Oblique Strategies - an Eno Mafia [ENDGAME]

[Tangrowth]

3. I still think Byrne > Eno

As much as I love Eno, I might not argue that.

[Mongoose]

3. I still think Byrne > Eno

As much as I love Eno, I might not argue that.

Oh man, you should have gotten the look I received when I said that IRL

[Mongoose]

I picked Tiger Mountain because I like fierce beasts and also I'm basically an expert on higher altitudes now.

[Marmot]

Tiger Mountain. I have an affinity for mountains.

[Mongoose]

Everytime I hear the title "St. Elmo's Fire" I think of the one from the movie of the same name.



(Would you believe me if I told you Joel Schumacher wrote and directed that film?)

I always felt like it was a less-good version of The Big Chill.

PSA: The Big Chill is available for streaming on Amazon Prime! I'm obsessed it.

[Roxy]

So we just need to postour votes and thats it?
Easy game! Yes it will be boring but EVERYONE wins

I like mountains but hate tigers down by the river for me.

[insertnamehere]

**************------------------ INH REVIEWS ------------------**************

Song #1 ~ "Over Fire Island"
A generally upbeat and, dare I say it, peppy vocal-less track that has a bit of a sinister edge due to what sounds like a foreign radio transmission cutting in randomly. What is the Fire Island? How are we over it? Are we like on a plane or some shit? Maybe the radio transmissions are like being picked on an airplane? I don't fucking know.


Song #2 ~ "In Dark Trees"
A dark and somewhat haunting track that feels like a soundtrack for an action movie. But, the track as a whole is kind of ruined by this one guy going apeshit with a woodblock. You can just hear this guy wailing away on this damn woodblock with no rhythm or rhyme. Just random woodblock. I'm imagining Eno dressed like Christopher Walken yelling at the top of his lungs "I'VE GOT A FEVER, AND THE ONLY CURE IS MORE WOODBLOCK!" Overall, a dark and energetic track. Not high on my list of places to go.


Song #3 ~ "By This River"
A slow and relaxing electronic ballad with some soft synth playing over some of Eno's vocals. If it wasn't for the lyrics, I'd choose this place in a heartbeat.

"Here we are
Stuck by this river
You and I
Underneath a sky that's ever falling down, down, down
Ever falling down

Through the day
As if on an ocean
Waiting here
Always failing to remember why we came, came, came
I wonder why we came"

You can just imagine Llama waiting to post "I wonder why we came" when we eventually go the this river. The river doesn't seem to be a very happy river. Can rivers have existential angst, because this song is over-flowing with it! Ha ha ha. I'm so fucking funny.

Song #4 ~ "Taking Tiger Mountain"

Jesus fuckin' Christ this song is monotonous. It's 5:33 long, and you feel every second of it. Looking at the lyrics, it seems intentional.

"We climbed and we climbed,
Oh, how we climbed
My, how we climbed
Over the stars to [the] top
[Of] Tiger Mountain
Forcing the lines through the snow."

I feel like the song does its job of imitating a long laborious climb too well, as this track is a chore to sit through. The one thing that I liked about the song was how nature was incorporated. As the song goes on and on, and you "climb" the mountain, you can hear more wind and mountain-y sounds. I thought that was relatively clever, but it still doesn't justify the existence of the track as anything other than filler. The mountain itself seems like a more or less safe place with a low level of existential angst. This is an option I'll give some consideration to.

Song #5 ~ "China my China"

This song flows much better, and is centered around Eno's vocals. Now, Eno isn't exactly world-renowned for his voice, and you can easily hear why, but they do the job and communicate the odd stilted critique of China that the lyrics are about.

"In the haze of the morning, China sits on Eternity
And the opium farmers sell dreams to obscure fraternities
On the horizon the curtains are closing

Down in the orchard the aunties and uncles play their games
(like it seems they always have done)
In the blue distance the vertical offices bear their names
(like it seems they always have done)
Clocks ticking slowly, dividing the day up

These poor girls are such fun they know what God gave them their fingers for

(to make percussion over solos)"


The part that kind of makes me hesitant to choose this place is this:

I remember a man who jumped out from a window over the bay
(there was hardly a raised eyebrow)
The coroner told me 'This kind of thing happens every day'
You see, from a pagoda, the world is so tidy.

That's pretty fucking ominous for this option, and I don't want to visit China anytime soon.

Song #6 ~ "On Some Faraway Beach"

This is probably my favorite track out of all of them, but I don't think going here is a very good idea. The synthesizer lends a surprising air of finality to the song, and I'm going to guess that it was the closing track on the album it was originally released with? Regardless of the actual song itself, the lyrics are probably the scariest out of any of them.

"Given the chance
I'll die like a baby
On some far away beach
When the season's over.

