[Jherbie53]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

This year, more so than any past year, aside of possibly 2004, balance is the key to victory. Most winning alliances I have seen have had the ability to score both the center and corner goals, win autonomous, play defense, and get some (even if not the full 25) ramp points.
Amognst robot feature, a few are pretty much essential. Speed, traction and power in your drivetrain are of couse, as always, critical. Storage capacity (at a bare minimum of 10, preferably around 15-20 or more), especially on rapid fire shooters and corner goal scorers (even more so if you cannot load from the ground easily).

Originally Posted by codeoftherobot

I'd also agree that balance on the team is key. Even though there are teams that can individually dominate the score, if for some reason they are stopped, that team has no other bots to do the trick to get a higher score. All it takes is a two-on-one defensive against an excellent bot and leave the other opposing bot free to score a few points, points that can easily be returned in the next rounds. While it may not be a simple 1 defense, 1 shooter, 1 ball dumper team, balance is essential for this competition.

Autonomous I have mixed feelings on the importance of it. If they have an auto that shoots 3's consistently, definitely go for it. Just doing a quick analysis, having an opposing team know that you have just shot multiple 3's and got the 10 point bonus throws off their calm and could cause their team to go slightly into chaos, struggling to figure out whether to go for upper or lower goals and whether they need all 3 bots on the ramp.

Balance is key for any good team. But there really is no one key to the game. Autonomous is big, but how many teams have won after losing it. Anyhoo, it all comes down to the drivers, pit crews, and of course strategy. Without either of the groups the robot won't work. Even if you are the best dumper, shooter, or defensive robot. Strategy is what wins close matches.