Round 03

[Matt Elrod]

I'm back from the jungle, have the idol, and everything feels fine and normal. From my perspective, I don't think I'm in a worse position now. I just need to maintain the social game.

[Matt Elrod]

This challenge is a mess, and my disadvantage could potentially cost us the win. We need to either use Abi's strategy where we're all defensive or the strategy I posted, which has its flaw, involving us keeping one player alive the whole time. That idea wasn't even really mine, but I posted it and picked myself for it because I would have to be the safe person with my disadvantage. It looks like I'm being alpha male leader-ish, but I have my reasons to hide my disadvantage.

Jay and I just really connect, and we talk frequently. A lot of our conversations don't even involve this game. He's shown me some older games that he played and the stories associated with them. I find it comical that he instantly disliked Tyson just because, in his own words, he always dislikes people playing Tyson in a game. He looked so inactive at first, but he survived the first vote. Then after the second vote was revealed, Jay IMed me again and brought up how Tyson's a huge threat surviving these votes and is apparently pretty cocky putting parchments in his signature. Malcolm messaged me earlier saying how he and Tyson put something together to save Tyson last vote, so it appears that Tyson now has some power and is becoming a threat over there. I'm making too many alliances over here on Menba, and it's going to be tricky because my main alliance over here will want my main alliance with Malcolm over on Luoba out. I'm obviously going to have to make some difficult decisions at some point.

I still feel safe over here if we lose, but there's a growing list of potential problems. Eventually one of those problems will come up. I just need to delay that as long as possible and try to find ways to prevent them.

[Matt Elrod]

Chat with Tina

(2:02:46 PM) Tina Wesson: Hi sweetie!

(2:02:53 PM) Tina Wesson: It's Tina from Luoba

(2:03:02 PM) Matt Elrod: Hey, Tina!
(2:03:17 PM) Tina Wesson: I hope that it's okay that I message you

(2:03:59 PM) Matt Elrod: It's fine. There's no rule against cross-tribe communication or anything, and I'm sure a lot of people do it.
(2:04:05 PM) Matt Elrod: What's up?
(2:04:37 PM) Tina Wesson: Yeah! I heard that people were talking to other people too. Malcolm mentioned I think Danni messaging him on the board in our tribe camp

(2:04:51 PM) Tina Wesson: Only Tyson is on over here and I don't like him very much so I'm just looking to socialize :-P

(2:06:06 PM) Matt Elrod: Lol, I honestly doubt you're alone in your Tyson dislike.
(2:06:18 PM) Matt Elrod: And Danni messaging your tribe is interesting.
(2:06:22 PM) Tina Wesson: He's a real character Matt let me tell you.

(2:06:36 PM) Tina Wesson: I don't think it is just because he is Tyson either

(2:06:46 PM) Tina Wesson: I feel that he really is a self-entitled, egomanic

(2:07:06 PM) Tina Wesson: It might be best that I tell you these things now so you guys on Menba know before I get taken out

(2:07:21 PM) Tina Wesson: Our tribe is pretty split down the middle

(2:07:28 PM) Tina Wesson: I don't know if vote counts are posted on the board or not

(2:07:56 PM) Tina Wesson: But there is a majority 5 over here and Tyson seems to be the head of it or at least one of the heads

(2:08:07 PM) Tina Wesson: He got three votes last week and they all voted Charlie out

(2:08:15 PM) Tina Wesson: Who did not deserve to go

(2:08:18 PM) Matt Elrod: I haven't seen vote counts, but we've been speculating about Tyson based on him surviving votes and the parchment in his signature.
(2:08:22 PM) Tina Wesson: so now I am at the bottom and Tijuana is at the bottom

(2:08:37 PM) Tina Wesson: Have you seen the vote in his signature??

(2:08:59 PM) Matt Elrod: Yeah, I have.
(2:09:03 PM) Tina Wesson: That was my vote for him... and my reason for voting him was because he was absent from the first challenge while Charlie was active in both

(2:09:25 PM) Tina Wesson: So I found Charlie more cconsistent and dependable and Tyson I don't think is

(2:09:29 PM) Tina Wesson: But he somehow found a way to stay twice

(2:09:38 PM) Tina Wesson: And Malcolm campaigned hard for him to stay both times

(2:10:18 PM) Tina Wesson: The dynamic over here is very split and those guys are very controlling, it seems unbreakable to even attempt to get between them

(2:10:24 PM) Tina Wesson: Malcolm campaigned for Tyson more than he campaigned for himself

(2:10:57 PM) Matt Elrod: I remember seeing Tyson only had two posts and being completely shocked that he survived, so we knew he had some kind of campaign going for him.
(2:11:25 PM) Tina Wesson: I don't see the appeal for him at all and don't understand why he would be kept unless their is a pre-game between the guys over here.

