[FF]: 2016 Season Long Fantasy FIRST

[EricH]

With the passing of another IRI into the record websites, it’s time for another season of Fantasy FIRST! If more season long leagues crop up, we will use "Traditional"; otherwise, this is the only SLFF around. Sign on up... but make sure you've got the time!

We'll make this "quick hit" of the rules very fast: Miss 6 drafts (nominally 3 days, but we'll see how the schedule works out) in a row, you get one warning. Ignore the warning, you're out of the league and your teams are up for grabs! Speaking of teams, you get up to 5 players per team playing this game. Trades between playing teams are allowed if everybody agrees to the terms.

Drafting schedule is still to be worked out--I'm just getting started on that with existing events--but plan on starting right after Thanksgiving with 1-2 drafts/day, ending right before Kickoff.

As happened last year, all the district areas will get their own block draft at the end of the drafting season. So far, that's MI, MAR, NE, IN, PNW, GA, and Chesapeake--along with whoever ELSE decides to go that route for 2016!

Full rules are located at http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2574 (Updated to reflect changes noted above, and clarify a couple of items in the scoring section.)

And, as usual, I'm looking for some volunteers to help run the drafts and score everything... more details to come as we get closer to draft start.


1. Falcon (EricH)
2.

[orangemoore]

1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore)


Also, I can run some drafts.

[BrennanB]

1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore)
3. The Breakfast Company (BrennanB, JosephC, jlmcmchl) *Would love to fill up the team

[bam-bam]

I'm not interested in making a team for this upcoming season, but I am willing to put some time into the scoring portion and help take some load off of some of the members here.

[EricH]

Just as an FYI for anybody considering draft running: I am planning to retool the spreadsheet. There are a number of bugs that I've found running around--I intend to spend some evenings in "bug-squashing" activities--then maybe try to sneak a feature or two in there for easier running of extra rounds in the drafts. (The latter, I don't guarantee any success on...)

[Koko Ed]

1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore)
3. The Breakfast Company (BrennanB, JosephC, jlmcmchl) *Would love to fill up the team
4. Koko's X-Cats.



I am no longer working straight nights so I can give almost all of my attention to running drafts.

[Giantwalker]

1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore)
3. The Breakfast Company (BrennanB, JosephC, jlmcmchl) *Would love to fill up the team
4. Koko's X-Cats.
5. Broconnor (Giantwalker, vikesrock777)

[thatprogrammer]

1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore)
3. The Breakfast Company (BrennanB, JosephC, jlmcmchl) *Would love to fill up the team
4. Koko's X-Cats.
5. Broconnor (Giantwalker, vikesrock777)
6. Team Sunshine (Thatprogramme) *pm me if interested

[Anupam Goli]

1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore)
3. The Breakfast Company (BrennanB, JosephC, jlmcmchl)
4. Koko's X-Cats.
5. Broconnor (Giantwalker, vikesrock777)
6. Team Sunshine (Thatprogramme)
7. Rotten Fruit Alliance (Anupam Goli, ghostmachine360, ttldomination, Navid Shafa, Dave McLaughlin)

[BrennanB]

1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore)
3. The Breakfast Company (BrennanB, JosephC, jlmcmchl)
4. Koko's X-Cats.
5. Broconnor (Giantwalker, vikesrock777)
6. Team Sunshine (Thatprogramme)
7. Rotten Fruit Alliance (Anupam Goli, ghostmachine360, ttldomination, Navid Shafa, Dave McLaughlin)

No moar peaches! :ahh:

[Koko Ed]

Nikeairmancurry is joining Koko's X-Cats.

[Koko Ed]

1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore)
3. The Breakfast Company (BrennanB, JosephC, jlmcmchl)
4. Koko's X-Cats (Koko Ed, Nikeairmancurry).
5. Broconnor (Giantwalker, vikesrock777)
6. Team Sunshine (Thatprogramme)
7. Rotten Fruit Alliance (Anupam Goli, ghostmachine360, ttldomination, Navid Shafa, Dave McLaughlin)

[Anupam Goli]

No moar peaches! :ahh:

Peaches will always be with you.

[g_sawchuk]

1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore)
3. The Breakfast Company (BrennanB, JosephC, jlmcmchl)
4. Koko's X-Cats (Koko Ed, Nikeairmancurry).
5. Broconnor (Giantwalker, vikesrock777)
6. Team Sunshine (Thatprogramme)
7. Rotten Fruit Alliance (Anupam Goli, ghostmachine360, ttldomination, Navid Shafa, Dave McLaughlin)
7. Untitled 1 (GrifBot, Rishika (CD Account to come), Alev (CD Account to come)) Would love 2 more members, PM me if you're interested.

[Anthony Galea]

1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore)
3. The Breakfast Company (BrennanB, JosephC, jlmcmchl)
4. Koko's X-Cats (Koko Ed, Nikeairmancurry).
5. Broconnor (Giantwalker, vikesrock777)
6. Team Sunshine (Thatprogramme)
7. Rotten Fruit Alliance (Anupam Goli, ghostmachine360, ttldomination, Navid Shafa, Dave McLaughlin)
8. Untitled 1 (GrifBot, Rishika (CD Account to come), Alev (CD Account to come)) Would love 2 more members, PM me if you're interested.
9. The ULCAN (umer936, LlNUX, Allgoodthehood, 3175student17, hawktomatoes)

[EricH]

I do have a *couple* quick notes as far as drafting schedule goes.

1) In general, we'll be going in order of competition week. That means that Palmetto (0.5) and "TBD Week 1 Regional" will be first up, the day after Thanksgiving.

2) I do plan to try to sneak a few off-days in if I can. As in, no draft that day unless whoever is running the one(s) for the next night decides to open early. This is heavily dependent on how many events we have to fill the 82 possible draft slots. Christmas and New Year's Eve are already planned as off; Christmas Eve and New Year's Day are the next likely candidates for some unknown reason.

3) Those off days will come at the "expense" of single-draft nights--plan on 2-draft nights all season.

4) I'll be putting the schedule up as a Google sheet, when it's ready to go.

[MARS_James]

1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore)
3. The Breakfast Company (BrennanB, JosephC, jlmcmchl)
4. Koko's X-Cats (Koko Ed, Nikeairmancurry).
5. Broconnor (Giantwalker, vikesrock777)
6. Team Sunshine (Thatprogramme)
7. Rotten Fruit Alliance (Anupam Goli, ghostmachine360, ttldomination, Navid Shafa, Dave McLaughlin)
8. Untitled 1 (GrifBot, Rishika (CD Account to come), Alev (CD Account to come)) Would love 2 more members, PM me if you're interested.
9. The ULCAN (umer936, LlNUX, Allgoodthehood, 3175student17, hawktomatoes)
10. Swamp Life (MARS_James)

[BrennanB]

1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore)
3. The Breakfast Company (BrennanB, JosephC, jlmcmchl, mlantry, Wired_Mike)
4. Koko's X-Cats (Koko Ed, Nikeairmancurry).
5. Broconnor (Giantwalker, vikesrock777)
6. Team Sunshine (Thatprogramme)
7. Rotten Fruit Alliance (Anupam Goli, ghostmachine360, ttldomination, Navid Shafa, Dave McLaughlin)
8. Untitled 1 (GrifBot, Rishika (CD Account to come), Alev (CD Account to come)) Would love 2 more members, PM me if you're interested.
9. The ULCAN (umer936, LlNUX, Allgoodthehood, 3175student17, hawktomatoes)
10. Swamp Life (MARS_James)

[EricH]

Now that we know what areas are going district...

We might actually have FEWER drafts than last year (which hasn't happened in quite a while). New regionals Iowa and Rocket City take two of the three drafts made available by Chesapeake (-2), North Carolina (0), and Peachtree (-1). New regional Orange County is replacing Inland Empire; Arizona North replaces Arizona East. So far we're at -1 from last year.

By my count, we currently have 41 regional events and 12-13 district block draft days to fill 82 possible draft slots (2/day). But, I'm sure there are more regionals coming in the next few weeks, so I won't release any draft schedules yet.

[Zaque]

1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore)
3. The Breakfast Company (BrennanB, JosephC, jlmcmchl, mlantry, Wired_Mike)
4. Koko's X-Cats (Koko Ed, Nikeairmancurry).
5. Broconnor (Giantwalker, vikesrock777)
6. Team Sunshine (Thatprogramme)
7. Rotten Fruit Alliance (Anupam Goli, ghostmachine360, ttldomination, Navid Shafa, Dave McLaughlin)
8. Untitled 1 (GrifBot, Rishika (CD Account to come), Alev (CD Account to come)) Would love 2 more members, PM me if you're interested.
9. The ULCAN (umer936, LlNUX, Allgoodthehood, 3175student17, hawktomatoes)
10. Swamp Life (MARS_James)
11. Bobo Brigade (Zaque)

[EricH]

*scratches head* Where did all this empty space in the draft drafting calendar come from?

At this point, we've got 66/82 drafting spots filled (one is a placeholder just in case the district has enough teams to warrant a second day of drafting). I'm going to hold off on releasing until registration for the regionals starts later this week--partly to figure out how to fill all these here holes, and partly just in case somebody decides to put a regional on the calendar late in some out-of-the-way location.

BTW, I do plan on running two-a-day drafts right through--but there should also be plenty of no-draft days scattered around. Weekends look like a prime target for no-draft days right now, as do days around holidays* for some reason totally unrelated to the holiday being there that I can't put my finger on quite yet.

*Kickoff counts as a holiday, right?

[Koko Ed]

So it looks like there will be 124 official events with 53 of them being regionals.

[Koko Ed]

*scratches head* Where did all this empty space in the draft drafting calendar come from?

At this point, we've got 66/82 drafting spots filled (one is a placeholder just in case the district has enough teams to warrant a second day of drafting). I'm going to hold off on releasing until registration for the regionals starts later this week--partly to figure out how to fill all these here holes, and partly just in case somebody decides to put a regional on the calendar late in some out-of-the-way location.

BTW, I do plan on running two-a-day drafts right through--but there should also be plenty of no-draft days scattered around. Weekends look like a prime target for no-draft days right now, as do days around holidays* for some reason totally unrelated to the holiday being there that I can't put my finger on quite yet.

*Kickoff counts as a holiday, right?
What spreadsheet?

[EricH]

What spreadsheet?

Hasn't been released yet; still on my computer (not GDocs yet). I'll try to get to that tonight or tomorrow--checking that all the events match the FIRST site--and will post a link when it's ready.

53 regional drafts, plus 7 district block drafts (5 2-day, 3 1-day, off the top of my head) gets 66 draft spots; the calendar says we've got space for 82.

[EricH]

The drafting schedule is now posted. See link.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-UItQm4bouwKWyS88iKqCNegZ6sxVKEtMZdErWSJin8/edit?usp=sharing


Now, there's a couple of notes I'd like to make:
--You may notice that there are columns for the draft runner. If you're interested in running a particular draft, put your name in the slot right next to it. The more holes we have, the more volunteer calls I make.
--You may also notice that there are a lot of gaps in the schedule. On those nights, there may be a draft open, but it'll be the draft for the next night. This is so we can all take this rare thing called "a night off", which shortly after the drafting season we won't have at all. It's also some cushion--in case something happens and somebody can't run a draft, we've got the option to move the draft into those break nights instead of running a three-a-day.

[orangemoore]

The drafting schedule is now posted. See link.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-UItQm4bouwKWyS88iKqCNegZ6sxVKEtMZdErWSJin8/edit?usp=sharing


Now, there's a couple of notes I'd like to make:
--You may notice that there are columns for the draft runner. If you're interested in running a particular draft, put your name in the slot right next to it. The more holes we have, the more volunteer calls I make.
--You may also notice that there are a lot of gaps in the schedule. On those nights, there may be a draft open, but it'll be the draft for the next night. This is so we can all take this rare thing called "a night off", which shortly after the drafting season we won't have at all. It's also some cushion--in case something happens and somebody can't run a draft, we've got the option to move the draft into those break nights instead of running a three-a-day.

Draft Running Spots are filling Fast! :D

Currently 40/66 spots are filled.
I put in all the drafts I want to do/can do. If you wanted to draft a specific event and I took it shoot me a PM and I probably would be willing to take the other draft that night.

(I should be available for the drafts I took barring any schedule change that robotics makes. )

[orangemoore]

The Smoky Mountain Regional seemed to disappear from the document between edits. I added it back on to the document in the spot it was.

[Koko Ed]

The Smoky Mountain Regional seemed to disappear from the document between edits. I added it back on to the document in the spot it was.

my bad.

[bam-bam]

I filled in for every date that is not 12/1 to 12/15. Up to 62/66 now.

As far as I'm aware, drafts had changed slightly last year, so I'll need to get up to speed before 11/29. It takes place at 7:00 pm, right?

[EricH]

I filled in for every date that is not 12/1 to 12/15. Up to 62/66 now.

As far as I'm aware, drafts had changed slightly last year, so I'll need to get up to speed before 11/29. It takes place at 7:00 pm, right?

7 PM Eastern (6 PM Central, 5 PM Mountain, 4 PM Pacific), unless otherwise announced. I don't think we'll need to adjust any times this year, but if we do we'll try to keep it under an hour in either direction.


Last year was me buying some time (I get home at about 4 PM Pacific--depends on how fast I can get out the door from work).

