MetroiD

Happy Fangday!!! We love ya, ol chap - even though Luxor looks keen to add calories to your diet

Surely you must mean RileyC and Pie, not Yasuko and Shizuko?...

* rant on I find it hugely disappointing that almost 2/3 of the Day have now been spent discussing game mechanics, metagaming behaviour, etc. So let me just join you guys here for a second. Are we in a Mafia discussion thread, or are we actually playing a game? To be honest, I also find all that stuff that's being said and commented rather boring too. If you want to base your actions on a rulebook, your previous experience, your predisposions against someone - that's all fine. But at least try to come up with a plausible way for it to sound a bit in game, for Shinto-heaven's sake! It seems like most of you just can't be bothered to try and play this game. The rules actually do clearly state - "do not post out of character inside the thread" - but I haven't seen too much posting in-character for the last umpteen pages. Regrettably, I was even called out in private earlier today for apparently "role-playing too much". Well, I'm sorry for actually trying to work with the little that Grandfather has given us in terms of character bio and background story. Apparently, there's not too many out there who care to even memorize the names and genders of the characters in their immediate families, so I guess you could say I'm merely trying to even out the scales a bit. * rant off Following up on my observations above, I'll share with you my thoughts once again, even though I've done it on multiple occasions today and I've tried to be as precise as possible. I am also very much against Yasu, and that rift between us was opened when she started her participation during our discussions in the Temple. It grew into a chasm after our personal exchange, in which she came off as scummy as possible, and my fears were only confirmed by her childish and stupid behaviour later on: "I've got a very powerful role, oooh! You can't kill me, I can be veeeery useful! Let the mind games begin!" What mind games?! Also, what "power" role? Even the greatest of roles is lost in the hands of a person who can obviously not do one smart thing and instead yaks on endlessly, while not saying anything at the same time. Given, that right there is a talent in itself, but so is Yasu's capability of not even following up on the cohesive instructions that she no doubt has received from someone. And even if that is not the case, how would you expect us to base our moves on the findings of a person who has on numerous occasions proven that they are simply untrustworthy and not fit to do anything right!? Another question which has been creeping through my mind all day - why would my own first-born son take so much time to defend said person in private and in public, when it's obvious to each and every one of us that if ever there was a calculated risk that should be taken for the good of the whole Family, this is it. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - even if Yasu turns out to be an innocent member of this family with the role she claimed, I will not regret my move and my decision to vote against her. I know I wouldn't trust Yasu even if she were to stay alive and confirmed as having the role she claimed. Better to have sane, strong-willed and quick-witted vanilla Yakuza family members, than ranting and utterly useless "power players". Her demise and revealed allegiance will be instrumental in helping us determine a lot of things about the Family members who have been defending her quite 'fervently'. Vote: Yasu (TheBoyWonder)

Our situation in a nutshell there, also followed by a smart observation with regards to post numbers during the Day so far. Momoe's remarks there reflect my reasoning as to why I don't see any point in keeping Yasu around - even though I've had quite a few of you try to convince me otherwise. Blockers, trackers, killers, punchers, bungee jumpers, rats or even porcupines - regardless of what roles people might have in this Family, it is obvious that Yasu has done all the wrong things so far. And even if she is, as she claims, a loyal Yakuza with an important role to play - it still looks like she is set to continue her fine streak.

Claims she is. Take nothing for granted, my son - ever. I am bewildered by the numerous attempts to drive attention away from Yasu and towards some of the more silent members of our Family. While such a behaviour is indeed suspicious, especially considering that one could get away with it easily due to the sheer amount of people present in this Temple, I still believe that we have more pressing issues that need our complete focus, my dear children. Issues that are substantiated by what has been said throughout this day, as opposed to what has not.

My son, I look forward to seeing you age and grow wiser with the years. Hastiness is not a quality that persists once you have seen what I have seen, so, while I respect your cautious way of stating your disagreement, I urge you to think. Consider this whole situation we find ourselves in. Consider the outcome of the day, when at least some people's allegiances will become clear. Now consider whether my message has been helpful or not. Because to me, it looks as though it has triggered a tsunami, which seems as though it is backed not only by one member of our Family, but also very much engineered by other accomplices she might have. Is that not helpful to you, my son? Even if I am wrong about my claims that Yasu is not a loyal Yakuza, I will not regret my move. My attempts at probing her for any information she might have, albeit in the form of an outright bluff - though targeted at a very inexperienced family member - have only shown her dishonesty, for that is not how one of us would react. They also seem to have led to her accomplices coming up with equally excessive bluffs. If proven an innocent Yakuza, Yasu will no doubt go down in history as the most useless Yakuza anyway, now that she has effectively written off any chance she might have had to help this family deal with the Mutineers swiftly. We have now effectively lost this role of huge significane to our Family - regardless whether she is voted out or not. Once again, that is appaling.

