[EricH]

Volume and weight are normally close. They can (and have!) change without any warning whatsoever. Safety rules don't change much, if at all. (<S04> this year was the main change there. Not a big one either...)

Team numbering rules, 99% chance of not changing. Alliance ID rules will probably change. The control system probably won't change much; however, you never know what tweaks will come in.

There are also a couple of "standard" rules; No intentional detaching, No metal on carpet, No intentional tipping (the contact rules stay pretty constant, other than pinning).

Bumpers, lights, floor surface, wheels, etc. are subject to change without warning, like this year with the wheels and floor.

As for pattern in game type, that sound you just heard was me falling off my seat laughing my head off. You can try to find one, but the most obvious one was disrupted this year.

How often do these types of rules change? How often does the GDC decide to change them?