[g_sawchuk]

Team Sunshine and Untitled 1 are merging into one team: FIRST Pick.
1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore)
3. The Breakfast Company (BrennanB, JosephC, jlmcmchl, mlantry, Wired_Mike)
4. Koko's X-Cats (Koko Ed, Nikeairmancurry).
5. Broconnor (Giantwalker, vikesrock777)
6. FIRST Pick (GrifBot, Thatprogramme)
7. Rotten Fruit Alliance (Anupam Goli, ghostmachine360, ttldomination, Navid Shafa, Dave McLaughlin)
8. The ULCAN (umer936, LlNUX, Allgoodthehood, 3175student17, hawktomatoes)
9. Swamp Life (MARS_James)
10. Bobo Brigade (Zaque)

[Caleb McCune]

1. The PVC Pirates (Team 1058)
2. BOB (Team 319)
3. Windham Windup (Team 3467)

[Koko Ed]

1. The PVC Pirates (Team 1058)
2. BOB (Team 319)
3. Windham Windup (Team 3467)

What is this?

[EricH]

What is this?

Not a valid pick, that's for sure. Maybe a pickLIST for the NE block draft in January...

[EricH]

Quick status update: a bit over one month until drafting begins, and we've only got two events that still need someone to run them. And, we've still got plenty of time.

If I remember, I'll release a slightly-updated version of the draft-running sheet sometime this week. I can't guarantee no bugs (trust me, there are a few improvements to be made), but once the sheet is released, I'm betting that's nothing a few mock drafts can't find for fixing. I've got a couple of (hopefully) minor coding tweaks that might increase performance significantly... or create more headaches, not sure which.

[EricH]

For anybody interested, I've released the aforementioned update to the draft running sheet (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/3042).

[Broboraider]

is it too late to join as a new team?

[Anupam Goli]

is it too late to join as a new team?
Nope, but do be advised that you may want to play with a few team members. This version of Fantasy FIRST takes a big time commitment, and you're booted from the league if you miss 6 drafts in a row.

[EricH]

Nope, but do be advised that you may want to play with a few team members. This version of Fantasy FIRST takes a big time commitment, and you're booted from the league if you miss 6 drafts in a row.

That's right. We're accepting new players right up until Thanksgiving. And playing solo is fine... but remember the time commitment. I'm fairly sure I'm the only player to play solo in every single season of FF... let's just go with "evenings are FF time" during drafting season.

[orangemoore]

That's right. We're accepting new players right up until Thanksgiving. And playing solo is fine... but remember the time commitment. I'm fairly sure I'm the only player to play solo in every single season of FF... let's just go with "evenings are FF time" during drafting season.

Going solo isn't impossible depending on how much time you are willing to spend on it.

If anyone is interested in joining my team I would totally be up for it.

[Jay O'Donnell]

What is this?

It's a freshman Ed!

[Koko Ed]

It's a freshman Ed!
Ah! You should guide the freshman to the proper team to participate on so he can get proper exposure to Fantasy FIRST.

[orangemoore]

FYI I had to pull myself off an event on December 5th because of robotics commitments.

[Jay O'Donnell]

Ah! You should guide the freshman to the proper team to participate on so he can get proper exposure to Fantasy FIRST.

Unfortunately LTown won't be returning this year for him to be on.

[EricH]

FYI I had to pull myself off an event on December 5th because of robotics commitments.

Oh, the irony.

[tindleroot]

Are any teams still accepting/looking for another member? I would love to join a team but I will not be available too much, especially when exam week approaches in December.

[EricH]

Here's the current team list. The Breakfast Company, Rotten Fruit Alliance, and The ULCAN are full; Falcon isn't taking anyone else.

You may want to PM Broboraider and see if he's interested.


1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore)
3. The Breakfast Company (BrennanB, JosephC, jlmcmchl, mlantry, Wired_Mike)
4. Koko's X-Cats (Koko Ed, Nikeairmancurry).
5. Broconnor (Giantwalker, vikesrock777)
6. FIRST Pick (GrifBot, Thatprogramme)
7. Rotten Fruit Alliance (Anupam Goli, ghostmachine360, ttldomination, Navid Shafa, Dave McLaughlin)
8. The ULCAN (umer936, LlNUX, Allgoodthehood, 3175student17, hawktomatoes)
9. Swamp Life (MARS_James)
10. Bobo Brigade (Zaque)

[EricH]

As an FYI, I realized that another commitment will most likely take me off of all the Saturday drafts I'm signed up for. I could run those earlier or way later... but why do that when we don't have to? 11/28, 12/5, 12/12, and the first half of the MAR block draft on 1/2 are affected; I've highlighted them in yellow if anybody wants to take them (along with the other 12/5 spot needing a draft runner).

[JosephC]

Whens a good time to start sending lists in?

[EricH]

Whens a good time to start sending lists in?

Let's call it Thanksgiving week (starting the Sunday before Thanksgiving).

[orangemoore]

Are any teams still accepting/looking for another member? I would love to join a team but I will not be available too much, especially when exam week approaches in December.
If you still need a team I would love for another person.

[g_sawchuk]

1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore)
3. The Breakfast Company (BrennanB, JosephC, jlmcmchl, mlantry, Wired_Mike)
4. Koko's X-Cats (Koko Ed, Nikeairmancurry).
5. Broconnor (Giantwalker, vikesrock777)
6. FIRST Pick (GrifBot, Thatprogramme, tindleroot)
7. Rotten Fruit Alliance (Anupam Goli, ghostmachine360, ttldomination, Navid Shafa, Dave McLaughlin)
8. The ULCAN (umer936, LlNUX, Allgoodthehood, 3175student17, hawktomatoes)
9. Swamp Life (MARS_James)
10. Bobo Brigade (Zaque)

Adding a new member to our team.

[Navid Shafa]

The drafting schedule is now posted. See link.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-UItQm4bouwKWyS88iKqCNegZ6sxVKEtMZdErWSJin8/edit?usp=sharing



Is this shaping up to be the final* schedule?

*Tentative

[EricH]

Is this shaping up to be the final* schedule?

*Tentative

Looks like it is. There are some holes that need filling--I'm considering moving the 12/5 drafts to 12/7 if someone doesn't step up to run those--but for the most part this is the final schedule. I haven't heard of anybody trying to add a last-second regional.

[orangemoore]

Looks like it is. There are some holes that need filling--I'm considering moving the 12/5 drafts to 12/7 if someone doesn't step up to run those--but for the most part this is the final schedule. I haven't heard of anybody trying to add a last-second regional.

I can run a draft on the 7th but not the 5th.

[Navid Shafa]

I can run a draft on the 7th but not the 5th.

I'll take the 5th.

[BrennanB]

Looks like it is. There are some holes that need filling--I'm considering moving the 12/5 drafts to 12/7 if someone doesn't step up to run those--but for the most part this is the final schedule. I haven't heard of anybody trying to add a last-second regional.

I can likely fill in, just trying to work out my schedule.

[JosephC]

I can likely fill in, just trying to work out my schedule.

Same

[Navid Shafa]

Which districts/events are slated to be broken up into tiers?

Edit: Just asking because having 17 drafters last year made random seed order for districts pretty brutal

[EricH]

Which districts/events are slated to be broken up into tiers?

Edit: Just asking because having 17 drafters last year made random seed order for districts pretty brutal

At this point, Idaho (24 teams) is the only one I can think of offhand. MOST events will have 30+ teams, and so far, there are only 10 teams playing, so that's 3/team with one tier.

We don't "slate" events to be broken into tiers--if the number of teams is less than the number of players*3 (and I can't recall for sure, but I want to say that it's actually (# of players * 3) + 1, to allow for somebody dropping out), the players are randomized and then broken into 2 or more tiers. However, that's determined when the draft is set up (because you never know, several teams might suddenly add or drop). Otherwise, it's just wherever you land.


Draft runners may want to run some extra rounds of randomizing, their choice... Or not. I may or may not know anything about occasionally doing an extra couple of rounds because somebody was at the top for the umpteenth time, or was not near the top and hadn't been for a while, and I certainly may or may not know anything about why the program randomizes no fewer than three times before generating the random list of players for each draft...:rolleyes:

[Navid Shafa]

Makes sense. As long as it's not a 17 person draft, I can deal with it. :p

Draft runners may want to run some extra rounds of randomizing, their choice... Or not. I may or may not know anything about occasionally doing an extra couple of rounds because somebody was at the top for the umpteenth time, or was not near the top and hadn't been for a while, and I certainly may or may not know anything about why the program randomizes no fewer than three times before generating the random list of players for each draft...:rolleyes:

Uhhh

[EricH]

Uhhh;) Usually I only even think about doing that if it's been really obvious that someone is in a "favored" spot with the randomizer. Doesn't happen often.

The program part was because apparently Excel likes to set a particular random number as the first one, every time it wakes up, and THEN randomize it, so that's just to clear out the initial random number. For a while we had one particular player as the starter unless the runners re-ran the setup. That's when I added that in.

[Broboraider]

Going solo isn't impossible depending on how much time you are willing to spend on it.

If anyone is interested in joining my team I would totally be up for it.

I would be interested in joining your team. PM me if you want to work together

[EricH]

I have to take myself off of drafts for the first couple of weeks. I will have limited computer access due to my laptop screen going out. (I'm using an external monitor to write this--you have no idea how sore my neck is getting!)

Palmetto, Pittsburgh, Israel, and Arizona North need coverage. I've flagged them in red on the GDoc.

Hopefully I can get a repair done/new computer within that timeframe, and cover the rest of my slots.

[ttldomination]

Eric,

I can, at least, cover Palmetto.

I have the resources for running a draft, is there somewhere that I need to submit the final picks and stuff?

- Sunny G.

[EricH]

Eric,

I can, at least, cover Palmetto.

I have the resources for running a draft, is there somewhere that I need to submit the final picks and stuff?

- Sunny G.

Haven't made that yet. Last year we just used a google sheet with the players and picks, arranged in blocks by event. I'll have to see if I can find a link.

[Rangel(kf7fdb)]

Not sure if it's too late to join a team yet but if anyone needs a member who is an expert on teams in the southwest then I'm your guy. As for other regions, I know who most of the top teams are around North America by number and name. Let me know in thread or PM me if you want me on your team.

[orangemoore]

1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore, mastachyra, Rangel(kf7fdb))
3. The Breakfast Company (BrennanB, JosephC, jlmcmchl, mlantry, Wired_Mike)
4. Koko's X-Cats (Koko Ed, Nikeairmancurry).
5. Broconnor (Giantwalker, vikesrock777)
6. FIRST Pick (GrifBot, Thatprogramme)
7. Rotten Fruit Alliance (Anupam Goli, ghostmachine360, ttldomination, Navid Shafa, Dave McLaughlin)
8. The ULCAN (umer936, LlNUX, Allgoodthehood, 3175student17, hawktomatoes)
9. Swamp Life (MARS_James)
10. Bobo Brigade (Zaque)

Adding a member to the team.

[ttldomination]

Eric,

I can also cover Northern Lights tomorrow.

- Sunny G.

[orangemoore]

FYI,
So Far Bobo Brigade has missed all 4 drafts of the season.

[EricH]

FYI,
So Far Bobo Brigade has missed all 4 drafts of the season.

Which means that if they don't show up tomorrow, for either draft, the PMs and public warnings start flying.


FYI, I should be (mostly) back in draft-running form after tomorrow. Still getting the computer situation squared away, but it's getting there.

[Navid Shafa]

FYI,
So Far Bobo Brigade has missed all 4 drafts of the season.

Make that 6 as of tonight.

[EricH]

Make that 6 as of tonight.

And a warning PM has been sent. Tomorrow night's draft runners will need to be keeping an eye out.

[EricH]

Hopefully I can get a repair done/new computer within that timeframe, and cover the rest of my slots.
Welp, have computer, and am setting up the Pittsburgh draft. We'll see how this goes...

[orangemoore]

1. Falcon (EricH)
2. OrangeJuice (orangemoore, mastachyra, Rangel(kf7fdb), Broboraider)
3. The Breakfast Company (BrennanB, JosephC, jlmcmchl, mlantry, Wired_Mike)
4. Koko's X-Cats (Koko Ed, Nikeairmancurry).
5. Broconnor (Giantwalker, vikesrock777)
6. FIRST Pick (GrifBot, Thatprogramme)
7. Rotten Fruit Alliance (Anupam Goli, ghostmachine360, ttldomination, Navid Shafa, Dave McLaughlin)
8. The ULCAN (umer936, LlNUX, Allgoodthehood, 3175student17, hawktomatoes)
9. Swamp Life (MARS_James)
10. Bobo Brigade (Zaque)

Adding one last member to the team. I cleared this with EricH already (if anyone was wondering).

[bam-bam]

So.....

Mark me down for one absence on my part of the San Diego draft. I'm very, very embarassed on missing this draft entirely. I get the whole thing set up and going, and then I completely forget about it today. It's 100% on me.

Thank you to those who took over the draft today. It's a bit difficult taking over someone else on the fly a lot of times in FF.

I won't miss anymore from this point on.

[EricH]

And a warning PM has been sent. Tomorrow night's draft runners will need to be keeping an eye out.


And we've avoided the first boot of the season. Bobo Brigade has sent a list for Pittsburgh.

[orangemoore]

And we've avoided the first boot of the season. Bobo Brigade has sent a list for Pittsburgh.

And LA

[EricH]

Just as a reminder, tomorrow (12/1) is an off day as far as drafts are concerned. Of course, if there's a draft up, feel free to make a pick if it's your turn.

And, for what I think is the first time ever, we haven't issued a boot at the first opportunity! All players have checked in at least once.

[EricH]

Folks, we seem to have a slight problem. And it's not on our end, it's on FIRST's end.

Very simply, the FRCLinks method of getting the team lists goes to the older version of the site. The older version and the newer version are not always in sync. So, we've had some picks that are rejected because they aren't on the newer version.


Until further notice (or FRCLinks updates their links to the new pages), we will be using the NEW page for event team lists. If someone claims a team using the OLD list (and the team isn't shown on the NEW list), we will consider that an invalid claim until the NEW list is updated. If you post in the thread that such-and-such a team is on the OLD list, we'll play the waiver game* at a later time.**

*Waiver game: Teams that become available after a draft are "waiver" teams. Because I'm lazy, the priority this year will be reverse order of signup to start with. Highest priority to make a claim gets the team, as long as the claim is made within 3 days from the first claim being made.