Unlikely
I'll be remembered
As the tide brushes sand in my eyes
I'll drift away.

Cast up on a plateau
With only one memory
A single syllable
Oh lie low lie low."

That's the second track to explicitly reference death. And this one also brings back the terrifying existential angst from the damned River! I don't want to find out what Llama bastard has up his sleeve for this place. I'm expecting dead babies and plateaus.

INH'S RANKINGS OF THE LOCATIONS BASED ON THE LYRICS AND GENERAL ATMOSPHERE OF THE SONGS

1. Over Fire Island
2. Taking Tiger Island
3. By This River
4. China my China
5. In Dark Trees
6. On Some Faraway Beach

[Tangrowth]

Amusing review, INH. Awesome.

And FYI, On Some Faraway Beach is actually the 6th track out of 10 on Eno's debut, so it isn't the final track!

[Marmot]

So we just need to postour votes and thats it?
Easy game! Yes it will be boring but EVERYONE wins

I like mountains but hate tigers down by the river for me.

You prefer rundown vans and creepy old men to tigers?

[Roxy]

Apparently MM's I do

[Roxy]

Tigers freak me out

[Dom]

I'm very not ready to play so for now I'm picking Fire Island for no reason bie

[DFaraday]

I also support a strategy where everyone wins.

[Vompatti]

I want to lose.

[Marmot]

What's the quickest way to get modkilled around here?

[Vompatti]

What's the quickest way to get modkilled around here?

I will be looking into your question and guiding you through the process.

[Snow Dog]

I want to lose.

That should be easy for a loser.

[Vompatti]

I want to lose.

That should be easy for a loser.

I wouldn't bet on it.

[Bass_the_Clever]

I voted for Over Fire Island.

[Boogs]

Hi guys. Voting fire Cus I like fire

[Marmot]

Hi guys. Voting fire Cus I like fire

What kind of kitty likes fire?

[Marmot]

We are making a big mistake today. If there is an island on fire, why would we want to be over it?

[Snow Dog]

I voted Tiger Mountain because I always liked the album title "Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy"

[Mongoose]

I want to lose.

Why, we've not even started Day 1 yet? Get some pizza and get buckled in.

[nijuukyugou]

Hello, all! Interesting strategy we're going for, but what the hell - you've picked a fantastic (and by that I mean horribly-stressful-my-face-will-break-out-and-I-won't-sleep-til-Friday-kind-of-work) week for such a plan. Participation win trophies for everyone!

I had never even heard of Eno before I signed up for this game, and as of now have only listened to one of the songs posted on the other page - Over Fire Island. I liked the beat. And it was short. But mostly, the name caught my attention because long ago, a friend of mine gave me an absurd choose-your-own-adventure book called Escape From Fire Island. I will say no more.

Also, I will vote Over Fire Island.

[S~V~S]

We are making a big mistake today. If there is an island on fire, why would we want to be over it?

Since Fire Island is near the Hamptons, and both are Rock Star style party places, I presume that the song is about this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_Island

Not about an island on fire.

[Mongoose]

Hello, all! Interesting strategy we're going for, but what the hell - you've picked a fantastic (and by that I mean horribly-stressful-my-face-will-break-out-and-I-won't-sleep-til-Friday-kind-of-work) week for such a plan. Participation win trophies for everyone!

I had never even heard of Eno before I signed up for this game, and as of now have only listened to one of the songs posted on the other page - Over Fire Island. I liked the beat. And it was short. But mostly, the name caught my attention because long ago, a friend of mine gave me an absurd choose-your-own-adventure book called Escape From Fire Island. I will say no more.

Also, I will vote Over Fire Island.

I know what you mean, blooper. I'm buried in hearings and hearing prep this week. A perfect time to procrastinate!

Are we going to fall into a burning ring of fire? Are we going to go down, down, down and the flames'll grow higher?

Fun fact: I had a friend in college who wasnt allowed to listen to that song because her parents were convinced that it was about pooping.

[nijuukyugou]

Are we going to fall into a burning ring of fire? Are we going to go down, down, down and the flames'll grow higher?

Fun fact: I had a friend in college who wasnt allowed to listen to that song because her parents were convinced that it was about pooping.

I just choked on my cereal. Thanks for that

[Vompatti]

The murderer must be somebody in this room!

[Mongoose]

The murderer must be somebody in this room!

Is it you?

[Vompatti]

The murderer must be somebody in this room!

Is it you?

There's only one way to find out.

[insertnamehere]

[Marmot]

The murderer must be somebody in this room!

Is it you?

There's only one way to find out.

MM promptly spills his drink on Vompatti's suit.

