Re: Defensive robots
 

Would anyone who has contributed to this thread be willing to agree with the statement...
"If you compare an offensive robot with perfect cycles and play to a defensive robot with perfect cycles and play the defensive robot has a higher rate of scoring."

???

Re: Defensive robots
 

No, too many variable regarding other robots.


I think there is no "always preffered robot." A perfect defense bot will be neither always worse nor always better than a perfect high-shooting offensive robot. There are too many variables regarding alliance members, opposing alliances, risk, and even circumstances and opportunities that a robot can do in game. Either one can be incredibly strong. A defensive robot becomes more powerful the more high shooter robots the other alliance has. An offensve robot becomes more powerful if there is a lack of defense and great boulder plays by an alliance. Much like picking defenses that an opposing alliance struggles with, a team could pick robots that the opposing alliance struggles with controlling.

Re: Defensive robots
 

You sure? The way I am reading the rules says that between a defensive robot running a 5 point cycle and an offensive robot running a 5 point cycle, the defensive robot will always have a shorter cycle even if the offensive robot runs a perfect cycle.

Re: Defensive robots
 

By defensive robot, are you referring to a robot that blocks and interferes with opposing robots in the defensive robots alliance's courtyard?

Or a robot that crosses all defenses?

I was referring to the first.

Re: Defensive robots
 

I was referring to the first.

Re: Defensive robots
 

Okay, confusing myself.

While a defensive robot can stop the opposing alliance from scoring five points, it will more than often not stop, but delay a goal. This means the opposing alliance would still score, just their cycles would be slowed. If there were two opposing high shooters (though, I'd say this seems rare), then the defensive robot would be able to slow down two opposing robots. I'd say in a one v one, the high shooter, depending on it's accuracy and if the oppossing alliance also has a defensive robot, would be more worthwile. While with two high shooters or a very inaccurate shooter, a defensive robot would be more worthwile. I don't beleive you can say that for your situation, there will be a garunteed one that is more effective/worthwile without knowing more context of the game.

Re: Defensive robots
 

I think defensive bots will always have a powerful place within an alliance, at least at district level play.

At the district events (that I have participated in anyway) the field is not usually not deep enough to pick up a super capable third bot and because denying points to your opponent is the same as scoring points (pretty much), it is usually more worthwhile to find a second pick robot that can perform moderately well at a couple of tasks but has a strong defense game compared to a robot that can preform a little better at those same tasks but has no defensive game.

That's my two cents anyway :)