**Palmetto gets a grandfather clause, and maintains current status.

[ttldomination]

Until further notice (or FRCLinks updates their links to the new pages), we will be using the NEW page for event team lists.

*sigh*

This decision is fine (we needed a call sooner or later), but it's worth mentioning that as of right now, it's an absolute pain in the $@#$@#$@# to automatically import a reliable team list...

...that is to say that TBA isn't a reliable source, FIRST API won't have 2016 data until the 2016 season starts, USFIRST is apparently out of date, and firstinspires is (currently) remarkably difficult to extract data from.

I'm not really expecting you to do anything, just my little rant.
- Sunny G.

[EricH]

*sigh*

This decision is fine (we needed a call sooner or later), but it's worth mentioning that as of right now, it's an absolute pain in the $@#$@#$@# to automatically import a reliable team list...

...that is to say that TBA isn't a reliable source, FIRST API won't have 2016 data until the 2016 season starts, USFIRST is apparently out of date, and firstinspires is (currently) remarkably difficult to extract data from.

I'm not really expecting you to do anything, just my little rant.
- Sunny G.
I'm not particularly happy either.

When I manage to get some time (probably Wednesday or so) I plan to leave a note in FIRST's site feedback calling attention to the discrepancies. It's on their end, therefore it's their problem.

[orangemoore]

*sigh*

This decision is fine (we needed a call sooner or later), but it's worth mentioning that as of right now, it's an absolute pain in the $@#$@#$@# to automatically import a reliable team list...

...that is to say that TBA isn't a reliable source, FIRST API won't have 2016 data until the 2016 season starts, USFIRST is apparently out of date, and firstinspires is (currently) remarkably difficult to extract data from.

I'm not really expecting you to do anything, just my little rant.
- Sunny G.

The easiest way I have found to import teams for drafts is going to this page:
1)http://www.firstinspires.org/team-event-search

2)Finding the event (which is a lot faster on the new website)

3)Then copying the team information table and pasting it into excel. For me it creates a single column of cells with all of the data.

4)The last step is to sort the data from A-Z which puts the teams in order and all at the top.

[orangemoore]

I'm not particularly happy either.

When I manage to get some time (probably Wednesday or so) I plan to leave a note in FIRST's site feedback calling attention to the discrepancies. It's on their end, therefore it's their problem.

Sidenote to this:
I think I found an error in the draft assistant. When I have had drafts with large numbers of teams the bottom row doesn't seem to clear when a team is picked from it.

[EricH]

Sidenote to this:
I think I found an error in the draft assistant. When I have had drafts with large numbers of teams the bottom row doesn't seem to clear when a team is picked from it.
I noticed that as well, it seems that it doesn't handle edge cases (ends of lines included). I'll take a look later in the week, maybe Thursday. Thought I'd cleared that but maybe I confused it instead.

[Navid Shafa]

‘Randomized’ Seeding in Fantasy FIRST Drafts

Issue:
Seeding order assigned in any draft, especially those of District drafts greatly impact the performance of a Fantasy FIRST team in their respective District Championship.

Important points:
- The difference between two consecutive seed positions at a given event will not necessarily have a resultant score that differentiates in a linear fashion.

- Seeding positions are also not comparable between events. For example, certain events have more dominant teams at the top end, resulting in a wide swing in the max vs. minimum point potential. Other events may have a wider distribution, with a deeper roster, allowing late seeds to pull in more fantasy points from their position in the draft, compared to other shallower events.

Data Analysis:
I compiled a spreadsheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14ko6K_ZPsw-XfmpwjfUe1mqa2Cj1FDvtm60isoDmckU/edit#gid=2115995900&vpid=A1) of 2015 Fantasy FIRST data to analyze the impact of seed order on draft outcomes.

http://i.imgur.com/t5PYivD.png

- While scoring data is easily available for manipulation at any given event, seed data is not. *I'm tracking seed position this year*

- The important piece of data to note, is that fantasy teams are not statistically likely to move very far from their original rank, based on initial seed.

-In a 10 person draft, a fantasy team will on average only move ~3 seed positions (absolute), in rank from their initial seed.

Proposed Solution:
In order to get one step closer to similar seed benefits across events, the average seeding order should be statistically uniform. This means, if a team receives a first seed at one event, they should be statistically likely to receive a last seed at another to match. Their average seed order across the total events in the specified pool should be nearly the same as all others Fantasy teams. While the proposed solution is not a perfect one, it should help to remove some of the statistical advantages given out to specific teams, based on a system with ‘entirely’ random seeding generation.

Here’s the algorithm that would need to be developed:

http://i.imgur.com/DZ0XqPi.png

You have 7 Districts, to place 10 Fantasy teams (A-J) in. There can’t be multiple instances of a Fantasy team in any given District. The goal is to maintain a similar average seed across all fantasy teams. You don’t care how the distribution resolves itself, but it will likely naturally result in a bell curve. The algorithm should randomly generate solutions to the table with a *small* average seed deviation.

[Rangel(kf7fdb)]

I agree with Navid. Though I'm new to FF, it seems our team has noticed based upon drafting that certain teams pretty much pick the same as us. We might all just have bad systems of measuring team but I suspect it's more likely we have come upon good systems of measurements that will be inherently similar. That being said, there are some differences but those differences are miniscule compared to the effect pick order has. I like Navid's changes that keep it random but make sure everyone has the same average pick rank. That way we are lessening the impact of the pick order which inherently makes the small differences between our picklists matter more in the whole scope of things.

[ttldomination]

The easiest way I have found to import teams for drafts is ...

Well, our current system is more automated than that. If we can't figure out a way to get into firstinspires, then that seems like the only option.

I'm not particularly happy either.

When I manage to get some time (probably Wednesday or so) I plan to leave a note in FIRST's site feedback calling attention to the discrepancies. It's on their end, therefore it's their problem.

It's worth mentioning that the usfirst domain actually appears to be the more "correct" version right now. GTRE is showing 118 on usfirst but 118 is not listed on firstinspires. After confirming with 118, they are going to GTRE.

For what it's worth, I think that's a compelling reason to stick to the usfirst domain.

- Sunny G.

[Navid Shafa]

Well, our current system is more automated than that. If we can't figure out a way to get into firstinspires, then that seems like the only option.



It's worth mentioning that the usfirst domain actually appears to be the more "correct" version right now. GTRE is showing 118 on usfirst but 118 is not listed on firstinspires. After confirming with 118, they are going to GTRE.

For what it's worth, I think that's a compelling reason to stick to the usfirst domain.

- Sunny G.

Consider this our first waiver ;)

118 for 4343

Also, I have e-mailed Frank, he responded. I'll post here when he has more information.

[BrennanB]

Echoing on what Navid has said. People who received high drafts in the first round of the district drafts had a significant advantage, and on the way back I don't think reversing the draft order compensates enough.


*Waiver game: Teams that become available after a draft are "waiver" teams. Because I'm lazy, the priority this year will be reverse order of signup to start with. Highest priority to make a claim gets the team, as long as the claim is made within 3 days from the first claim being made.


:(

[EricH]

So does somebody have something just a little more concrete than "We think this should be done this way?" Like, some sort of algorithm? I can't say that I have time to do much development on that (BTW, that's a massive understatement), and I've got some other bugs to hunt down and improvements to make first, but if someone can work something up that will work in Excel's VBA code, I think I can put a work-around in to use a different form. (That being said... it needs to work across the file being closed and re-opened.) Or I can put a work-around to not randomize, leaving the list as-entered, which would allow an outside source to generate the lists.

Assuming that this is actually a problem (which I'm not totally convinced of yet). Remember that the only thing the regular season final ranking does is determine the draft order for the deepest event of 'em all, CMP (AKA, biggest game of chance out there).



@ttldomination: Actually, it isn't. Unless you have something that pulls team lists automatically, the team list has to be put in by manual pull. I never did get that part of the program working at all.

I agree that the usfirst.org does seem to be more correct (or more complete) but what that tells me is that FIRST hates their new look as much as some other folks do (or haven't figured out how to update it, not sure which is worse).

[ttldomination]

@ttldomination: Actually, it isn't. Unless you have something that pulls team lists automatically, the team list has to be put in by manual pull. I never did get that part of the program working at all.

I agree that the usfirst.org does seem to be more correct (or more complete) but what that tells me is that FIRST hates their new look as much as some other folks do (or haven't figured out how to update it, not sure which is worse).

Meh, it's not 100% automated, but it's the next best thing. It spits out a list of team numbers that nicely sit in the first column of the spreadsheet. After that, it's just a simple VBA macro to update that list.

- Sunny G.

[EricH]

Meh, it's not 100% automated, but it's the next best thing. It spits out a list of team numbers that nicely sit in the first column of the spreadsheet. After that, it's just a simple VBA macro to update that list.

- Sunny G.
Not a bad idea, that. If you could figure out a way to integrate that with Excel, or just post it, I think I can get that integrated somewhere along the line.


BTW, a quick clarification on my earlier post:
I have no objection, per se, but I'd like to see--in layman's terms--what the problem/solution statements are. I understand statistics a little bit, but I'm not really a stats sort of guy. Even if it's something like "the draft order in the districts determines the finishing order", that's clearer than "statistics say this". We'd need to do a rules change as I recall--just to clarify what exactly any new methods apply to.



Also, for reference, here's the general sort of "things to work on" for the draft-running program, in kinda-sorta order of priority:
--The removal function (for when a team is picked) doesn't always work, and needs fixing. (Hopefully Thursday/Friday--I might have an idea for what's wrong.)
--Additional feature: allowing "Random" and "Rookie" in team lists to trigger a hunt through the random list for those sorts of teams. (This might be easy or very difficult. No idea when I'll get around to it.)
--Additional feature: The ability to generate a draft without randomizing the player list. I *think* that'll be easy enough if I add another button or something along those lines, but remember: I'm a mechanical guy, and those are one set of famous last words. (This one I want to get done by the time the block drafts roll around.)
--I think there's a couple more items, but I can't remember what they are offhand. Possibly some sort of indicators if there's a list present or something like that.

[ttldomination]

Not a bad idea, that. If you could figure out a way to integrate that with Excel, or just post it, I think I can get that integrated somewhere along the line.

I'm not 100% following this line of discussion any more (started with going to usfirst, not sure where we are now), but this is integrated into excel. RFA has been using this system for our lists for the past 2-3 years.

- Sunny G.

[EricH]

I'm not 100% following this line of discussion any more (started with going to usfirst, not sure where we are now), but this is integrated into excel. RFA has been using this system for our lists for the past 2-3 years.

- Sunny G.
I'll PM.

[orangemoore]

I had to take myself off of the 12/5 New York City Draft because I cannot confidently confirm I will be home/available to run it at 7pm est. A event in need of volunteers is more important than Fantasy First.

I am sorry to do this so close to the draft but the event i am helping with didn't get back to me until today.

Roger

[Navid Shafa]

I had to take myself off of the 12/5 New York City Draft because I cannot confidently confirm I will be home/available to run it at 7pm est. A event in need of volunteers is more important than Fantasy First.

I am sorry to do this so close to the draft but the event i am helping with didn't get back to me until today.

Roger

The Internet is currently down at my place and may not be up again until Monday. I could petentially still run Greater Kansas City tomorrow (12/5), but I will either be borrowing a laptop and going to a Starbucks, or I'd be tethering my desktop to my phone as a hotspot.

I can get the thread up tomorrow morning-ish...
*The more lists people can send me the better*

[EricH]

The Internet is currently down at my place and may not be up again until Monday. I could petentially still run Greater Kansas City tomorrow (12/5), but I will either be borrowing a laptop and going to a Starbucks, or I'd be tethering my desktop to my phone as a hotspot.

I can get the thread up tomorrow morning-ish...
*The more lists people can send me the better*
I'm thinking that, given the mass lack of draft runners (even with GKC up, NYC doesn't have anybody to run it), we move the 12/5 drafts to the open slot on 12/7. I believe I've heard a couple of folks saying that might work out better. Any commentary?

[Navid Shafa]

I'm thinking that, given the mass lack of draft runners (even with GKC up, NYC doesn't have anybody to run it), we move the 12/5 drafts to the open slot on 12/7. I believe I've heard a couple of folks saying that might work out better. Any commentary?

Fine by me, I won't be able to run it though if it's on a Monday. Sorry :S

[orangemoore]

I'm thinking that, given the mass lack of draft runners (even with GKC up, NYC doesn't have anybody to run it), we move the 12/5 drafts to the open slot on 12/7. I believe I've heard a couple of folks saying that might work out better. Any commentary?

I can run a draft on 12/7.

Also it seems that the event team lists seemed to magically update sometime in the past 24 hours.

[EricH]

I can run a draft on 12/7.

Also it seems that the event team lists seemed to magically update sometime in the past 24 hours.

As can I.


What teams do we KNOW were on the usfirst list and not on the firstinspires list?
1319, Palmetto (taken)
118, Alamo (?)

Just trying to figure out what teams are being added before releasing the waiver hounds. I know 118 has a couple of claims already.

[Navid Shafa]

As can I.


What teams do we KNOW were on the usfirst list and not on the firstinspires list?
1319, Palmetto (taken)
118, Alamo (?)

Just trying to figure out what teams are being added before releasing the waiver hounds. I know 118 has a couple of claims already.

118 got into GTRE after we drafted GTRE, did anyone lay a claim after us?

Yes, 1319. I didn't track the rest...

[orangemoore]

118 got into GTRE after we drafted GTRE, did anyone lay a claim after us?

Yes, 1319. I didn't track the rest...

207 was on one of your lists not sure what draft it was for though. Not sure if that was b/c of the website.

