Wow it's fun to be back playing! Breaking in a new board, and a new confessional has always been a favorite of mine in ORGs, and I'm really looking forward to this game in a way I haven't in a long time. The board and the whole everything is really professionally-done. One of the best I've ever seen, hands down.
I used to be relatively active in the ORG world 5-6 years ago, and then eventually got slightly burned out and have not played nearly as much since then but try to play every couple of years to satisfy my semi-annual Survivor itch. Or is it bi-annual? I'm never sure. Semi makes more sense.
From what I hear there's going to be a bit of a difference in this game and some of the others I've played in the past. I can tell that that there will be a lot more hands-on hosting, which is fun and scary at the same time. I love how passionate everyone seems to be about the game, and how many Alumni and Hosts seem to be into the game. Just perusing some of the previous Stranded game boards last week I was amazed at the level of interest and attention to detail. And I really do hope we as a cast are able to deliver another great game for you all.
Another difference that is going to be interesting to prepare for is anticipating what sort of players are in the cast. In the handful of games I've been a part of in the past, I always knew what I'd be dealing with, more or less. A handful of newbies, and then a whole bunch of people siphoned off like GTS or ORGY who I'd played with multiple times in the past. And even I began finding it pretty easy to "ID" certain cast members. There are upsides and downsides to this, and it is cool during the cast reveal to run into a few people you've gamed against in the past. Still, the idea that almost ALL of this group likely has rarely (if ever) interacted with one another is something I'd imagine will really help create that "true Survivor" feel. But then with the presumed varying levels of ORG experience in the cast, it does make predicting the actions of others a bit more difficult.
Overall, I'm going into this game with just one rule: to have no absolutes. In the past I've told myself in games that I would "never" do this, I would "never" do that. I've come to realize something though; that sort of philosophy directly clashes with one of the most fundamental and universal requirements in the game of Survivor, which is to be adaptable and flexible. I have some general rules I like to follow, but I won't allow myself to lock myself into any specific way of thinking in this game. If a situation calls for something that defies conventional wisdom, you have to be able to adjust for it. You can tell yourself certain things, but as some of the comments in the advice column touch on, if things go wrong you gotta be able to adjust on the fly. Easier said than done of course, but hopefully I do a better job of this than some others.
Based on that, I have no real set strategy from the outset, I'm just going to feel out everyone in the group and go from there. 9 in the tribe is going to make it tough to get a connection with everyone, but it's a hell of a lot better than a free-for-all to begin the game where you don't know who will end up on what tribe. To begin with I'll just make sure I'm active, semi-interesting, and agreeable. That should be enough to keep me afloat for the first round, which tends to be unpredictable at times.
I'm just trying to be patient and generally stay under-the-radar for now, but I guess we'll see how long that lasts. I know I'll struggle in speed and puzzle challenges especially, and this is something I have no problems admitting, and well... at times even embellishing. There are exceptions to this, and of course you want to contribute as much as you possibly can (within reason) during the pre-merge, but it's not often I find any good reason to give people an excuse to put you in their crosshairs. Staying in the middle has always been effective for me, but I have no problem serving as an alliance "frontman" early if it means people view me as a worthy shield and a fun player to be around. Just would mean I'd have to look over my shoulder that much more!
PM-wise, I'm not the greatest. I am way too impatient and too often just can't find myself motivated to talk to other players who (as paranoid as I can be in games) I always seem to be skeptical about, or outright assume they're lying to me.
It's borderline impossible to truly get to know a person strictly through messages, and sometimes with certain people it just bores me. Still, I make sure I go through the motions, but odds are high I won't be "everyone's best friend", and that's the way I like it. Just gotta make your strengths work for you, that way not being the most liked can go from a weakness to something that helps you in the game.
Winning has always been my main motivation for almost anything. It's probably more curse than blessing, but it's so true. I'm the sorest, worst loser ever. Doesn't matter what it is I'm doing. I was that kid on the playground that accused you of cheating or used an injury excuse to justify not winning, because I couldn't even admit to myself I fucked up.
Thankfully I'm not like that anymore, but it's still kind of in me. No outcome short of first place is acceptable to me, whether what I'm doing is life-or-death important, or as casual as an online ORG. I would be disgusted to be dragged to the finals as a goat and lose. I would be equally sickened to be booted in 3rd or 4th for being a jury threat. I would be annoyed getting idoled out while I'm on top of the world, or if somehow a purple rock fell out of the sky and I lost. Point being, placement doesn't matter to me if it's not 1st. I never understand people who aim to get as far as they can or are satisfied "making jury" or sometimes even "at least I wasn't the first person voted out". That just isn't in my vocabulary. The win to me is all that matters. I will have a lot of fun trying to get there though, that's for sure.
Opening night tomorrow. No idea what to expect for that, but I would imagine it's not a challenge or anything like that until Sunday? Can't wait to get this on the road and start watching some of these people head to the lodge one by one.
I forgot to touch on my character choice. Sierra. I like it a lot, largely because I'll have no obligation to lay down some shtick or anything like that. I can't say I know enough about her to do that anyway. I think she has some connection to horses or a farm, could be wrong, but it shouldn't be too hard to wade through the small talk about that. She's pretty dull overall from what I remember, attractive. All in all, pretty middle of the road. So maybe that can kind of help me to blend into the woodwork. Perfect if so.
Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 6:13:48 pm
