Thoughts on team strategy?

[jkung2314]

Hi, Team 4765 here.
Our strategy is to be primarily a breach and defensive robot. We plan on being able to breach 4 of the 5 categories of defenses in game as our main offense to gain 1 RP. Your thoughts?

[tindleroot]

Hi, Team 4765 here.
Our strategy is to be primarily a breach and defensive robot. We plan on being able to breach 4 of the 5 categories of defenses in game as our main offense to gain 1 RP. Your thoughts?

Any boulder scoring robot is going to have to breach at least 1 of the categories as they need to pass the defenses to get into the opponents' courtyard. Save yourself the trouble and only work on breaching 2-3 categories. Then spend your extra time scoring in the low goal, defending, etc.

[Jay O'Donnell]

It's a solid strategy. Should be a fairly simple robot to build and you're still valuable to an alliance.

[jkung2314]

Would you think that a 6 wheeled drivetrain with 2 bogey wheels be a good idea for pushing another robot for defense but also traversing the rock terrain?

[Physicguy]

Any boulder scoring robot is going to have to breach at least 1 of the categories as they need to pass the defenses to get into the opponents' courtyard. Save yourself the trouble and only work on breaching 2-3 categories. Then spend your extra time scoring in the low goal, defending, etc.

This is along the line of what we were thinking too. I think a robot that can breach 2-3 categories effectively would make a good asset on an alliance.

[sanelss]

That's something that came to mind reading thru the rules. even if your robot can't score a single ball you are still very valuable if you can breach a few defenses. Never have defensive robots been as valuable as they are in this game. 1 RP by a single defensive robot is a pretty huge deal.

[jkung2314]

What do you think about shooting?

[sanelss]

What do you think about shooting?

that will be extremely hard to do unless you have a good vision system

[jkung2314]

What do you guys think about a 6 wheel drivetrain? Also do you have a plan on defending the shooters?

[Physicguy]

What do you guys think about a 6 wheel drivetrain? Also do you have a plan on defending the shooters?

I can see a lot robots this season using 6 wheel drivetrain, our team might consider using them ourselves, and best way to play defense for a shooting bot is to disrupt the aiming and shot.

[jkung2314]

I can see a lot robots this season using 6 wheel drivetrain, our team might consider using them ourselves, and best way to play defense for a shooting bot is to disrupt the aiming and shot.

Would you recommend trying to put a shield up? And do you see any issues with the 6 wheel drive?

[Physicguy]

Would you recommend trying to put a shield up? And do you see any issues with the 6 wheel drive?

You can try to implement a shield could do the job, but what we found that a nudge or bump of a team out of position is just as effective. Good driving practice is a good form defense. There can be issue of tipping with any drivetrain it depends on how high your center of gravity.

[JonA1557]

if you go offensive you could design it more compact to go through the lowbar (which is a very strategic component for an alliance), and be able to gather boulders somehow, to shoot in the low goals. If your going more defensive, try a faster and taller robot to block the boulders like http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/BRGPOD/147605.jpg
as an example, to block shots both on top and bottom, but it can't be top heavy.

[Physicguy]

if you go offensive you could design it more compact to go through the lowbar (which is a very strategic component for an alliance), and be able to gather boulders somehow, to shoot in the low goals. If your going more defensive, try a faster and taller robot to block the boulders like http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/BRGPOD/147605.jpg
as an example, to block shots both on top and bottom, but it can't be top heavy.

I agree and this idea is what I'm leaning toward... I have not considered a pure defensive bot yet but the key is a low center of gravity especially through some of the defenses.

[Giantwalker]

Any boulder scoring robot is going to have to breach at least 1 of the categories as they need to pass the defenses to get into the opponents' courtyard. Save yourself the trouble and only work on breaching 2-3 categories. Then spend your extra time scoring in the low goal, defending, etc.

If you are only focusing on two to three categories I would note, that a shooter bot would likely want a bot that can do the most time consuming defenses on their alliance in playoffs so that they can take the fastest cycling route to the Castle.