Re: defense
 

The reason to play a tough defence instead of trying to get more ranking points is to show other teams what you can do. If you can show that you can shut down the opposition's scoring, you are more likely to be picked by a higher ranked team.

Re: defense
 

I found last year a lot easier to predict, especially when we got to nationals and there were less of those terrible 30 pt. penalties. If you saw that the field was all covered in blue, you felt pretty comfortable to score red tetras for the opposite side (we never do this, I watch rage do it at Chesapeake last year and it's the only time I definitively remember it. (mostly cause I didn't know why on earth they would do that, ah rookie year)) This year, if you see your score on the board is 84, it could really be 12, no penalties necessary. :)

Re: defense
 

Board? What Board? Could someone please explain what this "Board" thing is that you speak of.

Re: defense
 

Real time scoring on the screen (If it's working at the moment)

I had to explain the game to a relative, including QP. He thought you had to win. When I explained all the QP stuff, he was stumped. "You wanna win but not by a mountain of points. Your opponent's score affects where you end up for the seed."

Defensive bots trying to block at the end of the match makes it fun. I recall a match where a defensive bot was pushed on the ramp and used as the third robot.

Re: defense
 

I am sorry if my sarcasm did not translate well. I did not watch every match, but I do not recall the real time scoring being dsiplayed at the Colorado Regional after Thursday. After seeing some of the scores posted on the screen during the practice matches, it was obvious why they were not using the real time scoring system during the competition.