So lately I have been listening to more podcasts on Survivor. I've been trying to find a few that focus on the game theory aspect, as opposed to just the entertainment side of things. The Dom and Colin podcast is the one that has been the best for me. They really are focusing on when can be and what should be the most rational, self interested move.
One moment that really defines this specifically in Survivor lore is the final 6 tribal council in Blood Vs. Water. In the case of a tie vote, there is a revote. The people who received equal number of votes are unable to vote and every other person must vote between those two people. If the votes are still tied afterward, then everyone must "draw rocks." The people who received the tie votes are immune (in addition to the person who won the immunity challenge) and everyone else must draw the rocks. The person who draws the different colored rock is out. People always say they would never do this because it leaves your hands to fate as opposed to guaranteeing 3 more days in the game by merely switching your vote. But at this tribal council, every single person drew rocks because they reused to switch their vote, and had a 33% chance of randomly drawing the bad rock. This was absolutely the right move for everyone though because if they had not gone to rocks, one alliance would have systematically eliminated the other alliance and the person who flipped their vote would be guaranteed to be eliminated right before the finals. SO you are extending your stay by 3 days, but guaranteeing a 100% chance of being eliminated before the finals, wheras by drawing the rocks you stand a 33% chance of being eliminated that day, but if you wind up on top, and the other alliance draws the bad rock, you stand a 100% chance of making the finals.
It is always about playing the odds and playing to win, not about playing to extend your Survivor stay by 3 more days.
No comments:
Post a Comment