Originally Posted by TJP123
And as a team that has hosted a kickoff event since, well, the first one ever, I would love to answer that. There are, as usual, plenty of misconceptions about the supposed advantages, and especially about how much work goes into it.
I was not attempting to belittle any effort here, only point out that having these at KO and after is an advantage.
Those field elements don't just appear by magic. So while Team B is doing some final training or, more importantly, just resting and preparing for the season, Kickoff Host Team A is scrambling to build field elements. I would even allege that the advantage went to teams that could target what they wanted to prototype against first (i.e. rock wall vs. hanging bar) and build the other elements while that work was going on in parallel. KO hosts had to try to build all of them in a short time.
So when other teams are building them after KO, your team can be doing any of those things you mention, if desired. I would add perhaps you consider asking for assistance from some of those invited, many hands make work light.
I do full appreciate your point toward “what” teams build, and maybe a how. The truss 2014 being a prime example.
Let's not forget that the only reason Team A is building field elements is that they're also doing all the work that it takes to host Team B (and Teams C though AZ) at their Kickoff... KOP pickup, speakers, seminars/workshops, college fairs. But I suppose some would call that an advantage as well. After all, Team A didn't have to actually travel as far to attend the all-day rookie chassis build that they put on.
Your choice, no? And guessing it could be the cornerstone of a chairman’s presentation. Further I applaud your efforts, a true act of gracious professionalism.
30 minutes after the video, Team B is back on the road with their KOP to begin their strategy and design talks. Meanwhile, Team A is doing cleanup and teardown and paperwork and all the other things that it takes to wrap up a kickoff event, including waiting 4 or 5 hours for teams Y and Z who were late, and the rules say if they don't pick up their KOP by the event close you can just send them back to HQ, but who's going to do that?
Again ask for help, before and after? I suspect none of this takes a full team, borrowing some mentors from other teams allows other mentors of each to be engaged in the other activities you speak to.
All for the "advantage" of having field elements sit in a closet for a month. Outside of the top 1% of teams (and frankly I'm not concerned with them, they'll be fine) the truth is that most teams have no use for field elements before week 3 anyway (with the occasional exception of bumps and obstacles where a drivetrain is a good enough prototype device).
This is dependent on the team and the “use. Having them available might allow teams better ability to direct there strategy and design efforts.
So I'd love to come attend your local kickoff event. I promise I'll show up on time and I won't even ask to take your field elements with me when I leave. I'll get to take the month of December off and I'll have field elements built during Week 1 while strategy is being discussed anyway.
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