[EricH]

118 got into GTRE after we drafted GTRE, did anyone lay a claim after us?

Yes, 1319. I didn't track the rest...
Think I saw one.

1319 gets their asterisk removed--we'd put that on due to the confusion, before I realized just how extensive the problem could be--and is not available for claiming.

118 at GTRE--someone might have. I'll have to ask for a confirmation of claim or not (anybody who made one, you know who you are...)

Ah, that's the one I bounced: 2614, Pittsburgh. I'll put in for them for my 2nd pick (though I think I'll probably lose to RFA if they claim...)

orangemoore, 207 would have been L.A. Regional. (I'll figure out later whether Falcon will put a claim in.)

As noted, waiver priority is reverse order of signup to start.

[Navid Shafa]

Think I saw one.

1319 gets their asterisk removed--we'd put that on due to the confusion, before I realized just how extensive the problem could be--and is not available for claiming.

118 at GTRE--someone might have. I'll have to ask for a confirmation of claim or not (anybody who made one, you know who you are...)

Ah, that's the one I bounced: 2614, Pittsburgh. I'll put in for them for my 2nd pick (though I think I'll probably lose to RFA if they claim...)

orangemoore, 207 would have been L.A. Regional. (I'll figure out later whether Falcon will put a claim in.)

As noted, waiver priority is reverse order of signup to start.

I double checked, no additional 118 claims in the Main thread or in the GTRE thread. If that is the case we'll lose priority for the others right?

Do waivers need to be submitted in the main thread? Other than priority being stated and the 3 day rule, are there any relevant rules to the waiver process?

[EricH]

I double checked, no additional 118 claims in the Main thread or in the GTRE thread. If that is the case we'll lose priority for the others right?

Do waivers need to be submitted in the main thread? Other than priority being stated and the 3 day rule, are there any relevant rules to the waiver process?
The one I saw was via PM, and was stated as a question, so I'm unsure whether to count it.

The way we (OK, I) usually do it is claims can come in via main and draft threads, or by PM. They're awarded in a stated order (below), and if one of your claims is awarded you go to the bottom of the list (and figure out which team to give up). Here's the trick with this, though: If there's only one or two teams on waiver, generally you'll just have to be of higher priority than whoever wanted the team. In this case, we've got 3, so it'll be more of a full waiver.

Currently on waiver: 118, GTRE; 2614, Pittsburgh; 207, Los Angeles

Priority list with current claims:
Bobo Brigade
Swamp Life
The ULCAN
Rotten Fruit Alliance (118, GTRE)
FIRST Pick
Broconnor
Koko's X-Cats
The Breakfast Company
OrangeJuice
Falcon (2614, Pittsburgh)

[tindleroot]

Currently on waiver: 118, GTRE; 2614, Pittsburgh; 207, Los Angeles

Priority list with current claims:
Bobo Brigade
Swamp Life
The ULCAN
Rotten Fruit Alliance (118, GTRE)
FIRST Pick
Broconnor
Koko's X-Cats
The Breakfast Company
OrangeJuice
Falcon (2614, Pittsburgh)

In this case, can FIRST Pick lay claim to 2614 since we are higher in the order or is Falcon's claim confirmed?

[BrennanB]

In this case, can FIRST Pick lay claim to 2614 since we are higher in the order or is Falcon's claim confirmed?

The claim is not confirmed, thus yes you can claim.

[tindleroot]

The claim is not confirmed, thus yes you can claim.

FIRST Pick claims 2614 then.

[Anthony Galea]

The ULCAN would like to claim 118

[tindleroot]

Is anyone running GKCR tonight or is it going to be suspended?

[Dave McLaughlin]

The ULCAN would like to claim 118

I believe the window for this claim closed yesterday per the below post outlining wavier procedure for this season:

Highest priority to make a claim gets the team, as long as the claim is made within 3 days from the first claim being made.

Consider this our first waiver ;)

118 for 4343

Our claim was submitted on 12-01-2015 @ 11:25 AM which would mean the window to claim closed 12-04-2015 @ 11:25 AM.

[Anthony Galea]

I believe the window for this claim closed yesterday per the below post outlining wavier procedure for this season:





Our claim was submitted on 12-01-2015 @ 11:25 AM which would mean the window to claim closed 12-04-2015 @ 11:25 AM.

We are the team that sent a PM, and my post was to confirm it was a claim.

[Dave McLaughlin]

We are the team that sent a PM, and my post was to confirm it was a claim.

Would you mind posting the PM for the sake of transparency?

[ttldomination]

It may be best to create another thread for waivers and have all waiver related information (waiver, claims, etc.) be posted in that thread.

It will help with transparency, confusion, and will ultimately keep this thread clean for administrative and logistical posts.

- Sunny G.

[EricH]

I believe the window for this claim closed yesterday per the below post outlining wavier procedure for this season:





Our claim was submitted on 12-01-2015 @ 11:25 AM which would mean the window to claim closed 12-04-2015 @ 11:25 AM.
However, at the time, the claim was invalid. 118, while they may have been registered, was not on the official list at that point. Can't have an active claim against a team that's not attending per the official list. (Yes, I know you guys contacted to confirm. But FIRST wasn't saying that on the lists that were in use.) At the time of the PM (which was 12-01-2015 @ 7:30 PM, so even by your timing statement the claim is in time--it just wasn't confirmed as more than a question yet) they still weren't active on the list--matter of fact, they weren't on the official list until sometime on 12-4-2015, so that's when your claim became valid and the window opened.

That being said: I am calling it that all teams went onto the official list at midnight EST on 12/3 (going into 12/4) because that's about the time the switch happened, AND any previously-existing claims are valid due to the confusion. I know three players want 118; several folks want 2614. At midnight EST on 12/6, the window will close.






On another note: I'm going to have a lot of trouble getting Israel going on 12/6 at anything like the usual time. My schedule this weekend seems to have been shot all to pieces on short notice as regards draft-running. (If I'm lucky I'll be able to get it UP--but I'm not exactly feeling lucky right now!) I apologize for the short notice, but if anybody can pick that one up, I'd appreciate it.

[Navid Shafa]

However, at the time, the claim was invalid. 118, while they may have been registered, was not on the official list at that point. Can't have an active claim against a team that's not attending per the official list. (Yes, I know you guys contacted to confirm. But FIRST wasn't saying that on the lists that were in use.) At the time of the PM (which was 12-01-2015 @ 7:30 PM, so even by your timing statement the claim is in time--it just wasn't confirmed as more than a question yet) they still weren't active on the list--matter of fact, they weren't on the official list until sometime on 12-4-2015, so that's when your claim became valid and the window opened.

I know it doesn't matter at this point, but they were listed on the USFIRST official lists, along with all the other teams that only recently were updated on FIRST inspires.


That being said: I am calling it that all teams went onto the official list at midnight EST on 12/3 (going into 12/4) because that's about the time the switch happened, AND any previously-existing claims are valid due to the confusion. I know three players want 118; several folks want 2614. At midnight EST on 12/6, the window will close.

With 118 out the window, we'll submit for 207.

Thanks for clarifying!

[EricH]

I know it doesn't matter at this point, but they were listed on the USFIRST official lists, along with all the other teams that only recently were updated on FIRST inspires. Which I decided after the fact--well, mostly--were not to be used for drafting. Hindsight being 20-20, that decision may have been a mistake on my part.

I'm just hoping that the root cause was fixed...or it's going to be a long season. :cool:

[orangemoore]

On another note: I'm going to have a lot of trouble getting Israel going on 12/6 at anything like the usual time. My schedule this weekend seems to have been shot all to pieces on short notice as regards draft-running. (If I'm lucky I'll be able to get it UP--but I'm not exactly feeling lucky right now!) I apologize for the short notice, but if anybody can pick that one up, I'd appreciate it.

I am having similar issues for Mexico City. It will start 15 minutes late and pick windows will be longer than usual for me at least. Hopefully that will give me the time I need. Watch the thread for up to date information.

[EricH]

I am having similar issues for Mexico City. It will start 15 minutes late and pick windows will be longer than usual for me at least. Hopefully that will give me the time I need. Watch the thread for up to date information.
I'm also running long pick windows and a late start. Thread will show up shortly.

[EricH]

All right, we've got a bunch of waivers to issue.

118, GTRE, goes to SwampLife (who is releasing 1075 on the free-agent market--PM submission)
2614, Pittsburgh, goes to The ULCAN (released team TBA)
And 207, Los Angeles, goes to Rotten Fruit Alliance (for a team to be named).

This leaves the priority order at:

Bobo Brigade
FIRST Pick
Broconnor
Koko's X-Cats
The Breakfast Company
OrangeJuice
Falcon
Swamp Life
The ULCAN
Rotten Fruit Alliance

And 5406 is on the Pittsburgh waiver wire, ending 9:24 Eastern on 12/10/15.

[Navid Shafa]

118, GTRE, goes to SwampLife (who is releasing 1075 on the free-agent market--PM submission)

Typo? 1075 was already a free-agent from the looks of it. FIRST Pick was the one to draft them, but later dropped them.

[MARS_James]

Typo? 1075 was already a free-agent from the looks of it. FIRST Pick was the one to draft them, but later dropped them.

That was my bad i misread my final team, swamplife will drop to 5094 instead

[EricH]

FYI: I was originally planning to run Australia on Thursday, but a non-robotics-related activity has cropped up, and I will be unable to do so. Also, on Saturday we're short a runner for Wisconsin. I'd greatly appreciate if someone could step up for those.

[BrennanB]

TBC putting a claim for 5406 swapping out 4031 at pitts

[Navid Shafa]

2614, Pittsburgh, goes to The ULCAN (released team TBA)

Do we have a released team from ULCAN yet?

[EricH]

Do we have a released team from ULCAN yet?
Not yet. I'll need to PM.

[Navid Shafa]

I can run Australia tomorrow after all, the time zone thing got me :P

[Anthony Galea]

Not yet. I'll need to PM.

We'll go with 156.

[vikesrock777]

Team Broconnor would like to claim team 5406 in Greater Pittsburgh, replacing team 3954 (assuming we haven't missed our chance to try to waiver over TBC.)

[EricH]

Bobo Brigade has missed 6 drafts in a row for the second time this season, and has been sent a second warning.

[Koko Ed]

I withdraw from the league.

[JosephC]

I withdraw from the league.

I'm sorry to see you leave, I'd personally like to thank you for all the hard work you've put into Fantasy FIRST over the years. You're one of the main reasons I started doing Fantasy FIRST and a large reason I stayed after my first season. I wish you luck with whatever you choose to devote your free time to now.

__________________________________________________


If that means you won't be running the drafts you've signed up for, I can take them.

[EricH]

Bobo Brigade has missed 6 drafts in a row for the second time this season, and has been sent a second warning.
And has showed up.

[EricH]

More waiver stuff: 5406 goes to Broconnor for 3954 (Pittsburgh)

Bobo Brigade
FIRST Pick
The Breakfast Company
OrangeJuice
Falcon
Swamp Life
The ULCAN
Rotten Fruit Alliance
Broconnor


Now, speaking of waivers: Because Ed has withdrawn from the league, all of his teams are on waiver. (I can't say I have a full list ready to hand at the moment--if someone does and can put it up, that'd be great, or I can hunt 'em up tomorrow.) I'm going to put the deadline on MONDAY, 12/14 (4 full days) at midnight Eastern--yep, I know that's an extra day, I figure there's enough teams to pick over that nobody will object. The exception is the Utah teams, which are being redrafted.

[JosephC]

Utah will be redrafted Sunday 12/13 as per Eric's decree, please resend your lists to me.

[tindleroot]

I know the waiver team list hasn't been posted yet, but FIRST Pick would like to issue a claim for 254 in Central Valley.

[Navid Shafa]

I can't say I have a full list ready to hand at the moment--if someone does and can put it up, that'd be great

As requested, here are the drafted teams sorted by when they were drafted:

Picks Event
2614 Palmetto
1369 Palmetto
4992 Palmetto
5776 Greater Toronto Central
771 Greater Toronto Central
5921 Greater Toronto Central
1714 Lake Superior
6175 Lake Superior
5913 Lake Superior
2512 Northern Lights
6182 Northern Lights
3298 Northern Lights
1972 San Diego
4486 San Diego
3041 San Diego
1310 Greater Toronto East
1285 Greater Toronto East
2935 Greater Toronto East
1126 Greater Pittsburgh
128 Greater Pittsburgh
291 Greater Pittsburgh
4 Los Angeles
294 Los Angeles
3863 Los Angeles
254 Central Valley
5852 Central Valley
256 Central Valley
3481 Alamo
3999 Alamo
6155 Alamo
842 Arizona North
6127 Arizona North
2403 Arizona North
537 Arkansas Rock City
6186 Arkansas Rock City
6055 Arkansas Rock City
4451 Orlando
1251 Orlando
801 Orlando
2451 St. Louis
1675 St. Louis
1444 St. Louis
3527 Mexico City
4355 Mexico City
5932 Mexico City
5614 Israel
6049 Israel
4649 Israel
694 New York City
2579 New York City
5781 New York City
937 Greater Kansas City
5918 Greater Kansas City
2345 Greater Kansas City
379 Buckeye
639 Buckeye
3173 Buckeye
5829 Bayou
5864 Bayou
5168 Bayou
5254 Tech Valley
1551 Tech Valley
5964 Tech Valley
4212 Central Illinois
2081 Central Illinois
4314 Central Illinois
6204 Australia
6206 Australia
5731 Australia

[Navid Shafa]

Also, on Saturday we're short a runner for Wisconsin. I'd greatly appreciate if someone could step up for those.

I can run Wisconsin on Sunday, if nobody can do it on Saturday (I'll be gone on Saturday).

