Post by Fleck on Oct 28, 2007 18:12:26 GMT -8
Okay, in the past few weeks we've had a lot of statistics and a lot of guesswork on what place certain teams will end up, but now it's time for people to start picking teams, stating their allegiances, and starting WARS!.... Or just politely and calmly making your picks. Your choice.
So here are, in reverse order, my picks for AFFR season 2. Since I've never watched even a single episode of the real Amazing Race, I have no idea what sort of patterns show up in certain team combinations. I'm basing this list solely on the strength of the characters and the strength of their bonds as they appeared in their respective games. Of course, this list could be entirely off, since Bob is known to take some pretty major liberties with characters and of course luck is always a factor. Thus I've put in a little plus/minus system (+/-) to kinda sorta cover my ass. The higher a team's variable, the lower I tended to put them on the list, since I prefer to err on the side of underestimating people.
12th place (+/- 1) = Garnet/Brahne:: Bringing up the ass of this season will almost certainly be the mother/daughter combo Garnet and Brahne. What makes this team failure fodder is the fact that Brahne is enormously incompetent and Garnet is probably not strong enough to pick up the slack. Yeah, last season had Strago/Relm, who are somewhat comparable to this team in certain ways, but what makes Brahne/Garnet weaker than Strago/Relm is the fact that Strago could actually do something. In the game, Brahne relies entirely on the strength of her army and her ill-gotten weapons and stolen summon monsters to do everything. In the race she will most definitely rely on Garnet and I doubt the young girl's ability to literally and figuratively carry her mother through the race. The only way they won't get cut in the first round is if one of the other teams die or fall off the planet.
11th place (+/- 2) = Zone/Watts:: Say what you want about them being "smart" or "good at planning" because they were part of a resistance group, this team is still going to suck. Being part of a resistance group and doing things that are actually helpful to a resistance group are entirely different things. Their sole purpose in FF8 was to provide some humor, and they failed even at that (unless you find stomachaches to be hilarious). These two will bumble their way through one or two legs, then inevitably get cut. If it weren't for Garnet and Brahne, they'd probably be dead last.
10th place (+/- 3) = Zell/Ma:: Yeah, I know I suggested them, but that doesn't mean that they're a GOOD suggestion. This team is kind of hard to predict because Zell's mom is an unknown variable. Yes, she never actually does anything in FF8, but that doesn't necessarily mean that she can't do anything. That's why they have a high plus/minus number. If Ma proves to be Shinra #2, then this team will make it far, based on Zell's various skills and Ma's currently unknown talents. But if she's just a typical housewife, then they'll be bringing up the rear. Zell's athleticism will probably see them through at least the first few rounds, but if Ma is unable to hold up her end, then they'll be hard pressed to break into the second half of the season.
9th place (+/- 3) = Cid/Celes:: It was hard for me to decide who should get the number 9 spot, Zell and Ma or Cid and Celes. They seem to have a lot of similar strengths and weaknesses. In the end, I decided that Cid is probably smarter than Ma, thus (maybe) compensating for his physical weakness. I also figured that Celes is smarter and more level-headed than Zell, so these two get the 9 spot by their brains, not brawn. This team could do very well, but again we have an unknown variable in Cid. I think his strength (or his weakness) will decide how far this team eventually makes it. He is a scientist, so obviously he's no idiot, and Celes could probably kick the asses of most of the other teams, so we'll just have to wait and see.
8th place (+/- 1) = Biran/Yenke:: This team will last as long as Bob still finds "Hornless!" jokes to be funny. After that, they'll do something stupid and get cut. This team has the physical side locked up, easily being the toughest and the strongest, but will probably have trouble with any puzzles more complicated than "Insult Kimahri." I don't expect much from these two except a couple of laughs. Even though I ranked them higher than Cid and Celes, I still wouldn't be surprised if Biran/Yenke got their asses handed to them by those two.
7th place (+/- 2) = Dona/Barthello:: In the game, these two almost completed the pilgrimage to defeat Sin, until they were stymied by Dona's capture by the Al Bhed, so they aren't strangers to long, difficult journeys with nothing but each other. Dona is smart enough and ruthless enough to compensate for Barthello's mental weaknesses while Barthello is strong enough to complete any physical stuff that is beyond Dona's ability. These two should easily fill in each other's shortcomings, earning them a spot in the middle of the pack, if not better. This team will do what they must to win, but I doubt they'll ever do anything bad enough to qualify as the "villain team" of AFFR2. But we'll see how Bob plays these two out.
6th place (+/- 2) = Barret/Dyne:: Dyne is yet another racer who is unproven skill-wise, (unless you count the short fight against Barret) but if we assume that Dyne is fairly on par with Barret, then this should be a good (but not great) team. They certainly have no lack of strength (check out those biceps), and while they might not be the greatest problem-solvers, they aren't vacant like Biran/Yenke. Since they're good (but not great), they will appropriately find themselves in the middle. Because of Dyne's mental instability and Barret's moral ambiguity, I see this team as a possible (and somewhat unexpected) candidate for the villains of AFFR2. I'm also curious to see if Bob uses the Bugging Sephiroth version of Barret or if he follows the game version.
