I understand where chris27 is coming from. I agree that defense is a big part of the first game and I understand that you need build a robust robot, However some of the defense I saw was a little rediculus. And I am pretty sure that it was not what FIRST had in mind. Our robot was forced up our opponents ramp by two of the opposing alliances robots. Our robot was being pushed striat up the ramp while our robot was at a 45 degree angle to the ramp. Our robot doesnt go up the ramp like that. When we got to our robot after the match the aluminum mount for the caster had been bent so badly that it wasnt touching the ground anymore, by about half an inch.
I agree that there should be defense and robots hitting, but I think that some of it gets out of hand and it is clear when it does.