[MrJohnston]

When I try to define an "effective" low-bar robot, I consider this:

* Should be able to cross the low bar during autonomous play.
* Must be able to easily go under the low bar with minimal slowing.
* Must have some primary role based on its ability to go under the low bar (cycling through secret passage - and scoring most of the time, damaging other defenses, very quickly ferrying boulders through for an opponent, carry boulders across several different defenses)
* Must either be so good at its primary purpose that there is generally no reason to do anything else OR must have a solid secondary purpose.
* Climbing and Autonomous points not involving the low bar are bonuses.

Examples:
Robot A: Can go under the low bar, pick up a boulder from teh secret passage and score it in the low goal. During tele-op, it generally can manage four full cycles, scoring twice.... It can cross Category B and D defenses, but is labored in doing so and will often lose a boulder in the process. Auto: Can cross the low bar - but nothing else. I view this robot as "ineffective" - but would make a decent third robot in the right alliance in district eliminations. (24 pts., including the act of rolling up to the tower)

Robot B: Goes under the low bar, picks up boulders from the secret passage and scores in the low goal - nearly 100% of the time - and can complete about five cycles per match. Additionally, it can cross all the Category B, C and D defenses, carrying a boulder across. Though, admittedly not as effectively as the low bar. During Autonomous, it can cross the low bar and score in the low bar, or simply cross a category B defense. I view this robot as "effective" and would be a good second robot or, possibly, a low level captain in district events. (40-50 pts., including threatening a tower.).

I figure that less than 20% of all robots will be as strong as Robot B.