Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnBoucher
When you get a field from FIRST, what do you get for electronics? Do you get the full FMS? If you don't what do you need to source?
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It's definately possible to run an event with a much more makeshift setup. My team went to an event recently that was a lot of fun, but wasn't in any way an IRI competitor.
It really depends on how seriously you want everyone to take it. If people aren't super-serious you can run with no FMS and let each team have their own router. Keeping all of the scores by hand also works just fine if people aren't clammoring to see the full standings after each match. A fancy sound system is nice but really not necessary.
Also, as far as a field, there are a lot of corners that can be cut without a big effect on gameplay:
1) You can make one of the sidewalls literally a wall. This was actually bad for my team because we have things up high that expand outside of our frame perimiter that don't like being hit, but it didn't end up being a problem.
2) You can use stuff like this:
for a sidewall, without issue.
3) The plexi and diamond plate in a field can be done away with and replaced with either plywood or chicken wire.
4) You're just as good with no live scoring as with innaccurate live scoring (hello, Galileo field)
5) A big video screen showing stuff in isn't needed when the worst seat in the grandstands is only 20 ft away from the field.
Also, there are seemingly random venues that work to run this game in. For example, being in a chicken barn at a county fairground meant that the rafters were only 12' up, and could be used for mounting nets. It was also large enough that it housed the fields and pits and was half-empty.
Doing all this will definetely give the event a different vibe from a regional, but that doesn't mean it won't be fun.