Re: Official Ultimate Ascent Thread!
 

Yeah, this year might not be at all like Logomotion....
*flashback*
Game pieces... game pieces everywhere!

Anyways, the only thing I'm disappointed by is the similarity between the last three games. All three had three tiers of scoring (though this year we get one more, but only six game pieces to score in it); all three had an "endgame" that seems like it could swing a match, and all three had human players throwing game pieces into play, as well as a feeder station. Oh well, it should still be a great year!

Re: Official Ultimate Ascent Thread!
 

Although the numbers have changed between tiers, that pretty much describes every FIRST game ever (at least since the advent of alliances). An "endgame" worth a potential match-swinging amount of points has been in every game since 2001, human players have entered game pieces onto the field in every year other than 2008, and most years have had some sort of tiered scoring method. That's like saying all FIRST games are similar because they use "game pieces".

After pondering over this game for a few days, this seems like the most difficult end game challenge in a long time. I remember back in 2007 thinking "how are we going to lift 2 other robots?". That seems easy in comparison.

Re: Official Ultimate Ascent Thread!
 

Two wheel drive has become my team's final design. I think it will work out well for us providing we get our climber designed well.

Re: Official Ultimate Ascent Thread!
 

I mean, Breakaway seemed different. (Low scoring, with only two goals, if I remember correctly.) Lunacy was also unique. (With the low traction, and a single goal (although there were three tiers of game pieces) and the human-player reliant endgame.) I don't remember anything from before Lunacy.
I remember Logomotion's kickoff, and I though the game was very different.
I remember Rebound Rumble's kickoff, and I though that it had a similar feel to Logomotion.
This year, although the endgame seems tough, I believe that a large number of teams will be able to do it, so it will seem similar to last year's game.

Re: Official Ultimate Ascent Thread!
 

I think there's an awful lot of teams severely underestimating the difficulty of a 30pt climb. 10pt climbs are easy. 30pt climbs are HARD.

That being said, I think you're going to see several of the top teams with climbers that can do triple climbs in a ridiculously short period of time.

Re: Official Ultimate Ascent Thread!
 

Amazing! i think this years game will probably be the most challenging one yet!:ahh:

Re: Official Ultimate Ascent Thread!
 

I could not agree more. The main thing will be finding a great balance between a very sucsessful shooter and a very sucsessful climber. The few that can should sweep the regionals do to the time it takes to accomplish both in 6 weeks.

Re: Official Ultimate Ascent Thread!
 

Could you clarify? Breakway was before Logomotion, perhaps you meant Lunacy?

Re: Official Ultimate Ascent Thread!
 

I think that the biggest difference between teams will be the ability to do 20+ climbs.

Re: Official Ultimate Ascent Thread!
 

This is true.

Gravity is a cruel mistress. 100-130 pounds (gotta include the battery) falling from 12 inches is easily enough to do some serious damage to aluminum frames (or any frames, really) let alone 45, 55, 65 inches.

I can only imagine the nightmare of having a West Coast Drivetrain fall and shear off a wheel or two, bend the axles and potentially even damage the chassis itself.

A misstep right before finals (or if it's bad enough, any time before then) could spell the end of your competetiveness.

Re: Official Ultimate Ascent Thread!
 

most definitely. Actually, our team calculated that the robot would be closer to 140. 10 lbs for bumpers, 10 for battery. Also, 10 points really isn't THAT much. 20 may be enough to swing a match.

Re: Official Ultimate Ascent Thread!
 

What makes everyone so sure that the 120# limit is going to be universally reached? The smaller robots this year may only reach 100 or even 90# and still have enough functionality to be competitive. Add to that any emphasis on climbing will encourage serious weight trimming all around. I refer to weights without bumper battery additions. Not that a fall wouldn't be a serious event in the life of any of these machines.

Re: Official Ultimate Ascent Thread!
 

I'd love to see how that works out.

Re: Official Ultimate Ascent Thread!
 

Oops, for the sentence comparing Logomotion and Breakaway, I meant to type Rebound Rumble. My bad.

Re: Official Ultimate Ascent Thread!
 

hmm, how about a 3 wheel drive? it seems to be indicated by the new bumper and size rules, and it would probably help with strafing while aiming.