[BrendanB]

I think part of it depends on what kind of a team you are striving to be. In the moment I would say most people would prefer to be the 24th pick and win the event. There are some very strong, reputable teams who have fallen in the draft to the 22nd-24th.

If your long term goal is to see your team win events more frequently you need to learn to control your own destiny which usually comes at a cost of losing in the quarterfinals more than you'd like for a time until you transition from being one of the teams picked on the back end of the draft to one of the teams at the top everyone wants to be with.

3467 was an alliance captain on Archimedes in 2013 (losing to the division champions of 33, 469, and 1519) and in 2014 we were the 29th pick as the fourth member on the #5 alliance of 2590, 1625, and 1477 which ended up winning the Archimedes division. In all honesty we needed both experiences. 2013 showed us that with some hard work we really could make a name for ourselves and stand on our own being an alliance captain at the championship. 2014 was a lesson in learning from very experienced teams who are making their own reputations of continued success and well rounded programs on and off the field we learned a lot.

At the end of the day they each had their pros and cons. 2013 we lost in the quarters but finishing as a captain was huge. 2014 ended with a banner but our role was with our robot off the field.

If I had my choice I'd take be your own captain. You won't make it to the finals or Einstein or win the event if you don't learn how to assemble and alliance and develop strategy to make it to the semi-finals.