Scream For Sally
 

So during some of our matches at Waterford this past week the Drawbridge was selected by crowd cheering. When our drive team started playing the match they noticed that everything was difficult to see because of the Drawbridge in the way. This is only a problem because it is right in the middle of the field and with two giant drawbridges in the way it makes seeing the middle of the field nearly impossible. This affects both alliances so we thought that we would start a trend to NEVER pick the Drawbridge during qualification matches. It is just a defense that all drive teams fear because you never know what is happening right behind it. The Sally port is much easier to see past for all teams and would just be better for the competition. The Drawbridge ruins game play and makes everything less interesting to watch because nobody but the people in the stands knows what is happening behind it. The Sally port is much better in this aspect because it makes game play more fun to watch and more fun to compete in. So remember when you're in the stands and the choice between the Drawbridge and the Sally port comes up SCREAM FOR SALLY. Remember a scream for sally is a scream for a better competition. #ScreamForSally

Re: Scream For Sally
 

Not that I don't agree with this, being on the shorter end of the spectrum, but doesn't this movement somewhat conflict with T7-T8?

Re: Scream For Sally
 

If it was my team I would cheer loudest for drawbridge, since we have a camera it doesn't matter if we have direct line of sight or not. Does it make it easier yes, but is it necessary No.

Re: Scream For Sally
 

It isn't necessary but it does improve visibility and you also have two other teams in your matches and they might or might not have a camera.

Re: Scream For Sally
 

T7 and T8 are talking about throwing a match for an advantage in the rankings. Sreaming for Sally is not asking for other teams to lose a match, it is asking to improve the quality of the tournament so that everyone has full visibility of the field.

Re: Scream For Sally
 

For quals, where having the drawbridge inhibits my robot's ability to earn extra RPs, then yes. In elims, if I think that my alliance is better at dealing with limited vision than our opponent alliance, whether that be because of a camera, a really good spy, taller robots, or even just having the taller drive teams, then I will cheer for the drawbridge.

Re: Scream For Sally
 

Yeah thats actually interesting T7-T8 talk about teams performing below there standard, not about the audience.

Re: Scream For Sally
 

I agree with you, but the GDC disagreed when I asked Q804. This is a slightly different application, though.

Re: Scream For Sally
 

I don't want to sound cold hearted or sound like I only care about taking home a banner, but the audience has a reason to choose the Drawbridge. If my robot isn't playing in the match, I want the field to be as difficult and obstructed as possible. If I can do anything that might prevent an alliance from getting a Breach or a Capture during Quals, that might really benefit my team.
Soooooooo... No. Sorry, I don't think I'll Scream for Sally.

Re: Scream For Sally
 

Besides, it makes it that much more interesting for the audience to watch.

Re: Scream For Sally
 

The Drawbridge does cause some comedic mishaps, doesn't it? Especially the Triple Tortuga in Palmetto.

Re: Scream For Sally
 

Audience selected defenses stay there for a whole round of matches. So your team will see that defense in your next match.

Re: Scream For Sally
 

I don't think it's fair to say that the drawbridge "ruins gameplay". It's part of the game as a challenge for teams to overcome. If all teams agree to not pick drawbridge, it's a stone's skip away from people always picking rough terrain/moat/portcullis/sally port every match, and suddenly a huge number of teams who designed their robots to cross the more difficult defenses are deemed worthless, despite being more versatile.

An important part of the game is finding out how best to set up the outer works in order to defend their towers. If I see that none of the opposing alliance robots are able to cross the drawbridge, you can bet that I'll request the Drawbridge. I would even argue that colluding with the opposing alliance or agreeing to collude to make defenses easier would be violations of T7 and T8 in and of themselves.

This isn't Recycle Rush. You are actually obligated to try and win every single match that you play in with the return of the W-L system, and colluding with the opposing alliance runs counter to that idea. If the Drawbridge or the Ramparts are the hardest for the opposing alliance, by all means pick that defense.

Re: Scream For Sally
 

You might feel obligated to try to win every single qual match that you play, but I don't. I have a higher priority for qual matches that may or may not involve trying to win.

Re: Scream For Sally
 

Here's a question for you: How about the ref who has to score your Sally Port crossing?

WITHOUT seeing your robot (potentially)?



Just a thought. I can understand why teams want the sally port, but I think the drawbridge is a better defense (in more than one way). Just my opinion.