My Votes in Each Round of Survivor 50's Fan Voting

Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans (Lame title, IMO) has started its online voting as they're going to allow fans to have an impact on certain game elements.  A lot are cosmetic, but some will impact how the showrunners and producers run the game.  Here are the rounds and votes so far, what I said for each, and why.  

ROUND 1

Rice or no rice?  

I said: Rice

I think Survivors play a more intelligent and well-thought-out game when they aren't nearly starving to death.  Operation Italy doesn't happen in 47 without the food reward.  Give them rice, I say.  Yes, I like Survivor to be tough, but this still allows the game to be tough.  They had rice in S2: The Australian Outback, one of the toughest seasons.  It also adds a potential layer of drama with someone maybe eating too much rice, them using up too much too soon, or someone not cooking the rice well.  

Forced Fire-Making at Final 4?

I said: No Fire-Making

I wish Jeff understood that by introducing Final 4 Firemaking, it only made it so that the threats were taken out even sooner, and we got less time with them.  Some say Ben only won HHH because of this, but I say he only won it because of all the idols he kept finding.  So if Jeff wants big names like Ben to get to the end, allow Idols to be good through the Final 4.  Also, if you're a good enough player, you can stay under the radar, and you'll be a part of the majority at Final 4.  Allow firemaking if there's a deadlock at Final 4, sure, but let them have a chance to vote first.  

Live Reunion in Los Angeles or Fiji Aftershow?

I said: Live Reunion in Los Angeles

This is a no-brainer.  The Fiji aftershow is downright cruel to the final tribal council losers.  At least give them time to reflect on their game and prepare themselves for what to say if they lose.  Plus, the live reunion allows us to get all players in on it, not just the ones who made the jury.  I'm tired of the pre-jurors getting snubbed.  

Tribe Colors

I said: Orange, Teal, and Purple

First off, *sigh*, it looks like it's going to be another three tribe season.  No way one of the three is the merge tribe.  Anyway, it was between this and Blue, Orange, and Green for me.  I chose the one I did because we don't see teal enough as a tribe color.  But the remaining two options each contained colors that have been used 3+ times in the New Era.  My second choice would've been Blue, Orange, and Green, because those are my three favorite colors.  I guess I'd also be okay with Red, Green, and Yellow, since those were the colors in the first returning player season ever (All-Stars, Season 8), so it would pay homage to that.

ROUND 2

Final 4 Challenge

I said: Simmotion

What can I say, I love Simmotion.  If you don't know, it's the one where you have to constantly catch the balls out of the chutes and put them back on top as they make their way down a mechanism, and you slowly add more balls to it, increasing the difficulty.  It really does a good job of showing which Survivors still have the best focus in the game.  Plus, it's a classic going back to (at least) S18: Tocantins.  I decided against the Final 4 challenge from 46 because pre-game alliances could affect whether someone decides to help another player here.  They could abandon their puzzle and help the other player know when to catch their ball.  I don't think people want to see that.  The third option looked way too similar to dozens of other new era challenges: an obstacle course with a puzzle at the end.  Easy one to rule out.  

Advantages: How much power?

I said: Minimal power

There is a fine line between too many advantages and not enough.  I think the consensus on it is less than what Jeff and production think, which is why I chose "minimal" power.  Also, let the players play.  They will be legends of the game, after all.  And yes, a lot of great game moments have come from an idol or advantage being involved, but typically not multiple, and typically it's a situation not too convoluted or complex to understand.  Lastly, there's a good chance a lot of viewers will be returning to the show for the first time in years, likely due to a returning player they like, so they really shouldn't overcomplicate the game for anyone returning after not watching the past dozen seasons or more.  

Tribe Swap or No Tribe Swap?

I said: Tribe Swap

This one I debated on.  I don't like how the showrunners have only used a tribe swap when a tribe has struggled in the New Era.  It should be more random.  If they keep it up, players may throw a challenge to avoid a tribe swap.  But maybe they want that.  Anyway, tribe swaps add a layer of complexity to the game, and especially for a returning player season, we will want to see as many interactions between players as possible.  If this were a newbie season we were voting on, I'd likely say "no swap" since I like to see tribal lines tested, not blurred.  But again, returning player season.  Got to have as many interactions as possible.

ROUND 3

Immunity Necklace Design

I said: Option B (Bird and wingspan make up half of the necklace)

Option A isn't bad, but minus the bird emblem, it looks like dozens of other immunity necklaces.  Option B, however, is pretty sick.  The literal wingspan of the bird makes up half the necklace.  You would look like you literally have a mythical bird on your chest when wearing it.  Whereas the other one is relegated to a round emblem on the bottom of it.  

Tribe Supplies

I said: Give them Tribe Supplies

This goes with the rice, so I'm sure people will typically have the same answer for this as they did for rice.  I said to give them supplies.  The "sweat vs. savvy" and the one-on-ones in recent seasons have been underwhelming and a waste of time, frankly.  Don't make whether or not they have a pot or machete yet or flint a part of the game.  Let the players be the focus.  Also, why even have this be a part of the game if they don't even bother to show the tribes struggling when they don't have supplies?

Twists

I said: Keep them straightforward/rare

I'm a big fan of old school Survivor.  New School has had its fun with twists, but I fear introducing twists could leave older players in the dust, strategically.  Like in Winners at War, I don't want to see all the old school players go early.  Give them a chance.  Keep the game simple and give them a chance to run their game without having twists they wouldn't have had to worry about on their original season(s). 

ROUND 4

Idols or No Idols?

I said: No Idols

A bit disappointing this final round of voting only had one thing for us to vote on.  I voted "No Idols", but I could've been convinced to vote the other way.  I voted "No Idols" to basically spite Jeff and the producers.  The way they word some of these, they think we can't have a good season of Survivor anymore without a bunch of twists and idols and advantages.  But here's the other thing: I'd rather have a season with no idols than a season with too many idols.  I think this vote will be a bit close and I ultimately think there being Idols will win, but I just wanted to show Jeff and production more of us want a less twist and Idol-heavy season than he may think.