Strategy is ALWAYS the most important part of a match. The second most important thing is being able to execute your strategy and have your alliance partners do the same. 2 other robots against your 3 opposition robots are a lot to think about, but as long as everyone does their job, an effective strategy can take out any robot, dream team or not. There can never be one monster robot to dominate the match. 3 marginal robots against 1 amazing robot and 2 fair ones, or 2 good ones and 1 poor one can still pull out a match. 188 has learned this through thick and thin, when our robots performed wildly beyond our expectations or even when they didn't. Last year was a crystal clear example of this. Our gripper, when performing flawlessly allowed us to totally dominate, but on some occasions where it couldn't be counted on, strategy let us make the most out of the situation, by focusing on things that we knew we could do 100%.
You should always ALWAYS go to your alliance partners for the next match and work out a plan with them. Have effective scouting, COMBINE your resources, DO your homework about the other teams.
I respectfully disagree with Phrontist. I have witnessed many many occasions where the favoured team has gone on to lose due to efficient and relentless strategy on the part of the opposing alliance. The big name teams know this as well. Not only do teams like Beatty, Stang, or the Martians create great robots, they weave great strategies to maximize their robot's potential. (except when they forget to charge a battery or double check connections
). The possibility of a single perfect robot dominating a match is a lot to think about. There are always weaknesses. Never think that a match is un-windable.
I was joking with my fellow alumnus and ex-head of strategy from last year, yesterday about how during competition, the team organizational chart turns upside down and the strategy sub-team overrules anyone, even the mentors
. (This is also well known by everyone on our team during the 2004 championships, something which the mentors have not let us forget about either!)