5th place (+/- 2) = Freya/Fratley:: Argh! Yet another racer whom we have actually never seen in action! I'm working on the assumption that Fratley must have some major skills to be a dragon knight, but otherwise I know next to nothing about him and can't really say much about these two. Bob might have some crazy ideas for them, especially with the whole amnesia stuff, so I really have no idea what will happen. I put them in the middle just to be safe, but they could be a final three team if Fratley isn't a dumbass. Looking forward to seeing how these two work together.
4th place (+/- 1) = Reina/Faris:: Easily the two toughest girls in AFFR2, they'll have little trouble cracking the top 4-5. Each can master a bajillion job classes, ranging from physical knights and monks and stuff to more mental-based mages, so they must have a good combination of strength and intelligence. But while Faris was a pirate for a good portion of her life, I don't see this team as being ruthless enough for a win. I think they run the risk of trying to be too friendly and fair (hack cough Reina cough), and thus getting trampled by a more cutthroat team.
3rd place (+/- 2) = Cecil/Rosa:: The Steiner/Beatrix of AFFR2? We shall see. I certainly don't doubt that they're as strong (both physically and mentally) as Steiner/Beatrix, and I also feel that they have an equally strong bond. Based off this, I see them in the top four, very possibly the top three. Too bad FF4 characters don't have the most complex of personalities, otherwise I'd have more to say.
2nd place (+/- 2) = Rude/Reno:: Badasses from beginning to end, these two will rip, stomp, insult, beat up, extort, outwit, outrun, and do anything else it takes to win. They're another likely candidate for the "villain" team of AFFR2, possibly even surpassing their predecessors Auron/Jecht in evilness. Aside from a general laziness when effort isn't required and a susceptibility to alcohol, it's hard to find a chink in their proverbial armor. The only way these two aren't making the top three is if they screw up ala the Figaro brothers, or if they do something less-than-legal and get severely punished for it.
1st place (+/- 2) = Fran/Balthier:: I tried to think of weaknesses for these two and... I'm still thinking. They simply have no appreciable weaknesses. They are strong, fast, excellent fighters, skilled with the operation and repair of machinery, great navigators, great planners, ruthless when necessary, quick to adapt to change, have an excellent team bond, and are determined to win at all costs. Bob said in their bio that their weakness is cockiness, but damn it, they DESERVE to be cocky because they're just so awesome. So here they are, my pick to win, and the team I'll be rooting for throughout the race.
Just TRY to argue with these picks. I dare you.
So here are, in reverse order, my picks for AFFR season 2. Since I've never watched even a single episode of the real Amazing Race, I have no idea what sort of patterns show up in certain team combinations. I'm basing this list solely on the strength of the characters and the strength of their bonds as they appeared in their respective games. Of course, this list could be entirely off, since Bob is known to take some pretty major liberties with characters and of course luck is always a factor. Thus I've put in a little plus/minus system (+/-) to kinda sorta cover my ass. The higher a team's variable, the lower I tended to put them on the list, since I prefer to err on the side of underestimating people.
12th place (+/- 1) = Garnet/Brahne:: Bringing up the ass of this season will almost certainly be the mother/daughter combo Garnet and Brahne. What makes this team failure fodder is the fact that Brahne is enormously incompetent and Garnet is probably not strong enough to pick up the slack. Yeah, last season had Strago/Relm, who are somewhat comparable to this team in certain ways, but what makes Brahne/Garnet weaker than Strago/Relm is the fact that Strago could actually do something. In the game, Brahne relies entirely on the strength of her army and her ill-gotten weapons and stolen summon monsters to do everything. In the race she will most definitely rely on Garnet and I doubt the young girl's ability to literally and figuratively carry her mother through the race. The only way they won't get cut in the first round is if one of the other teams die or fall off the planet.
11th place (+/- 2) = Zone/Watts:: Say what you want about them being "smart" or "good at planning" because they were part of a resistance group, this team is still going to suck. Being part of a resistance group and doing things that are actually helpful to a resistance group are entirely different things. Their sole purpose in FF8 was to provide some humor, and they failed even at that (unless you find stomachaches to be hilarious). These two will bumble their way through one or two legs, then inevitably get cut. If it weren't for Garnet and Brahne, they'd probably be dead last.
10th place (+/- 3) = Zell/Ma:: Yeah, I know I suggested them, but that doesn't mean that they're a GOOD suggestion. This team is kind of hard to predict because Zell's mom is an unknown variable. Yes, she never actually does anything in FF8, but that doesn't necessarily mean that she can't do anything. That's why they have a high plus/minus number. If Ma proves to be Shinra #2, then this team will make it far, based on Zell's various skills and Ma's currently unknown talents. But if she's just a typical housewife, then they'll be bringing up the rear. Zell's athleticism will probably see them through at least the first few rounds, but if Ma is unable to hold up her end, then they'll be hard pressed to break into the second half of the season.