[Anthony Galea]

We would like to make claims in this order:

1310 GTRE
2451 St. Louis
2614 Palmetto
2512 Northern Lights
842 Arizona North
639 Buckeye
3481 Alamo
771 GTRC
1285 GTRE
1675 St. Louis

[orangemoore]

I can run Wisconsin on Sunday, if nobody can do it on Saturday (I'll be gone on Saturday).
I also volunteered but I should do other stuff so go ahead. I think it is safe to move that draft to Sunday.

[orangemoore]

Eric is there an update to teams who have been requested through waivers so far?

[EricH]

Eric is there an update to teams who have been requested through waivers so far?
Sorry, I don't update on who's been requested, or by whom, unless whoever's made the claim has made it publicly. I've got at least three claim sets in my PM box, plus whatever's public, if that helps at all.

[EricH]

Sidenote to this:
I think I found an error in the draft assistant. When I have had drafts with large numbers of teams the bottom row doesn't seem to clear when a team is picked from it.

I noticed that as well, it seems that it doesn't handle edge cases (ends of lines included). I'll take a look later in the week, maybe Thursday. Thought I'd cleared that but maybe I confused it instead.
OK, it took longer than I thought. Turns out that I forgot to put part of the code in one section, AND I forgot to reset a variable at the same time.

To fix that, I've released v3.2.1 (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/3042), fixing this problem (hopefully for good).

The NEXT item on the list should be a bit easier: getting it to have the ability to NOT randomize players. And then after that some better list-reading behavior...

[EricH]

Well, it is now after midnight EST, so we have a bunch of waivers to award. Now, note that all dropped teams are free agents--some of them might be decent, maybe not.


So, without further ado, here's the teams, in order of first-round selections (two teams opted not to try to pick up a waiver team):
FIRST Pick scored a big jackpot, 254 in Central Valley, along with 2451 in St. Louis.
Orange Juice picked up 2614 (Palmetto), 842 (Arizona North), and 1714 (Lake Superior)
Falcon swiped 294 (Los Angeles), 694 (NYC), 771 (GTR-Central), 1675 (St. Louis), 1551 (Tech Valley), and 3173 (Buckeye).
Swamp Life picked up 4451 and 1251 in Orlando.
The ULCAN was busy, scooping up 1310 and 1285 (GTR-East), 639 (Buckeye), and 3481 (Alamo).
Rotten Fruit Alliance wound up with 2512 (Northern Lights), 4212 (Central Illinois), and 1126 (Pittsburgh).
And wrapping it all up with Broconnor, the brothers O'Connor racked up 5254 (Tech Valley), 379 (Buckeye), 2081 (Central Illinois), 537 (Arkansas Rock City), and 4355 (Mexico City).

I don't know for sure which teams are being dropped for most of the teams; I expect that all the swap-outs will happen in the next day or so. (I'll try to get to mine tomorrow.)


The current waiver priority list:
Bobo Brigade
The Breakfast Company
FIRST Pick
Swamp Life
OrangeJuice
Rotten Fruit Alliance
The ULCAN
Broconnor
Falcon

[Navid Shafa]

RFA will swap our claimed teams in as follows:

Event Team In Team Out
Northern Lights 2512 2987
Central Illinois 4212 4156
Greater Pittsburgh 1126 4049

[tindleroot]

FIRST Pick will drop 4973 for Central Valley to be replaced by 254, and we will drop 4500 in St. Louis to be replaced by 2451.

[Anthony Galea]

The ULCAN will drop 5031 and 5719 for 1310 and 1285 in GTRE, 3561 for 3481at Alamo, and 4611 for 639 at Buckeye.

[vikesrock777]

Broconnor swaps are as follows


Event Team In Team Out
NY Tech Valley: 5254 5881
Buckeye: 379 4028
Central Illinois: 2081 2358
Rock City: 537 5437
Mexico: 4355 3354

[Navid Shafa]

I don't know for sure which teams are being dropped for most of the teams; I expect that all the swap-outs will happen in the next day or so. (I'll try to get to mine tomorrow.)

Still waiting on Falcon, Swamp Life and OrangeJuice's swaps.

Once those are good, I can post a copy of the full current rosters for those interested.

[orangemoore]

Still waiting on Falcon, Swamp Life and OrangeJuice's swaps.

Once those are good, I can post a copy of the full current rosters for those interested.

OJ swaps:

Palmetto 2614 for 3489
Arizona north 842 for 3256
Lake Superior 1714 for 4818

[orangemoore]

Dallas News
I have a meeting about college that came up just this afternoon that conflicts directly with this draft. I am hoping someone can take over for me or I will have to run the draft significantly later than normal.

[JosephC]

Dallas News
I have a meeting about college that came up just this afternoon that conflicts directly with this draft. I am hoping someone can take over for me or I will have to run the draft significantly later than normal.

I'll run it, send the lists you have to me.

[MARS_James]

Still waiting on Falcon, Swamp Life and OrangeJuice's swaps.

Once those are good, I can post a copy of the full current rosters for those interested.

sorry i included my swaps in my requests. 4451 for 5557 and 1251 for 5276

[EricH]

sorry i included my swaps in my requests. 4451 for 5557 and 1251 for 5276
Yep, you did. That's the only thing that kept you guys from getting a full-alliance swap...

Falcon's swaps are all third picks.
294 for 2637 (still listed as 6000 despite earlier trade) (Los Angeles)
694 for 1155 (NYC)
771 for 6148 (GTR-C)
1675 for 6034 (St. Louis)
1551 for 145 (Tech Valley)
3173 for 1259 (Buckeye)

[Navid Shafa]

294 for 2637 (still listed as 6000 despite earlier trade) (Los Angeles)
)

Yep, I had that noted as well. I'm trying to keep track of everything pretty diligently this season :)

I dropped a list of all the picks made so far (not including current drafts), on a new sheet here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-UItQm4bouwKWyS88iKqCNegZ6sxVKEtMZdErWSJin8/edit#gid=1827401343).

Also, since 145 is now a free agent, RFA will trade out 4856 for them at Tech Valley.

[Navid Shafa]

I'm filling in for Bam-Bam on the Smoky Mountains draft tonight.

With the delay, we'll be starting in a half hour @ 7:30pm. Send lists if you have them please :)

[bam-bam]

I will not be able to run the smoky mountains draft tonight. My apologies to all once again...

[Navid Shafa]

I will not be able to run the smoky mountains draft tonight. My apologies to all once again...

It's all good bud, thanks for volunteering this season!

[bam-bam]

It's all good bud, thanks for volunteering this season!

Thank you for picking up for me on short notice regardless, Navid. I appreciate it a lot.

[EricH]

As a reminder, 12/19 is an off day. Any drafts that crop up will be for 12/20, or unfinished business from previous drafts.

[orangemoore]

As a reminder, 12/19 is an off day. Any drafts that crop up will be for 12/20, or unfinished business from previous drafts.

Because I can I will be posting Midwest shortly. Feel free to make picks on the draft when it is your turn.

[EricH]

Not that it'll necessarily be of interest to anybody yet, but I've done a slight reconfigure to the drafting program. V3.2.2 (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/3042) has the capability to run drafts without randomizing the player list first. Could be useful when setting up the second day of district block drafts...

That being said, it does have a bug near the end of the macro--it doesn't appear to end cleanly. I'll try to troubleshoot that later on, but it doesn't appear to affect anything. I think I might have removed it with one final change, but I'm not sure yet. If someone does see that crop up, feel free to let me know what you think it is.


And I've got another alteration I want to make, or maybe two, but those can wait a bit.

[tindleroot]

So, now that Regionals are beginning to come to a close and Districts are coming soon, I was curious about how the block drafts work for the bigger districts. Are there 2 completely separate drafts happening for these districts (a.k.a. choosing from the same team set twice) or is it one huge draft where everyone will essentially end up with 6 unique teams from a district after 2 days of drafting?

[jlmcmchl]

So, now that Regionals are beginning to come to a close and Districts are coming soon, I was curious about how the block drafts work for the bigger districts. Are there 2 completely separate drafts happening for these districts (a.k.a. choosing from the same team set twice) or is it one huge draft where everyone will essentially end up with 6 unique teams from a district after 2 days of drafting?

6 unique teams. In the seconds draft for a district, the teams that were drafted from the first round are removed from the pool.

[vikesrock777]

What's the plan for Idaho regional tomorrow?

http://www.firstinspires.org/team-event-search/event?id=20299

I'm only seeing 25 teams registered, and we draft through 27 at this point.

[orangemoore]

What's the plan for Idaho regional tomorrow?

http://www.firstinspires.org/team-event-search/event?id=20299

I'm only seeing 25 teams registered, and we draft through 27 at this point.

2 Tiers then. 4 teams will be in one draft and 5 teams in the other.

[EricH]

What's the plan for Idaho regional tomorrow?

http://www.firstinspires.org/team-event-search/event?id=20299

I'm only seeing 25 teams registered, and we draft through 27 at this point.
The first (and likely only) tiered draft of the season. The players will be split into Tier 1 and Tier 2 randomly. Good luck, and score a lot of points.

As an advisory to all players, tiered drafts are FAST. Typically they've finished in under an hour. If standard timing is used, the longer tier (1, with 5 players) will only take 25 minutes for the first round, followed by 15 for the second, and 5 for the third. 50 minutes... if the draft runner didn't slow down to work the other tier from time to time (and that one will be even faster).

Send lists.

[orangemoore]

The first (and likely only) tiered draft of the season. The players will be split into Tier 1 and Tier 2 randomly. Good luck, and score a lot of points.

As an advisory to all players, tiered drafts are FAST. Typically they've finished in under an hour. If standard timing is used, the longer tier (1, with 5 players) will only take 25 minutes for the first round, followed by 15 for the second, and 5 for the third. 50 minutes... if the draft runner didn't slow down to work the other tier from time to time (and that one will be even faster).

Send lists.

Please Please Please Please Send Me lists.

Another Note:

I've highlighted 3 drafts towards the end of the season that may have to start slightly later that usual they shouldn't start any later than 7:30 pm this is to accommodate robotics meetings.

Sorry

[thatprogrammer]

2 Tiers then. 4 teams will be in one draft and 5 teams in the other.
When will be able to see the tiers and what teams are in them? :)

[EricH]

When will be able to see the tiers and what teams are in them? :)
When the draft runner generates and posts the draft.

[EricH]

One of the least-used rules in the Fantasy FIRST rulebook (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2574)is the "three strikes" rule, if you can call it that, which is part of the Attendance section. From the posted rules, the rule is as follows:
Failure to make any pick for six drafts in a row will result in a warning, delivered both as a public notice and via private message. [...] Three warnings in the same draft year will cause an automatic removal from the league for the rest of that year, on the spot.

What this means is that if you are repeatedly not in attendance, as a team, and two warnings don't get you showing up more, the third warning will take the form of "Do not return until next year".

And, unfortunately, we have a third warning.

Bobo Brigade has missed six drafts in a row for the third time, and has been given two prior warnings. Bobo Brigade is now out of the league. All his teams will be placed on waiver, as soon as we can figure out who they are (shouldn't take long).


How does this affect the posted Idaho draft?

Obviously, there will be some reconfiguring--Bobo Brigade was in the 4-player tier, which is now a 3-player tier. We'll either reset to a 4-4 instead of a 3-5, or we'll go to a single-tier draft (though I'm leery of only having one spare team, myself, we can do that). Exactly what we'll do will be announced after some due consideration.

[EricH]

Here's a partial list--I think we're still hunting down a few teams from events after Ventura.
Palmetto 2252
Palmetto 4902
Palmetto 5063
Greater Toronto Central 1815
Greater Toronto Central 5598
Greater Toronto Central 3705
Lake Superior 5253
Lake Superior 4845
Lake Superior 3293
Northern Lights 5464
Northern Lights 4786
Northern Lights 3297
San Diego 2496
San Diego 2339
San Diego 5209
Greater Toronto East 2198
Greater Toronto East 5596
Greater Toronto East 6125
Greater Pittsburgh 144
Greater Pittsburgh 4050
Greater Pittsburgh 1708
Los Angeles 5012
Los Angeles 599
Los Angeles 687
Central Valley 5136
Central Valley 2761
Central Valley 1662
Alamo 1477
Alamo 1255
Alamo 2789
Arizona North 5025
Arizona North 4550
Arizona North 4985
Arkansas Rock City 2461
Arkansas Rock City 34
Arkansas Rock City 5178
Orlando 5145
Orlando 5293
Orlando 5616
St. Louis 5326
St. Louis 4931
St. Louis 3792
Mexico City 4731
Mexico City 5133
Mexico City 6134
Israel 1574
Israel 6104
Israel 4319
New York City 5202
New York City 5515
New York City 5993
Greater Kansas City 3172
Greater Kansas City 5809
Greater Kansas City 1994
Buckeye 120
Buckeye 63
Buckeye 4121
Bayou 364
Bayou 3946
Bayou 6103
Tech Valley 1665
Tech Valley 5585
Tech Valley 5236
Central Illinois 2040
Central Illinois 1781
Central Illinois 3352
Australia 6207
Australia 6118
Australia 5606
North Bay 2706
North Bay 5157
North Bay 5600
Sacramento 114
Sacramento 2144
Sacramento 5134
Finger Lakes 3044
Finger Lakes 4023
Finger Lakes 174
Utah 6210
Utah 2465
Utah 2484
Wisconsin 2826
Wisconsin 1259
Wisconsin 5855
Iowa 2512
Iowa 3928
Iowa 6164
Oklahoma 2388
Oklahoma 2986
Oklahoma 3457
Rocket City 364
Rocket City 3319
Rocket City 3814
Ventura 1515
Ventura 4486
Ventura 2404
Dallas 2848
Dallas 2613
Dallas 3355
Colorado 5899
Colorado 6192
Colorado 3648
Las Vegas 5824
Las Vegas 5831
Las Vegas 5880
Waterloo 148
Waterloo 1285
Waterloo 3739
Smoky Mountains 342
Smoky Mountains 5002
Smoky Mountains 5186
Hawaii 2441
Hawaii 2477
Hawaii 4774
Hub City 3366
Hub City 5613
Hub City 5212
Orange County 3470
Orange County 5877
Orange County 5634

[EricH]

After consideration...

