It’s time to bring this game home. #butfirst, one crucial step: the pleas. It’s time to lend your ears, friends, Roman’s, and/or countrymen.
Kelly’s Plea:
MY FINAL PLEA.
This game is hard, and to be honest, after last year I wondered if it was possible for me to reach the end. I love it, but I wasn’t sure it loved me back.
I’m not a fan of the fact that we’re still rolling with the early alliances. They can be made to work, but are what Kurt Vonnegut referred to as a “granfalloon” – a group based on circumstance rather than merit. It’s why nobody cares about class reunions, and why alliances based on who’s online aren’t the safest route. Of course I had to join, but I saw myself in early jeopardy when we ended up with Ash and todahshy, who are both something of a boogeyman to me; I feel a little off-stride when dealing with the Novaks of the world, but am truly terrified of the unpredictable. Little did I know that this would work out, as todahshy played a surprisingly clean game, and Ash didn’t have the momentum at the right time to change the course of things.
My plan from the beginning was to get to four with Novak, so I could vote alongside him and therefore ensure one of us were in the finals, forcing someone else to make the decision to assassinate (or alternatively, being the one to cut Novak myself). I had the option of not breaking the tie and allowing todah to break it and cut Novak, leaving myself free to get to the final two with Annette as I did anyway, but it’s exactly as Novak laid out: I wanted a strong piece of evidence that I laid it all out on the line in the late game, and putting myself on the block against someone as nimble of tongue and singular in his resolve as Novak seemed like the big moment to use.
All of what I said about wanting to “reward” Annette’s loyalty was true; this game makes me break out in a cold sweat and it’s true I’ve had a hard time all year deciding whether I would play, given how things ended last year. I didn’t actually think all the plans would actually work – particularly as I grew increasingly wary of the fact that viola was being tough to kill, as per usual – but here we are.
Early on I considered going to the group and asking if eschapp and daneekasghost could sub in for my personal boogeymen, but I couldn’t do it. We’ve seen mixed results at best from those who have shown the first signs of defection, although inkarnit did it really well one year. Plus, I think it would have been a thinly-veiled way of me saying “let’s make this easier for me personally, though it may not be so for you,” which is a very Geoff Beckstrom type of play.
I greatly enjoyed the entanglements of the season and hope I did enough to pull this off, because it eats at me that I’ve never been able to win this game. Honor the Emperor that you will, fair CdL senators, and we’ll all start thinking about the next game.
Annette’s Plea:
Dear Dead Romans.
Here we are again. Surely, I’ve picked up enough frequent flyer miles to trade in for a win?
I’m not going to try and detract from Spooky’s game to elevate my own. It’s not surprising that he played a great game. He was loyal to the
alliance, as was I. I stayed safe when it seemed prudent, but I didn’t hesitate to stick my neck out for the good of the alliance.
I used my card’s dubious influence to the best of its ability, I think.
Mine is not a flashy game. As with Werewolf, I’m not big into posting lengthy analysis or lists (Rivet!), but I do pay close attention
and act when necessary. I keep my word. And hey, I managed to get myself to the end with the luxury of choosing who gets to sit next to me!
However you vote, I thank you for an excellent game that was loads of fun.