View Single Post
  #13   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 15-01-2003, 10:32
Matt Reiland's Avatar
Matt Reiland Matt Reiland is offline
'The' drive behind the drive
None #0226 (TEC CReW Hammerheads)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: May 2001
Rookie Year: 1999
Location: Troy Michigan
Posts: 712
Matt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond reputeMatt Reiland has a reputation beyond repute
While I see the light on both sides of this argument, and I don't doubt for a second it is a smart move to make the best you can for your team but .......

I really dread the thought of getting to the finals not having 'earned' it. The idea of getting consistent super high scores even though your robot can't perform to that level just doesn't seem right. We all know from past years that sometimes you have a great match and get huge points, at the same time a wonderful robot may compete and get the short end of the stick. These are individual matches. That's the breaks, it keeps everything exciting, you don't know the outcome.

But by the time the finals roll around I want to see the teams that created the best solution to the game for the year. PERIOD. Teams that figured out the best way to manipulate or drive or face whatever problems FIRST threw at them. As an overall average they shake out, or if they don't their performance is usually noted and they are picked for partners. It doesn't take a veteran team to win, it takes a clever team. What I don't want to see is 2 teams that don't have any business being there BUT they were excellent at rigging the score for the entire competition. Or one serious team that is fully capable that totally controls the finals vs another team.

By rigging the score (As a strategy for the entire tournament), your team is only delaying the outcome that would happen in the Elimination rounds where 'All Deals are off', and it may have hurt the scores or other teams that had a better machine that belonged in the finals.

Last edited by Matt Reiland : 15-01-2003 at 10:43.