Idaho will be run as a single tier. In the event that fewer teams attend than are enough for one tier, we'll assume that whoever gets shortchanged had a perfectly average (by mean) team (rounded down to the nearest whole number of FF points) for their third robot.

[Anthony Galea]

The ULCAN would like to make the following claims:

2826 Wisconsin
1477 Alamo
1574 Israel
144 Pittsburgh
2512 Iowa
2252 Palmetto
5012 Los Angeles
5136 CVR
1515 Ventura

[orangemoore]

Bobo Brigade has missed six drafts in a row for the third time, and has been given two prior warnings. Bobo Brigade is now out of the league. All his teams will be placed on waiver, as soon as we can figure out who they are (shouldn't take long).


Can we assume waivers are due before Christmas day? Which would make the deadline December 24th at 11:59PM?

[EricH]

Can we assume waivers are due before Christmas day? Which would make the deadline December 24th at 11:59PM?
I'm thinking 12/25 at that time. No way I'll be able to get the award list out on 12/25.

That being said, if you're working on your list on 12/25 instead of spending time with your family, the curse of a thousand floor-sorted fasteners be upon your head!

[MARS_James]

So whats going on with long island?

[Navid Shafa]

Here's a partial list--I think we're still hunting down...

Here's a full list of Bobo's picks, if still needed:

Picks Event
2252 Palmetto
4902 Palmetto
5063 Palmetto
1815 Greater Toronto Central
5598 Greater Toronto Central
3705 Greater Toronto Central
5253 Lake Superior
4845 Lake Superior
3293 Lake Superior
5464 Northern Lights
4786 Northern Lights
3297 Northern Lights
2496 San Diego
2339 San Diego
5209 San Diego
2198 Greater Toronto East
5596 Greater Toronto East
6125 Greater Toronto East
144 Greater Pittsburgh
4050 Greater Pittsburgh
1708 Greater Pittsburgh
5012 Los Angeles
599 Los Angeles
687 Los Angeles
5136 Central Valley
2761 Central Valley
1662 Central Valley
1477 Alamo
1255 Alamo
2789 Alamo
5025 Arizona North
4550 Arizona North
4985 Arizona North
2461 Arkansas Rock City
34 Arkansas Rock City
5178 Arkansas Rock City
5145 Orlando
5293 Orlando
5616 Orlando
5326 St. Louis
4931 St. Louis
3792 St. Louis
4731 Mexico City
5133 Mexico City
6134 Mexico City
1574 Israel
6104 Israel
4319 Israel
5202 New York City
5515 New York City
5993 New York City
3172 Greater Kansas City
5809 Greater Kansas City
1994 Greater Kansas City
120 Buckeye
63 Buckeye
4121 Buckeye
364 Bayou
3946 Bayou
6103 Bayou
1665 Tech Valley
5585 Tech Valley
5236 Tech Valley
2040 Central Illinois
1781 Central Illinois
3352 Central Illinois
6207 Australia
6118 Australia
5606 Australia
2706 North Bay
5157 North Bay
5600 North Bay
114 Sacramento
2144 Sacramento
5134 Sacramento
3044 Finger Lakes
4023 Finger Lakes
174 Finger Lakes
6210 Utah
2465 Utah
2484 Utah
2826 Wisconsin
1259 Wisconsin
5855 Wisconsin
2512 Iowa
3928 Iowa
6164 Iowa
2388 Oklahoma
2986 Oklahoma
3457 Oklahoma
364 Rocket City
3319 Rocket City
3814 Rocket City
1515 Ventura
4486 Ventura
2404 Ventura
2848 Dallas
2613 Dallas
3355 Dallas
5899 Colorado
6192 Colorado
3648 Colorado
5824 Las Vegas
5831 Las Vegas
5880 Las Vegas
148 Waterloo
1285 Waterloo
3739 Waterloo
342 Smoky Mountains
5002 Smoky Mountains
5186 Smoky Mountains
2441 Hawaii
2477 Hawaii
4774 Hawaii
4521 Queen City
5492 Queen City
6159 Queen City
2115 Midwest
4247 Midwest
5822 Midwest
3366 Hub City
5613 Hub City
5212 Hub City
3470 Orange County
5877 Orange County
5634 Orange County

[Navid Shafa]

How/Where will full team lists for districts be pulled?

[Anthony Galea]

Did SBPLI get rescheduled? I thought that was tonight so I sent in a list yesterday, but apparently I missed Orange County tonight. Sorry for missing if it was originally tomorrow.

[Navid Shafa]

Did SBPLI get rescheduled?

I tried getting a hold of Joseph, no luck.

but apparently I missed Orange County tonight. Sorry for missing if it was originally tomorrow.

Orange County was held last night (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-UItQm4bouwKWyS88iKqCNegZ6sxVKEtMZdErWSJin8/edit#gid=0).

[Navid Shafa]

I tried getting a hold of Joseph, no luck.

Just heard back from Joseph, his internet went out today. He said it should be back on tomorrow around Noon his time.

He has offered to run SBPLI tomorrow night, in addition to him being scheduled to run Montreal.

This would mean there would be 3 drafts tomorrow, if this is OK with you Eric?

[EricH]

Just heard back from Joseph, his internet went out today. He said it should be back on tomorrow around Noon his time.

He has offered to run SBPLI tomorrow night, in addition to him being scheduled to run Montreal.

This would mean there would be 3 drafts tomorrow, if this is OK with you Eric?
If y'all are fine with a 3-draft day, let's go for it. I'd volunteer to run one but I'm on a really tight time leash.

[thatprogrammer]

I'm fine with a 3 draft day.

[Navid Shafa]

How/Where will full team lists for districts be pulled?

If we are going the FIRSTinspires route, manually pulling the data is a pain. I pulled them all tonight though if we want to use these:

45
71
135
234
292
447
461
829
868
1018
1024
1501
1529
1646
1720
1741
1747
2171
2197
2360
2867
2909
3147
3176
3180
3487
3494
3559
3865
3936
3940
3947
4103
4272
4485
4580
4781
4791
4824
4846
4926
4982
5010
5188
5402
5403
5484
5944
6012

1
27
33
51
66
67
68
70
74
85
94
107
123
141
201
216
217
226
240
244
245
247
280
288
302
308
313
314
322
453
468
469
470
494
503
548
573
703
815
818
830
835
857
858
862
894
904
910
1023
1025
1076
1188
1189
1243
1250
1254
1322
1481
1502
1504
1506
1528
1596
1677
1684
1701
1711
1718
1896
1918
1940
2048
2054
2075
2137
2145
2224
2246
2337
2405
2474
2586
2591
2604
2611
2612
2619
2620
2673
2676
2767
2771
2832
2834
2851
2959
2960
3096
3098
3175
3234
3302
3322
3357
3398
3414
3452
3458
3534
3535
3536
3537
3538
3539
3542
3546
3547
3548
3568
3570
3572
3602
3603
3604
3617
3618
3619
3620
3632
3641
3655
3656
3658
3667
3668
3688
3707
3767
3770
3773
3875
3886
4003
4004
4130
4216
4237
4325
4327
4337
4362
4368
4375
4376
4377
4380
4381
4384
4390
4391
4392
4395
4398
4405
4408
4409
4453
4482
4507
4568
4680
4715
4737
4758
4768
4776
4779
4810
4811
4815
4819
4827
4835
4840
4851
4854
4855
4956
4961
4967
4970
4983
4988
4994
4995
4998
5008
5014
5017
5046
5048
5050
5053
5056
5065
5066
5067
5068
5069
5072
5084
5086
5090
5110
5114
5144
5150
5152
5155
5156
5161
5162
5166
5167
5173
5175
5182
5183
5193
5194
5197
5201
5203
5204
5205
5213
5214
5215
5216
5217
5222
5224
5225
5226
5227
5229
5230
5231
5233
5234
5235
5238
5239
5246
5247
5248
5251
5255
5256
5257
5260
5263
5282
5314
5316
5424
5436
5447
5448
5460
5462
5467
5470
5473
5478
5486
5487
5498
5501
5502
5504
5505
5509
5517
5523
5524
5525
5527
5530
5531
5532
5533
5534
5535
5538
5547
5555
5559
5560
5561
5562
5567
5574
5575
5577
5603
5610
5612
5619
5622
5623
5641
5642
5650
5660
5661
5662
5664
5674
5675
5676
5685
5688
5692
5694
5695
5697
5702
5703
5704
5706
5708
5709
5710
5711
5712
5713
5714
5745
5756
5774
5784
5843
5853
5860
5878
5901
5907
5915
5926
5927
5963
5980
5982
5989
6002
6005
6011
6013
6019
6020
6029
6033
6043
6053
6057
6065
6066
6067
6071
6073
6074
6075
6077
6078
6079
6081
6085
6086
6087
6088
6089
6090
6091
6092
6093
6094
6096
6097
6098
6099
6100
6101
6102
6108
6112
6113
6114
6116
6117
6119
6120
6121
6122
6128
6136
6137
6138
6150
6152
6190
6193
6208

11
25
41
56
75
87
102
103
136
193
203
204
219
222
223
224
225
272
293
303
304
316
321
341
365
423
433
484
486
555
613
708
709
714
752
834
869
896
1089
1143
1168
1218
1228
1257
1279
1370
1391
1403
1495
1626
1640
1647
1672
1676
1712
1791
1807
1811
1923
1989
2016
2070
2095
2180
2191
2234
2458
2495
2539
2554
2559
2577
2590
2600
2607
2729
3142
3151
3167
3314
3340
3515
3637
3929
3974
4035
4281
4285
4342
4361
4373
4454
4460
4475
4573
4575
4637
4653
4750
4954
5113
5181
5310
5401
5404
5407
5420
5438
5457
5490
5624
5666
5684
5732
5895
5938
5992
6015
6016
6203
6216
6226

360
488
492
568
753
847
948
949
955
957
997
1258
1294
1318
1359
1425
1432
1510
1540
1571
1595
1778
1899
1983
2002
2046
2147
2148
2149
2374
2411
2412
2471
2521
2522
2550
2555
2557
2605
2635
2660
2733
2811
2903
2906
2907
2910
2915
2923
2926
2927
2928
2929
2930
2942
2944
2976
2980
2990
3024
3049
3070
3131
3192
3218
3219
3220
3221
3223
3237
3238
3268
3393
3574
3575
3576
3586
3588
3636
3663
3673
3674
3681
3684
3693
3711
3712
3781
3786
3787
3789
3812
3826
3831
3876
4030
4043
4051
4057
4060
4061
4077
4082
4089
4104
4110
4120
4125
4127
4131
4132
4173
4180
4205
4309
4450
4461
4469
4488
4495
4512
4513
4579
4608
4654
4662
4681
4682
4683
4692
4726
4911
4915
4918
4980
5085
5111
5198
5295
5450
5468
5495
5588
5683
5748
5803
5827
5920
5937
5939
5941
5942
5956
5970
5975
5977
6076
6129

58
69
78
88
95
97
121
125
126
131
133
138
151
155
157
166
172
173
175
176
177
178
181
190
195
213
228
230
236
237
238
246
319
348
467
501
509
558
571
663
716
811
839
885
999
1027
1058
1071
1073
1099
1100
1124
1153
1247
1277
1289
1307
1350
1474
1512
1517
1519
1699
1721
1729
1735
1740
1757
1761
1768
1786
1831
1922
1965
1973
1991
2064
2067
2079
2084
2168
2170
2262
2342
2370
2423
2523
2648
2713
2785
2836
2876
2877
3104
3146
3182
3205
3236
3323
3451
3461
3464
3466
3467
3525
3555
3566
3585
3597
3609
3623
3634
3654
3718
3719
3780
3930
3958
4034
4041
4042
4048
4055
4097
4151
4169
4176
4311
4473
4474
4546
4555
4557
4564
4572
4628
4761
4796
4905
4906
4908
4909
4925
4929
4958
4987
5000
5112
5122
5129
5142
5163
5265
5347
5400
5422
5459
5471
5491
5494
5506
5556
5563
5633
5686
5687
5735
5746
5752
5813
5844
5846
5856
5902
5958
5962
5969
6153
6161
6172
6201
6224

53
116
122
339
346
384
401
422
449
539
540
611
612
614
615
617
619
620
623
686
836
888
977
1033
1086
1111
1123
1137
1262
1389
1413
1418
1446
1522
1541
1598
1599
1610
1629
1719
1731
1793
1829
1885
1895
1908
1915
2028
2068
2106
2107
2186
2199
2363
2377
2421
2528
2534
2537
2819
2849
2890
2900
2911
2912
2914
2961
2963
2964
2988
2998
3072
3136
3168
3258
3274
3283
3359
3361
3373
3389
3455
3650
3709
3714
3748
3793
3872
3939
3941
4067
4099
4137
4242
4286
4456
4464
4466
4472
4505
4514
4538
4541
4638
4714
4821
4945
4949
4969
5106
5115
5243
5279
5338
5425
5520
5546
5549
5569
5587
5724
5804
5830
5841
5936
5945
5950
5954
5957
5979
6021
6189
6194
6213

435
587
900
1225
1533
2059
2640
2642
2655
2682
3196
3215
3229
3331
3336
3402
3459
3506
3661
3680
3737
3763
3796
3822
3845
3971
4290
4291
4534
4561
4767
4795
4816
4828
4829
4935
5160
5190
5446
5511
5518
5544
5607
5679
5727
5762
5854
5919
6003
6004
6214
6215

832
1002
1127
1261
1311
1414
1648
1683
1746
1771
1795
2415
2974
3091
3265
3318
3329
3344
3573
3581
3600
3635
3694
3815
4026
4080
4112
4188
4189
4193
4195
4235
4240
4459
4468
4516
4701
4730
4749
4910
4941
5004
5074
5109
5132
5219
5293
5332
5336
5482
5536
5582
5594
5608
5632
5651
5734
5812
5828
5840
5848
5900
6023
6139
6177

[EricH]

A couple quick schedule reminders:

1) Drafting resumes on 12/27 with a pair of Canadian regionals (Western Canada and Windsor-Essex).
2) Waiver claims are due 12/25 at 11:59 PM EST. So far I've got claim lists from 6/8 teams playing; if I hear from both of the other two earlier I may go ahead and signal a closed waiver claim period.

