Minibot + Deployment: Most know the importance of minibots and deployment, here's what i've got.
If you've got a guide system that touches your minibot, you're going to have to cut it down so your minibot doesn't lose you a match. We got called on it during our fourth match.
Also, make sure you don't burn up your minibot (Last match on Friday, BAE/GSR *COUGH*).
Deployment is crucial. Make sure the feeders guide you in unless you have a system in place to get you on 100% of the time.
Don't deploy at the Flintstone's feet sound (unless they change it, make sure to ask). That is the 5 second warning until the race starts. When the base of the tower changes colors back to the alliance color, go.
Manipulators: If you have something that can pick up off the ground, abuse it. A LOT of teams will be throwing tubes. If you don't, arrange with your alliance partners to make sure they save a few tubes for you, if they decide to use their human players as feeders.
Don't waste time trying to score high if you're having issues or consistently missing, move down a peg, and get on with it. There is 0 time to waste, especially if you are under tube pressure and/or deploying.
Work with your alliance to make logos. Don't screw up logos by putting them on so it looks like the actual logo TO YOU (If you can't bear to think of the
FIRST logo backwards
then make something up in Paint. You're going to need it.).
Feeders and Defense are not crucial. BAE/GSR finals was 3 offensive bots vs. 3 offensive bots. They can skew results in quals, especially if your robot can
effectively play D, but are not
specifically crucial in finals.
Feeders/Analysts: Make sure your human player is almost at the level of coach knowledge and awareness-wise, especially if they are pigeonholed into analyst all weekend. Most analysts at BAE/GSR became a second coach to their team. Help out your alliance.
If you're aiming at a strategy to shut teams down, throw tubes strategically and
AIM!!!! You have no idea how many teams threw tubes willy-nilly. If you've got the space, have your human player practice with all three tubes, and get good at aiming and distance. Make sure they know to be a sniper, but make sure that they can turn it to turbo if you need to start shutting down a section of field.
Strategic points to flood with tubes: opposing feeder lanes, towers, safe zone. Do it only if 2/3 teams on that alliance cannot pick up off the floor, and you can.