I love the idea of having a 4th robot to switch out for the elimination rounds of the world championship. It would add a whole new level of strategy. 2992, a great looping robot went unselected in eliminations. We didn't select them because head to head with 469 that strategy would not have held up. We needed 888 (which was no longer with us by the time we faced off against 469) to use their excellent programers to try to stop 469 from lodging in the tower and then keep up the defensive pressure. Now if I could have used 2992 in quarters and semis when our offense was dominant and then brought in 888 as a defensive specialist for the division finals... As a strategist my head is spinning with the possibilities.
The serpentine draft would again favor the top alliances with the extra pick. I'm ok with that.
The field crew would need to be given a card from each alliance stating which robot is sitting out as soon as the previous match is over so that they can program the field and we don't have a situation of one team waiting for the other to setup before they make their decision.
It allows more teams a chance to still be in the game and gives the potential for a 4th World Champion each year.
I would add that the division winners cannot take their 4th robot to Einstein unless they played them in at least one game during the division elimination rounds... No other subs will be offered for failed robots.
Any team taking a 4th robot to Einstein must play them in at least 1 game to win the world championship. This would mean that in the Einstein finals the winner of the first match would have to sub in their 4th robot if they have not played them previously on Einstein. If that happens to make them lose then their opponents would be forced into a similar situation if they have not played their 4th robot earlier. This would include a robot that broke in division play. (Better have a good pit crew. There ought to be enough time during Dean's speech to fix just about anyones robot.
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