[ChuckDickerson]

There is a lot of discussion here about non-functional robots. What if some so far unseen rookie robot at some regional yet to be played just couldn’t get together anything more than a wood box bot with 2 broken BaneBot gearboxes because they didn’t know about all the BaneBots problems and simply show up with little more than a box. Just a wood box with a flat top, no arm, no ramps. We have all seen them. We have all been proud to have them on our alliance and see the looks in their faces when we said “OK, what we need you to do is go play defense against team number X” and then we win the match together. But this year they can’t play defense because their drivetrain is so messed up they can’t get it going before those early matches. We all try to help them but it just can’t be done in time. Now wouldn’t it make them feel better if instead of thinking they are going to suck because they can’t even drive and help with defense but rather found themselves a good partner because they could guarantee 30 points if needed? For those of you that say this isn’t the way the game is supposed to be played I respectfully argue that indeed this IS the way it is supposed to be played, overcoming adversity using creative thinking. Yesterday that wood box was worth 30 points. Unfortunately, today it is just a wood box.