First let me say that my vote is, at the moment, undecided. And my question is who did you use as puppets throughout this game? There will be no dodging the question and I want no BS answers (Thrawn, you ought to know that I can see right through BS, as I saw through you on Day 1). That's all. Good luck to the both of you, as far as I'm concerned you both deserve your seat.
LYNNE ---
Kelly's Question...
I'm going to do my best and honor your request for the truth, Kelly. No lies. In many scenarios I used players as puppet votes, though in almost all cases those same puppets became my tightest allies and evolved into a sincere alliance. Good can come out of bad. Specifically, because these people deserve my respect and my appreciate: Ryne (started as a puppet vote, came into his own during the tribal swap and became an essential member of my alliance at the time) and Yadav (though after he had the balls to announce your true allegiance during that merge TC, he wasquickly were elevated from a mere puppet to again, a large member of the alliance). Essentially players in this game have been used as puppet voters, but in the cases of the few that I sought to use, they emerged as something larger, something stronger and something a heck of a lot more important to me.
THRAWN ---
Hey Kelly. First off, let me elaborate real quick on the origins of the term "puppet voter." I coined that in Thrawn Talks articles (for DSIII) to describe an inactive player who acts strictly as a lackey for a stronger player, and whose only purpose is to be a "2nd vote" at TCs. If you check out the Thrawn Talks I wrote for Ep. 8, I actually DISCOURAGED the use of puppet voters because if you use them in your strategy, you eventually have to vote them off and they'll never vote for you to win in F2.
I created the concept of the "Network" as a body of individuals united by a common goal, NOT by promises and oaths like in an alliance. Sarah, Katia, DK, Trey,
Griz was never a "puppet vote." I was extremely grateful when she voted with the Network in the first TC of merge. The next TC however, I discovered that she had intentions of voting me off and that killed my patience. Was she a traditional puppet? No. Was she used in any TCs? Only the one where Yadav was voted off. I was always iffy about Jn, and around merge I grew iffy about DK because of his lateness on important votes and at challenges. If Griz had never plotted to vote me off, I would've taken her to F4 in an "ideal game."
Hope that clears everything up.
YADAV
We all saw our share of people calling foul on each other, such as with the "puppet voters". Did either of you employ such tactics to get where you are now?
LYNNE ---
Yadav's Question...
If either of us told you that we had not employed the less desirous tactics then we'd be lying. Puppet voters were a key in this game, and I would imagine it is the same in other games as well. I think pre-merge the manipulation of puppet voters, at least for me, was more prevelant. After that first Tribal Council at merge, in which we lost Kelly, any thoughts of "puppet votes" were gone, except perhaps for Griz, but even in the next vote she was the one dictating how that vote would go for us because we were dependant on her vote.
THRAWN ---
Hey Yadav. As far as the "puppet voter" tactics are concerned, Kelly asked the same question and I explained that the actual definition which I coined in Thrawn Talks articles during DSIII constitutes an inactive player who is a "2nd vote" for a stronger player. There was a whole lot of individuality in this game (for better or for worst) so I can't say that at merge there were any "puppet voters." You, Griz and Jn were the swing votes at merge, you weren't "puppet voters." You guys made up your own minds to vote either for me or Kelly.
As for your question about employing foul tactics, I don't think my strategy decisions were necessarily "foul." I got a lot of heat pre-merge because some players said I was trying to run the game, and there were a lot more people against me than there were in the Network. By the time Katia got voted off, I only had 4 allies. When we entered merge without Sarah, I had 3 real allies, and it seemed like it would be a 7-4 TC. Since I was a major target during the whole game, I made some sneaky decisions and plots to try and get back on top, but they weren't foul.
Something to keep in mind with online survivor games and the CBS Survivor series... in the online games, emotions run higher against the "villain" because all of us have known each other before the game, and will go on to talk with each other after, whereas the CBS counterpart includes complete strangers. It's easy to take it to heart when we get voted off, or if someone plots against us in an online survivor game, because it's someone we KNOW and wouldn't expect. I didn't expect Trey and DK to vote off
I know I'm in a tight spot because I'm responsible for voting off 6 of the 7 people here, but most of you I've known long before this, and I'm going to continue to talk to you all long after SWU Survivor is over. I wouldn't consider my actions foul, I think it was decent strategy.