(2:11:38 PM) Tina Wesson: Jonas and Alexis flip flopped between both sides

(2:11:49 PM) Tina Wesson: and kept changing their mind on the vote but then sided with Malcolm to save his Tyson

(2:12:26 PM) Tina Wesson: Tijuana had told me that TC said she loved Tyson the first night so I grouped them together and now RC isn't really bothering to speak with me or give me a chance to explain myself

(2:12:38 PM) Tina Wesson: *RC
(2:13:23 PM) Matt Elrod: So it's like Malcolm, RC, and Tyson are controlling things with Alexis and Jonas the swing votes and you and Tijuana on the bottom?
(2:13:43 PM) Matt Elrod: From what I'm understanding.
(2:15:36 PM) Tina Wesson: That is how it seems to be over here

(2:15:42 PM) Tina Wesson: But you know Malcolm, RC, and Tyson deny everything

(2:15:51 PM) Tina Wesson: RC saying she's with no one which is hard to believe

(2:16:03 PM) Tina Wesson: and I don't believe a word from Malcolm or Tyson because they make it very obvious that they are close

(2:16:38 PM) Matt Elrod: Yeah, I see what you mean. If they have an alliance, they wouldn't make it obvious.
(2:16:44 PM) Matt Elrod: And of course they'd deny it.
(2:18:00 PM) Tina Wesson: I don't mind if you tell other people on Menba these things either hun

(2:18:13 PM) Tina Wesson: I have nothing to lose at this stage if it gets back to anyone over here

(2:18:20 PM) Tina Wesson: My back is against the wall and if I go then I want them all gone

(2:19:01 PM) Matt Elrod: I do really appreciate you coming to me with the information.
(2:19:09 PM) Tina Wesson: I have Jonas and Alexis apologizing to me about saying they would vote with me to take out Tyson and that they could *COULD* be interested in voting out Tyson next round

(2:19:16 PM) Tina Wesson: But I trusted them last time and look what happened

(2:19:35 PM) Matt Elrod: Yeah, I mean you need to work for the two of them as much as you can since they seem like the swings.
(2:19:44 PM) Matt Elrod: But if they lied once, they could easily do it again.
(2:20:19 PM) Tina Wesson: Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me

(2:21:19 PM) Matt Elrod: That's very true. At least you know you're in for a battle this round. I hope you can make it work and get Tyson out, though. A lot of people over here would be happy if you did.
(2:21:32 PM) Tina Wesson: I want nothing more than to take Tyson out

(2:21:37 PM) Tina Wesson: and topple the dictatorship over here

(2:21:47 PM) Tina Wesson: EVen if it would be the first and final big move I made

(2:22:00 PM) Tina Wesson: It just disheartens me that this challenge is dumb luck

(2:22:15 PM) Tina Wesson: It is up in the air and my fate hangs in the balance

(2:22:29 PM) Tina Wesson: I KNOW that they will target me because I am more outspoken and more strong willed than Tijuana

(2:22:39 PM) Tina Wesson: They make it very obvious with the smites I have been getting

(2:22:50 PM) Matt Elrod: Yeah, I know. I feel bad for you knowing what you've sad because you should at least get the chance to work hard and earn that safety for the round.
(2:22:55 PM) Matt Elrod: said*
(2:23:06 PM) Matt Elrod: Luck challenges are frustrating when you know it's your life on the line.
(2:24:01 PM) Tina Wesson: I know hun I'm just very worried about my chances here and want nothing more than to shake things up and give hope to the other people here on this tribe and even give you guys on Menba a stronger advantage by taking out someone 'strong' like Tyson

(2:24:26 PM) Tina Wesson: could you tell me who you guys are sending to the jungle if we were to win?

(2:24:55 PM) Tina Wesson: Over here it is tied between you and JT

(2:24:57 PM) Matt Elrod: Believe it or not, several people brought up "Not Tyson"
(2:25:01 PM) Tina Wesson: I have yet to vote and can vote you if you would like

(2:25:19 PM) Matt Elrod: Right now, RC has 2 votes.
(2:25:22 PM) Matt Elrod: Jonas and Malcolm has 1.
(2:25:26 PM) Tina Wesson: Thank goodness that people see him in a negative light

(2:25:32 PM) Tina Wesson: Sigh that is not good

(2:25:35 PM) Matt Elrod: However RC going wouldn't be good for you.
(2:25:53 PM) Matt Elrod: She's just the pick because of Abi's character rivalry with her from the show.
(2:25:55 PM) Tina Wesson: It will be game over if they get the idol

(2:26:03 PM) Matt Elrod: :-\
(2:26:12 PM) Tina Wesson: The jungle is rewarding though is it not?

