Team Update 2013-01-11
 

http://frc-manual.usfirst.org/Updates/0#term%2034

They partially added back the force a foul rule.

Re: Team Update 2013-01-11
 

Well, darn.

That and not being able to use a ladder when removing your robot from the pyramid. Makes sense, though

Re: Team Update 2013-01-11
 

Not much changed for the exception that teams no longer can get their robot off the pyramid with special equipment while on the field floor.

Re: Team Update 2013-01-11
 

Good... I was surprised that wasn't there to start with, considering that it has been in most previous years and that it would be pretty easy to push a robot against your pyramid or loading zone. The really good thing is that they haven't also added an exception to this rule, and an exception to the exception... :rolleyes:

Re: Team Update 2013-01-11
 

Sweet.

Re: Team Update 2013-01-11
 

G18-1... thank goodness. I was discussing with another mentor how going to your own feed slots was a crap shot. You could possibly draw foul points all over.

Re: Team Update 2013-01-11
 

G18-1: good.

Now I can tell you how I would have broken the game. Suppose I'm on Red. I have a bulldozer bot. I push Blue bots around at will. Including pushing Blue into a fellow Red bot while that bot is attempting to climb the pyramid. Quick 30 points for our side, and Blue gets a red card. If it was the elimination round, Red would automatically win.

What remains to be seen is which rule takes precedence, G18-1 or G30. G18-1 says you can't cause a foul; G30 says it's a foul regardless of who causes it.

Re: Team Update 2013-01-11
 

G18-1 says you can't build a strategy around causing a foul. Last year, you could ram teams into your bridge on your way to the bridge, and they would get a Technical Foul. However, if you purposefully pushed them from their key into your bridge repeatedly, you would be in trouble.

Re: Team Update 2013-01-11
 

I guess it all depends on how harshly they want to keep people away. It could be another "trump card" clause like 2011...ugh.

It seems to me to make the most sense to just let G18-1 be the end-all be-all. If you force them into a red-card situation, they a) don't get the redcard, b) you get a TECHNICAL FOUL, and c) you possibly disrupt your own alliance's climb. That seems to me to be enough disincentive to not risk trying to force an opposing redcard...

Re: Team Update 2013-01-11
 

Recently in the official Q&A, under R05, somebody asked this question:

Q. Does the 54" diameter cylinder include the bumpers or not. R05 ambiguous.
A. Yes, BUMPERS are considered part of the ROBOT for [G23]. This will be addressed in Team UPDATE - 2013-01-11.

Browsing over team update 2013-01-11, it does not appear that FIRST addresses G23.

This is a pretty important rule and I hope that FIRST can provide some clarification. Anyone have any ideas of what is going on regarding G23?

Re: Team Update 2013-01-11
 

I'm pretty surprised about the addition of rule G18-1. Not because I don't think it should be a rule, but rather because I always assumed that when the GDC begins to write the rules, they start with the game non-specific parts of previous years' rules. I don't know whether they simply forgot to include it or they decided it should be a rule in the week after Kickoff. My previous assumption implies the latter, but I don't know. [/irrelevantspeculation]

Re: Team Update 2013-01-11
 

R05 was updated in team update 2013-01-11 to be consistent with this Q/A response. Bumpers do count against you for the 54" rule

Re: Team Update 2013-01-11
 

They did address it. They removed the "and volume" exemption for bumpers and battery (though the weight exemption remains).

Re: Team Update 2013-01-11
 

For those who looked at the update earlier, look again. I don't remember seeing R05 and R78 updated when I first posted. I think they were added later

Re: Team Update 2013-01-11
 

That makes sense now. I glossed over it initially. Overall this ruling will affect many teams.