[EricH]

Originally Posted by Alpha Beta

You are absolutely correct that interfering with a robot that is contacting the tower during the end game would be a poor choice. That would be the worst way to interpret the "smart penalty" concept. No one wants any part of a red card. Now defending the robot from getting to the tower even if it means going into the opponent’s lane to do it and eat the -3 is still an option. I expect to see hard defense in the end game. If I can delay a superior mini-bot with a penalty just enough to come in 2nd while my partner comes in first that is a 7 point swing, even more if I can delay him enough to not reach the top. Can you do that without drawing a red-card? Up until <G23> and <G25> comes into play.

If they touch the tower at any point during the end game, it's an automatic 3-point penalty in addition to any lane penalty. If the refs deem that you are interfering with deployment (i.e., they're starting to swing a deployment arm, and you hit them or shove them, even if contact was already begun), it's an automatic red card.

Up until the endgame, it's a viable strategy. But if you're doing that, I'll go do the same thing to one of your partners, or make a logo.

I also have another couple of tricks that could get me first in the minibot race despite your defense. And trust me, they'll be used by somebody. Smoke screens aren't always smoke...sometimes they're mirrors.