GRIZ
I'd like both of you to know that I respect both of you and no matter what happened I'd like to think I at least became friends with you, so I have but one question for the both of you:
In your own words, why do you belive you should be the winner of survivor?
LYNNE ---
Griz's Question...
I think the fact that I overcame all the odds against me should count for a reason to win this game. I even managed to get my enemy in this game to take me to the last leg of the game. I played my hardest and did everything I could in my power to make sure I was sitting where I am now. I accomplished quite a lot in lieu of all the roadblocks I encountered.
THRAWN ---
Hey Griz. To answer your question... I played a very strong game, took one episode at a time, and paid attention to every detail. Like I told Yadav in his question, I'm responsible for voting off 6 of the 7 people that are on jury, which is a pretty huge number. But also, I'm not holding any ill will towards anyone in the game, and I'm glad to have met all of you. I've been portrayed as the "villain" since very possibly Day ONE, and it's been tough during merge because there's a lot I've wanted to say to certain people like you and Kelly most especially, which I haven't been able to do since players aren't allowed to communicate about Survivor with jury members or other castaways who have been voted off. I take pride in the fact that I wasn't the type to make small talk... if I talked to someone during the game about something non-Survivor related, it was genuine, and if I had something to say about the game I'd be just as quick to enter into that conversation. Afterall, a game is a game, and like you said the episode when Yadav got voted off, if we judge each other outside the game based on how we play SWU Survivor, there's something seriously wrong. But for this game, I hope I'm judged based on the strategy I used which affected most of the games Tribal Councils, and for how I've played the game.
ERIAS
What one decision do you regret above all others you made throughout the game?
LYNNE ---
Erias's Question...
I regret trusting Thrawn during that first merge TC. He took a conversation between himself, me and
THRAWN ---
Hey Erias. I regret how personal the first episode of merge became. One of the major reasons that I gave
TYLER
and the rest of the jury for making it this far, and staying comitted to this game. Unfortunately, this game was fairly dramatic and personal at times; however, one must realize that Survivor should be considered a lot like simming: one plays with a strategy and a style to make it as far as he or she can. Sure, some people made blunders (including the two of you), and challenges were an extreme factor (both good and bad); nevertheless, by using either the mental or physical game, the two of you are the final two, and you both deserve it in one way or another.
For many of you, this is your first survivor game, and I would also like to congratulate certain members who have made it this far in their very first game. It is obvious as to my stance on the issue of a winner; however, I would like to make a few comments before I move on to my questions.
First, I NO hard feelings toward anyone. There was some...issues pre-merge, but those have been settled. I played this game using a strategy, and my major flaw in that strategy was the fact that this game would have a lot of emotion in it; we all know each other to some extent. I'm also not going to go into a lot of detail on any strategies: this is not my monologue....
Now, on for the real questions. I will be looking for honesty, as well ^_^
Questions for the both of you:
Do you feel that there were any VILLIANS in this game? Why or why not? Are there even any villians in any survivor game?
What do you feel is more impressive, the mental game or the physical game? Furthermore, what did you think of your performance in either category?
LYNNE ---
There are many of us (yes, us) that will be seen and portrayed as villains, but I'm not convinced that anyone was a downright villain. This game makes people take sides and naturally splits contestants down the middle. Villains are created in these predicaments.
Can't the most impressive thing be a player with both a strong physical and mental game? Otherwise I would like to say that I respect either type of player. I obviously was a stronger physical player, and that is why I am sitting where I am now. I would've been voted out long ago had I not won many immunities. As for me.. I am clearly a physical player. Pre-merge I tried to be more of a mental player and it worked for a little while, but when merge came and I lost whatever foothold I had on that mental game and had to rely severely on my physical game.
THRAWN ---
Oh
And anyway, this is an online survivor game, and we're all going to be talking to each other long after, so it would be ridiculous for people to try and play as "villains" if they have to see one another at Trivia session the next night, lol. Given, it's just a game, and everyone has their own moral code for how to play, but I don't think there IS or should be a universal moral code. Play the game, and do what you have to do. A player that one person calls a villain may be interpreted as the protagonist to another person.
As for your question about the mental and physical games, I think the mental game is more impressive. There were a lot of instances when twists and challenges put the Network at a disadvantage, and we still overcame in the TCs. And that's what matters, right? The Tribal Councils? The Survivor motto is "outwit, outplay, outlast," and to me OUTPLAY has meant more of "playing the game" than doing well in challenges. In the CBS Survivor, reward challenges give you food or a convo. with relatives... RARELY do you see the extra immunities and double-votes that you find in online games. Since we thank CBS for creation of the Survivor game, we have to pay homage to the fact that even though challenges might be a slightly greater part of online survivors, they were not meant to outweight wit and strategy.