[thellama73]

Day 1: Over Fire Island

Fire Island was not, as many had feared, actually on fire, as the mist gave way to the beautiful and serene strip of land standing alone in a vast ocean. The group looked down at the landscape below with awe and wonder. Just then, the sun burst over the horizon in a ball of glorious flame. Its light must have awakened the sleeping wildlife on the island, and an arc of doves fluttered powerfully through the air, their white backs gleaming with the reflected glow of morning.

Inspired by the peaceful nature of their surroundings, insertnamehere proposed a treaty of sorts, one that, he thought, would let them all escape this dream world with their skins intact. Yet it required an animal sacrifice, and the cooperation of all to carry it off. Intrigued yet nervous, the group looked at each other, and at MovingPictures07 in particular, who had courageously (foolhardily?) offered his own neck up for the slaughter.

Did they really have the heart to do it?

Meanwhile, off in some rarified corner, the Host reflected on the people who haven’t yet participated, and wondered what would happen if he decided to modkill them. Hmmm, indeed.

You have 24 hours to lynch someone.

[thellama73]

Where ought we to begin?

Poll runs till Sun Dec 07, 2014 6:39:08 pm
You may select 1 option

Over Fire Island
7
MovingPictures07 (4), S~V~S (5), insertnamehere (12), Dom (13), Bass_the_Clever (14), Boogs (15), nijuukyugou (17)
41%

In Dark Trees
1
Vompatti (3)
6%

By This River
3
triceratopzeuhl (6), juliets (7), Roxy (11)
18%

Tiger Mountain
3
Snow Dog (2), Mongoose (9), Metalmarsh89 (10)
18%

China My China
1
DFaraday (16)
6%

On Some Faraway Beach
0
No votes

Staycation (Host/NP/Mod/Dead)
2
thellama73 (1), Epignosis (8)
12%


Total votes : 17

[Mongoose]

David Byrne as the non-player option? Supafrown.

[thellama73]

David Byrne as the non-player option? Supafrown.

You brought this on yourself.

[Marmot]

Sorry MP, but non-players being modkilled could ruin your strategy anyway.

[S~V~S]

Voting MP~ going with the plan unless/until something happens to disrupt it. And MM, it was INHs' strategy; MP picked up his ball and ran with it.

[Mongoose]

Sincere question -- is there a reason y'all are voting so early instead of watching how things play out over the next day?

[Vompatti]

I have hard evidence that MP is not the culprit, and I don't feel like randomizing at the moment.

[insertnamehere]

Yessss, game!

So, from looking at the roles, it looks like there is a way for everyone to win.

What about this: We only lynch Animals. This would require that the Animals reveal their team. Blank Frank and Baby's on Fire refuse to use their NK. Then, after 6 days and nights, we are left with
6 Gals, who all instantly win, 6 Fellas, who all instantly win, and 6 dead Animals, who (due to the fact that members of their team can win while dead) instantly win also.

It's a win-win-win.

Who's with me? :

REPOSTING FOR MONGOOSE AND VOMPATTI

[insertnamehere]

You know, just to show how committed I am to this and how I really think it's the best option for everyone:

I am an Animal.

Feel free to lynch me on Day 1.

That way no one else has to team claim and we can see how this plan is going to play out. I'm willing to sacrifice my life in order to pursue this.

REPOSTING FOR MONGOOSE AND VOMPATTI

[Vompatti]

Killing animals is wrong unless we eat them.

[insertnamehere]

Killing animals is wrong unless we eat them.

Can I get a Vompatti translator over here?

So, you disagree with the plan? Do you have a reason why?

[S~V~S]

Sincere question -- is there a reason y'all are voting so early instead of watching how things play out over the next day?

Did you not read the plan? Most boring Mafia game ever but everyone wins. I have my doubts, it is TOO easy (read the win con's and rules) but worth a try until someone uses their powers OR there is a modkill OR an animal doesn't volunteer.

So basically so long as someone volunteers and there are no NKs or modkills, in theory it should work.

[Mongoose]

My bad, I read the plan, but I just went back and read MP's posts -- I hadn't caught that he had outed himself as an Animal.

[Vompatti]

Killing animals is wrong unless we eat them.

Can I get a Vompatti translator over here?

So, you disagree with the plan? Do you have a reason why?

You have no proof that MP or anyone else claiming to be an animal is an animal. Ergo the plan is flawed!

[insertnamehere]

Killing animals is wrong unless we eat them.

Can I get a Vompatti translator over here?

So, you disagree with the plan? Do you have a reason why?

You have no proof that MP or anyone else claiming to be an animal is an animal. Ergo the plan is flawed!

Why would MP lie? And do you have anything better to base this lynch off of?

[S~V~S]

If MP is not an animal claiming he is would be rather a quixotic thing to do. MP may be many things, but I don';t think "quixotic" is one of them.