Here's one that I've been kicking around for a while. I know it will never get implemented for a variety of reasons, but it's still fun to think about.
You play the five week regional season as you would in any other season. The only change is that there is a video database of every single match throughout the season, to make scouting much easier. (You'll see why this is so crucial)
After the regional season, all the teams are ranked from 1 to x in an order determined by some accepted method. This would be based not on potential, but sheer performance. eg., A certain amount points for winning an event, your seed, where you got picked, technical awards. There would be some sort of factor that looks "strength of schedule" which could make up for differences amongst the regionals.
A certain cutoff ranking would be determined by the capacity of Nationals, and only teams at this ranking and above would be invited to Nationals. (Exceptions could be made for Chairman's, original teams, etc.)
The Thursday of nationals would proceed normally, and then at 5:00 pm there would be a dinner break. After the break, the largest draft in FIRST history would take place. The top ranked team would go and pick another robot from the entire field, to form an alliance which would last for the entire event. This time instead of the top 8 picking, every team from the top third would get to pick. By the end, the event would consist of a whole bunch of alliances of 3. From here the teams would begin a massive elimination tournament, until only one alliance remains. This tournament could be setup in a variety of ways. There could be a round robin portion to eliminate some of the alliances. We could play best 3 out 5 series, and go double elimination... There are lots of possibilities. The choice would be determined on size and time...
The pros of this setup:
1. Those dream alliances people are always talking about, can actually happen. If this was in place this year, Team 254 would most likely have had the 1st pick, and selects Team 60.
2. The Championship becomes a true championship, with only the best of the best competing.
3. This would be a great setup for TV audiences. If FIRST could get regionals on the air each week, fans could follow teams through the season and into the finals. It would have a real March Madness feel to it.
4. This system eliminates the flukey nature of the ranking system at nationals. With only seven matches, the best teams don't always end up at the top. (Then again, if they don't make it to the top, are they really the best... not this argument again)
4. I can't picture a way to make this event more exciting. I get giddy just thinking about it.
The cons:
1. Way too much emphasis on regional performance.
2. Who makes up the ranking system, and what does it consist of. How do we prevent it from becoming the BCS?
3. How do you account for teams who attend multiple regionals?
4. With the final rankings only being released after the last regional, travel arrangements would be a nightmare.
You guys asked for radical, I gave you radical.
Let me know what you think...