Wait, is this in-character or not now?

Well, for starters, you could refrain from casually calling me your "friend", Yasu - for had it not been for the hard work that my Father and I have put in over the years, your rice empire would never exist. What utter insolence; how my son could marry such a disrespectful woman is beyond me, but I shall not have you in this Family any longer.

If you were not scum, would you have replied the following: Appaling is the only word I find befitting of your behaviour. If he did indeed have a habit of using it, Father should really whip out his belt.

No, failure has returned. Your attitude is appaling - you are sitting here, accused by half the Family, and yet you find the audacity to play it smug! As you know rather well, I did contact you too, offering you support. You never confided anything in me, and if caring and sharing has suddenly become your mantra, I failed to see that in our brief exchange. Your answer was short, non-chalant, pointless - and yet, once again, utterly and helplessly cowardly, as has been your behaviour all day. It is for that reason that I am still convinced you are not a loyal Yakuza and have now decided to try and pull off this whole charade. And what a charade it is - how you've come up with this 'wonderful' idea all of a sudden is beyond me - or has someone come up with it for you? Also, why you'd start waving your town cop role around for all to see is another thing I can't understand. Brilliant - as I said before, you have now effectively turned this whole thing into a mess. If you are indeed the town cop and survive this night, the mutineers will probably do their best to make sure all your actions are ineffective, thus rendering your entire role worthless. All based on your so-called "mind games", which I believe qualify as something else entirely. It is obvious to me that you do not have the Yakuza's best interests at heart. You are a disgrace to this family.

Yasu, that is stupid, and not calculated risk. All of it. You revealing your role, AND you contacting other people with it so carelessly. I'm sorry, and while I agree with my son Norio that for the time being we should refrain from such qualifications, I see no other way to describe the situation you have put us all in. Not to mention that, as Isamu rightly noted, for all we know, even if you are not lying, you are now Target No. 1 for the Scum. Congratulations, the mess you had yourself in has just got stickier. To make matters worse for you, our talk in private only reiterated my conviction regarding your guilt. You definitely have something to hide, and I'm not sure that your role is that thing. However, there is one matter that is more pressing at that moment, and I believe that is what Ichirou has to say about this whole situation.

Kin, I - and I guess that is the case with the rest of my Family - am expecting something other than useless one-word excuses. In this game of wits that our Family gathering has become, one's willingness to speak up for themselves can go a long way towards showing where their loyalty lies. Failure to do so points towards either scummy behaviour, or inability to cope with the situation, and in both cases shows that the person in question is hardly going to be a strong leading or at least contributing factor for the victory of the true Yakuza among us against the Mutineers.

Hmmm. The attitude I've observed today by some members of the family leads me to believe that Father is very much right, even if his clairvoyant dreams might have seemed a bit strange at first. There have definitely been a few people trying extra hard to lead the Family to misjudge the circumstances, and that has definitely aroused my suspicion, especially considering their vast experience and knowledge of such situations. As to Yasu - I have said all that I had to say about you, girl, and the fact that you're letting precious time pass while just watching from the sidelines and not actively trying to build a strong case against these accusations, as any true Yakuza would (should and could), just shows that my initial fears will probably be proven right.

Good. This game could use every bit of dynamic and momentum it could get, considering there's so many of us.

You speak as though a decision has already been made. We are all one big family here, remember? Talking things over because Father has foreseen a dark future ahead - not for one, but for all of us. And if there ever was a time for us to settle our differences and understand each other's way of thinking, now's that time. I do not find your attitude befitting of a true Yakuza - you seem to be giving up without even trying to actually defend yourself! Who do you think you're giving up on - this game of life, or your entire Family? Yasu - once again: your comment was far from reasonable, considering there are 32 of us locked up in this Temple. Did you not notice that almost half of our family has flown in from all different ends of the world just to be (nicely locked up) here today? It's only natural that some would be more exhausted and would need to take their time before they could actually join in on any discussions we are holding here, but I didn't notice anyone asking others not to be suspicious. Anyone else, besides you, that is. Which constitutes a rather suspicious behaviour - so I suggest you start spilling the rice, if there's any rice to be spilt here, or otherwise just show to us in a plausible manner why we should try to have more faith in you again. It takes years to build up someone's trust, and then no more than a mere moment to fully destroy it. While I must trust each and every one of my children, I am not sure you have done anything to justify my faith in you to begin with. It seems to me that yours are not the Yakuza ways, Yasu, and I pray that you come to your senses...

