[iVanDuzer]

If your robot is lacking, then make up for it with a killer strategy. Crossing the barrier should be essential for a bare-bones bot. Get as much driver practice as possible. If you're coming into week 6 and still don't really have a manipulator built, scrap it, and devote all your time learning the rules backwards, frontwards and sideways. Learn how to drive carefully and defensively. At competition, have a bunch of scouts who watch where the offensive robots are scoring from. There will be many robots that can only score from a certain area (the key, for example): identify them and stop them from getting there. Constantly volunteer for being the second robot up on the bridge, so your partner can tilt it down for you to balance. Smart defense will be noticed by the top teams and will get you a spot in the elims of most regionals, regardless of scoring ability.