Re: How do you think FIRST should select divisions?
 

In 02 they had the number neighbor set up, I really liked it because it exposed me to some teams that my teams main sponsor's parent company also sponsors. I was also exposed to a lot of other teams that I have now looked forward to seeing bots from ever since then, and it was fun because there was a little bit of sibling rivalry between some of the teams, like the 170's sponsored by UTC and the mid 60's sponsored by GM, it was kinda fun like that.

Re: How do you think FIRST should select divisions?
 

Not with any commentary. 350 teams in one hour is nearly 6 teams a minute, or a little bit more than ten seconds per team. That doesn't allow for commercials either.


But hey, a guy can dream, can't he?

Wetzel

Re: How do you think FIRST should select divisions?
 

I like Andy's idea for the show, but want to suggest a modifcation to the process for assigning teams to divisions. Rather than a pure random selection, turn the division allocations into a contest in and of itself. The thing would run like an inverted draft process. Rather than having the division select the teams, each team is allowed to select which division they want to be in. Teams take turns to elect to be assigned to a particular division as long as open slots in the division remain. If a division is full, then they have to pick another division. By looking at the makup of the teams already in the divisions, they can determine if they most appropriately fit into a "tough" division or an "easy" one. Over time, the strength of the divisions will even out, as stronger teams opt for weaker divisions (thinking that they will be better able to dominate there, yet their presence will actually raise the overall strength of the entire division), and weaker teams may gravitate to the stronger divisions (hoping for good alliance pairings in the qualification rounds to match them up with strong teams as partners).

The only question is how do you determine in what order teams will be allowed to pick their divisions? That one is easy! At the beginning of the process, each team selects ten of their members as representatives to participate in a competition for selection order. Each group of 10 has 15 minutes to devour as many Krispy Kreme donuts as they possibly can. Which ever team eats the most Krispy Kremes without throwing up (known in the professional donut-eating community as "donut denial"), gets to pick first.** The team with the second highest donut total pick second, etc etc etc. Sign up Krispy Kreme as a sponsor and advertiser for the show.

I tell ya, it'll be a smash hit! We would knock "Survivor" right off the airwaves!

-dave

** for certain teams like Team 116, there may even have to be a 10-donut handicap, least they have a completely unfair advantage. :rolleyes:

Re: How do you think FIRST should select divisions?
 

Big Mike, are you out there? Would you like to be a TechnoKat? :)


AB

Andy, even with a 10-donut handicap, I could still out eat Big Mike. I don't think he has ever eaten more than a dozen in one sitting.

Wetzel

Re: How do you think FIRST should select divisions?
 

Darn it! Now I'm really mad we didn't qualify! I could definately kick some serious donut eating butt! :D lol

Re: How do you think FIRST should select divisions?
 

Don't forget the "up close and personal" spots featuring WFA winners and rookie inspirations!

And make sure that the random draw puts Robbe Xtreme in the same division with us (103). We had eight matches against them this year, but never got to play together; truly an injustice crying to be corrected!

Re: How do you think FIRST should select divisions?
 

Try this one on for size....

1) Randomly assign the pits, with no pit breakdown by division... one big happy pit fest.

2) Randomly assign bots to different fields in each Thursday practice round -- that way teams get to interact alot more than if they practiced within their divisions. One big happy practice fest.

3) Thursday night run the random generator and post the divisions. One big happy anticipation fest.

4) Fri/Sat interact with more folks while scouting. One big happy treasure-hunt fest.

Outcome: More teams interact... it is a celebration afterall! And scouting, albeit more challenging, becomes real-time and more fun! The pits become more exciting as inter-division tracking and discussion takes place with your pit-neighbors. And... you see more bots cruise by than just those in your division.

What do y'all think?

Aidan

Re: How do you think FIRST should select divisions?
 

hmm lets see

team 45 has opened up the biddings with whats this 2 of everything andymark makes....

and jeff, i havent earned the title "Big" for nothin ;)


-Mike, the donuts wont know what hit'em Schroeder

Re: How do you think FIRST should select divisions?
 

Well after the Copioli incident, he has not been himself and can only take on a half dozen of Krispy Kremes in a sitting. For that matter, why would you even want someone that was Pwned by Copioli.

Anyhoo, i would definitely like to see just a complete random drawing. On the busride home from Palmetto our team discussed this. I had the same lottery type drawing like Andy did. Just have all 340 odd teams represented by a ball and just pick through all of them to see who goes where. The 1-4 system allows teams to get a specific jump on scouting, id much rather see each team having to scout all the teams going first. This allows more of a parity for teams who do not have access to a computer or CD or a young team who hasnt caught onto this system yet. Then break it down to their division.

Re: How do you think FIRST should select divisions?
 

Definitely like the random pit, although difficult to scout in, maybe do it in order of team number, but more the way it has been at regionals were it goes in order across the rows instead of down columns.

Ex.

1 7 11 16 20 21 22 25
27 33 34 38 40 41 45 47
etc etc etc etc and so forth down the list, that way you are still likely to see more robots from other divisions and by having it with obviously more columns then divisions you will be near people from another division.

Re: How do you think FIRST should select divisions?
 

You may be big, but big doesn't describe density. Like Ashlee, teeny-tiny, but the highest energy density this side of a black hole.

At any rate, lets mix em up!

Wetzel