Edit: Make that 7/8 teams with lists in, and by the looks Alamo, Waterloo, and Wisconsin will be gone by the 4th spot on the waiver claim priority list. Not in that order, though...

[EricH]

Waivers have been processed, and it looks like we have a bunch of teams to hand out.

In order of initial waiver priority...
TBC picks up 2826 in Wisconsin and 120 in Buckeye.
FIRST Pick snags 148 in Waterloo, 1515 in Ventura, 2339 in San Diego, and174 in Finger Lakes.
Swamp Life gets 1477 in Alamo (dropping 653) and 2848 in Dallas (6133 drops).
OrangeJuice takes 1574 in Israel.
RFA takes 2512 in Iowa (2883 out) and 364 in Rocket City (4188 out).
ULCAN grabs 144 from Pittsburgh and 5012 in Los Angeles.
Broconnor claims 2252 in Palmetto for 2393.
Falcon takes 364 in Bayou, dropping 4316.

Current waiver priority is:
OrangeJuice
Broconnor
Falcon
The Breakfast Company
Swamp Life
Rotten Fruit Alliance
The ULCAN
FIRST Pick



And drafting resumes tomorrow.

[Navid Shafa]

Waivers have been processed

I posted updated rosters here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-UItQm4bouwKWyS88iKqCNegZ6sxVKEtMZdErWSJin8/edit#gid=1827401343). I will update again after swaps for TBC, FIRST Pick, Orange Juice, and The ULCAN are posted.

[orangemoore]

I posted updated rosters here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-UItQm4bouwKWyS88iKqCNegZ6sxVKEtMZdErWSJin8/edit#gid=1827401343). I will update again after swaps for TBC, FIRST Pick, Orange Juice, and The ULCAN are posted.

1574 will be swapped out for 2212

[Anthony Galea]

We will drop 5285 at LA and 6054 at Pittsburgh

[BrennanB]

1574 will be swapped out for 2212

2212 in for 4474
2826 in for 5903

[Navid Shafa]

2212 in for 4474
2826 in for 5903

Who are you swapping out for 120 at Buckeye?

[tindleroot]

FIRST Pick swaps:
Waterloo (148) dropping 2702
Ventura (1515) dropping 5802
San Diego (2339) dropping 5857
Finger Lakes (174) dropping 378

[JosephC]

Found a bug with the draft runner, someone had "Random Rookie" in their picklist, so after using "List Pick" it came up, "Remove Pick" did this https://gyazo.com/85df7174f61366d67dc4b38ccc16352a repeat for many many blocks.

[EricH]

Found a bug with the draft runner, someone had "Random Rookie" in their picklist, so after using "List Pick" it came up, "Remove Pick" did this https://gyazo.com/85df7174f61366d67dc4b38ccc16352a repeat for many many blocks.
All you need to do if text crops up is to delete it and put in a random rookie. "Remove Pick" runs a loop that cycles through seeking the proper spot for the team in question.


One of the items I'm thinking of adding happens to be the capability to recognize "Random" and "Rookie" so a list that has those will automatically send to the randomizer or send to the randomizer and only take the rookie teams.

[orangemoore]

So what lists are we using for the District Drafts?

[Navid Shafa]

So what lists are we using for the District Drafts?

If we are going the FIRSTinspires route, I manually pulled all the district rosters here (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1514357&postcount=186).

I also just updated the season long list of FF picks here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-UItQm4bouwKWyS88iKqCNegZ6sxVKEtMZdErWSJin8/edit#gid=1827401343). All picks, trades, and waiver teams are up to date.*

*Excluding TBC's unnamed swap for 120 at Buckeye, still waiting on that ;)

[EricH]

If we are going the FIRSTinspires route, I manually pulled all the district rosters here (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1514357&postcount=186).

Sounds about right. It's a bit of a pain; I was looking at IN earlier and noticed 3-4 un-numbered rookie teams (AKA, still had their temporary number).

[EricH]

By the way, I will be opening up MAR Day 1 on 12/31, a full 2 days ahead of the scheduled time. I'll be a little busy at draft time, I think, but if we take a couple of days to work through Day 1, it won't be as big a deal.

[Navid Shafa]

Sounds about right. It's a bit of a pain

Yep. So the way I pulled these lists was by combining all district event rosters, merging them into a single column, removing duplicates, as well as out of district teams. I attached my raw excel sheet too, in case anyone is interested.

I was looking at IN earlier and noticed 3-4 un-numbered rookie teams (AKA, still had their temporary number).

FIRSTinspires only shows 5944 and 6012, while the old domain show both of those, as well as 5978. 5978 doesn't even exist on FIRSTinspires and aren't shown as registered for any events.

[Giantwalker]

I have a question about district scoring: according to the rules page given at the start of this thread, scoring for teams in district drafts is the average of their scores for all district events. "For the district event draft, each team’s final score will be the average of their FF score for all district events played." Does this mean that third district count and if so do we also count cross district events (e.g. NE team goes to MAR)?

[Navid Shafa]

Does this mean that third district count and if so do we also count cross district events (e.g. NE team goes to MAR)?

Yes, and yes.

I would also like to make a note regarding scores for interdistrict play. For all scorers: A district team, playing in districts, is drafted in and has its score counted towards its home district only. You draft 'em in their home district, you get the average score across all district events attended, home or away.

[Giantwalker]

Yes, and yes.

Thanks Navid!

[orangemoore]

I had to take myself off of the MI draft entirely I have too many conflicts popping up to run it. Hopefully someone else can run it.

[Anthony Galea]

I had to take myself off of the MI draft entirely I have too many conflicts popping up to run it. Hopefully someone else can run it.

I can try to do it, if nobody else wants to.

EDIT: After looking through the draft runner sheet, I think I can do this. I'll do it.

[MARS_James]

So with the help of the RFA data base i have begun updating the drafts but while going through them a thought crossed my mind about an update the to the waiver rules:

Lockout Period:
If a team has competed at an event the previous week they are given temporary on-waiver status until 2 days following the event.


Why the change:
In order to avoid a scenario where an unexpected team does exceedingly well at their first (or second) event and someone picks them for all their subsequent events just by being quicker to the keyboard, it will still give priority to the teams at the top of the waiver queue.

It isn't a big change and it shouldn't result in much headaches for who ever is running the waiver wire but it makes being at the top of the waiver list still worth while, and makes picking up said teams more fair for the whole league.

Just a thought that crossed my mind that we may want to implement.

[EricH]

Lockout Period:
If a team has competed at an event the previous week they are given temporary on-waiver status until 2 days following the event.


Why the change:
In order to avoid a scenario where an unexpected team does exceedingly well at their first (or second) event and someone picks them for all their subsequent events just by being quicker to the keyboard, it will still give priority to the teams at the top of the waiver queue.

It isn't a big change and it shouldn't result in much headaches for who ever is running the waiver wire but it makes being at the top of the waiver list still worth while, and makes picking up said teams more fair for the whole league.

Just a thought that crossed my mind that we may want to implement.
I like. Usually there's one or two teams like that. That being said, they've often been snapped up as somebody's third-rounder in their later events...

[JosephC]

*Excluding TBC's unnamed swap for 120 at Buckeye, still waiting on that ;)

We changed our minds and don't want them anymore, so no swap.

[Navid Shafa]

We changed our minds and don't want them anymore, so no swap.

In that case, the picks posted (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-UItQm4bouwKWyS88iKqCNegZ6sxVKEtMZdErWSJin8/edit#gid=1827401343) should now be up to date as of tonight's drafts.

[EricH]

Schedule and other notes:

Enjoy the days off (there are no scheduled drafts until Saturday). That being said, the MI and MAR drafts are both up for picking, should anybody want to do so.

So, the basic plan on these two-day, 6-round drafts is that the first day is a normal 3-round day, and the second day reverses the drafting order but maintains the picklists. There's a reason for that "non-random players" button on the draft generator part of the sheet, and this is it.

The schedule from now until Kickoff is all district drafting: MI, MAR, PNW, and NE are all 2-day drafts; Chesapeake is likely to be another. North Carolina and Peachtree are single-day. Then we get a day to relax and then it's time to build a robot.

A couple of notes as far as "what's next": Waivers remain open for any team that crops up and wasn't in the initial draft; trades are perfectly valid between players if everybody is willing.


Further schedule note: We still have a number of drafts to run. However, we don't know the teams attending those events yet. I'm referring, of course, to the DCMP events, which will draft sometime around Week 5-6 of competition, and to the Championship's 8 divisional drafts, which will draft the weekend before Champs if at all possible. This is going to be a little hectic during those draft weekends...

[tindleroot]

Can we send a second pick list for day 2 of the block drafts?

[EricH]

Can we send a second pick list for day 2 of the block drafts?
Sure. I'll use whatever the most current list I have is.

[MARS_James]

So I have a late addition to the Swamp Life team: Jeremy Callahan, he will be handling the remainder of Swamp Life's FiM picks.

EDIT:
I have finished updating the threads and everything should be up to date, check the threads to make sure you have your appropriate teams

EDIT EDIT:
Just letting everyone know that 2383 Ninjineers showed up as a team at the Orlando Regional, feel free to put in waiver claims.

[Navid Shafa]

I have finished updating the threads and everything should be up to date, check the threads to make sure you have your appropriate teams.

Thanks to feedback from James, the spreadsheet with picks (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-UItQm4bouwKWyS88iKqCNegZ6sxVKEtMZdErWSJin8/edit#gid=1827401343) should be current as well.

[EricH]

2383 is on waiver in Orlando. Claims will need to be in by 1/4/16, 8 PM Eastern.

[Rangel(kf7fdb)]

Team 987 looks to be signed up for Arizona West. OrangeJuice would like to make a claim for them.

[EricH]

Team 987 looks to be signed up for Arizona West. OrangeJuice would like to make a claim for them.
And THIS waiver will close on 1/6, 7 PM Eastern. But it'll be a moot point unless OJ adds a claim for 2383 in Orlando, which comes off first.

Current priority is:
OrangeJuice
Broconnor
Falcon
The Breakfast Company
Swamp Life
Rotten Fruit Alliance
The ULCAN
FIRST Pick

[Rangel(kf7fdb)]

We will not be making a claim for 2383. Once the waiver claim goes through for 987, we will trade out 3187.

[EricH]

Well... It's 8 PM Eastern.

So, it's time to reveal that Rotten Fruit Alliance picks up 2383 in Orlando off of waivers.

And by virtue of being at the top of the waiver list, Orange Juice picks up 987 in Arizona West.


Speaking of Arizona West, Falcon claims 1197 there, replacing 991 (if successful). (OK, so I've got inside info...) Waiver closes 1/7 at 8 PM Eastern.

Current waiver priority list:
Broconnor
Falcon
The Breakfast Company
Swamp Life
The ULCAN
FIRST Pick
Rotten Fruit Alliance
OrangeJuice

[Navid Shafa]

RFA will bring in 2383 for 2556 at Orlando. I have updated the pick sheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-UItQm4bouwKWyS88iKqCNegZ6sxVKEtMZdErWSJin8/edit#gid=1827401343) to reflect the new waivers.

[EricH]

Only two drafts left: Chesapeake Day 2 and Peachtree. And Kickoff is still three days away...

So, what happens after the last drafts? That's easy... Waiting. Waiting for teams to come off of the waitlists (or not). Offering and accepting trades (or not). And waiting for Week 0...

After all the waiting comes the drafting of the DCMPs. The good news is that they're spread over two weekends: PNW, Chesapeake, and NC will draft between 4/3 and 4/5, and the rest will draft between 4/10 and 4/12. The bad news is that the teams are really good, and you only get 3.

And then comes the week after DCMPs, better known as Championship Division Draft Week (er... OK. Whatever. ;) ) All 8 divisions get drafted, but the drafting order is no longer random... We'll get to that later.

[Navid Shafa]

Speaking of Arizona West, Falcon claims 1197 there, replacing 991 (if successful). (OK, so I've got inside info...) Waiver closes 1/7 at 8 PM Eastern.

Are they yours?

[EricH]

Speaking of Arizona West, Falcon claims 1197 there, replacing 991 (if successful). (OK, so I've got inside info...) Waiver closes 1/7 at 8 PM Eastern. No other claims were received for this waiver. Falcon picks up 1197 for 991 in Arizona West.


Current waiver priority list:
Broconnor
The Breakfast Company
Swamp Life
The ULCAN
FIRST Pick
Rotten Fruit Alliance
OrangeJuice
Falcon

[Navid Shafa]

No other claims were received for this waiver. Falcon picks up 1197 for 991 in Arizona West.

With that waiver processed and drafts completed, the rosters have been updated (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-UItQm4bouwKWyS88iKqCNegZ6sxVKEtMZdErWSJin8/edit#gid=1827401343).

[EricH]

Apologies to an anonymous claimant for making them wait over a day for the posting:

1023 is on waiver in Pittsburgh, with a claim. Claim window closes 1/13 at 8 PM EST.

