[Andrew]

1. A robot that can reliably take the 6" steps against opposition and hang will win regionals/nationals.

2. No robot that "caps" as its primary strategy will make it into the finals in any regional or nationals.

3. No robot with 12.5" wheels will make it into finals in any regional or nationals.

4. 75% of all robots with 12.5" wheels will have a badly degraded drive system by the end of the first regional.

5. Scouting will be more important this year than any other year. Every strategy (except for the one in #1 above) has a hole in it. Proper planning (even by a box on wheels) can negate almost any strategy.

6. Because hanging is so devastating, those teams who can do it will need to find a way to get onto the middle platform in autonomy. Otherwise, they will have to get onto the platform against active opposition.

7. Over 50% of all matches will have one or more robots on their sides/backs before the end of the match.