[GBK]

I have to say that at first I did not like this game. After watching week one, it became clear that even though it was different from past games, it was a game that was going to evolve as weeks went by into a very good game. Your alliance partner getting fouls is just part of it, after all you are paired up in the qualifications at random. Human players are a big part of this game, and can cost teams matches. We lost a match this weekend, that was so stacked that is was almost unfair, yet one of the human players on our alliance managed to rack up 170 points in fouls. Looking back, maybe we should have talked to the human players better before the match to determine what they knew about the rules, Placed that player in a position that they could have done less damage and educated the player on the rules the could draw fouls on to make sure they understood the potential results.

As far as a ball landing in an opponents robot, the rules are very clear about that and even give a warning that you should design your bot so it can not end up with a ball it did not intend to get.

In closing, FIRST has been trying to make working together part of the game for a while now. I think they nailed it. If you end up with a partner that is nothing more than a box on wheels, it is up to you to figure out how to utilize them in a way that is a benefit to the alliance. Many teams have figured out how to do this very effectively. This game is not about being able to win by yourself.
Cant wait to see what the game evolves into in the next three weeks