Clanure

Wow, this is a lot to take in on day 1. I'm fairly new around here (a virgin in more ways than one, I guess), but I honestly can't see any of what has been said so far today being enough to lynch on. My particular choice is to wait and see how things develop. I know that seems 'middle-of-the-road' and therefore possibly scummy but I just don't think there is enough to go on. In my very limited experience it seems that a day 1 town-lynch is almost a given (100% in my brief history) and I don't want to make that mistake if it can be avoided. There are a few things I don't like, such as: 1. The SK taking so long to respond to his accusers. 2. The Usurper and his aggressiveness (perhaps a poor choice of words, but something better escapes me at the moment). I'm not saying it's scummy, I'm just not a fan of the play style. 3. The NPC. Too much roleplay for me. 4. The BONAD. For calling me out. Sure, I'm quiet, but honestly what else could give you any sort of 'gut feeling'? Realistically I guess The SK would get my vote should nothing change, but it wouldn't be a vote I would be extremely confident in.

Late to the party, geez. Oh well, I was going to take the Old Fashioned pill because it is the most like me, but I guess I'll settle for the Hunter's Pill. This first day is always a little awkward. Kind of like some of my dates when they find out I'm a virgin...

Hmm, certainly some strange conversations going on here? As a virgin I have no idea what you guys are talking about

The virgin has arrived. My looks obviously can't be the reason why, so it must be my high moral standards.

I placed 3 orders on the 4th and the 5th. I got 3 of everything (promo stuff). My B-wings are supposed to arrive tomorrow.

1. 2, so far. 2. Not a huge emoticon user, but I do think this one has a lot of uses. 3. Pretty new to the Mafia scene, but I'm having a blast and this looks like another great opportunity to hone my skills and learn a lot. I'll defer to those with a lot more experience on the mechanics of the game but I hope to learn from them.

Good Game Everyone! First of all, huge props to Hinckley! The hosting of this game was top notch. I am so grateful you gave a 'noob' like me a chance, even though I feel I owe you a bit of an apology. I feel somewhat like a 3rd string punter on a SuperBowl winning team. Everyone gets a ring, but I don't feel like I contributed much. I was very nervous about letting the team down, so even though I spent a lot of time on the board reading, I didn't post much. This was only my second EB Mafia game, and my first as Scum. Couldn't have done it without the rest of the team. I'll second what Kristel said; I had no idea how to play scum. I learned a boatload from Rick, Pandora, Scouty, Peanuts, Pie, and Kristel. My thoughts on the anonymity aspect are mostly positive. Not knowing who everyone was certainly made you focus more on in-game behavior. I think the anonymity might have added somewhat to the shenanigans though. Hinck, I hope you'll consider me for future games, in spite of my play here. I feel my EB Mafia career is just getting started and I'm anxious to spread my wings a bit. If anybody has any suggestions for me, I'd love to hear them. Besides posting more, of course Kudos to everyone! You all played admirably.

Has anybody been to either Denver area store recently? I'm making a trip there in a couple of weeks and want to know which store is better and what selection they have at the PAB wall.

I ordered 2 B-wings within the first 10 minutes, but my order went into "customer service" status? Need to wait about 20 more minutes for customer service to open to find out what's going on.

I have a fair number of cheese slopes that are cracked as well. It's definitely a small percentage of my overall collection, but it is annoying. My camper also had the majority of it's white 1x1's crack, and I've had a few other 1x1's crack. Fortunately for me though, I've not had anything more significant. Although, I did need the sand green Frodo torso (cracked up the side) and Barriss Offee torso (hand broke in 2) replaced. TLG customer service took care of it though.

If you'll have me, here's my application: Your past Mafia experience Just got expelled for drinking in Aperture Academy. Your ability to focus on the game over the next 32 days No problems there. Will you be able to keep up with 20 hour NA deadlines? Yeah, shouldn't be a problem either. Your favorite Mafia moment While it didn't look to favorably on me, my epic fail on a NA was a huge learning opportunity and added so much to the game. Tell me why you think Vanilla Townies are important or how they are most useful A properly played vanilla townie could tip a game in any direction. There's so much more potential there than with pre-defined roles, imho. (6 steps in a Mafia application?) Give me your word that you'll participate in whatever crazy concoction I've doctored to avoid the meta-gaming. It will take everyone's cooperation and to operate on their honor. I'm intrigued by this and can't wait to see what's in store. I will honor and obey even the craziest of commands. Hopefully I am found worthy to join!

