Board Thread:Season 12 - All-Stars/@comment-4062486-20140216013536

{{f|5| Hello everyone! It’s hard to believe that a journey that started a month and a half ago has finally come to an end. It’s been an awesome season and it has truly been an honor to play with you all and I am happy that I have been a part of this season.

Original tribe
I started this game with the mentality of Tyson Apostol: I wanted to have as much fun as I possibly could. Yes, I wanted to win but I also knew it was going to be extremely difficult to get to the end. Let’s face it: I had one of the biggest targets on my back. I was noticeable cause I was one of the few females, a past winner and had people openly rooting for me. Therefore I think that me being here today says something about me as a social player. At the beginning of this game I was much like Hermione: a bit unsure but ready for battle. I knew I had to play differently than I had last time if I wanted to get far. I quickly formed an alliance with Adam, Lloyd and Hickman, and also made alliances early on with Taylor, Alejandro, Marish, Sole and Skandi. I knew that to survive I needed as many connections as possible, and therefore I approached quite many players in the game already early on. I decided that I wanted to be a more leading player this time and openly voice my opinion at all times. And that I did at the elimination of Mike. Since Lloyd had been inactive in the challenge, I knew he was in danger and so I insisted to others that we keep him because he was very loyal. Since switch was coming, I knew that we needed someone more trustworthy in the game.

First and second switch
I faced one of my most difficult challenges when I ended up in the same tribe as Ash after the first switch. I knew well she was targeting me and wanted to take control of the tribe. I also knew that her, Sharky and Andrei would be voting Gerard and I warned him. After that me, him and Adam formed an alliance. Still, getting out Ash was more difficult than I thought as Gerard needed some convincing and wanted to vote Andrei. I knew I needed Andrei in this game already because he was loyal, and so I convinced Gerard and Adam that we needed him. To make our move more safe, I also convinced Adam to use his idol on me to make us three immune at rocks. Eventually, Sharky aslo switched his vote. However, I still lost Alejandro and Marish which hit me hard. I felt like I wasn’t Hermione anymore, I was like Katniss: ready to do whatever necessary to keep myself and my allies alive. After second switch I formed an alliance with Taylor, Zac and Lloyd. I managed to get the idol and I gave it to Taylor as a sign of my trust for him. At that stage, I wanted Sharky out and told the others how he organized my blindside in Dr Panda’s India and also lied to him and Jhet to make them more comfortable at Tribal. After splitting votes, Taylor got Jhet’s idol and gave it to me.

Merge
Merge soon approached and I worked with various players like Adam, Andrei, Taylor, Zac, Uli, Gerard and Lloyd. It was now getting difficult for me as I knew I would soon have to take out allies. We booted Jhet cause he worked with Sole. I had previously told people I wanted Sole out, because I heard he was targeting me and I knew how dangerous he was. I lied to make him more comfortable and won the challenge, thus making voting him possible. To my surprise I was soon approached by Uli. He had a final three deal to offer me, but since he had mentioned wanting me out I told Adam about his gameplay and eventually caused his downfall. Soon after Gerard went we wanted to boot Zac, but ended up losing Adam. I was prepared to use my idol on him, but since he felt safe I decided not to. Losing him made me change from Katniss to Cersei: I was ready to do whatever necessary to stay in the game. I knew that I had to change my game if I wanted to avoid being next. At Zac’s boot I heard that Lloyd wanted Andrei and Taylor out. I convinced him to vote him both Zac and Uli with us, and convinced Andrei and Taylor to keep Lloyd because I knew we needed him to be safe. When Ben won immunity and Lloyd got the clue, I knew I’d have to vote one of my allies. When I heard that Lloyd wasn’t going to use an idol, I gave mine to Taylor. I had heard that Lloyd had switched his vote from Andrei to Taylor, and I was thus convinced that he would be safe. When I heard about his idol, I still voted Lloyd to stay true to Andrei. I think the fact that I managed to convince Lloyd and Ben out of voting me says something about me as a social player. Unlike in Hawaii, I was now able to convince people to vote my way and I had thus become a more controlling player. Yes, the promises I gave at that Tribal were empty – but I did what I had to survive. In the end, they almost voted me out after I had given my promise, which also made me go against Ben in the end. Yes, I have betrayed people in this game and I have lied a lot – I am not going to deny that. But this was all a strategy for me. I never intended to hurt anyone. And all of us who want to get far in this game have to break some promises sometime. Some may say it was foolish for me to almost get voted out because of my allies, but I think not. I have always thought that one must stay true to some people. Being ruthless in this game and viciously voting everyone out isn’t the answer. I decided that I didn’t want to be a female Russell – instead, I wanted to be someone who would value people more than the game. I also voted against Ben to prove that him and Lloyd can’t control me. I have been a much more controlling player throughout this game than they have, and I wasn’t going to be anyone’s puppy dog now. Unlike in Hawaii, I wasn’t in a comfortable alliance all the time this time: I had to fight a lot more to survive and I think the fact that I managed to do that proves I am a good player. I proved that I have become a much stronger player than I was in Hawaii, and I showed to myself and to others what I am really capable of. I was much more independant this time. I have come to understand that this game is very much like The Game of Thrones. Those of us watching the show have seen how the honor bound Starks left the game one by one, whilst the ruthless Lannisters kept on staying in the game. It is because they knew well how the game functions: it’s either kill or be killed. That’s also how I approached the game. I didn’t shy away from lying and betraying people, because that’s what you have to do when you play the game. I didn’t want to be a goat, I wanted to play the game as much as possible. I am sorry if I hurt anyone’s feelings while doing it – it was never my intention. The decisions I made against people never were personal, especially since I thought all players in this game were awesome. I feel that I deserve to win this game because I have done well in all three stages of the game. I have outlasted 21 people, and since I had a target on my back already because I was one of the players announced early I’d definitely say it’s an accomplishment. I have also managed to outwit several players in this game, which definitely isn’t something I did in Hawaii. I have strategized and successfully used my social skills throughout this game, and that is why I am still here today. I have also outplayed quite a number of people, including Ben and Lloyd who are in this Tribal with me. After Adam I am the only person who has won two challenges in the merge and have generally done well in them. I also feel that I have played a more consistent game than Lloyd and Ben. Already in the beginning of the game when they were less visible I was deciding on various moves. I have always been present in the discussions, always being very active and dedicated – no matter what was going on in my personal life. I know that my game had its flaws, but I feel that I played the best game that I am capable of. Throughout this whole season I have become a stronger player. Despite my target, I manged to not be the most noticeable player in the game. I never was an obvious threat, I was more of a silent strategist, quietly but surely making her way in the game. And to be honest, for Ben and Lloyd it was much easier to get so far. Ben was never in any real danger, and Lloyd was often protected by several players in the game. They were also much less noticeable, often hiding after bigger targets. They followed other players and did what they wanted for a large portion of the game. I however always did what I wanted to do. And despite all the difficult real life issues I have had to deal with I am still in this game. And I am here to be honest with you and answer your questions. I won’t take any credit for moves I didn’t make, like Ben who didn't mention it was actually Taylor who put together the group that took out Adam.

Before you I now stand as Loki. I have lied and betrayed – and I am ready to own up to it all.

Thank you for listening! }} 