Use of Spoilers
 

I was wondering what everyone's opinions and thoughts are on the strategy of using spoilers in a match now that we've seen some regional competitions.

At the NJ regional less than a dozen spoilers were ever in a robot's possession and only ONE spoiler was ever successfully put on the rack. I was wondering if spoilers are as rarely used in the other FRC competitions that took place and if anyone really thinks that teams have enough time to be considered with the putting on (much less taking off) of spoiler rings during a two-minute match.

Re: Use of Spoilers
 

My impressions that a lot fewer ringers made it on the rack period, much less a spoiler.

Re: Use of Spoilers
 

Two spoilers were actually put on, one in the semifinals, and one in the finals.

Re: Use of Spoilers
 

at BAE GSR there were similar results as far as spoilers to the NJ one.
I think that there a LOT of defence to prevent spoilers.

Re: Use of Spoilers
 

No spoilers were used at VCU, other than one thrown by a human player that made it onto the rack. One bot picked up the spoiler with an intent to use it, but dropped it before they were able to place it.

Re: Use of Spoilers
 

O.o wow, did the thrown spoiler actually make it on top of another ring to negate it? or was it more of a last ditch effort from the team who was out of other tubes to throw xD

Re: Use of Spoilers
 

There were not enough four plus rows for teams to add spoilers to thier strategy yet. As the weeks go by more and more ringers will be scored and more spoilers will come in to play making the last second ditch to deploy or get on a ramp/liftobot even faster.

Re: Use of Spoilers
 

The only spoiler that actually made it onto the rack in STL was thrown by a human player, and it landed on an empty leg. It seemed like there were opportunities to use spoilers, but teams either couldn't get a spoiler out fast enough, or they were harassed so much that the spoiler never got to the spider leg.

Re: Use of Spoilers
 

At PNW there were very few times when a spoiler was needed (a row of 5 or more). When a spoiler did come out the robot with it was defended very heavily. There were a few placed though. My team has one placed against us in the quarter finals but we had decided that getting on a ramp is more important. I doubt that spoilers will be that useful with so much defense being played on robots carrying them.

Re: Use of Spoilers
 

At VCU, there were no spoilers really used, but in future regionals and the championships, I see them as strategically key to beating finely honed alliances...

Re: Use of Spoilers
 

As mentioned earlier, the only spoiler that made it onto the rack at VCU was under identical situations as Stl, thrown by an HP onto an empty leg.
During QF 3.3, 435 attempted to place a spoiler in the middle of the #2 alliances row of 5 (also, where it intersected a column of 2) on the far side of the rack, potentially turning a 40 point formation (row of 5, and 2 columns of 2) into 14. Unfortunately, it was not successfully placed, and time didn't really allow for another attempt (although, in hindsight, another attempt should have occurred anyway), as 435 needed the time to get back on 1885's ramps. The game ended 100-62 (72 before penalties). If the spoiler had been placed and no penalty given to the #7 alliance it would have been 76-72, not swaying the outcome of the match, but making it much closer.
There were very few other attempts for spoilers to be placed.
Because of the lack of consistent multi-tube treats during week one (~3-4 per regional), spoilers often would be worth less to most alliances then either a ramp bonus or extended an existing row. Additionally, the black spoilers set off even more defensive flags than a ringer, and in order to negate existing ringers, must be played closer to the end game (often in it), when a majority of victories happened through the bonus points. Beyond that, when a team saw a large row forming, they would often play a ringer to stop that row from expanding further, not only hampering an opposing score, but enlarging theirs.
Spoilers will likely not emerge as a serious strategic option in a vast majority of matched, particularly in the qualification rounds. At some of the more competitive regionals we will see a few played during the eliminations, particularly when a higher-scoring alliance meets an alliance with lesser scoring capability (but still enough to play a spoiler). At the championship, particularly in the elimination rounds, spoilers may quickly become a factor, and a strategic advantage to teams with less scoring capability than the opposing alliance.

Re: Use of Spoilers
 

Other than the obvious strategy of solely intending to place a spoiler to take down a score, a spoiler possibly lends itself to a different strategy. In a crazy 2 minute match, bringing a spoiler to the opposing alliance's side of the rack is like bringing the one ring into the gaze of Sauron, or more like attacking the main gates of Mordor.

The benefits would vary from match to match depending on situation and teams, but a team can draw the defense to a spoiler-laden robot. This could also be similar to a good play action pass or splitting a star wide receiver out wide and sending him down the field, opening up other opportunities. The spoiler can still be used, but simply making a general attempt can open up the field for the other teams on an alliance.

Re: Use of Spoilers
 

our team came dangerously close to using one at GSR the only one in fact but it was knocked out of our claw.

Re: Use of Spoilers
 

Like Dave said, none were ever successfully placed at the StL regional by a robot. I remember in one match when the opposing alliance tried to get one, all I heard was "block the spoiler!! block the spoiler!! block the spoiler!!!!" I'm sure this was the strategy at other regionals when the spoiler was brought out, too.

Re: Use of Spoilers
 

I don't know how many were placed during qualifications (probably none at GLR), but during the Eliminations, we used them several times. We broke apart the 67/1114/57 row of 6. I attribute our strategic placement of spoilers to our wins in those matches.