Quote:
Originally Posted by sgreco
I agree. It's not so much that rankings aren't accurate, but the sample size isn't big enough to yield a statistically accurate representation of the best robots. Teams only play 8 - 15 matches per regional (depending on the size). If they could play 80 matches or more, I think the ranking system would prove to be more accurate.
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You silly statisticians and your sample sizes
everyone knows smaller sample sizes make it easier to fudge the data to prove your point
Ok, seriously though, the rankings are not a great indicator, but if the '2nd best robot' in the division is in 30th, they're either throwing matches, or having lots of problems, and I don't think they'd throw matches so I'd assume they're buggy and not pick them.
That said, I find it unethical in many ways to throw a match like that. It isn't fair to team C, or the third team on your alliance, most of all it isn't fair to your team. I don't know about your team, but my kids would be absolutely floored if we purposefully tanked a match as a 'strategy'. It's insulting. On top of that, it makes you look really bad, and probably means Team A wouldn't want you anyway. If you were to inform Team A ahead of time of your intention to go all Benedict Arnold on your alliance, they would (hopefully) find this unacceptable and not pick you, and if they agreed with you, its collusion, which is forbidden in the rules I believe.
Besides it being a horrible idea, it's just wrong, in my opinion.
Matt