Human Player

[mechlectrician7]

What is the purpose of the two human zones (12' 10" x 2' 6") marked blue or red located on either side of the field. I understand the white zones right next to the low goals, but it is the other ones that confuse me. Any information would be helpful and appreciated.

[brndn]

My understanding is that whenever a ball is thrown out of the playing field, a volunteer returns the ball to the nearest human player of that team, but I might be wrong. Also, rule G11 states:

BALLS may not be intentionally or repeatedly ejected from gameplay.
Violation: FOUL per instance.

Passing a BALL to a HUMAN PLAYER is within gameplay and not considered a violation of G11.

Emphasis my own. I guess the human players are meant to be passed to?

[yash101]

I actually think that there isn't much to being a human player this year!

[Tem1514 Mentor]

Look at this way the human players that are on the sides of the field get a front row seat which would be really helpful in scouting. Oh dear did I just let the cat out of the bag?

The one human player at the driver station will be very busy after every cycle goal.

[MooreteP]

These balls bounce, especially with a missed shot on a goal or a failed truss pass. The human players will perform an important function in keeping the balls on the field.

Even more important is how they return the balls to the field.
If they get their alliance ball, they can return it to the area of the most capable shooter, and finish the goal.
If they get the opposing alliances ball, they could roll a ball toward the weakest alliance member or to an area where the alliance has no presence.

I cannot find a rule that says if a Blue alliance ball bounces towards a Red alliance Human Player, that they can't possess it and return it to the field in a manner that negatively affects the Blue alliance.

If this is the case, then the human player will be more important than in most past games. (See Ladder Logic, or First Frenzy for important human player roles)

I think I am starting to understand this game.

[ToddF]

Human players exist to allow truss points to be scored by alliances without a robot catcher, while maintaining control of the ball. No catch points, but the ball isn't bouncing all over the field either.

[MooreteP]

Originally Posted by ToddF

Human players exist to allow truss points to be scored by alliances without a robot catcher, while maintaining control of the ball. No catch points, but the ball isn't bouncing all over the field either.

Given the geometry of the truss plane, I don't think many balls would bounce right at their Human Player. A launch commensurate with a goal shot might clear the human player and result in a foul. G11 is fuzzy. Was it a truss clear or a "pass"?

I think they are going to play a larger role.
Just trying to parse the rules to predict the permutations.

[TruBlu13]

Originally Posted by ToddF

Human players exist to allow truss points to be scored by alliances without a robot catcher, while maintaining control of the ball. No catch points, but the ball isn't bouncing all over the field either.

I don't think a human player can score truss points.

3.1.4 Scoring
Points are awarded once per CYCLE for BALLS SCORED by ROBOTS in the GOALS, BALLS SCORED by ROBOTS over the TRUSS,and for each ROBOT CATCH. Additional points are credited to an ALLIANCE up on each GOAL base on the number of ASSISTS earned by the ALLIANCE for that CYCLE.

My understanding is that means that the human can't make any truss points because that was one of my first thoughts.

[lcoreyl]

Originally Posted by TruBlu13

I don't think a human player can score truss points.

3.1.4 Scoring
Points are awarded once per CYCLE for BALLS SCORED by ROBOTS in the GOALS, BALLS SCORED by ROBOTS over the TRUSS,and for each ROBOT CATCH. Additional points are credited to an ALLIANCE up on each GOAL base on the number of ASSISTS earned by the ALLIANCE for that CYCLE.

My understanding is that means that the human can't make any truss points because that was one of my first thoughts.

He wasn't saying the human actually scores the points--he is saying you can throw from a robot to a human (assuming you don't have another robot available to catch) to keep from needing someone to go retrieve the ball.

[Edxu]

From what I've read from Q&A, if the ball is going out, the Human player is technically allowed to hit it back into the court.

This means that you could significantly reduce cycle time by having a robot throw over truss to human player, and have the human player hit it to the robot in the next zone, thus having a controlled truss and assist.

[DStetzing]

Not sure if this is correct, but if a human player receives a ball from a robot in the white zone then passes it to a different robot in a colored zone, would it count as an assist? Like would it still count as a unique robot in a unique zone?

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by Edxu

From what I've read from Q&A, if the ball is going out, the Human player is technically allowed to hit it back into the court.

This means that you could significantly reduce cycle time by having a robot throw over truss to human player, and have the human player hit it to the robot in the next zone, thus having a controlled truss and assist.

Pass over truss to human player, who catches it and feeds it to the next robot. It counts as an assist, is hard to defend against, and you don't waste time chasing a ball around the field.

[gpetilli]

Originally Posted by pfreivald

Pass over truss to human player, who catches it and feeds it to the next robot. It counts as an assist, is hard to defend against, and you don't waste time chasing a ball around the field.

I totally agree that this is a great strategy. I have two concerns: 1) most teams will have trouble making a thrower that can be consistent at that distance. 2) if the human player misses, does it count as intentionally ejected from field and draw a foul?

We need a ruling on incomplete pass to HP.

[Chessmaster001]

Actually, after doing extensive research across the game manual, truss points can only be scored through being caught by a robot. As quoted from the game manual:
A CATCH occurs when a BALL SCORED over the TRUSS by a ROBOT’S ALLIANCE partner is POSSESSED by that ROBOT before contacting the carpet, the ROBOT which SCORED the TRUSS, or HUMAN PLAYER.

In explanation, only the robot(s) that didn't possess the ball before the truss throw are the only ones who can catch it; not the human player or the robot that threw it

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Chessmaster001

Actually, after doing extensive research across the game manual, truss points can only be scored through being caught by a robot. As quoted from the game manual:
A CATCH occurs when a BALL SCORED over the TRUSS by a ROBOT’S ALLIANCE partner is POSSESSED by that ROBOT before contacting the carpet, the ROBOT which SCORED the TRUSS, or HUMAN PLAYER.

You're entirely incorrect as to when Truss points can be scored, AND the rule you brought in refers to Catch points instead of Truss points.