Post by John on Nov 10, 2017 23:01:42 GMT
ROUND 1
- 18 PLAYERS -
And we’re back! Not too long of a break between this season and Egypt, but we’re back and ready to go with a brand new cast. I know a lot of people probably think we’re nuts for diving right back in, and honestly they’re right. The series just needed a jolt after All-Stars. Egypt certainly delivered and I hope Cartagena does as well.
The theme of the season is WHO CAN YOU TRUST? A question that is easy to ask but difficult to answer. This theme will come into play with multiple twists in the season, but it’s too soon to reveal what those will be. What we can reveal is the 16 new players, will not be all who are playing this season.
Trust is a tricky thing. Sometimes someone close to you can betray you at the drop of a hat. Both these players have that in common. Will they be able to find someone that will actually have their back this season? Will history repeat itself and see them #blindsided once again? Or will they be the one backstabbing their close ally this time around? Only time will tell, but for now here are this season’s returning players — Holli (C6) and Lizzie (C8)
The minute Lizzie got brutally blindsided by Nick last season, we knew that we wanted to bring her back. There was no question, the debate was all about when. While apps were coming in for this season, Patrick and I got drunk one night and started thinking of what returnee combinations could potentially work. I always consider returnees as an option while casting. Although new people are great, sometimes you just had players with a lot more to offer that didn’t get to see their full potential play out in their original season. Does it piss people off when they’re not the returnee who gets to come back? Yeah, but that’s life, deal with it.
I’m excited for Lizzie to play this season. I’m hoping to see a different side of her gameplay. I want to see her take risks, play a bolder game. She’s got social and strategy down, she did everything right except trusting the wrong person. I hope she actually approaches this season like Nick did. Playing a bigger, bolder game. Lizzie was a serious contender to win pre-season for Egypt and I think that’s still the case with Cartagena. I’m excited to see what she brings having just played.
Holli played a low key merge game in her original season but stepped it up and became the person running the show. The problem is, people noticed, specifically Lecompte and the rest was history. Holli has since had a lot of ORG experience, playing multiple games, winning Sequester. She’s now a certified ORG veteran and I’m interested to see how she approaches this cast. Will she rise up and take charge of this new crew in her returnee role or will she take a more passive under the radar approach. Holli has the ability to win, we’ll just have to wait to see if now is her time.
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Now for what I know you have all been waiting for – the newbies. This is a really interesting group, we went personality heavy this season. Big bold players ready to make some moves. In a season with the theme “Who can you trust?” we wanted a group players that would be, quite frankly, difficult to trust.
I think this is a strong group of players and I can’t wait to see how they play. So without further ado, let’s welcome these new players to CONQUEST.
Aren has been in the mix of people I have wanted to cast since C6. Honestly, he was just too young for that cast, but this time around I think he’s ready. Aren is a ball of energy, he is the youngest player we’ve ever cast, turning 15 this weekend. When comparing him on the scale of youngins from Poteet to Adam, he’s definitely closer to the Adam scale which isn’t a bad thing. Adam is one of the series most iconic players after all. The only thing I’m worried about with Aren is the social element. Him being so young will be the first hurdle he needs to overcome. If he does than the only person standing in his way will be himself because I could see him being an overplayer. Regardless, Aren will be super interesting and fun to watch, I hope he goes far for that alone.
Patrick was a huge Austin champion during casting and I can see why. Every season we get a lot of ORGers who apply that have been around the block. Unfortunately we have to make tough choices each season on who to cast and people knowing others or having played a lot of games is usually a big factor in making tough cuts. I feel like this cast is a great one for Austin. There will be some people who know him, but not well enough to target him unnecessarily for it. I hope Austin is a schemer this season. I know he’s more introverted, but he’s cutthroat and that’s the side I want to see. I hope he lures people in and stabs them in the back. I think he’ll be a strong strategic force this season, I’m excited to see him play.
Last season, Ben unfortunately dropped out after being cast and I was GUTTED. He was literally my favourite going into last season, so I was thrilled when he was able to play this time around. Ben is SO WEIRD in the best kind of way. His interview was uncomfortable, hilarious and epic. That being said, I literally have no idea how he will be in game. For all I know he might totally flop. But all I could think of during his interview was how much he reminded me of Cody from Big Brother and I hope that’s the type of player he ends up being. Regardless I’m excited for him to be playing and definitely rooting for him to succeed.
