directions, and as soon as I knew Quetzal was lying to me and Austin was the target, I got him to reveal his Idol to us, and urged him to play it. The things where I made things happen mostly was at the F11 and F10 though. I found out Shea was the target at the F11, and while the others in my alliance was fine with letting him be voted out and put their trust in Claudia and Chris, I realised we would have a solid 5 if Shea stayed. I also convinced the others of taking out Elmo, who had good connections with everyone, and was the nicest person in the game - people wouldn't want him out until it was too late. I saw his connections though, brought it up, and convinced the others of voting for him instead of you. I both named a target and made things happen with my Idol that tribal - as well as being safe anyway myself, thanks to my immunity win. At the F10, I used Shea not liking the plan of trusting Chris and Claudia along with the fact that Brandon could have the advantage to change our main target from you to him, once again effectively naming our target. I also thought Claudia and Chris were lying to us, based both on the logic that there'd be no way they'd keep a strong 5 in, as well as by how they replied - they were always quick with naming the Quetzals' targets to us, but that vote, they weren't, and when I confronted them, their replies were weak and suspicious. I made things happen once more, again by naming a target and using an Idol, and the person I wanted gone went home. F8, I think my move on deciding to vote with Chris, Claudia and Jenna, instead of Sim, Nick and Austin, set up my path to the endgame quite well, and I created a good game board for myself.

Even though I do think I made things happen, I think Sim made more things happen than Nick. Nick did really well by sitting back and knowing what'd happen every tribal, watching things unfold, but Sim actually took charge early merge - he caused your vote-off by having us swap targets late, and he also was a part in how we originally split the votes at the F10. So sure, even if he didn't make a lot of things happen, he did cause a few of things to.

A. PHYSICAL

1. What is your definition of a great physical game?

A game where you helped your tribe win immunities, and won many immunities post-merge, or was a strong contender in the ones you lost.

2. Do you consider yourself a physical player?

I do. I think I was a big part of the pre-merge wins for Catarina, and I won 3 individual challenges - more than anyone else! I also did good in the ones I didn't win, and got 2nd place at least 3 times (Who said what, Maverick and Cookie Clicker - might be one I forgot). I did consistently good in challenges, and so, I think I was a physical player.

3. Which is more risky: winning challenges or not winning?

Not winning. If you win a challenge, you can't go home (unless you give up your immunity, but I'm gonna assume that's something that never happens). If you win a challenge, sure, you might get a target on your back. But physical threats are nothing compared to alliance leaders and social threats - the only people wanting challenge threats gone are other challenge threats, really, with the exception being a player that wins every single challenge except one late-merge - of course, then it's risky winning challenges (see: Jennifer in HvV here on 703). Overall though, that necklace protects you from Idols and rocks - there are downsides to it, but I think being safe for another few days is worth it by far in comparison.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">B. SOCIAL

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">1. What is the most memorable conversation that you had with me?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">The one we had in the tribe chat. I feel like that was the first time we truly talked, and I got to relive old memories through that talk, and I also got to know you better as a person, which I appreciated a lot.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">2. If you could rate your social game with 0 being the lowest, and 5 being the highest, how would you rate yourself?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">I'd say 3. I had good conversations with quite a few people, but I certainly could've reached out more to people like Brandon or you (though timezones made that hard). I didn't make obvious enough connections to be seen as a threat, but I was good with people, and I think especially my relation with Shea showed that.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">3. Which is more risky: having multiple connections or having less connections in game?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">Having multiple connections. Sure, it's good in that you have choices, but not only are you gonna make someone upset when you inevitably blindside them, but you're also seen as much bigger of a threat. People with few connections have a bigger chance of being reached out to by others who want to make use of that lonely person, whereas someone with connections anyway is seen as someone that would just make you another one of their connections. It could also lead to a bitter Jury.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">C. STRATEGIC

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">1. What is the most effective strategy moving forward (Pre-swap, post-swap, and post-merge)? “I played under the radar” is the easy way out, so don’t give me that BS.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">I think the most effective strategy pre-swap is to be the leader. Being the one that everyone looks up to and needs is a good way to not only make contacts for the future, but also have people feel like they need you. The only risk is if someone knows they're in the bottom, and want to switch things up by Idoling you out, but that's rather unlikely to happen.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">Post-swap, I think it depends a lot on how the swap goes. If you're in the majority, I think taking on a second-in-command role is smart - people still look up to you, but you won't have the target on your back that the leader has. If you're in the minority, I think it's smart to be as social as possible - try to make the people on the new tribe want to keep you around. Even one person from the majority wanting to save you can be enough.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">Post-merge, it all depends on many things. However, I think the best way is to influence the game by taking out people that want you gone, and be social enough with everyone so that they both will want to vote for you as Jurors, and keep you in the game while at that stage.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">2. Name the biggest move you made in this game. No more than one, please.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">Taking out Elmo. I think this move was the most infuential tribal of the entire merge, because of a few reasons:

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">1. Elmo went home. Elmo was a huge threat that would've gone really far if nobody had noticed how well he went along with everyone. He would've beaten anyone at the FTC too, so taking out Elmo was crucial.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">2. The dynamics changed. Before that vote, it was 5 vs 4, with Tacana in the middle, leaning towards the 4. Had I not done anything there, Chris and Claudia would've dictated the rest of the merge. But I took charge, played my Idol on Shea, and gave us a solid 5 - one that could battle the Quetzal + Tacana alliance. It was the point where Catarina took the control of the game from Tacana, and we would continue to have that control until the end of the game.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">3. This is a personal reason more than anything else. I think taking out Elmo solidified me as a player to take notice of, and put the target on me that I would have during the entire merge. It was also the move where I had completele control - I controlled the immunity necklace, who we were voting, and that Shea wasn't going home, and I think those are reasons taking out Elmo was my biggest move of the game.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">3. Basing on the composition of the members of the jury (if you had a good social game, you would know the answer) what do you think is the kind of strategy that the majority of us would respect the most?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">I think you said your answer in your question - a good social game. I think social players were the ones everyone was most afraid of (Elmo, Austin, Claudia), and the Jurors want to vote for someone likeable too. I think the FTC ties into the social game, and someone who answers the questions well and writes a good speech is someone that can get the majority fo the Jury to vote for them. I think awareness of the game is an important part too.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">D. KISSASSERY (LOL. OR YOUR SEMI-AWARENESS OF THE GUY WHO WAS VOTED OUT AT F9)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">1. What is my best attribute in the game?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">Your seriousness. I think a lot of people viewed you as someone with a serious game - you weren't there to joke, but play to win. I think people respected that part of your gameplay a lot.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">2. What is my biggest flaw in the game?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">Being so anti-returnee. I think it judged your sight a bit, and made you have this 1/3 of the merged cast you wanted gone, which limited your options of what to do quite a bit.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">3. What made you want/not want to work with me?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">The main part of not wanting to work with you was the fact that I didn't think you wanted to work with me. We did have a rivalry going on after all, and I knew that working with you would be hard - not only because of that, but also because we wanted completely different things in the game, so actually finding a common goal would've been hard. Therefor, I saw no reason to work with you. Oh, I did want to work with you pre-merge though. I thought you were a cool guy that I wanted to get to learn unlike last time we played, and before the Quetzals made it clear they didn't trust me at the merge, I was completely open to working with you.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">E. GAME AWARNESS

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">1A. If you could vote out one of the final three, who would it be and why?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">Nick. I think he's a great talker, and he has a lot of Jurors leaning towards him, so voting him out would probably be best for my game.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">1B. If you replace that finalist with one of the members of the jury, who would you choose and why?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">I'd say Shea, but since he's off the Jury, I'm gonna say Malik. I think Malik was subject to unfortunate circumstances, and that he really could've shone if he got to play longer. I also would've loved to play for an entire merge with him, since I think he's an awesome guy, and I think I would've had a decent shot at beating him in a vote too, so that's why I'd choose him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">2. Who is your biggest ally this season and how did that alliance/partnership/bloc help you get to the end?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">Definitely Shea. Shea was a huge part in my way to the end. Not only did he help save me pre-merge, but he's also the reason we managed to get a majority in the merge, after the Brandon vote. At the F9, after we screwed up, Shea did his thing in the main chat, and I stayed (I think that was my ost vulnerable moment all season). Shea was also good with perception. He was actually someone that had really good reads on people, and he said things like the fact that we probably couldn't trust Chris and Claudia at the F10, that we actually could at the F8, and that they probably weren't lying about the Reset Idol at the F6. That was a big help in confirming decisions I had to make. Shea was also always there if I needed someone to talk to, and he was an amazing friend.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">3. Who is your biggest adversary this season and how did that rivalry help you move forward in the game?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">I think it was you, Renz. I feel like you and I were the faces of Catarina vs Quetzal, and that early merge, we both just kept on surviving. You were targetted a lot, but survived your vote-out attempts, and I think I did the same. It all boiled down to the F9, where both of us screwed up, and luck was a deciding factor in who stayed. I think that you would've been here at the FTC instead of me if you had survived that vote, and I also think you going home was what ended the Catarina vs Quetzal conflict (and started the new Catarina vs Tacana one :P ). I had to play hard early merge to stay alive, and I think my game calmed down after you left, to the point where I found myself in a spot where I could get a somewhat safe path to the FTC - somethign I wouldn't have been able to do with you still in the game. I think you triggered parts of my gameplay, and helped me move forward in the game that way.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">4. Roast yourself, please. No less than 50 words, thanks!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">Nathaniel, you put yourself into unnecessary danger by playing too hard too fast. You were targetted the whole merge, and you're here now because you were lucky. You ignored talking to people you knew were going to be Jury members to focus on the game instead, and although it took you to the FTC, bad Jury management will make you lose the game. Also, posting a second speech is just a desperate attempt that makes you look weak.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">5. Why do the other two finalists deserve the title more than you do?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">Nick deserves to win because he kept in good contact with other contestants for a lot of the game. He put himself in a safe spot where everyone saw him as a goat and wanted him at the end, and used that strategy to get there.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">Sim deserves to win because he had a great strategic mind, realised what needed to be done, and although he didn't always do it, he tried his very best and he worked hard to get to this spot.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">F. BONUS ACTIVITIES