9th place (+/- 3) = Cid/Celes:: It was hard for me to decide who should get the number 9 spot, Zell and Ma or Cid and Celes. They seem to have a lot of similar strengths and weaknesses. In the end, I decided that Cid is probably smarter than Ma, thus (maybe) compensating for his physical weakness. I also figured that Celes is smarter and more level-headed than Zell, so these two get the 9 spot by their brains, not brawn. This team could do very well, but again we have an unknown variable in Cid. I think his strength (or his weakness) will decide how far this team eventually makes it. He is a scientist, so obviously he's no idiot, and Celes could probably kick the asses of most of the other teams, so we'll just have to wait and see.
8th place (+/- 1) = Biran/Yenke:: This team will last as long as Bob still finds "Hornless!" jokes to be funny. After that, they'll do something stupid and get cut. This team has the physical side locked up, easily being the toughest and the strongest, but will probably have trouble with any puzzles more complicated than "Insult Kimahri." I don't expect much from these two except a couple of laughs. Even though I ranked them higher than Cid and Celes, I still wouldn't be surprised if Biran/Yenke got their asses handed to them by those two.
7th place (+/- 2) = Dona/Barthello:: In the game, these two almost completed the pilgrimage to defeat Sin, until they were stymied by Dona's capture by the Al Bhed, so they aren't strangers to long, difficult journeys with nothing but each other. Dona is smart enough and ruthless enough to compensate for Barthello's mental weaknesses while Barthello is strong enough to complete any physical stuff that is beyond Dona's ability. These two should easily fill in each other's shortcomings, earning them a spot in the middle of the pack, if not better. This team will do what they must to win, but I doubt they'll ever do anything bad enough to qualify as the "villain team" of AFFR2. But we'll see how Bob plays these two out.
6th place (+/- 2) = Barret/Dyne:: Dyne is yet another racer who is unproven skill-wise, (unless you count the short fight against Barret) but if we assume that Dyne is fairly on par with Barret, then this should be a good (but not great) team. They certainly have no lack of strength (check out those biceps), and while they might not be the greatest problem-solvers, they aren't vacant like Biran/Yenke. Since they're good (but not great), they will appropriately find themselves in the middle. Because of Dyne's mental instability and Barret's moral ambiguity, I see this team as a possible (and somewhat unexpected) candidate for the villains of AFFR2. I'm also curious to see if Bob uses the Bugging Sephiroth version of Barret or if he follows the game version.
5th place (+/- 2) = Freya/Fratley:: Argh! Yet another racer whom we have actually never seen in action! I'm working on the assumption that Fratley must have some major skills to be a dragon knight, but otherwise I know next to nothing about him and can't really say much about these two. Bob might have some crazy ideas for them, especially with the whole amnesia stuff, so I really have no idea what will happen. I put them in the middle just to be safe, but they could be a final three team if Fratley isn't a dumbass. Looking forward to seeing how these two work together.
4th place (+/- 1) = Reina/Faris:: Easily the two toughest girls in AFFR2, they'll have little trouble cracking the top 4-5. Each can master a bajillion job classes, ranging from physical knights and monks and stuff to more mental-based mages, so they must have a good combination of strength and intelligence. But while Faris was a pirate for a good portion of her life, I don't see this team as being ruthless enough for a win. I think they run the risk of trying to be too friendly and fair (hack cough Reina cough), and thus getting trampled by a more cutthroat team.
3rd place (+/- 2) = Cecil/Rosa:: The Steiner/Beatrix of AFFR2? We shall see. I certainly don't doubt that they're as strong (both physically and mentally) as Steiner/Beatrix, and I also feel that they have an equally strong bond. Based off this, I see them in the top four, very possibly the top three. Too bad FF4 characters don't have the most complex of personalities, otherwise I'd have more to say.
2nd place (+/- 2) = Rude/Reno:: Badasses from beginning to end, these two will rip, stomp, insult, beat up, extort, outwit, outrun, and do anything else it takes to win. They're another likely candidate for the "villain" team of AFFR2, possibly even surpassing their predecessors Auron/Jecht in evilness. Aside from a general laziness when effort isn't required and a susceptibility to alcohol, it's hard to find a chink in their proverbial armor. The only way these two aren't making the top three is if they screw up ala the Figaro brothers, or if they do something less-than-legal and get severely punished for it.
1st place (+/- 2) = Fran/Balthier:: I tried to think of weaknesses for these two and... I'm still thinking. They simply have no appreciable weaknesses. They are strong, fast, excellent fighters, skilled with the operation and repair of machinery, great navigators, great planners, ruthless when necessary, quick to adapt to change, have an excellent team bond, and are determined to win at all costs. Bob said in their bio that their weakness is cockiness, but damn it, they DESERVE to be cocky because they're just so awesome. So here they are, my pick to win, and the team I'll be rooting for throughout the race.
Just TRY to argue with these picks. I dare you.