If you guys are looking for a winner pick with serious potential, look no further. I played XTC with Carley and she was a dominant force. We always get players who are very familiar with Big Bother but don’t really know Survivor. This season that’s Carley, but honestly I think she’ll really succeed in this format. She has a few Skype games under her belt so she knows what she’s getting into. She actively wants to work on her social game, and I know she is one hell of a competitor. I think Survivor is a format that will suit her well and I can honestly see her going deep, potentially all the way!
Another player I got close to in XTC, and actually shares a lot of similarities with Carley, though personality type is not one of them. Don is wild! He is a hoot and a half and I’m so excited to get to host him because I know how much he has wanted to play CONQUEST. Calling Don a character is an understatement, he’s got stories for days and wicked personality and he puts a ton of effort in when he plays. The thing that gets Don in trouble though is his mouth. In XTC on the first night I thought Don was a MESS, but a mess I wanted to work with. Don is an amazing ally, he is loyal and will have your back. The question is will people give him the chance? I hope they do, I did and I have no regrets. I’m pulling for Don, I’m excited to see what he brings to the Survivor format.
When I just got everyone I played XTC with for this cast. I swear this is the last one they just all happen to be back to back alphabetically. Though saying I played XTC with Elise is a bit generous. Quite frankly she wasn’t around. We did one live veto and she was on call and I thought she was hilarious and extremely personable. Turns out she was dealing with some stuff irl and eventually had to pull herself from the game. This time around I’ve literally spoken to her more pre-season than I did in all of XTC. She had a fantastic interview despite Patrick’s terrible questions he asked and I’m excited to see her play. She’s more experienced having played Deception, and I think she is someone who will be underestimated. She reminded me a lot of Caroline when she played Yucatan. I’m excited to see what she brings to the season.
Jeff is a question mark for me. I’ve met Jeff in person, he is hilarious and I have no doubt socially he’s going to kill it. I just have no idea on what his strategy abilities will be in this game. Being a social force is fine and I see Jeff falling into an important role within an alliance, but I wonder whether that will be his role in the game or if he will be able to grab the steering wheel and take control of the game. At a certain point to win you have to do that, even if for just one round. I’m excited to actually get to see Jeff play in this scenario with this cast. I hope he does well!
My winner pick, yep I’m leading off with that, hope I don’t jinx you Jenn! Coming to us for the same university I went to, Dalhousie Universit, is Jenn From aka the Female Patrick. Literally they are the same person, and just like Patrick when he played, I think Jenn is in for a long run. She has a great grasp on strategy, she seems extremely social and friendly. Interviewing her was a breeze and she brought up players who she liked being JT in Tocantins and Michele from Kao Rong, two player who played strong social games. But what worked for them and was Patrick’s eventual down fall is getting deep into the game being the known jury threat. JT and Michele won out to make the Final 3, Patrick wasn’t so lucky. Could Jenn fall into a similar spot? We’ll have to wait and see but she’s someone I can see easily going deep in the game, and I hope she does!
Since seeing him in BB Basics I have wanted to host Jermaine so badly. He just slayed the confessionals and you need that type of player in a season. You need someone that keeps things interesting, keeps calls fun, and is that positive energy. That’s Jermaine and I think the infectious attitude will garner him success in this game. I’m just curious to see if he has the edge to balance it out. Positivity is great, but does he have that killer instinct to make the moves he has to make to win it all? Only time will tell, but I’m excited to watch him play this time around. He’s another one who hasn’t played the Survivor format in a while so I look forward to seeing if he’s still got it.
I’ll be fully open about this, when I saw Michael applied I was on the fence about casting him. I knew he had loose connections here and there and I wasn’t sure if this was the right cast for him. Then he interviewed and honestly I say this all the time but if you kill the interview you’re going to make the cut every damn time. I don’t care what your reputation, who you know, how you did previously, how you say you’ll do this time around. You have a couple minutes in that interview to make an impact and Michael did just that. He is bold, and I know he’s going to come in guns blazing. I won’t lie, I have high expectations for how I expect Michael to play and I really hope he delivers. I think he has potential to be a big player in this series.
