Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

Same field for all 3 Canadian events so far.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

I would say that the top 5 at the event, in order, are:

254
1114
4039
3683
2056

No matter who seeds #1, they're left with a REALLY tough choice. There is no clear choice as to who should be your first pick. If I'm 4039 and I'm #1 though? I'm picking 254.

The #2 captain's 1st pick is an even harder choice, and will likely dictate the finals matchup, but there is a serious possibility that the #1 and/or #2 seeds could get bit by the backside of the draft being fairly weak, allowing 3,4,5,6,7, or 8 to build a stronger alliance than 2 superstars and a weak 3rd, what with only 30 teams in attendance.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

So the field in QCMO is the 2nd field in Canada and ONWA's field is the same one that was at ONTO2 and ONTO? Or is ONWA using a different field, and the ONTO2/ONTO field went to QCMO?

If this field has played all 3 Ontario regionals, did ONTO have any trouble pushing matches to web? I don't recall it did.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

This is like playing fantasy robots, but for some harmless fun, I'll stick my neck out and suggest 2056.

Strategically, 4039 excels at the front zone (ie scoring) and 2056 seems designed to play the back zone perfectly (great inbound, 5ft blocker, great truss throw).

Rather cynically, as alliance captain, if they made it to the finals and played 254/1114 (or 1285/others?), they are ensured at least a wildcard. With the serpentine and so little to separate the elite robots (and ultimately how good 2056/1114 are together), it's at least an important consideration.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

The ONWA field was also used at ONTO/ONTO2.

I don't think the QCMO field has been used before this week.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

That *is* true.

There is also the consideration that 1114 and 2056 share a practice facility, and 2056 is clearly designed to catch. I'd bet anything that there exists a well practiced Truss/Catch up their sleeve much like the ~4 sec 40pt Balance the Eh Team showed off in 2012 division elims at CMP.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

But if you pick 254 you get all of that but the blocker, a more consistent autonomous, and they'd be a suitable back-up scorer, or you could run a strategy where you alternate 4039 and 254 between scoring bot and truss bot. Not to mention, if I were 4039, I'd be worried about the reliability of 2056 who spent half a match dead today, and 1114 who's had multiple claw issues today.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

Another thought. If you're 254 and #2 seed, do you decline 4039? That's a tough call.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

Fantasy pick-lists are fun.

Regardless of which teams get together in the top few alliances, the key will be the 3rd robot.

Whichever alliance can find a robot who can receive an inbound, outtake/pass a ball super cleanly, play smart defense (pushing, slowing down opponents, blocking shots), and not take penalties will win.

This is easier said than done, especially for the top few alliances because of the serpentine draft and the fact that there are only 30 teams here.

More than any regional I've seen, scouting will determine who wins this regional.

If teams do their homework, there shouldn't be any robots like this left for the #1 alliance, maybe not for the #2 or #3 ones either.

At GTRW which also fielded 30 teams, 188 worked tirelessly in the pits immediately after selections with their 3rd robot 3705 to make sure they could do this, and ended up storming through the elims, nearly winning the tournament.

IMHO, this tournament will be won tonight - at all the scouting meetings that will be taking place to find that gem of a 3rd robot.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

How the rest of the rankings will probably have just as much an effect. If 3rd seed is not 1114 or 2056, then I think they would accept.

And although I've watched most of the matches today, I haven't really figured out who might be the 18-24th picks, which could swing things.

There's huge potential for blue alliances, especially 3-6.

EDIT: Mr Lim beat me to it.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

This is wee picking strategy comes into play huge, possible picking the lowest ranked team out of them and hoping they decline so that the higher ranked team can't pick them splitting up the best,

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

Sorry if this is hijacking the thread, but I want your opinion on a match played at waterloo at the end of the day (here) In your opinion, should the match have been replayed because of the cameraman hitting our ball at the 2:00 point in the video? When he hit it, the ball went back to our end of the field, costing us a cycle. If he had not hit it back in, our human player would have given it to us in the opponents end. Thanks in advance for your input.

For some reason, the video says the match was in virgina, but it was actually in waterloo. - FIXED. thanks Bochek

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

I don't know if there are grounds for a replay in the rules based on 'accidental outside interference'.

However, I think the question you have to ask yourself is 'could we have gained an additional 16+pts'? It's a small margin, but it's still either an assist or another truss catch (in addition to scoring the high goal).

Based off the rest of the video, I don't believe, even with the additional time (which would be at best 7 seconds, based on realistic time to gather and human load the ball), there was enough time for another truss throw (and it didn't seem as if an alliance partner was ready to assist).

For reference, there was 15 seconds between the end of your first cycle and when your team possessed the ball, and more than 30 seconds (with the outside interference) the next cycle.

Plus the cameraman was clearly just trying to help.

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

Well they call me "Dirty Mike" for a reason...

Re: 2014 Waterloo Regional
 

Fixed that. Sorry 'bout that.