[Rohawk1]

I think Aerial Assist definitely achieves the goal. Maybe it's because this is only my second year of FIRST, but I think this game forces teams to work together in order to win. After Palmetto, I remember teams that went solo didn't do as well as alliances that worked together, even with powerhouse teams. Our drive team had to work with the other teams to develop a quick strategy, and that means scouting is incredibly important in this game. Communicating scouting information to drive team and checking out the other teams before the match to see if they need help are important aspects, at least they were at Palmetto it seemed.

I feel like it gives rookies a good chance at winning as well. A kit bot can easily be on a winning alliance this year.

Also, of course teams will want to see their robot do what it was made to do, but sometimes bot designs can have hidden talents. To give an example, at Palmetto I don't know if 1311 (Kell Robotics) designed their robot to be a defense bot from the beginning or not, but they definitely proved to be one of the best defensive bots at the regional by eliminations. Also, our alliance partners, 4935 (T-Rex) had a shooter, but we saw from the scouting data that they also had an incredible defensive presence on the field. Maybe this game does not always allow teams to use their robots in the intended way all the time, but it makes us adapt to the situations we are thrown in with random teams and forces us to work with them quickly to find out how everyone can use their robot for the benefit of the alliance. This adaptability and willingness to cooperate seems definitely necessary in this game, and I think that's what FIRST wants.