Another one Patrick championed. Mike is another one I had a really great feeling about after his interview. He’s a player. He’s experienced. He’s a previous winner in both Big Brother and Survivor formats. He’s on to watch! My favourite aspect about him from his interview is how willing he seems to adapt and change who he works with and trusts most based on the personal connections he meets in the game. He doesn’t seem like the type of player to just rest on an alliance and stay blindly loyal. I think he’s going to be a social force on his tribe and a real driver. He came very highly recommended by P Haughty, and I think he’s going to deliver!
Nick Drinkwater is a favourite of mine going into this. He’s this season’s Skype newbie and he’s ready to take the ORG world by storm. Besides having a fantastic last name, Nick is going to bring a fresh perspective to this season. He’s new but he’s ready to go. As we know from previous seasons, some people don’t make the transition to Skype games that well (#ripryanmsphone), but I’m not worried about that with Nick. Just from interacting with him pre-season I think he’s ready to go and going to adapt well to the online format. He’s a dark horse in this. I wouldn’t be surprised if Drinkwater takes it all!
Did you know this guy will suck your dick? Hard or soft he wants it. He’ll take what he can get. I heard that in a song or something. Sam is an interesting one, he’s been away for a hot minute being part of the mouse’s army in Florida. He’s back and ready to compete. I feel like Sam goes one of two ways in games, he’s either really into it and driven to do well, or he checks out. This is a good time for him to be playing though because from my understanding he isn’t really doing anything else. Also this is probably one of the few casts where he really will have only a few connections, and given that he’s a pretty prominent ORG host that’s a tough thing to accomplish. If he gives it his all this season I can really see him going far and even being contender. It will just be all about the amount of effort he puts in.
Steffen came off as a really interesting personality from his interview. He had a bit of sass, a bit of wit, but what surprised me the most was how in tune strategically he seemed. He’s coming to us from the wide world of tumblr and quite frankly, often when Tumblr people play, they aren’t the most impressive, but I think we have a solid crop this season. I think Steffen could potentially be someone who tries to pull something off early in the game. He’s someone who I see being an influencer on his tribe and being in the mix early on. I look forward to seeing what he brings to the season.
Teddy is someone who I’m sure a few of you are familiar with either from Tumblr, Alias or minis, they only thing is you might be a bit more used to seeing him as Nick Jonas. This will be Teddy first attempt at a Skype game and I’m ready for it. He’s a face not many people know and I think they’re going to make the mistake of underestimating him. He’s an experienced player and I know I’ve said this already about Nick, but he’ll be another dark horse. I think he has the potential to have gameplay similar to Sam. I won’t be surprised when he finds himself in a solid alliance, or when he becomes well integrated with everyone, or when survives again and again and again. I can’t wait to see him play.
Last but not least, we have Tierra. For those who don’t know, Tierra is C6 David’s fiancée. For those unfamiliar with David’s gameplay, he was one of the strongest strategic players in the series. Dominating from that perspective, but where his game nose dived was the social. He literally went through the whole game never talking to anyone at all (lol not really but based on the FTC jury you’d think that was the case). When it comes to social, Tierra seems to be the opposite of David and if she can bring the same level of strategy, we would have a serious contender on our hands. Tierra is one of the more experienced players in the cast so I look forward to seeing that in her gameplay. I think she’s going to be a standout and wouldn’t be surprised to see her best David this time around with a win.
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And there we have it, the cast of CONQUEST: Cartagena. I think this is going to be a great group. I hope you like them as much as we do. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, be sure to comment here about what you think of this group. The more comments the better so they have something to read once the season is over.
I'm very excited to watch Michael play, especially with a tribe that has people quite a few years younger than him. He can be a very very strategic player and I'm sure he will have at least one or two big moves to his name before he gets taken out.
He's such a party, one of the most wild people I've ever met in a game. I mean for fucks sake, this guy has NO filter. and I mean NOOOOOOOOOOO filter. Some of the most crazy stories I've ever heard have came from Don. How he does in this game will depend solely on if his personality meshes with this tribe or not. 
) anyways, I'll be rooting for tierra all season, hopefully it goes great!