Originally Posted by Bill Baedke (Post 853281)

7. Post the rules: If we are trying to get the public to come see the competition, we need to help them when they get there. Have a place at all Regionals and the Championship where a beginner could go to get a copy of the basics of the game (condensed to a small piece of paper). Have this place staffed with volunteer student team members to answer questions. Those students would have a complete set of rules, be knowledgeable, and be FIRST team members so they should be able answer most questions, and more importantly express their enthusiasm.

Originally Posted by Chris is me (Post 853611)

This little "rules booklet" was in the first page of every Lunacy book handed out. I saw them at both regionals I went to, I don't know about Atlanta though.

Originally Posted by Billfred (Post 853944)

Speaking of rules, one place of improvement I could see: throw a current copy of the manual in the case for pit admin. Having one at the scoring table on Curie was a life-saver (show of hands, how many people not named Lavery remembered by heart the rules for backup robots on Einstein at the Championship?); having them in the pits as well would be handy for those quick double-checks.

Originally Posted by dlavery (Post 854017)

And then include an iPod Touch in every KOP so the teams can read the Manual. Call it the "FIRST Robotics On-line Display Object (FRODO)". Which could be an element of a larger system of electronic manuals, known as the "Student's Handheld Internet Reference Encyclopedia (SHIRE)."

Originally Posted by dlavery (Post 854017)

OK, on that one I will admit that even Aidan and I had to refer to the manual just to be sure our memories were correct. :)

Originally Posted by iCurtis (Post 853476)

I beg to disagree. Most of these games weren't entirely one dimensional, and I'd say 2007 definitely had two dimensions.

2005- Stack tetras on top of goals or place tetras under goals
2006- Shoot balls through upper goal or deposit them through lower goal
2007- Place Ringers or lift robots. (This game was definitely not one dimensional
2008- Hurdle Trackball over overpass or Herd Trackball under overpass or race around the track
2009- Put balls in Goal

Granted, in 2005 good teams all stacked. In 2006 though, 195 and 1902 rose to fame playing exclusively with the lower goal. Other teams may have too, but my memory is starting to fail me. 2007 definitely was not one dimensional, as those bonus points for lifting robots were important, and lifting robots was not an easy task. 2008, most good robots did hurdle. However, at GSR a herder (58) captained an alliance all the way to the finals, and 148 played an integral role in the RoboSimChickens Championship victory. This year, we all did the same thing though.

That said, I'd love to play another 2004-esque game. :D
(It seems FIRST Frenzy is quickly acquiring some sort of cult status as a magical perfect game around here...)

Originally Posted by EricH (Post 854040)

There's another point to be made here...

If a pair of GDC members, one of whom is the Head Ref, have to refer to the manual, that they wrote, to make a call, because they aren't sure they remember the rule, then it just might be that the said tome is getting a little thick...

Admittedly, the backup robot rules are in the "obscure" Section 9, which tends to be overlooked in the rush to get to Sections 6, 7, and 8.

Originally Posted by squirrel (Post 854029)

Kind of like that lead screw thing, and the energy chain. It keeps students busy.

Originally Posted by Chris is me (Post 854025)

Why did this game feature and emphasize camera tracking of non-lit targets when lighting conditions were inconsistent between regionals? Hell, in Atlanta the lighting conditions changed with the number of clouds in the sky and this screwed up robots. Vision Targets should be lit if they're going to be featured.