Re: Championship Division Strength
 

If I had to choose I'd rather be in a division. I'm just happy we're going; it's going to be a great experience for everyone.

On topic, I'd rather be in a powerhouse division, if only so I can more easily meet the "stars." In a powerhouse division, it seems like it'd be more common to play both with and against good teams, which are both the highlights of any competition.

Re: Championship Division Strength
 

I'd rather be in the hardest division possible. Think about what you can learn from all of these amazing teams!

Also, so I could root for my division in the finals.

Re: Championship Division Strength
 

Just playing my favorite game on these boards: Stating the obvious.
Yes Archie was tough last year( I remember when I told Jason last year that we were in Archie his eyes went wide with horro and he said "I'm so sorry!" :D ) and it was fun mixing it up with all those tough teams but you see what all that hype bought us. Our division didn't even make it to the finals.
So take this lesson to heart kiddies: Don't beleive the hype!

Re: Championship Division Strength
 

Wow, you listed us with those teams?!

::Tears up:: so... happy

Back on track though, being someone who doesn't make it out of the pits too often, I would rather be in a powerhouse division if only to shorten my walk to see awesome robots. In terms of learning and being interesting, powerhouse divisions are great.

Re: Championship Division Strength
 

I dont wanna be in a division where Im going to get run over nor do the running over. Newton last year was the type of division I like. Good game and matches with strong, but not all super robots. It got fun at the end but it was an uphill struggle to get there. I want to be in the seeds and to have earned it.

Every time I run the numbers, looks like my team is in a such division (Good shot @ winning but have to earn it.) :)

Edit: This sums it up for me too...

Re: Championship Division Strength
 

even though being in a powerhouse division is better id say that i would rather be in a division that has competitive teams that will put everything they got into a match to keep the score close all the way down to the final seconds.



;) im not just putting this in cause everyone chose the powerhouse division

Re: Championship Division Strength
 

I will admit that I too stand in the powerhouse division interest bracket.

At least let's make a case for a hypothetical weaker division.

In a weaker division, somebody has to step up. Maybe it's the team that was always one away from being picked for the eliminations for the entire season, and finds their chance to shine. Maybe it's a defensive robot that doesn't realize until the event that it can control the entire match. Maybe it's a team that qualified that didn't expect to compete well but ends up proving themselves. I can't wait to see some of the big-name players in action this year, ones that have been mentioned above. I look forward to seeing teams like 469, 177, 195, 25, 1114...so on and so forth, but a weak division could very well bring out some unpredicted all-stars.

Re: Championship Division Strength
 

I agree. I'd rather be in a more well-rounded division where I get to see great robots from experienced teams, clever new designs from teams I might not have heard from, and get to watch/play in an overall good competition.

To me, FIRST is about the experience that you get from all aspects of the competition (the game play, the spirit in the stands, the fierce strategizing, the blood sweat and tears shed in the pits to get the robot working before a match, etc). In a Power House division, you'll still see blood, sweat, and tears, but mainly from the teams playing against the Power Houses.

Re: Championship Division Strength
 

From all the responses, it seems like most people have interpreted "non-powerhous division" to mean "completely free of elite teams".

I'd much rather be in a situation like Galileo and Newton were last year, where there were obviously teams who were capable of winning it all, and enough of them to form a winning alliance, but not so many that you got completely beat up on the entire weekend before even the divisional playoffs/final matches.

Re: Championship Division Strength
 

I just want to be in a division where we can get the 2 teams to perfectly compliment us for the elimination rounds. We know what we need to do well at this point. Many of you know what you need too.

Also remeber the alliance that wins in ATL has no fewer than 10 elimination matches to survive just to win in the fewest possible matches. Up to 15 are possible to win on Einstien. You need a robot that can survive this with minimal repairs needed. A "powerhouse division" could beat each other up so much that the alliance coming out of it can't make it through the final 4-6 matches.

Re: Championship Division Strength
 

I know this is a bit off topic but anybody know when the official divisions are announced?

Thanks,
Drew

Re: Championship Division Strength
 

I'm guessing that this year they'll be released about 1 week to 1.5 weeks before the competition. The deadline for payment as publicized on FIRST's site is next friday, April 14.