I'm not sure where to go today. I get both sides, but I think I lean a bit more towards ousting those we have some evidence against. I'm going to go ahead and vote that way, but I'm willing to change it if we can get a decent argument on someone else. Vote: Burton Guster (Jedi Master Brick)

Well, to carry on with the theme, nothing changed for me. I was unable to leave my room again. Those that believe me will continue to do so. Likewise for those that don't.

I have a few different ideas as to what is happening. I also think it's a healthy dose of all of them that is creating the shortage. 1. As has been said before, unless you build it with at least a few thousand pieces, create something very accurate and in scale, or come up with some amazing new technique, you aren't going to get noticed. Why do people show off their stuff? To get noticed. Let's be honest, that's what it's about. You want kudos from people who share an interest in the things you are interested in. If you aren't interested in getting noticed, you MOC, but you don't post. It's about that easy. 2. The first reactions a new builder gets to their MOCs shapes, imho, their feelings towards the process. If I spend hours and hours on something, post it, and then have that MOC criticized for any of the myriad of things we criticize for, I don't think I would want to post anything else. The creative process has then been stifled for that new builder. I'm not saying comments should be all fluff and no substance, but it seems once you've achieved a level of moderate building skill (which anyone can achieve with just a little effort), you fall into a void of being too good to be noticed for how bad you've done, and too bad to be noticed for how good you've done. That's the problem with mediocrity. Nobody notices you, period. 3. The SW universe and it's fans are a peculiar and particular bunch. The vast majority don't appreciate non-canon subject matter being tied to SW. Even if I build a perfect MOC of perhaps some sort of TIE variant, if it hasn't been seen in the movies, shows, books, etc. then it really is nothing more than another sci-fi vehicle. Regardless of how much I stick to the aesthetic of the canon TIE ships. Going back to #1 and #2, if it isn't going to be well received and I'm not going to get some notoriety for it, why post? 4. As with every hobby (and really just about everything), there are elite members. These folks could stick a chewed up brick on a turd, and they would receive praise because of their past achievements. Right or wrong, it's not my place to say, but it happens. The rest of the community envies and desires that same praise, but it just doesn't happen that way. That also leaves new builders with a bad taste towards the process. 5. There's obviously the time/financial (not to mention talent) constraints that keep most of us from building in the "uber-UCS, more accurate than the 'real' thing, fully functioning repulsor lift" scale that as mentioned before is what gets noticed. 6. I think SW Lego has transcended normal Lego and is now more on par with SW Action Figures. There's a contingent of the fan base now that really has no interest in the Lego aspect of it. How many of you out there cringe to think that my UCS MF has been disassembled and the parts all sorted in with the rest of my Lego collection? That contingent would have no interest in any MOC really. 7. Lastly, there's that contingent of the fan base who doesn't care how cool/well built something is, if it didn't come from TLG, then it isn't acceptable. Just like some fans don't count exclusives because of the limited availability, or count clone bricks etc. So, if it isn't legit in their eyes, they aren't going to comment. No comments means no motivation to post MOCs. No motivation means less and less MOCs on EB. If this seems like a rant, I don't intend it to be one. These are just the observations I've had as well as my own personal experiences. YMMV. It might be nice if every posted MOC had significant constructive feedback, but that just isn't reality. It requires a lot more work than most are willing to give to constructively provide feedback on MOCs that are mediocre.

I appreciate the vote of confidence from some of you. I've tried the best I know to give what explanations I can. Did I screw up one night? Yep, sure did. Have I been blocked the last 2 nights? Yep, sure have. Is there any amount of explanation I can give to those that don't want to believe it? Nope, afraid not. So, I'm not even going to try any more. I'm moving forward with what I can. I'm crippled now, but so is the whole town. If we get lucky enough to lynch another mesa, and get even luckier to have them be the blocker, I'll hopefully be vindicated. For now, all I've got to go on is my gut. There are 2 people who continually go after me (regardless of explanation). Those 2 are Mary Jane and Jeanie. I investigated Jeanie and she came back as loyal student, but because I know not to trust the results 100% I'm starting to wonder if she isn't a godfather of sorts. Mary Jane has gone after me more than once, but has backed off for today. That said though, I still think it's one of the quieter ones gunning for me. Vote: Bob Busch (Hammerstein NWC)

I think the most common answer you will receive is the same answer I'm going to give, which is; It totally depends on the set. I've had 10231 space shuttle built for a couple of months now, but most of my sets don't last but just a couple of days. Then they get dismantled, sorted, and stored away. My UCS MF lasted almost a whole year before I took it apart.

