[Andrew]

Once more...the offense versus defense argument.

A team which designs specifically for defense will be very effective in this competition. A box on wheels which can't do anything else is not a good defensive robot.

That having been said, the purely defensive robot, this year, is not going to do as well in competition as it would in years past. Why? It is possible to play defense against two robots simultaneously, freeing your alliance partner to score. However, three robots at once will take its toll on the purely defensive robot.

Match after match, making contact and disrupting, will leave most purely defensive robots severely compromised come eliminations.

The other two issues this year that make pure defense a difficult proposition...the kit drive train and the 30 point loading zone penalty.

Even a six motor drive system bot will not be able to effectively fend off TWO kit bots much less three.

If the driver of a defensive robot gets hung up near an opponent's loading zone, the thirty point penalty will negate the most effective scoring strategy.