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The Merge

July 16th - Well, it is now nearly time for the merge, and it has been two weeks since I have last written here. Since then, the following has happened:
EP 3 - Tikimana loses immunity, Wes gets booted.
EP 3 - Tikimana loses immunity, Daniel gets booted.
EP 3 - Tikimana loses immunity, Marie gets booted.

Is anybody noticing a pattern here?

Well, aside from that, not very much has transpired up until DAY 25. People have been planning and strategizing since day one, but very little has resulted from it. Why do I get the feeling that will soon change? Perhaps because the merge is within sight, and it will be everyone for themselves until DAY 70.

The switch from two tribes into three tribes of four brings about some new and interesting strategies. Back in V 1.0, each of the three tribes was composed of two former Pamonas ad two former Delharis, since each tribe had lost two members by DAY 20. As we expected, each TC with the switched tribes was a 2-2 tie. Had my tribe gone to TC, as opposed to winning top honours in every challenge attempted (two ICs and one RC), the result would have been another 2-2 tie.
The old Delhari tribe also came up with several immovative plans and strategies. We knew that barring any sort of freakish incident, TC 5 would be a 2-2 tie, with both members of either old tribe voting for each other. Using this to our advantage, Levi and I planned for the same tribe to throw both ICs; our targets for TC 5 were Mandi and Amelia, since we perceived them as weaker, and more likely to lose a tie-breaker. Had Mandi ben booted in TC 5, the switched Delhari was supposed to throw IC 6 and boot Joey. Likewise, had my tribe lost IC 5 and booted Amelia, Sam was next. The plan was simple: take out a perceived weaker member, and you take out a threat along with them. Since Levi lost the tie-break in IC 5, the "weakest link" strategy was not put to fruition until ten days later. DAY 35- our first TC as a merged tribe, and we merged 5-5. naturally, everyone on the planet expected a 5-5 vote. We had five potential targets, and figured Mark as their target. We painted the target on Amelia the moment we merged, for several reasons:
a) Joey, Lenea and Sam were still perceived as threats, and would be very tough to beat in tie-breakers.
b) Amanda gained a lot of respect from us, thanks to her tie-break win in IC 5, so we figured we would rather not take our chances.
c) Amelia was the first of three names on my so-called hit list, for reasons which will be explored in the next column.

To my knowledge, the old Pamonas never really used or thought of this strategy until shortly before TC 7, when Mark won immunity. In fact, two different Pamonas told me later that I was to be the target of their votes until a few hours before TC! (Details next week- I need to stay in business ya know). They switched to Luiz, since they thought she was slow with the keyboard. See, there is a lot that you never hear about, which is still interesting.

Okay, back to the game. People used illegal strategies and broke the rules during IC 5 and TC 5. Yes, I was the person who did say several times that, "anything worth fighting for is worth fighting dirty for." Lies, deception and manipulation are one thing, but cheating is a completely different! Keep in mind that unlike other games, Survivor: Webcam has very few rules. Consider yourself lucky to still be around if you did break any of said rules. Okay, enough of this

Old Tikimana is down 7-4. Down, but not out. Regardless of the outcome of TC 6, they will merge shorthanded; either 6-4 or 7-3. What does this mean? Absolutely nothing! Vecepia managed to win S4, despite her old tribe being down 7-3 at merge. During S4, members of the old Rotu tribe formed a coalition with old Maraamu members Vecepia and Sean, in order to banish the Rotu-4 alliance. Will members of old Kapi bolt to join old Tikimanas? Perhaps.
Have I created enough paranoia in this game? Is it working??? I can read your journals, remember. Okay, that was just mean meh, whatever.

Oh yeah, tips for V 2.0 contestants. Hmmmm.. Okay, here's a tip: put a pinch of sage in your boots, and all day long a spicy scent is your reward.

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