Re: Best Atlanta Alliances
 

Ok well everyone knows that going offensive is risky (since it easier and faster to stop someone scoring that score yourself) but clearly in atlanta it will be required.
Also a lot of good scoring robots like 1114 in Galileo have only needed to use their arm in the regionals and yet to really test other robot capabilities of climbing their ramp. We went against 1114 in the finals of both Waterloo and GTR and i didnt see them use their ramp once until the final few matches at GTR.
So we could see some changes in the way robots dominate at atlanta compared to regionals.

Dreadfrost

Re: Best Atlanta Alliances
 

My Ideal Alliance:
1 ramp/lift bot that can efficiently elevate 2 bots to 12 inches almost everytime (if not everytime). This bot will also play defense and have a very strong drvie train to push other bots and not get pushed themselves. It may also have some way to put ringers on the rack. Examples: 316, 67, 503 etc.

2 scoring bots that can score a lot of points not only while alone, but while they are guarded. Must be able to efficiently clib ramps. At least one of these must have a semi-successful autonomous mode. Examples: 191, 1126, 25, 217, 67 etc.

Re: Best Atlanta Alliances
 

3 Strong drive trains, all other qualities are negotiable.

Ideally that would include 2 strong ring scorers (with the ability to get up a ramp) and one hybrid bot with very good ramps and solid scoring.

In this scenario, the alliance can adapt to play whatever strategy is necessary (Defense, offense only, offense and ramp, defense and ramp). But, I've seen plenty of great scorers stopped by teams with better drive trains.

Re: Best Atlanta Alliances
 

2 small scorers with high torque for push away defense are playing defense.
1 large hybrid to score a couple ringers, but primary for defense and ramp

Few teams can survive without defense. You can win by playing incredible defense and lifting 2 bots @12''

Re: Best Atlanta Alliances
 

-"Team 1626, who would you like to choose as an alliance partner?"
+"Team 1626 would like to invite team 1626... Team 1626 graciously accepts"
(Later when they come back to you)
-"Team 1626 and team 1626 who would you like to pick for your third alliance partner?"
+"Teams 1626 and 1626 would like to invite team 1626"
-"I'm sorry.. 1626 has already been chosen..."

Re: Best Atlanta Alliances
 

An amazing hybrid (such as 330) and two amazing cappers

Re: Best Atlanta Alliances
 

I think it will be an alliance made up of 2 extremely good arm robots (they may be a hybrid, or they may be just an arm, either way they're there for their arm ability, not their ramps/lifters), and 1 robot that is either a hybrid arm/ramp or a ramp with defensive power.

The winning alliance will put up an amazing amount of tubes (trying to score at least 2 tubes in auto every match, being succesful usually), but will start out with strategic placement to limit their opponent's options. Then at the end they'll either lift for 60 with their very consitent ramper or they'll put up the 7th ring, depending on how the game has played out.

I don't see a defensive game where you just push the other guys around and ramp at the end winning. More than half of all elimination alliances will have a good lifter; I see ramps becoming a necessity not to win matches but just to survive them. You need a ramp just so you have the option of cancelling out the 60 your opponents will put up with theirs.

Re: Best Atlanta Alliances
 

I think we'll see a variety of alliances doing well in Atlanta. I wouldn't be surprised to see a 5th or a 6th seed win it all because of the picks those teams will have. I could see a 5th seeded good tube scoring robot pick another solid tube scoring robot and on the wraparound get a good ramp. The same thing could be said for seeds 6-8. The top seeds will have trouble filling up that second pick with a solid ramp bot.

That said, I think the alliance that will win it all will have two good scorers. That's all I can say for sure. The third robot could be A. A decent hybrid B. A decent tubes-only C. Ramp/Defensive. I think we will see alliances of each kind advance very far. I think it will be very tough for anyone to win purely by tubes, as a little defensive tube placement can quickly negate any big scores. Also, I haven't seen a robot that couldn't be rendered significantly less effective by a good defensive bot. Defense will be key, whether it is by tube placement or pushing.

Re: Best Atlanta Alliances
 

I'm not so sure. Think about it. If I have three scorers, two of whom can score in auton, my alliance can feasably have a row of 4 or 5 before your alliance can react.

However, I do think most successful alliances will have a ramp, if only to have the threat of using them. That way, the opposition cannot play for the stalemate on the rack.

Remember last year when everyone said, "Sure, three good scorers might work, but that'll never happen.":rolleyes: :D

Re: Best Atlanta Alliances
 

My Ideal Alliance would be:

Robot A: Able to score ringers with light defense on it and able to climb any ramp very well.
Robot B: Good scorer for ringers with very large, good working ramps. that allows robot A and C to climb to 12 inches.
Robot C: Very, Very strong defensive robot, able to shut down any robot or limit to a good scoring robot to only score 0-2 ringers. Also able to climb any ramp very well. Robot C also has a good ramp in case other ramp for some reason fails.

Re: Best Atlanta Alliances
 

From what I've seen so far this year that's just the kind of alliance that wins tournaments. The reason having a ramp bot is so important is because when the competition gets to the top teams defense is often in full affect and it seems as though scoring decreases meaning that the last second ramping makes all the difference.

Re: Best Atlanta Alliances
 

How about three offensive robots that can also play defense? Those of you rampers that think you will have undefended ramping at the Championships like you did at most regionals are in for a rude awakening.

You rampers that are playing defense on the far side of the field better beware because the smarter offensive robots will trap you on that far side of the field. Then what?

Let's see ... 24 places to score between 3 robots or one place to score (60 pts) completely depending on your ramper ......

I think the threat of the ramp is more important than actual ramping (in eliminations). Three decent scorers is devastating to try to stop.

If you want my ideal alliance: 2 scoring / defensive hybrids that MUST be able to score on the top spider and a Hybrid that is decent at scoring.

By the way, by my count there are at least 24 good scorers in Galileo which means our division has a great chance on Einstein (whoever represents us).

With that said, you great double rampers in Galileo will be a hot commodity since most people believe the ramp is absolutely critical ... I'm just not one of them.

Re: Best Atlanta Alliances
 

Then......you're playing defense on a robot instead of scoring, which is fine by me! It also puts a defender between multiple robots and their home zone late in the match. You presume you would have tube superiority by that time, but I wouldn't be so sure......:D

Re: Best Atlanta Alliances
 

I'll take that bet right now.

Re: Best Atlanta Alliances
 

Easier said than done.

I say going without ramps is not worth the risk.

I say ramp/scoring hybrids are premium, because you can still get three scoring robots on an alliance + the ramps. It is very likely that at least one of the robots would have a solid drivetrain and the ability to play defense. They (edit: ramp/scoring hybrids) might be a moot point in Galileo, because I don't see many of them that are reasonably good ramps or scorers..

But anyway.. 2056 (let's say) can pick 488 with the number one seeded pick, have everyone laugh at them, then draft another scorer in the second round (just due to the sheer number of them, I bet a good one will still be around), and walk all over your alliance of three scorers. I'm not saying they would pick in this way, just pointing something out.

PS: My dream alliance.. 3 scorers, atleast one with ramps, and atleast two with solid drivetrains.