So, seeing as how you've got a rebuttal for everything I've offered, you are basically telling me that there really isn't any information I can give you to convince you? You asked for it, I've given it as best I can. Your unwillingness to stop and think is going to let Black Mesa win. Perhaps that's what you are after? How do you know? What information do you have that the rest of us don't? I can tell you unequivocally, that after night 3, there is a lot left to interpretation. I'm starting to think there is something to this whole 'godfather' role

And what reason would you like? I've been as honest as I know how to be. I can't quote directly (against school policy), so everything has to be in my own words. I've told you as best I know how what I interpreted and obviously I interpreted wrong, but given the information I had (and even 20/20 hindsight) I still don't know what exactly to make of that one night's result. To be honest, I don't care if you lynch me. I'd like to say you'd be shooting yourself in the foot, but what with being blocked and all I'm pretty much on the same playing field as the rest of the town. We are flying blind now (unless we can lynch the scum blocker). Jeanie, I'd love to vote for you, but I know where your loyalties are, so I'm not going to. Hopefully we can get some others talking and narrow down on a bettter suspect.

Seems to me Lego has once again proved thier geniusness. Go ahead and tell those complaining that they've won and that the product will be removed in 2014. You know, right when it was going to be removed anyway... Flawless victory to Lego for that one. I approve!

I guess that's the problem with everyone knowing who the town investigator is. I was unable to leave my room for a second night. Looks like we will be flying blind from here on out.

And what happens when you lynch your investigator? (if you ARE town). You say you need to know, but at this point what information could we provide that would give you what you are looking for? Honestly I think I could tell you that the sky was blue and you would call me a liar. I personally don't really care other than the disservice you do to the academy. You ask for something that cannot be provided, not because it doesn't exist, but because you choose not to believe it. At any rate, practice real life got in the way a bit today but we'll see what we can accomplish tonight to see where things go. Vote: Mary Jane (mostlytechnic) I know this doesn't mean or do much, but Mary Jane is still giving me a scummy vibe. Shawna is pretty much done for so there is no point in "sheeping" her.

Well boys and girls, I'm officially buggered? My investigation last night (no point in hiding that anymore) turned up nothing, nada, zilch, zero. For some reason I couldn't get out of my room. I'm guessing this could be the work of a blocker?

Whether or not I'm safe for today has nothing to do with my ability to try and help. And what may seem obvious to you, may not be so obvious to others. Regardless, those that think it's obvious can simply choose to ignore it. I know you've voted for me and therefore don't trust me, but I'm still somewhat surprised by the attack. All I was saying, is that I'm also not 100% confident on my vote for John, and am also wondering if no lynch at all is better than possibly losing 2 loyal students.

As I see it, 3 (maybe 4) things can happen: 1. We vote out a loyal student, and black mesa kills a loyal student. That's 2 loyal students lost. 2. We essentially hang for tonight and don't lynch anyone, and black mesa kills a loyal student. That's only 1 loyal student lost. 3. We vote out black mesa, and black mesa kills a loyal student. That's 1 loyal student lost, and 1 black mesa killed. Sure, there a a few other things that could happen, but these 3 are the most likely I think. Of these 3, which is best? Of course number 3 is, but I think 1 or 2 is actually more likely and perhaps the safer bet for today. I'm not ready to unvote John yet, but I would like someone else's take on it.

At this point, all of you either believe I'm the investigator or you don't. There's no point playing coy about it. My findings have been: Ricky: Loyal student Simone: the Black Mesa Infiltration guide Jeanie: Loyal student Obviously the infiltration guide was meant to be a 'tell' of some sort, but I missed it. I apologize to the rest of the town for that, but don't know what more to do about it. I'm trying to save my own skin here, I really am. It's not just for personal glory though, The Academy will be much worse off if/when I'm gone. Additionally, I will say this. take it for what you will. I cannot quote exactly what was told to me, I can only paraphrase. I can say though that there was no question on the two loyal students, the 'infiltration guide' mess was definitely less clear, but hindsight is 20/20 and I only had one loyal finding to base my interpretation on.