Re: Odd things the rules allow, and should probably be changed
 

I make an effort during the match when I'm field resetting or refereeing to point out that an action a team (normally a human player) is doing is illegal if I notice them doing it many times in the same match.

No one wants to see fouls, especially ones that are easily avoidable and typically inconsequential to a match.

Re: Odd things the rules allow, and should probably be changed
 

It depends what it is. In my experience, it's rather common for a ref to quickly tell a human player "watch your foot - you keep stepping out of bounds" or "stop putting your hand through the slot in the wall" or the like. During a match, any more complex communication than that probably isn't practical - the refs aren't going to want to interfere with the match by distracting a team member with a lengthy discussion.

Hopefully, this is a sign that your team knew the rules well enough that the head ref didn't feel that this sort of discussion was necessary. :)

Re: Odd things the rules allow, and should probably be changed
 

LoL

Re: Odd things the rules allow, and should probably be changed
 

I don't see anything preventing humans from holding a device that launches noodles.

Re: Odd things the rules allow, and should probably be changed
 

T21.

Re: Odd things the rules allow, and should probably be changed
 

Your homework for tonight: Read Section 5 of the Game Manual, particularly T21, and tell me how that sort of device would be allowed under said rule.

Re: Odd things the rules allow, and should probably be changed
 

Ya, we wanted a slingshot or an atlatl... #NoDice

Re: Odd things the rules allow, and should probably be changed
 

Or tethered 550 based 'copters. Just don't fly too high. (probably wouldn't be ruled safe)

I want to see a bipedal humanoid robot stack a tote. Or maybe a hexapod climb over the landfill and grab containers. I'm not sure which would be cooler.

Re: Odd things the rules allow, and should probably be changed
 

The launcher comes in as part of the operator console, I imagine sitting on a frame above the driver station laptop. The secondary driver picks up the launcher and it is now a handheld part of the operator console. The secondary driver walks to the corner of the alliance station, the human player loads in pool noodles, and they get launched.

Re: Odd things the rules allow, and should probably be changed
 

Hm. I'd imagine it would have to stay physically connected to your operator console. But you can always ask the Q&A for clarification...although I think we all know what the answer will be. ;)

Re: Odd things the rules allow, and should probably be changed
 

If this launcher was powered from 120V AC, it would be connected. ;)

But yeah, you are right. If someone tried this, a clarification would shut it down. :(

Re: Odd things the rules allow, and should probably be changed
 

I'm thinking that FIRST, in their desire to improve clarity, forgot to include a line that's usually in that rule, which specifically barred anything that was intended to give the HP an advantage.

But, if someone DID build a noodle cannon into their operator console, and it was effective... As it stands, that would be a very interesting workaround to the rules.


However... I do think that there is one way it could be ruled illegal. I would suspect that, if push came to shove, the GDC would argue that the noodle launcher was not used to relay commands to the robot, or as support for the devices that do, and thus should not be part of the Operator Console. Then you'd be bringing something into the station that didn't fit into the list of exceptions. (Trust me, they've used far more convoluted rulings in the past to rule stuff illegal that was otherwise legal.)

Re: Odd things the rules allow, and should probably be changed
 

I had a dream last night to resurrect our missing lil' friend Plowie...A tethered army of 10 lil' Plowies all exiting down ramps from inside our 6'-5 3/4" tall bot all pushing totes at once toward the 2 scoring zones while our Mini-Plowie Storage Bot sits in the empty hole in the middle of the Recycle Zone...We'll set those 2 bottom rows and feed, feed, feed, feed...You just stack away Alliance partners. Then those mini-plowies will clean up all our unallocated litter in the last 30 seconds by dragging those noodles home.

Of course the main bot will be an all lexan exterior and just look like a Mini-Plowie display case when not actually on the field.

Plowie you will not be missed lil' guy.:D

Re: Odd things the rules allow, and should probably be changed
 

Yes, they have entered the realm of teams that have inspired new rules. As has 254, 1114, and the many other teams who used cheesy vision (or the like) as per G21's ban on such. Let's not forget the long standing traction device rule (R5), a product of various 2002 designs (mainly 71's file cards).

I was also going to mention the former blockade rule (pointless this year, hence the omission), but I cannot remember which teams were "responsible" for that addition in a competition week 4 or so update (was it 2011? or 2012?).

Re: Odd things the rules allow, and should probably be changed
 

Given past GDC answers, it would probably be something ambiguous and weasily-worded that leaves you completely unsure as to whether it's legal or not...