Re: What we learned from week 1
 

This is an iffy call, and it's a G25 penalty. Greg said specifically that they were assessing technical fouls under G30 for the situation he described, which is what I think is wrong.

G25 cannot apply unless the alliance is working together to do this (eg. both feeder stations are blocked by opposing robots). G25 applies only to the actions of multiple robots (plural), so a single robot preventing access to the feeder station should not be penalized under G25.

Re: What we learned from week 1
 

See the following Q&A:

https://frc-qa.usfirst.org/Question/...eeder-stations

-Clinton-

Re: What we learned from week 1
 

That would be a G-25, but has no bearing if it is not multiple robots working together. Would also have no bearing if the field wasn't blockaded. Their is an alternate location to get discs from.

Edit: Beaten to it.

Re: What we learned from week 1
 

Touche.

Re: What we learned from week 1
 

I found the Q&A I was looking for to support my original statement, FWIW:

This is in regards to G19, but it general supports an official ruling that if the terms of the rule have not been violated, no penalty can be assessed.

Re: What we learned from week 1
 

A ref at the Hub City Regional told our team that G30 did not apply unless you were climbing. Hopefully this will be discussed.

Re: What we learned from week 1
 

Then that ref was objectively wrong.

Re: What we learned from week 1
 

After having watched a fair bit of footage from week 1 I would not be surprised if we saw the "Scorched Earth" Alliance selection strategy in one of the championship divisions this year. There is a sufficient level of competence within the overall field this year (and with the added addition of the Wild Card I can only assume that the depth of the championship field will be that much better), that when coupled with the large divisions at the Championship it will not be surprising to see favorites within a division looking up at a couple other teams with a better draw.

I also believe that alliance selection strategy will be crucial to success at any event this year. I would not be surprised to see a 6 7 or 8 seed win in many events depending on the relative drop off in the field. Dominant robots can still control regionals ala 1986 and 610, but at events with a solid but not dominant top tier upsets may be more prevalent.

Re: What we learned from week 1
 

By "Scorched Earth" do you mean a less desirable #1 seed picking other captains with their first pick, expecting them to say no, and preventing them from then choosing each other?

Re: What we learned from week 1
 

That is correct similar to Newton in 2006. (No offense intended to the number one seed of that division, it was a smart strategy but according to the stats they may not have even been top 16)