(2:26:21 PM) Tina Wesson: You go and look for the idol right?

(2:26:36 PM) Matt Elrod: Yeah, you got and can get clues for the idol each time.
(2:27:33 PM) Matt Elrod: you go*
(2:27:39 PM) Tina Wesson: How was your experience there?

(2:27:46 PM) Tina Wesson: Are they hard tasks to do and complete?

(2:27:55 PM) Matt Elrod: The tasks can be time consuming and frustrating.
(2:28:00 PM) Tina Wesson: You don't have to answer if you don't feel comfortable with it

(2:28:02 PM) Matt Elrod: I completed a few and got some of the clues.
(2:28:04 PM) Tina Wesson: Well that is good if RC goes

(2:28:10 PM) Tina Wesson: I don't know if she would really try for it....

(2:29:03 PM) Matt Elrod: Still it doesn't sound like she's the one who really needs it though. You would be.
(2:29:22 PM) Tina Wesson: I would do anything to get that idol

(2:29:32 PM) Tina Wesson: They would think they had it easy and would pick off me or Tijuana

(2:29:42 PM) Tina Wesson: and then they'd all be surprised!!

(2:29:53 PM) Tina Wesson: Tyson gone and jaws drop to the floor

(2:30:20 PM) Matt Elrod: Ugh, I would love to see that happen. No one would expect it at all, too.
(2:30:27 PM) Matt Elrod: Or understand it.
(2:30:49 PM) Tina Wesson: I know it would be really entertaining too

(2:31:04 PM) Tina Wesson: I would go next more than likely if we were to lose again assuming we would lose this round

(2:31:27 PM) Tina Wesson: It goes with what i said before, a big first and final move for me

(2:31:30 PM) Tina Wesson: But I would enjoy every second of it

(2:33:33 PM) Matt Elrod: I would enjoy it, too. You might actually be surprised with how simple the idol is to find...
(2:33:44 PM) Matt Elrod: Even though the tasks are challenging.
(2:33:56 PM) Matt Elrod: The clues can be put together.
(2:34:36 PM) Tina Wesson: Are their many clues??

(2:34:37 PM) Tina Wesson: Did you find some?

(2:34:55 PM) Tina Wesson: I wonder if they are different for each tribe though

(2:34:56 PM) Matt Elrod: Everything I'm saying stays between me and you, right?
(2:35:09 PM) Tina Wesson: Okay Matt I swear and promise on everything I am and love

(2:35:27 PM) Matt Elrod: There are 8 total clues.
(2:35:35 PM) Matt Elrod: You can go to visit rooms every visit and get more.
(2:36:12 PM) Matt Elrod: I did get a few...
(2:36:24 PM) Matt Elrod: Then I put them together to try to make something out.
(2:36:58 PM) Tina Wesson: So if you do not get all the clues

(2:37:08 PM) Tina Wesson: then it's hard to read out the big clue?

(2:37:23 PM) Tina Wesson: Is it undersatdnable even without all of them or is it impossible

(2:37:42 PM) Matt Elrod: It's still possible.
(2:37:57 PM) Matt Elrod: I can help you.
(2:38:13 PM) Matt Elrod: If you'd agree to not tell ANYONE I helped you out.
(2:38:53 PM) Matt Elrod: I'd like to see Tyson out.
(2:39:00 PM) Tina Wesson: Please Matt I would owe you everything

(2:39:10 PM) Matt Elrod: And I'd like to see you stay in the game from what you're telling me.
(2:39:15 PM) Tina Wesson: I can be an honorary member of Menba right now

(2:39:34 PM) Tina Wesson: I am done with Luoba and have no loyalty to them

(2:40:11 PM) Matt Elrod: Everything I'v seen supports what you're saying, and I believe you.
(2:40:41 PM) Matt Elrod: Although right now, this deal is between you and me. Not the entire Menba, but I appreciate your support.
(2:41:06 PM) Tina Wesson: Okay this is between us and I will not mention it to anyone

(2:41:21 PM) Tina Wesson: It is safer that way anyways and I don't want you to get in trouble for potentially helping me hun

(2:41:45 PM) Matt Elrod: That's why I'll refrain from mentioning it to anyone for now.
(2:41:52 PM) Matt Elrod: Here are the clues I got: i.imgur.com/WxSWO.png
(2:42:55 PM) Tina Wesson: Post "look" ---- times ---- tribe camp

(2:43:02 PM) Tina Wesson: You had to post look in your tribe camp?

