Comparing the two approaches we've seen so far to enhance autonomous (Battlecry & IRI), it's really hard for me to say which I prefer. The 15 point bonus of IRI's approach gives you an instant point boost, and does
not give one alliance a distinct advantage over controlling the game. Using the BC rules, scoring a keeper becomes a paramount factor in determining the game if only one alliance does it, as it promotes them to expand their rows vertically and locks teams into specific sections of the rack for their scoring, which is something we started to see at Nationals. While I'm sure this was bound to happen with the level of defense people from NE are going to play, a single keeper in autonomous is now worth 8 instant points, and very quickly, that 8 multiplies. I eagerly anticipate the high-level of play that this will promote, I worry for alliances that will be unable to cap during autonomous in qualifiers and be at a disadvantage. Nevertheless, I can't wait to see the elimination rounds

.
I guess 177 better hurry over to RAGE's practice facility and get working on our auto...
PS: What happened to diagonal rows? :-p