Re: Tether rules?
 

You just had to start that water game thing, didn't you :)

Re: Tether rules?
 

Re: Tether rules?
 

How do you call that non-motorized? It's storing potential energy in a weight.

Re: Tether rules?
 

No argument!
Actually, it's rather like golf. Just about everyone who enjoys watching golf is (or at least was) an avid player.
I think I've already answered that.

At first, I thought this game was too simple - the main game pieces have handles, for crying out loud! Then, as we started to break down the scoring, availability of game pieces, and dynamics, this has actually become my favorite game, and second favorite challenge (behind Ultimate Ascent) in my four years being in or near FRC.

In order to continue to inspire the next generation of technology and business leaders, the FIRST GDC must continually invent new games, and try not to reuse concepts in the same 4-year period. By the nature of this, each game will have strengths and weaknesses relative to the others.

I believe that FIRST has also done an intentional service to these students by including a "placement" game every few years. By my count, this is the 8th game with a primary stacking/hanging activity, with the first being Toroid Terror in 1997. The GDC does this even though placement games like Recycle Rush and golf have less spectator appeal. Why would they do this? How many commercial robots throw exercise balls or frisbees or mini basketballs through goals? And how many commercial robots pick up, align, and precisely place rectangles and cylinders and other well-defined but oddball shapes? I expect that we'll see flying game pieces and defense the next two or three years and a placement game again in three or four years.

Re: Tether rules?
 

I agree that "placement" type games are important. However they can be done with defense (see Logomotion), and without the ability to win at the highest levels within a second (see Triple Play- NOT Logomotion).

They can also stick to a "competition" format, and not toss aside the W-L-T system that makes FRC what it is (not a science fair).

My problem with this game isn't that the type of scoring is boring, its that they removed so much of what makes FRC, FRC.
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Anyway this discussion is about tethers and tethered robots. As I said earlier, tethers are an extrapolation of the lack of size restrictions, and thus there are no rules specifically about tethers except that the second piece of your robot ALSO NEEDS TO HAVE NUMBERS ON ALL SIDES OF IT.

Re: Tether rules?
 

I didn't say it didn't move, just that it didn't have motors. Or would you consider a cuckoo clock motorized?

Re: Tether rules?
 

It's not onerous or unreasonable, but how do you get this from:
?

Re: Tether rules?
 

You didn't update your Manual. 2/17 Update added a clarification to the blue box that said, in essence, that if a tether had to be followed to get to the numbers, the robot was in violation.

Re: Tether rules?
 

From the sentence in the blue box you didn't quote:

"If an observer has to follow a tether to identify the ROBOT’s team number, that is considered not clearly visible and does not meet the requirements of R2."

Re: Tether rules?
 

I need to remember to delete the old ones!

Re: Tether rules?
 

After being at a regional, I have to modify my remarks. The game was fully accessible to spectators. Sure, you had to explain the oddball scoring, but has there been an FRC game (at least recently) where you didn't? It was obvious that people were watching matches on the edge of their seat, even those whose team was not on the field. Every tall stack formed, and every item dropped, drew cheers or gasps from all over the audience. I believe also that this game has inspired more complete overhauls and total redesigns after stop build day than any other. Hearing the audience reaction to the "mosquito netting" noodle defense in Bayou Semi #2 was priceless, even though it proved of little value.

Re: Tether rules?
 

What is so hard about putting your REQUIRED license plates on the ramps or other robot pcs.? (Look at it this way....You actually "get to display your specific team # at least 4 more times,"....Nice and boldly!)

Hmmm, I think FIRST needs to develop the FIRST DMR (FIRST Department of Motorized Robots), at championships this year. Then add a nice license plate fee if other attached (tethered, leashed, extended), robot pcs. are missing ANY of their required Team # Plates. Make that fee high, give the $$$'s raised to some deserving charity.

The game is very exciting, and has many elements beyond the expected "Wherehouse Stacking" that many thought it would only be.