Brad's Answers to Jenna

Hey Jenna! Let me get into your questions...

Everyone comes into these games with a different number of skill sets.  So in terms of handicaps, a couple of things come to mind.  Firstly, the fact that I used to be a well known member of the FGC gaming circles, but I rarely if ever play games anymore at FGC (or very much in general).  While being a more regular member of the circle like JP CAN create more enemies, it also gives him a number of more friends that he previously wouldn't necessarily have.  So, it all rather depends on the way you look at things.  In my opinion, being "newer" in some respects (and yet ironically, older) was harder when it came to bonding with Tambaqui.  Within the Tambaqui tribe, yes I was good friends with Ryan and Rob, but the rest of you all that made the merge, you were all completely new to me.  Some of your relationships with the other competitors had merely sort of continued from previous games.  So, when it comes to FGC games, I'm used to binge known and standing out as a competitor, whether it be in a positive or negative way.  I think I've had to fight a bit more to rebuild my gaming reputation.  I think that is the biggest struggle for me NOW.  It wasn't so bad making the Final 3 whenever some people weren't aware what I was capable of.  However, now, I worry that I will not stand in comparison to my two competitors just because you all don't know me or understand me as well as a player.

Also, a handicap is merely the fact that I was spending 6 weeks at a summer camp that drastically reduced my time on the internet.  So I needed to make sure I had lots of groundwork laid BEFORE I left for camp.  As I've stated in other answers,  being entrenched in the Jaburu dynamics where I was completely safe on the Jaburu tribe helped me.  It meant that I had to worry less about people turning against me.  When it came to the merge, I really needed to get support from Ryan (me and JP worked towards this goal) but I was not on very often so I could rarely catch Ryan online. So communicating with Ryan happened through a series of PMs which ultimately got us the split that we wanted.  I really tried to talk to every Tambaqui member as best as I could given my time restraints.  It's ironic, because several years ago when I played in Surv!vor Pearl Islands,  I was on several vacations throughout the summer so I also had very little computer access.  Whenever I got to the Final 2, it appeared that I rather lucked into the finals by being carried by my strong alliance and I was subsequently shut out in the final vote.  Coming into this game, I was NOT going to let my computer restrictions bar my ability to retain a level of control as well as not be a weak player.  I may have been weak in certain challenges because of my time restrictions, but I worked the best I could with what I had.

If I could change anything, perhaps I would have been a bit more honest with Shambo or Todd before their eliminations.  Especially Todd, since I had immunity, I guess there really was no reason to lie.  But at the same time, I was trying to get my strongest allies to the Final 3 WITH me, and I was worried that if Todd knew he was going, he would try to force a tie with Brandon against JP which would not have been ideal for what I wanted.  Also at 5, I didn't have immunity, and while I was the swing vote, no question, I was worried that if I owned up to Shambo that she was indeed going, perhaps she would have tried to sway someone like Todd to vote me off instead.  I wanted to be safe rather than sorry.  I'm not sure I REGRET lying, but perhaps there was a bit of a smoother method I could have gone about the last 2 rounds to where I kept the complete control I had, but perhaps competitors like Shambo would be less upset with me.

When it comes to how the jury votes, I am rather worried.  I am worried because again, to this particular group, I'm worried that I stand out less, despite the fact that I felt I played a socially and strategically better game than my opponents.  I fear that jurors like Heidi may vote for JP because she is friends with them and because she does know JP's reputation in OTHER games, she may wear tinted glasses to things like that and decide he played the best game here.  I would hope that jurors who are thinking of voting that particular way do indeed take the time to assess each competitor and not make a quick decision, but it is something I'm honestly worried about.  I worry that I have no hope of obtaining Shambo's vote because I did lie to her before I voted her out.  The same goes with Todd.  The other jurors in the group, well I frankly can't read them at all.  I feel like right now, JP has the edge, merely because of people SAYING that he is the most likely to win and because of his FGC reputation.    Perhaps my worries are unwarranted in that respect, but it's something I can't help be concerned about.  There are a number of jurors that frankly, I have no clue either who they would vote for.

Anyway, I think that wraps it up.  Good luck with your decision Jenna!