[Navid Shafa]

The same District Ranking Method (http://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc/blog/Admin-Manual-Section-7-and-the-FIRST-STRONGHOLD-Logo) used last year will be implemented this season.

[EricH]

The same District Ranking Method (http://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc/blog/Admin-Manual-Section-7-and-the-FIRST-STRONGHOLD-Logo) used last year will be implemented this season.
I noticed that. OTOH, W-L-T is back as the primary method of ranking. (And then there's the extra RPs...)

Usually, we go W-L-T at 2-0-1, then add on ranking points for just the top 15 or 16 teams. (Last year, of course, was an exception.) I'm thinking there are a few ways to go here.

1) W-L-T, + standard rank points for the teams that seed high enough to make elims on their own if the cards line up.
2) RP total, + standard rank points.
3) District Ranking.
4) W-L-T, + District Ranking.
5) RP total, + District Ranking.

Of the 5, I'm leaning towards #5, as it gives out the most total points and is the easiest to calculate. OTOH, it'll really bias towards districts and smaller events with their 12+ matches/team. My second option would be #2, due to it being more standard.

[Navid Shafa]

Usually, we go W-L-T at 2-0-1, then add on ranking points for just the top 15 or 16 teams. (Last year, of course, was an exception.) I'm thinking there are a few ways to go here.

I'm not recalling how this was done in 2014 and prior. Would that be W-L-T points plus additional rank points starting at 16 for 1st seed and down to 1 point for the 16th seed? Is this what you are referring to as Standard rank below?


1) W-L-T, + standard rank points for the teams that seed high enough to make elims on their own if the cards line up.
2) RP total, + standard rank points.
3) District Ranking.
4) W-L-T, + District Ranking.
5) RP total, + District Ranking.

Of the 5, I'm leaning towards #5, as it gives out the most total points and is the easiest to calculate. OTOH, it'll really bias towards districts and smaller events with their 12+ matches/team. My second option would be #2, due to it being more standard.

Since we have the table on the last sheet here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tz-sXpesRw8anfe4qJ1vJPeImiQXy_sojnpL0Y5Gilk/edit#gid=478199355) from last season, this should be easy enough for us to use while working on automated FF scoring via the API for this year. Without ease of calculation being an issue, I am strongly against most options, save for 3.

Trying to use W-L-T as a stand-alone is a poor metric, because most teams may be designing strategies that net them a higher average RP, but net them a lower match score. Trying to use RP is a little better, but it creates an inflation of ranking points (relative to award and elimination points). This inflation may adversely affect Fantasy teams that made databases/picks based on a certain weighting of on-field performance.

The fact that District Ranking is normalized and is comparable between events has me leaning this route. Trying to add additional rank points to the district ranking defeats the purpose of normalization IMO.


1023 is on waiver in Pittsburgh, with a claim. Claim window closes 1/13 at 8 PM EST.

Who got lucky? ;)

[EricH]

I'm not recalling how this was done in 2014 and prior. Would that be W-L-T points plus additional rank points starting at 16 for 1st seed and down to 1 point for the 16th seed? Is this what you are referring to as Standard rank below?
It is what I'm referring to as Standard rank. From the posted rules:
1st seed, 20 points
2nd-3rd seed, 12 points
4th-8th seed, 6 points
9th-12th seed, 3 points
13th-16th seed, 2 points

Subject to change based on the game given, naturally.

Since we have the table on the last sheet here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tz-sXpesRw8anfe4qJ1vJPeImiQXy_sojnpL0Y5Gilk/edit#gid=478199355) from last season, this should be easy enough for us to use while working on automated FF scoring via the API for this year. Without ease of calculation being an issue, I am strongly against most options, save for 3.

Trying to use W-L-T as a stand-alone is a poor metric, because most teams may be designing strategies that net them a higher average RP, but net them a lower match score. Trying to use RP is a little better, but it creates an inflation of ranking points (relative to award and elimination points). This inflation may adversely affect Fantasy teams that made databases/picks based on a certain weighting of on-field performance.

The fact that District Ranking is normalized and is comparable between events has me leaning this route. Trying to add additional rank points to the district ranking defeats the purpose of normalization IMO.
Just as a thought, the defenses may adversely affect real FRC teams that developed offseason drivetrains based on a certain assumption of field terrain. ;)

The main reason we went to the district ranking in the first place is because FIRST wasn't tracking W-L-T, so we had no way to calculate that. District rank only affects district advancement, which was also the case last year, but we have W-L-T back this year. Remember, we're scoring at events, NOT between them. FIRST doesn't normalize between events. (Except for the district ranking.)

The only two times we HAVEN'T used straight W-L-T were 2012 (the bridges were added in) and 2015 (no W-L-T to count). In all other years, it's been W-L-T + rank. That's a big part of why I favor the options without the district ranking--this is, after all, a Traditional league, though being the only league kind of led to that tag being dropped.


How about using Option 4? Keep the W-L-T, but swap out the rank bonus points for the district ranking, which gives all the teams points. If we really wanted to, we could assign a negative value to the losses.



Who got lucky? ;)
Swamp Life, for 2526.

[Navid Shafa]

How about using Option 4? Keep the W-L-T, but swap out the rank bonus points for the district ranking, which gives all the teams points. If we really wanted to, we could assign a negative value to the losses.

I think it's the lesser of the evils, fine by me. ;)

Swamp Life, for 2526.

Updated Rosters (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-UItQm4bouwKWyS88iKqCNegZ6sxVKEtMZdErWSJin8/edit#gid=1827401343)


Just as a thought, the defenses may adversely affect real FRC teams that developed offseason drivetrains based on a certain assumption of field terrain. ;)

Tangential: I would strongly argue that teams of this caliber are unlikely to blindly copy-paste their offseason drive trains. Teams willing to put in the time for off-season R&D, and/or training are likely smart enough to design around a game.

[Rangel(kf7fdb)]

What's the problem with option 1? You have your standard W/L/T and then extra RP would be reflected in the actual standings.

[EricH]

OK, we have another waiver claim up:

Anonymous team has claimed 11 in South Florida. This one closes 1/22/16, we'll call it midnight PST.

[Alpha Beta]

GKC just went from 57 to 58 teams. ;)

[EricH]

GKC just went from 57 to 58 teams. ;)
OK, I see a lot of folks figured out that that's 1986 in GKC. Waiver closes 1/24, 8 PM EST.

For reference, the current priority list is:
Broconnor
The Breakfast Company
The ULCAN
FIRST Pick
Rotten Fruit Alliance
OrangeJuice
Falcon
Swamp Life

[EricH]

Well, I do believe that I've got some waivers to award.

The Breakfast Company picks up 11 for 2905 in South Florida.

And ordinarily I'd let the waivers run for 1986, but when the top of the list makes a claim, there's no point. Broconnor drops 5730 to pick up 1986 in GKC.

Current priority list:
The ULCAN
FIRST Pick
Rotten Fruit Alliance
OrangeJuice
Falcon
Swamp Life
The Breakfast Company
Broconnor

[EricH]

OK, folks, as a reminder, we're coming up on competition season. So, we've got a few notes...

--Lists will lock (no trades, unless someone is replacing a no-show) at midnight on Wednesday prior to an event beginning. So, Palmetto locks the day after Bag Day. Week 1 events lock 1 week later.
--Scoring: As discussed some time ago, we will be scoring W-L-T, and adding in some ranking points using the District ranking model.


And a waiver is up: 842, Las Vegas, closes 2/24 at midnight Eastern.

[EricH]

And another waiver just went up: 5817, Orange County. We'll call that the same close time as before.

[Navid Shafa]

And a waiver is up: 842, Las Vegas, closes 2/24 at midnight Eastern.
And another waiver just went up: 5817, Orange County. We'll call that the same close time as before.

Results?

[tindleroot]

Just for reference, can someone list the point values for scoring? I know there's been discussion on the style but it has all been fairly ambiguous as to the actual point values. Thanks.

[Navid Shafa]

Just for reference, can someone list the point values for scoring? I know there's been discussion on the style but it has all been fairly ambiguous as to the actual point values. Thanks.

As long as we get a clarification from Eric on ranking, I'm assuming we'll be set. With Palmetto already underway, this seems to be a critical decision.

I believe the rest is the same as last year (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1454894&postcount=250)?

[EricH]

As long as we get a clarification from Eric on ranking, I'm assuming we'll be set. With Palmetto already underway, this seems to be a critical decision.

I believe the rest is the same as last year (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1454894&postcount=250)?
Same as last year.

Here's the changes:
W-L-T is back at 2-0-1.
And we'll use the district ranking for ranking pointage.

OK, the waivers...
842 goes to ULCAN
5817 goes to Broconnor for 6220.

NEW WAIVER: 1197, San Diego Regional. Falcon claims.

If you're missing a team in a locked regional, you'll be assigned a random team during scoring.

Waiver Priority:
FIRST Pick
Rotten Fruit Alliance
OrangeJuice
Falcon
Swamp Life
The Breakfast Company
The ULCAN
Broconnor

[Navid Shafa]

OK, the waivers...
842 goes to ULCAN
5817 goes to Broconnor for 6220.

NEW WAIVER: 1197, San Diego Regional. Falcon claims.


The rosters (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-UItQm4bouwKWyS88iKqCNegZ6sxVKEtMZdErWSJin8/edit#gid=1827401343) are current, with the exceptions of Bayou and the claims awarded above (pending swaps).

As for automated Fantasy scoring, RFA is getting close. In the meantime, I'm working on the manual scores for Palmetto, for those curious ;)

[BrennanB]

As for automated Fantasy scoring, RFA is getting close. In the meantime, I'm working on the manual scores for Palmetto, for those curious ;)

TBC's manual scoring:

Swamp Life 165
FIRST Pick 147
Rotten Fruit Alliance 137
The Breakfast Company 120
OrangeJuice 105*
Broconnor 94
The ULCAN 71
Falcon 69

*down a team (we didn't sub in the random team)

[Navid Shafa]

TBC's manual scoring:

Swamp Life 165
FIRST Pick 147
Rotten Fruit Alliance 137
The Breakfast Company 120
OrangeJuice 105*
Broconnor 94
The ULCAN 71
Falcon 69

*down a team (we didn't sub in the random team)

RFA Automated Palmetto scoring is close to the same result, with the following differences:

*Falcon is 4 points short, missed QF finish for 1102
*OJ's team 4013 is 2 points short, missed imagery award
*OJ's team 2614 is 10 points short, maybe incorrect elims finish?

Swamp Life 165
FIRST Pick 147
Rotten Fruit Alliance 137
The Breakfast Company 120
OrangeJuice 117*
Broconnor 94
Falcon 73
The ULCAN 71

OJ: Since 1319 was confirmed on the list and then later dropped, the next random to fill this spot would be 4902, correct?

[EricH]

The rosters (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-UItQm4bouwKWyS88iKqCNegZ6sxVKEtMZdErWSJin8/edit#gid=1827401343) are current, with the exceptions of Bayou and the claims awarded above (pending swaps).


I'm advised that ULCAN's drop is 6154.

Also, Breakfast Company has claimed 5872 in Bayou off of waivers.


I think I forgot to put the close of waivers on 1197 at San Diego--Midnight tomorrow (Tuesday, 3/1). 5872 will close at list lock (midnight of Wednesday, 3/2).

[BrennanB]

RFA Automated Palmetto scoring is close to the same result, with the following differences:

*Falcon is 4 points short, missed QF finish for 1102
*OJ's team 4013 is 2 points short, missed imagery award
*OJ's team 2614 is 10 points short, maybe incorrect elims finish?

Swamp Life 165
FIRST Pick 147
Rotten Fruit Alliance 137
The Breakfast Company 120
OrangeJuice 117*
Broconnor 94
Falcon 73
The ULCAN 71

OJ: Since 1319 was confirmed on the list and then later dropped, the next random to fill this spot would be 4902, correct?

Looks good. And yes, fill with the next random.

[EricH]

I was reminded that as a standard practice, picking up an otherwise-waiver team in the week before the event (defined as "Midnight Saturday night until list lock") doesn't count as waiver. *Checks time for the 1197 claim*--Guess I could have called that as free agent...Oh well, I called it as waiver.

Falcon picks up 1197 for 1159 in San Diego (waiver). There's a trade in GTR-C, too, by RFA (attempted challenge to that did not have priority, on top of that standard practice I'd forgotten about).

FIRST Pick
Rotten Fruit Alliance
OrangeJuice
Swamp Life
The Breakfast Company
The ULCAN
Broconnor
Falcon


One reminder: For any team that is competing in Week 1, there will be a 2-day waiver period on ADDING them to future alliances. Subtractions have no such restriction. The reason behind this is so that "breakout" teams aren't snapped up by quick trigger fingers (or concerted strategies by teams... not that anybody would do that).

[ttldomination]

Folks, for this past week, I've been working on an automated scoring system to help everyone out.

Leveraging the power of pivot tables and a little bit of scripting, the end result is available by clicking here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nfyPL6sgqG7YleQRs2UkBUhv6ZlB2kWZcnQY17fONrw/edit?usp=sharing).

Just some of the sheets:
"ScoreTotal" - Total scores for all teams.
"ScoreByEvent" - Score breakdown for all FF teams by the event.
"ScoreByWeek" - Score breakdown for all FF teams by the competition week.
"Raw Picks" - All picks and points for each FF teams.

The rest of the sheets hold raw data, roll ups, and other information needed to power the autoscoring.

As of right now, this thing will (should) score regionals and districts and keep it up as the season goes on.

If there are any questions/suggestions I can field them here. Additionally, if you poke around and find any errors, let me know and I'll get them ironed out as soon as possible.

Thanks,
- Sunny G.

Edit: As a note, the scoring isn't real-time. The processing for gathering data can be manually kicked off.

[MARS_James]

Has high score been eliminated as a point getter at regionals, cause it is listed under championship but not regionals.