Secret Passage
 

According to the game manual you can enter the secret passage and have no time limit in said zone, but my question is when the opposing team rolls a ball into the secret passage. Can you steal the ball and then re-enter the courtyard to score some points? Thanks for helping me in advance!
~5442

Re: Secret Passage
 

I read that rule several times.

G20 ROBOTS may only enter or exit their opponent’s SECRET PASSAGE from/to the opponent’s COURTYARD. A ROBOT is considered to be within the SECRET PASSAGE once the only carpet the ROBOT is in contact with is the carpet inside the SECRET PASSAGE.

My reading of that is that if you've made it through the defenses and are in their courtyard you can occupy the space that is the secret passage.

You must exit the secret passage back into the opponent's courtyard as well.

So, once you are in the courtyard, you can enter the secret passage to snag balls as they are entering the field.

Re: Secret Passage
 

Yes, my interpretation of that was basically that you CAN cross from the opponent's courtyard into their secret passage (and vice versa), but you CANNOT cross from the neutral zone into their secret passage (and vice versa). Ever.

Re: Secret Passage
 

some people on the team seem to be confused on this explanation, but wont explain what they are confused on (thanks Jermery) can you explain this a little more in-depth for us? i'd love to tell you what they dont understand but they wont explain. (tensions are a little high here...)

Re: Secret Passage
 

I'll put it this way: You cannot use the Secret Passage to bypass your opponents' Defenses. You can use it to get around your own, however.

Once you are inside the defenses, you can enter but not use the passage.

Re: Secret Passage
 

That explained it. Thanks a ton!

Re: Secret Passage
 

I like that explanation. Good intuitive sense of what the rule is saying.

Here's a picture (NOT from the manual):

Re: Secret Passage
 

one more question, does the yes on entering your side go with entering apply to the enemy secret passage?

Re: Secret Passage
 

I'm not quite sure what you're asking, but you are always free to enter and exit YOUR secret passage from any direction.

This picture was made assuming you were on the blue alliance.

Re: Secret Passage
 

you answered the question. thank you.

Re: Secret Passage
 

If it's ok to sit inside your opponent's secret passage, is it not possible to block [s]cannonballs[/s] boulders from entering the field indefinitely? I could not find mention of this in the manual, and it feels like I'm missing something.

EDIT: I can;t get strikethrough to work. Boulders, not canonballs. I'm too used to the pre-season speculation. :P

Re: Secret Passage
 

Boulders (please use the official term, there are no such thing as cannonballs in FIRST Stronghold) need to be returned to the field if there are more than 6 in the castle. I see no rules about intercepting incoming boulders.

Re: Secret Passage
 

Handy diagram (now featuring both sides of the field)
From the perspective of the red team.

Re: Secret Passage
 

I believe that intercepting and hoarding more than one would count as a violation of G38.

Re: Secret Passage
 

I would agree, if you try to control multiple. If you simply redirect them into your opponent's courtyard one at a time, I do not see a problem with G38.