Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

Can your robot play defense on an enemy's pole?
I see the ability to somehow prevent an opposing alliances mini-bot from reaching the top of the pole as not only fair but very crucial in winning a match.
Your robot could, of course deploy your mini-bot first, and then go play defense on the other alliance's mini-bot
This is a general question and im just curious about the possibilities.

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

No, I read the rules quite thoroughly last evening and it states that you may not interfere with the host-bot or mini-bot when they are on the tower during the finale period.

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

You can't touch an opposing alliance's robot as they are deploying their minibot.

You COULD however, try to block them from getting there in the first place.

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

And how would you do that?

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

<G24> The opposing ALLIANCE may not interfere with the DEPLOYMENT or climbing of a MINIBOT (Violation= RED CARD)

Interference by an ALLIANCE refers to any action taken by that ALLIANCE that results in disruption of the MINIBOT's progress. This may include, but is not limited to,

a) Throwing a GAME PIECE at the MINI/TOWER,
b) Driving a ROBOT or GAME PIECE into the TOWER, or
c) Directly contacting the MINIBOT or TOWER

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

Alright, i suppose i didn't skim the rules enough. Ok, so blocking other robots from deploying on the pole is still possible.... hmm.

EDIT: It states you cannot TOUCH the opposing robot or mini-bot. I see a possibility here...

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

Have a faster MINIBOT...

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

No, blocking is directly prohibited.

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

Okay thanks

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

It is?

So that means that I couldn't pin another robot against a wall for 5 seconds during the end of the game, thus preventing them from having enough time to get to, and line up with, the tower?

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

That's within legality but I guess I just assume that I personally wouldn't chance losing 10 points due to a pinning penalty.

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

If you don't want to pin, simply do what "dozer" does in the animation but for the tower instead. Move side to side not letting them pass you on the way to the pole.

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

10 penalties. Each penalty is 3 points. That's a 30 point death sentence.

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

Apparently not, trust me us at MOE argued about this for a while XD

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

There's the 3rd robot in the alliance that can try and hamper one of the opposing alliance's robots to try and make them last, or if possible not let them get to deploy at all. It probably would turn into a battle of skill if your opponent does this to one of your alliance's robots also.

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

The only legal way to block minibots is to keep their hostbots from touching the tower/base. Once they touch the base, the best you can expect is a penalty; the other option is a red card if you continue to try and hamper them.

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

So it is basically the same as last year's end-game....

:rolleyes:

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

Even better.

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

What if you sat down right in front of the tower between the opponent and the tower? If they're close enough they would have to expend valuable time to go around you, and if they try to push you into the tower it's not a penalty

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

just stop the host bot from getting to the pole. get in his way, pin him, etc

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

It's within the rules to block another alliance from getting to their tower, so long as that bot isn't touching their tower. You would only need to keep them at a distance and tangle them up long enough to prevent their minibot from having time to reach the top. Remember, endgame this year is only 10 seconds, so even by delaying them for a couple seconds, at the very least they would place lower in the race, possibly not at all. It is important to know when to back off though, because violation of G24 is a red card.

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

2 things; if your alliance partner doesn't have a minibot, can you pin the opponent for 5 seconds, back off, then have your alliance partner pin immediately after? is the pinning rule only for one robot or the whole alliance?

also, since there are 4 poles, let's say the first three to the top were from your alliance; is that even possible and if so, would that mean 65 points?

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

Each alliance "owns" two of the poles. You can only touch and score on your own pole.

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

I saw the thing about each alliance only having two towers, but I didn't see it specified as to which two towers they are.

Which two towers belong to the red alliance? Where is that specified in the manual?

Thanks!

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

Section 2.2.5 in The Arena:
TOWERS are located near the mid-field end of each LANE and are owned by the ALLIANCE associated with the LANE in which it is located (i.e. the TOWER intersecting the red LANE is owned by the red ALLIANCE).

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

OFF-Topic:

Is anyone else bothered by the name of the thread. Since when do we refer to our opponent's as enemies?

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

Enemy can be defined as an adversary or opponent.
So i guess you could say "we" do that when "we" use synonyms.

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

We discourage our students from using that term. In our minds we see that term as derogatory. Just something that we do with our students, not saying it is right or wrong.

From Websters.com

Definition of ENEMY
1: one that is antagonistic to another; especially : one seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound an opponent
2: something harmful or deadly <alcohol was his greatest enemy>
3a : a military adversary b : a hostile unit or force

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

off topic!!!!!!!!

thx all this made my day so much brighter:p ;) :D :cool: :]

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

I've always told people that other FRC teams are not our enemies. They are our rivals. We don't work to make them lose. We work to make us better.

Re: Blocking enemy mini-bots?
 

That's true, i didn't put all that much thought into the title, but i see where the difference in the two words can have a different meaning.
I was under the impression it would be taken as a direct synonym to opposing.
But enemy does sound rather unpleasant in the spirit of FIRST.