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">1. Rank all the players of the season from 1-21 based on their gameplay.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">21. Cameron (not Grant? Well, Grant was voted out because of bad blood, while Cameron managed to get all Quetzals to want him gone)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">20. Grant

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">19. Jalen

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">18. Hannah (I don't like ranking her this far down, but I think she made a mistake in trying to keep Brian the way she did)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">17. Brian (He was targetted because of stuff he couldn't help too much)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">16. Andrew (He was obviously good at original Tacana, but going to rocks just for the sake of it, combined with the fact that he got himself voted out over me, makes me put him down here)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">15. Matt (Screwed by rocks)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">14. Ryan (Should've played that Idol)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">13. Malik (I think he played a great game, but he had to be saved by an Idol pre-merge, and his blow-up before the merge made the Catarinas target him hard)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">12. Brandon (I think he played a good game, but I think he made a bad move in keeping the Catarinas)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">11. Rhi (I actually think she could've played amazingly if she got to the merge, but the reason that made her become Claudia's and Malik's target puts her here)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">10. Shea (I think Shea played a good game, but he made lots of enemies he didn't need to make)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">9. Renz (You played a great game, but I think your screw-up at the F9 is what puts you here)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">8. Jenna (Jenna in all honour, but I'm not sure how many people she would've beaten in a Jury vote)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">7. Sim (I think Sim played a great game, but what holds him down is that he played rather passively, and he didn't make the bonds that Nick did)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">6. Nick (He and Sim were basically the same, but it appears his perception was better than Sim's)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">5. Nathaniel (I know I'm putting myself high, but I think I showed with my Idol plays, physical game and the fact that I was targetted so much but nobody ever managed to get me out that I played a great game)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">4. Austin (I think Austin played a great game where he built many connections, was amazing physically, and had a great strategic mind)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">3. Elmo (I think Elmo was in a position where he would've won the game if he'd made it further)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">2. Claudia (What?! Chris over Claudia?! I think Claudia played amazingly, but I'm only putting her below Chris due to the fact that Chris managed to convince Nick and Sim to keep him at the F5 despite the fact the his chances of winning the FIC were much higher than Claudia's)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">1. Chris (See: Claudia)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">2. Brains, Brawns, Beauty: Divide the 21 castaways into three groups of 7 based on those attributes.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">Brains: Chris, Renz, Matt, Austin, Cameron, Elmo, Andrew

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">Brawn: Ryan, Sim, Nathaniel, Brandon, Rhi, Grant, Jalen

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">Beauty: Claudia, Hannah, Jenna, Nick, Malik, Shea, Brian

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">3. Heroes, Villains, Neutrals: Divide the 21 castaways into three groups of 7 based on those attributes.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">Heroes: Claudia, Hannah, Elmo, Brandon, Rhi, Austin, Matt

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">Neutrals: Nick, Sim, Nathaniel, Jenna, Jalen, Grant, Brian

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">Villains: Chris, Renz, Shea, Cameron, Malik, Ryan, Andrew

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">4. Rank all the members of the jury and finalists from 1 to 13, with 1 being the greatest leader and 13 being the biggest follower.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">1. Chris

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">2. Austin

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">3. Elmo

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">4. Renz

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">5. Nathaniel

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">6. Claudia

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">7. Rhi

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">8. Brandon

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">9. Sim

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">10. Nick

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">11. Jenna

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">12. Malik

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;">13. Shea