[EricH]

I would be rather hesitant to release team field drawings early. However, I do believe that there are a number of steps FIRST HQ can take without doing that in order to make teams' life easier.

In no particular order:

• Realize that teams have to interpret the drawings--and then design for manufacturability. For example, any angle that needs better than whole-number precision should probably be spec'd as two different linear dimensions that will allow the angle to be right, or very close to right. (2015). It's a lot easier to build stuff if you can actually read the drawings and they're easy to build. This right here is huge.
• Not have quite so many field elements. "Duh." Honestly, there were only about 20 separate chunks of a team field in 2016... and roughly three in 2014. 2015 was partway in between, but see above.
• Have a "quick-and-dirty" version for many elements. See also, the mimic targets that a lot of teams brought to check shooters. (Or, for 2014: Gimme a string/sports net and two posts that are tall enough. Actually, gimme 2, one for the high goals and one for the truss.) If teams want to build their own "real" field, have the drawings available. That way, teams can build the quick-and-dirty, and later they can build the not-so-quick at their own pace if they think they'll actually need it.
• Build A SET at HQ, for HQ testing. And then, of course, pass on any knowledge gained by such items to teams. Woulda been really nice to practice the drawbridge on lexan, for example. But most teams built wood. Lexan behaves much differently. Ditto for Portcullis.
• Don't change drawings mid-season because your vendor couldn't do what you wanted them to...
• Put ALL the parts needed for an assembly with the assembly in the drawing. It does help if you don't have to go chasing down to 20 pages later.

There are a number of improvements to the process, yes. I don't see an early release being one of them, TBH. Though having the material list coming out early, or a partial material list, would be helpful in checking for supplies on-hand.