[GeorgeTheEng]

One thing to consider that is different then the last couple of years is the way the 3 alliances are used. Since it's 3 alliance, 3 on 3 match everyone is out there in each match. Last year, you only had 2 and that meant that you had to have 1 different robot in the 2nd match of your set. To me that is a big difference and one where I've thought that maybe with 3 on 3 the top 8 should not be able to pick within themselves.

The reason that I say that is that the top 2 to 4 team are usually there because they are the top teams at the regional. They win because they help pull thier alliances through, they have good drives, they have good strategies, and they understand the game. It is rare that those teams are there by luck of the draw for the seeding matches (but yes it does happen). As such, those teams are generally also good at determining an opponents weakness and trying to exploit that. (That is not meant in a bad way, it's how games are played when it's winner take all). With all 3 alliance members on the field, there is little that the 2nd match of the elimination will have vastly different strategy because it's the same teams. Last years game made it a little harder for the leading team to determine full strategy until they knew who was going on the field and it gave the underdog a chance to try a different set of players and strategy. With the entire alliance out there, my experience has been that the leader finds the strategy and exploits it twice to the same result. To me it makes the game a little less exciting in the elimination matches because that potential unknown isn't there anymore. (Of course maybe the answer to this has nothing to do with the top 8)