(2:43:11 PM) Matt Elrod: Yeah. So I took it to mean I needed to post look a certain number of times in my tribe's camp.
(2:43:24 PM) Tina Wesson: That could be any amount of times =/

(2:43:45 PM) Tina Wesson: People would find it odd if you just posted that too

(2:43:56 PM) Tina Wesson: Would it count if you just posted it in normal sentences?

(2:44:00 PM) Matt Elrod: If you disguise it into a regular message, it's not bad.
(2:44:05 PM) Matt Elrod: You can disguise it into a normal sentence.
(2:44:09 PM) Tina Wesson: OH
(2:44:13 PM) Matt Elrod: I'm not sure if it's one post or multiple posts.
(2:44:24 PM) Tina Wesson: Did you do it in your camp yet?

(2:44:31 PM) Matt Elrod: I tried it 4 for the first time.
(2:44:57 PM) Matt Elrod: That was enough.
(2:45:21 PM) Tina Wesson: so 4 times?

(2:45:38 PM) Matt Elrod: Yeah, 4's a good number to try.
(2:45:42 PM) Tina Wesson: Oh no what if someone already posted look that many times though

(2:45:43 PM) Matt Elrod: Since it worked for me.
(2:45:47 PM) Matt Elrod: What?
(2:46:02 PM) Tina Wesson: All in one post??

(2:46:09 PM) Matt Elrod: I put mine all in one post.
(2:46:23 PM) Tina Wesson: I am searching to see if anyone else already has done that because look is such a common word...

(2:46:54 PM) Matt Elrod: I think it's too common. Someone could have found it completely by luck.
(2:48:06 PM) Tina Wesson: I wonder does it count if it says looks or looking?

(2:48:10 PM) Tina Wesson: or just look

(2:48:22 PM) Matt Elrod: I just used "look"
(2:48:31 PM) Matt Elrod: I have no idea about the intricacies.
(2:48:54 PM) Matt Elrod: To be safe, I'd try just look.
(2:49:16 PM) Tina Wesson: Tijuana was on the board last night posting tons of songs in a dance thread she made

(2:49:23 PM) Tina Wesson: in one of the posts it says just look three times

(2:49:30 PM) Matt Elrod: Oh, wow!
(2:49:38 PM) Matt Elrod: She could've accidentally got the idol.
(2:49:49 PM) Tina Wesson: I can try and do one with four

(2:49:53 PM) Tina Wesson: Like you did if you got it

(2:50:22 PM) Tina Wesson: I could post songs like she did but pick songs with lyrics that have look in it many times

(2:50:46 PM) Matt Elrod: That would be a great method.
(2:50:56 PM) Matt Elrod: I was thinking song lyrics initially since we have a spam thread.
(2:51:02 PM) Tina Wesson: Thank you so so so much for helping me Matt

(2:51:08 PM) Tina Wesson: I will let you know if I get it!!

(2:51:31 PM) Matt Elrod: You're welcome! I hope it's the same thing for you and works out and that no one else already got it.
(2:59:28 PM) Tina Wesson: I found one that has 'look' in it 5 times

(2:59:33 PM) Tina Wesson: Here goes nothing!!

(2:59:55 PM) Matt Elrod: Good luck! Get that idol.

Thoughts on Chat

So after everything I brought up last night and how complex this game is getting, it gets further complicated today with Tina IMing me telling me she's on the outs and needs help. I was going to be vague and just wish her luck, but she kept going on. I eventually decided to help her out with figuring out the idol clue with the assurance that she'd use it to get Tyson out. She just posted the clues in her camp, so hopefully she can claim it and blindside Tyson.

Then Malcolm will be closer to me. Tina and Tijuana may just get picked off anyway, or I could work with them in a swap. And I should hopefully have a better position long-term as long as this doesn't explode in my face.

[Matt Elrod]

I am aligned with everyone on the tribe pretty much.

Matt-Jay
Matt-Lisa-JT-Brandon
Matt-Jay-Danni-Lisa-(JT)
Matt-Jay-Abi
Matt-Jay-Rory

The only person I'm not connected to is Ashley, so I started pushing for her to go when we lost. It was between her and Rory, and then Ashley started this weird campaigning method where she's telling everyone she wants to make a move and is tired of the uncertainty. So I think that she will go home because of that, which is fine with me. She finally told me about her jungle experience, but she didn't have any luck there apparently and found less than I did.

I should be safe, and there shouldn't be any problems for now. Easy round. There are still a lot of potential problems brewing in the background, but us losing was a good way to avoid them. Winning and being sent to the jungle would've made people look at me more suspiciously since I was apparently leading in votes according to Malcolm and Tina.