[Jon Stratis]

As others have said, it's all about strategy and figuring out how to play the game. Once we figure out how the game is played, we develop a list of requirements for our robot. This list doesn't tell us how to build our robot, it just tells us what's important. Take Breakaway for example:
- score balls
- move balls over the bumps
- hang
- be able to travel over the bump
- be able to travel under the tunnel
- be agile (sacrifice pushing power for this)

Next, as we go through our development process, we look at these requirements every day. After a week or so, we realized that we had a great way to hang, but in order to do it, we wouldn't be able to go under the ramp. At that point we knew we could go over the bump without too much trouble, so we crossed the tunnel off the list - it was no longer a requirement that our robot be able to go under the tunnel.

Having a list like this posted on the wall helps tremendously in keeping the team focused on what is important for the season, instead of what is "cool", but ultimately not important.