I won't kill ya with a long fourth paragraph, lol, but I'll say I'm glad with both my physical and mental game. I won the first IC of merge and the last IC of merge, so that was pretty cool. However, if not for my mental game I definitely would not be here. So, I owe it to strategy, NOT challenges, that I'm standing in front of you today.
Lynne: I have no questions for you. Been with ya since the beginning, and we went through a lot together. I never turned against you, and I don't plan on starting now. I said from the beginning that if I couldn't win, I would help you in any and every way possible so that you could win. Honestly, I never thought either of us were going to make it. You did, though. Considering everything that was against you in this game, for you to make it here really shows just how much of an ass kicker you truly are. Even if you don't win the game, be proud of what you did do. And if nothing else, you scored one hell of a moral victory. Couldn't have asked for a better ally.
Wait, one quick question.....so can you like flash me or something? You know, just so I can be sure about my vote. It's really the only question I can think of, or at least the only one that needs to be asked. :)
Thrawn: I have no questions for you. Not out of anger, or any hurt feelings. There is none of that. There is just nothing you could possibly say to make me change my mind or my vote. No need to waste either of our time debating it. You did good, though. If you do end up winning, it will be a well earned, well deserved win.
LYNNE ---
*flashes him a smile* : P
TREY
Lynne: I'd like to open things out by saying you've earned my utmost respect throughout this game. I believe you deserve to be in the final two. But the question is, why should I choose you over Thrawn? In what ways did you outplay him mentally?
Thrawn: You've gotten far, but you've still got one hurdle to jump. I need a reason to vote for you. Why SHOULD I choose you over Lynne?
LYNNE ---
Trey's Question...
Tough question, but a good one I think. I think that the best time Thrawn was outplayed mentally was not by me, but by your fellow Jury member Kelly, when Sarah was voted off. But that's neither here nor there as you're asking how I outplayed him. And to be honest, I didn't have a strong mental game after merge (before merge I instigated - with help of
THRAWN ---
Because I look prettier than her in a two-piece? Lol... where to start. First off, I played a strong mental game and overcame a lot of odds. I think Lynne's appeared to be the one to "overcome odds" only because she was up against me, and I was pretty ferocious and aggressive in a lot of my strategies. Yet, the Network entered merge with a minority, we were once again in a tight spot when Griz was voted off and Jn quit, and later I was backed into a corner in the F4 with you,
Another thing, I wasn't afraid to get my hands dirty. I gave my immunity away to
And finally, I was true to my allies. I rode with Network until
You're a friend, and you were a great ally during the Network, but after
FINAL WORDS
LYNNE ---
Final Words...
Jury, you have a daunting task ahead of you - casting votes to determine the winner of this game. We all put a tremendous amount of time into this game and a tremendous amount of effort. In the end there is only one winner with the bragging rights and whether it is myself or Thrawn I will be content, because I know we both played oustanding games. I wish that everone could have a shot at this, because we all worked so hard! I played hard and won many immunities, but one thing I did pride myself on was playing a truthful game. I remained true to my allies: and when I could no longer afford to cast my vote a certain way I told them that I was bailing ship. I never had to lie in this game, and I pride myself on that.
THRAWN ---
It's been a fun game, I've had a good time and gotten to know a lot of people, and although there was a lot of drama, there's been a lot of healing to make up for it. Day one, I never would have thought that Lynne and I would become as close as we are now. This F2 seems almost surreal.
You guys all got the chance to ask me a question, and I was honest with my replies, so I guess there's one thing I'd like to ask of you. As I said in my response to Yadav's question, sometimes in these online survivor games people get slightly more emotional than in the CBS counterparts, and don't take the time to consider the gameplay and strategy of a player who they consider to be a "villain." I ask that you consider my strategy, gameplay and decisions which got me to F2 with an open mind. A host from a game I played years ago once told me that Rich Hatch from the first CBS Survivor would never have won with an online game's jury because he was perceived as such a villain, regardless of strategy. Consider my strategy, because afterall, that's what Survivor is all about. And if not, well, I'm still hiding in that Pope-mobile so clear those evil thoughts from your mind ;-)