[MARS_James]

Stinglikeabee that has to be one of the best ways I have ever heard this question answered and it is asked a lot more often then just this post.

To add though one of the things that I feel separates Veteran Robots is the ability to take risks with a design or a game strategy. Not that it always works but most teams that take the risk are what I would call veterans some notable ones that I remember:

148 (2008): Making a quick robot that couldn't handle the trackballs was a huge risk to take but they made it work
86 (2010): The Rolly Polly bot that was designed to tip over and roll was awesome to see and the fact it never broke was even better
179 & 118 (2012): Both were risks and really tell what I mean by risk one was deemed legal and the other not but luckily for 118 the rest of their robot overcame that slight issue

So just a summary I feel the ability to successfully make a robot that takes risk with the game or strategy is a symbol of Veteran status but not necessarily a requirement