Round 05

[Ethan]

I was concerned that last round, Shii Ann would be irritated at me and vote for Kelly just because I wanted her to vote for Sugar. I thought that Sugar would possibly try to split the votes for her and force Shii Ann out or that Sugar would convince everyone to vote for Kelly. Fortunately, that did not happen. Since I made Sugar vulnerable and voted for her, she HAD to go, or the probability of having her work with me did later in the game would be incredibly low. I wanted Sugar out because this game is about winning the competitions, and to have someone capable of winning the competitions who is against you just doesn't make sense. Plus, 4 of the 5 people who I am closely working with wanted her out, so I couldn't go against them without putting myself in a vulnerable position.

Rocky didn't want Sugar gone and voted for Shii Ann. I completely respect his decision. As far as trying to get to the end and win, it maybe wasn't the smartest move. But to have a more competitive, exciting game with drama in every competition, voting Sugar out did not make sense. It's also possible that Rocky's decision, if Sugar was saved, could have led to advantages down the road. I respect Rocky's decision and hope to maintain a positive relationship with him. Silas has temporarily exiled him from our 6 because he didn't work with us, and I'll have to go along with that decision. But I'm hoping to still allow Rocky to see me in a positive light and give him the feeling that he's a part of us so that we don't force him against us.

I won my third competition in a row. I'll be the first to say that I'm playing a fairly dull, simple game. I haven't had the time to really connect to these people besides having strategic and challenge relationships. I'm sure that they see me as incredibly boring. But I'm excelling at the challenge part of the game. I think the next few rounds, I'll be taking it easier on the challenges, although some of that is not completely by choice. I don't want the main two people (Marcus and Silas) I am working with to see me as stealing the wins when we work as a group, which I have essentially been doing. I also don't want the rest of the people in the game to think of me as an unbeatable challenge contestant, which I am certainly not. I think that Marcus, Silas, and I are all about equal on a challenge skill standpoint. In search-racing challenges, I think that Marcus can beat me and Silas.

I look at the gem distribution in terms of tiers. Tier 1 involves people with 1 or 2 gems. Tier 2 involves people with 3 or 4 gems. Tier 3 involves people with 5 or 6 gems. I'll be the first person to enter that 3rd tier by giving myself 2 gems with this recent challenge win. I feel like, unless you're on the verge of going home due having the minimum number of gems, you want to have that bottom number on the tier. It doesn't do anything but hurt a person to let them get 4 gems rather than 3, so I'll justify that to Russell and just say that he'll get Tracy's gem as his 3rd in the Robber Competition if we win. Which he probably will.

I sense a strong opposing force against me, Brett, Marcus, and Silas soon. But hopefully not until it's too late. With our schedules, we could be really vulnerable here soon. I'm protecting Russell to give him another round in the game and also protecting Silas because him being vulnerable could attract the largest group of opposition. Hopefully it all works out. But I'm assured jury with this move! Yay, my initial goal in this game was a success. Now I need to start thinking about long-term and do certain moves to put myself in position to win if I make finals. I don't foresee myself leaving these people I've been working with unless something major happens. If I make finals right now, it will be close and I'll have to hope people really dislike Silas or feel the same way about me that the feel about Marcus and depend on better jury answers. I'd almost like to make some key, big move that would get me the win if I make finals. So far, I haven't done it.

[Ethan]

I won the Robber Competition AGAIN. I worked with Marcus and Silas, and Marcus and Silas both were talking to Russell. The crazy thing is that Silas and I picked 1 and 7 to start with, the glitched problems, and didn't find any answers. Marcus and Russell found 2-6. So, basically, I didn't find a single answer in the challenge and won. These people need to figure out how to post answers quicker and more efficiently, lol. I was the last person to get the correct answers, so I definitely shouldn't have won.

I am now locked into the jury. Before, if someone would have won this Robber Competition and spawned from the vault, there would have 28 gems out there and with the 2 more in the Cop Competition next round, I could have been vulnerable if my gems were taken in the final 10 robber competition. It wold have meant that all 10 contestants had 3 gems, but it was still theoretically possible. But now, my gems can't be stolen with 30 gems in play next round because the Robber can't spawn a gem and steal from me. So I'm definitely jury and final 9. YAY! Honestly, though, these challenge wins are killing me long term. Everyone's going to team up on me if I'm vulnerable except maybe Marcus and Silas. And I'm not even the best challenge player, lol. But hopefully it works out.

The decision will be easy. I'll steal a gem from Tracy and give it to Russell. I've PMed and IMed people, discussing this decision for a round or two now. It's very clear. We'll possibly vote out Kelly. That would make the most sense and set the stage for an easy Shii Ann or Stephenie exit at final 9 when the jury is decided. But if most people wants someone else out, that's fine as well. I'd just prefer that Shii Ann didn't make jury because I have the feeling she doesn't like me and wouldn't vote for me. So I want her out during the next 2 rounds.

[Ethan]

Maybe I should have stolen from Rocky? Maybe, but I feel like stealing from Tracy instead was the right move. Kelly's going to be voted out here assuming Brett votes and will likely just give a gem back to Tracy. There hasn't been a lot of vote discussion, but it's clear that Kelly's more of a threat right now than Shii Ann and Stephenie.

Kelly, Shii Ann, and Stephenie can't vote for themselves, so this vote can be a tie and broken by me assuming that we can get me, Brett, Marcus, Russell, and Silas to all vote together. Everyone has mentioned sending Kelly home so far, but no one's talked to Brett yet. I have confidence that he'll vote and Kelly will be gone, though.

[Ethan]

I PMed Silas and Marcus, chatted with Brett and Russell. This vote should be a done deal. Goodbye, Kelly.