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Unread 13-07-2009, 16:29
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Francis-134 Francis-134 is offline
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FRC #0190 (Gompei and the Herd)
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Re: Idea: Bring back detached elements

Theis rule was put into place due to a number of specific robots over the first few years of FIRST. Most of these detachable parts were more defensive than offensive. This included devices to block off goals and the eponymous "landmine". Similarly, several teams devised devices to score objects on goals that would prevent others from scoring there. Imagine if in 2005 Beaty capped a goal with two tetras, then placed a square cage over top of it. Read more about detaching game objects by Andy "The Original Yellow Human Player" Grady here.

If the Powers That Be decide to bring back detaching objects, it should be done only with great caution. It seems that the more recent games have been pushing for more offensive robots, leading me to believe that future games would include elements that encourage teams to score points and to not descore or block scoring (teams like it when their robot gets to do what it is designed to do, not get pushed around by the mythical "box-on-wheels"). From history, we see that teams often use detaching objects for defensive purposes.

The only way I can easily see this happening is if the game was designed around detaching objects or there were a whole list of "don'ts" in the rule book. For 2k6, I could see a rule not allowing you to block the side/high goals, and perhaps a rule barring you from placing a large object on the opponent's ramp.

Despite all this, I've secretly wanted this rule to disappear with little to no fanfare for years (dare I say best typo ever?). Imagine Beaty surprising everyone at their first regional when their ramps fall in auto, detach and they drive off. Even better, they drop off THREE ramps.
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