heh hoops

We underestimated the importance of a cool head directing traffic.

Beyond that, having me sit out a challenge is never a good idea.

I think we got shook up when we had to make a last second substiution and we lost focus.

I'm pretty sure there are alliances out there from all the chatter around camp.

<---makes sure he holds the piece of paper with the name on it high enough for the camera to see the name while explaining why I'm voting that person off.

hmmm I take it Darth didn't vote

Sorry EF!

yeah i forgot to put in a conditional vote in my PM when i left today. Was sort of rushed and must have overlooked it, sorry guys. Tomorrow will be better :-)

do w know wh's going to exile island yet?

Sending an old man?

Does that mean I can't post in this thread until I'm back?

That's right, heybrad. I sent a PM with the other details.

DAY FOUR CHALLENGE
 

I'm avg in both so i think i should either sit out or be a bag swinger if someone is worse than me. I'll discuss it more with u guys tomorrow, i'm going to hit the hay now cuz i had a horrible day. Night all

Interesting choice in heybrad there-not who I would have expected.

Wild challenge today, two different skill sets needed for each role I think. For the swingers you will need Aim for sure, maybe strength?

For the runners-Running obviously, Swimming too could come into play, Stamina would be good.
Here's how I rank in these:
Aim: Good
Strength: Good
Runnning: Average
Swimming: Average

Maybe our throwers should try to taunt the other tribe's throwers/runners to try to distract them, make them lose focus?

Who do we sit out for this one? Heybrad won't be back until right before the challenge, and we probably will know nothing about the kind of condition he is in.

I'm guessing they sent HeyBrad figuring that the old guy would have the hardest time surviving if he got stuck on the island.

In terms of skills for today, my prolific strength is offset by mediocre Aim. If i hit them, they are falling but it is no sure thing that I'll connect.

And while I'm a pretty good runner I'm not as good in the water. We'll see how the rest of us measure up, but I'm probably a little better suited for throwing than evading.

I have good strength and aim, and just average running and swimming. I'll probably make a better thrower here.

Here's an earlier post from our friendly geezer. If running is required, he's not the right guy. Maybe we ask him to throw, but it is hard to predict what his skills there will be.

I am average at everthing involved except scrappy. I am without scrap.

Hoops, you are our only good runner. I think you should run. I question whether swimming is a factor -- once you go into the water, you're out and someone else runs. I think an average swimmer is probably enough to get back to the beginning.

I wonder if Scrappy will be relevant. I certainly think stamina will be towards the end for the runners. 5 flags seems like a lot.

Current recommended list:
Runners:
Hoops
Thomkal (I know you are scrappy and I think you have good stamina)
Chesapeake (?)

Throwers:
Maple Leafs
Darth/heybrad

An argument can certainly be made to put Thom at a throwing position; but my only worry is that would give us only one guy who has credible offensive ability.

Thoughts on using extra effort today?

Let's go guys!

Will do, Scrappy and Stamina are also strong suits for me. So if we imagine they are coming into play then go ahead and have me run.

Also I think they sent him because they think he's got the weakest set of stats and hoped he find the immunity idol to keep him on our tribe longer. Little do they know the old man has some mad skillz. :)

If a couple other of you have Good or better in Aim, then I think I should be a runner. But Aim is really the key stat for this challenge, at least from the throwing perspective. Putting extra effort into Good Aim could result in knocking a lot of their guys into the water.

I'll do extra effort. I rested recently so my health is OK.

I'm guessing we are all at pretty close to max health right now if not outright max-extra effort from all of us could be a good choice here. Losing EagleFan was OK due to his availability, but we really don't want to lose two in a row and thus a more active player.

I'm willing to put forth some extra effort for today's challenge.

I'm not sure what kind of language to put into the order. My initial thought is to be somewhat deliberate to avoid falling in and to try and avoid direct hits from swinging bags. I'm hoping that I'm strong enough to survive a glancing blow. If I'm rushing for max speed I'm more likely to fall and have to swim, which isn't my forte.

Does this make sense? I haven't seen the show, but comments have suggested this is one that has been on the TV show so maybe people who are familiar with that can provide feedback/guidance?

It could, yes. My worry is that our runners stink, other than Hoops. We can knock a bunch of their guys into the drink, but if we never get a flag, we aren't going to win. My feeling is that if 1/2 throwers is good and 2/3 runners are good, that gives us the best shot at winning.

Ultimately, I worry that Darth and I (since heybrad can barely run, I think he'd be a poor choice here) aren't going to be able to get it done, no matter how hard we try.

Hey Darth, when you wake up, what's your Aim skill like? Not sure from your post above-is it Average?

I've seen this challenge on Survivor before and a variety of approachs work-a small, quick, agile player just bursts through each obstacle before the throwers can get a bead on them. A big bruiser type just basically ignoring the bag/catching it. You should have some experience with people trying to knock you over and how to prevent it from your wrestling days Hoops. Trying to fake the throwers out with head fakes, false steps, etc. Getting them to throw a lot could tire them out.

I think we should consider taunting them. Getting them to lose their calm and focus.

That's very helpful, Thomkal. I'm going to have to rely on my head on this. I've got good calm, so if I keep centered and try to entice them to throw when I can best respond, I have a shot here.

Dear Villagers,

While you were away in Survivor, The BIG XII ate it.

Your friend,

Poli

Yeah, right. Next thing you're going to tell me is that the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup. Get lost, Poli!

OK, working on order PM here ... likely going to have to send it now, may update later if there is feedback in the thread that requires a change.

"Hoopsguy will be a runner, although not exactly sprinting towards the bags. I'll take a deliberate/steady pace, with an emphasis on secure footing. My other goal with the slower pace is to mitigate the sandbag attacks through dodging or taking glancing blows that won't be able to dislodge me from my position. Finally, I'll put extra effort into this one to try and secure us a win."

List as it stands:
Runners
Chesapeake
Hoops
Thomkal (?what did you decide?)

Throwers
Maple Leafs
Darth/heybrad

Is Darth around? Both of these guys have excellent teamwork, and I am not sure if either is an improvement at thrower over the other.

One thrower idea: use your teamwork to try and time your throws to maximize effect. Darth or heybrad throws to force the wolf into a spot that makes it easier for Maple Leafs, who has good aim, to hit.

Heybrad is at the island, so not an option.

I thought we decided he would be back just before the challenge. Autumn implied as much when he said we aould have to sit someone.

he will be back.

Yes, Heybrad will be back just in time for the challenge. If you want him to participate, I will accept orders from one of you as to what he will do.

I'm waiting to hear back from Darth on what his Aim skill is. If its Poor we don't want him throwing the bags.

Your idea for the Throwers is good I think Chesa, but I think the throwers are going to be at seperate areas of the course, so may not be able to coordinate that. Maybe Autumn can confirm that?

They are at separate parts, though the course is not all that long. They certainly could communicate, but their bags are unlikely to interact.

Going to have to decide by 4pm which role I'm taking. I will do whichever one you want me to do Chesapeake