Now is the time to see whether that is indeed the case or not. Father and I are not getting younger, but we are still here standing our ground and defending what we have built with the price of so much blood, sweat and tears. (Or at least I am; while Father is busy dreaming of mermaids.) It is time we saw how the young ones are going to take care of problems - and, based on that, what the future holds for the Yakuza family. And Chieko my darling, it turns out it's a good thing I did not take you on an ocean cruise last summer, all things considered. I do have big plans for us for next year, though. Just be patient with me, as you always have been, dear. You know that it is always worth it. Shizuko - my children are the pillars on which this whole family is based. You of all people should know that. To me, you are all my children, but I also know that each crack can lead to the collapse of the entire structure. Yes, I have only had the opportunity to teach my sons in the true ways of a Yakuza, which is why I always hold them responsible - but that is because I want them to follow their path with our family's well-being guiding them at all times. Speaking of paths - patience is a virtue which seems to be lost on some members of our extended family who have rushed to defend themselves before we've even had our afternoon green tea. Let us see where that path shall take them. May the Kami guide us to the light!

Chieko!?! Is that the way to talk to your husband, after I promised to take you to an ocean cruise around the world once I retire from business? Your words make me sad, my darling.

Yasu's ways have always been a mystery to many of us, even after she joined our family. I, for one, have on many occasions wondered whether it was her who actually built her rice-churning empire, or was that all a consequence of my grandson Minoru's incredible negotiating skills... In any case, it brings me joy to see that they both enjoy a life of plenty, but I still wonder whether all those donations aren't actually meant to compensate for something.

Father, I do indeed worry for your health. You have never worn a belt in your life, nor is belt beating the way a true Yakuza would earn respect - you have taught me that yourself, don't you remember - "Words can hit harder than any katana". Besides, I can not bring myself to really believe that vision of yours. For years I have taught my sons to stand united, even if their paths might seem to lead them away from each other. I do not believe my boys would ever betray me - or their Grandfather... So what evil could it be that you have seen in store for us? Who could it be that wants to see our powerful clan destroyed? For now, I shall stand back and observe, as I've done my whole life. The middle path seems to be covered in darkness today, but together we will find our way.

*character off* MOCPages? Brickshelf? Seriously? Those are both as unreliable as they get... Anything would have been a much better choice, not to mention that you can still hide the pics in your flickr stream, and if properly sized, they shouldn't take up that much space?

Please excuse me for pointing that out, Father, but... are you quite sure we don't mind? I am an aging man too, you know, and while I may not dream of mermaids like you do since I have my loving wife by my side, I would still very much like to have the freedom to be able to enjoy my days for as long as I still can. So, you say, we now need to "vote off"... some mutineers who are presumably bad... The Yakuza clan is in danger of perishing... And there's 32 of us locked in a temple with no plausible explanation... all of that, based on just a dream!? What type of mushrooms exactly did you have for dinner, dear Dad? Ah, well children. It seems we're left to our own devices. Which, as we Yakuza know, are quite numerous.

Ah, poor old Dad. I told him months ago he had to take care of that shelf and tidy things up a bit in order to be able to find when he needs them... Father, have you tried using the services of our new friend, Frickeroo?

Hey, to my knowledge, you're the first guy who's effectively used this method, so, at least to me, from now on this will be known as the "solta thin sliding door" technique, and should/ will be credited as such Thanks for the additional clarification. And yeah, I saw this MOC @ Kocke - you guys rock!

Hey hey, no yanking! It ruffles my hide

Nice mod - just goes to show how changing a couple of pieces can actually go a long towards revising the whole appearance of the model. It's a very sweet look, even though what you've got going on there is actually a mixture between the Type 2 T1 and T2 models /noses, which hasn't actually ever existed as such. Speaking of realism, I'm still not sold on the whole muscular mudguards / wide wheelbase thing, but I guess it's just in line with LEGO's current vehicle policy. Can't deny that the model looks recognizable, but there's something about its proportions that looks a bit off, at least to me. Then again, I guess one would expect me to advocate old-style 4-wide for this one anyway