Less Than A Month Left!!!!

[Taggerun]

Less than a month left before Kickoff. Who's hyped?? I personally can barely wait. I think this will be the most interesting FRC season yet. I think a Steampunk theme will make things... well... let's just say different. Post below to share your hopes, fears, predictions, disbeliefs, and anything else you think might happen during or before the 2017 FRC season. Can't wait to see your replies.
Thanks,
Taggerun

[tjwolter]

We will have more kids interested in costumes this year. Steampunk is visually fun. Medieval Sieges? Less so. Damsels in tall pointy hats or warriors with broad swords are in differing ways a little off focus with respect to FIRSTs ethos!

T. Wolter

[Ringo5tarr]

Originally Posted by tjwolter

We will have more kids interested in costumes this year. Steampunk is visually fun. Medieval Sieges? Less so. Damsels in tall pointy hats or warriors with broad swords are in differing ways a little off focus with respect to FIRSTs ethos!

T. Wolter

I have always loved Steampunk, and this is the best time for me to really do something with it! I've already ran to the thrift store to get some basic components, before the teaser I was expecting a Space game, so this just goes to show that FIRST will always be 42 steps ahead of us.

(It also means there will be a pirate-themed game eventually, and they'll taunt us by making it have no water)

But for me, I'm super excited for the game, I have gone too deep into trying to figure out the game, so I need some confirmation soon or else I will explode!

[Dwight_2]

Lol, I honestly can't wait but it also already feels like we're getting into the season with little projects, outreach, and fundraising! I'm looking forward to a great experience this year with my team (my family).

Hope everyone else's season is amazing!

[Bryce Clegg]

I'm hoping and predicting that we will use football shaped game pieces this year. If not, this year will most likely be under the Unusual game category, for those that have seen the 4 year cycle theory. Either way, it looks like we'll have a great game this year!

[GeeTwo]

I expect a lot of times to have "How the ???? can we do ____ while staying within ___?" moments. More specifically, I expect teams to have that moment about as many times this year as in 2014, 2015, and 2016 combined.

While I am not personally as pumped about steampunk as the medeival theme, I am definitely looking forward to the costumes and mascots and decorations.

[Type]

Originally Posted by Bryce Clegg

I'm hoping and predicting that we will use football shaped game pieces this year. If not, this year will most likely be under the Unusual game category, for those that have seen the 4 year cycle theory. Either way, it looks like we'll have a great game this year!

My team was thinking the same thing, it wouldn't be surprising if it was. There were some things in the video that made us think that, and when our former Coach (who is also a football coach) saw it, he thought it was football also.

[CMBrandon]

We had a modder get in the spirit with one of our MasterLiquid Maker 92 coolers.

[Aaron (Awe-Sum)]

While this isn't exactly the hottest of takes, my prediction is that the four year cycle theory comes to fruition again and we have an unusual game piece.
My fear is that this might be a down year for our team, as we are entering our fourth year and haven't encountered an unusual game piece.

[nick4130]

Originally Posted by Aaron (Awe-Sum)

While this isn't exactly the hottest of takes, my prediction is that the four year cycle theory comes to fruition again and we have an unusual game piece.
My fear is that this might be a down year for our team, as we are entering our fourth year and haven't encountered an unusual game piece.

You don't consider a tote an unusual game piece? Seems pretty unusual to me. But for or luck that was my teams best year, hopefully we have another trip to St. Louis.

[NoahMinter]

Team 6341 is so pumped for kickoff! Our community has gotten behind our team in such a huge way. We hope we can inspire them as much as they inspire us.

As for the game, "Prepare to take flight" always gets me. I am hoping for a flying field element of some sort, maybe a blimp, but nothing directly driver controlled. In addition, I personally hope for another end game! Climbing last year was a challenge for many teams. Hopes are high that our rookie team can pull off something that challenging.

[Bryce Clegg]

Originally Posted by Aaron (Awe-Sum)

While this isn't exactly the hottest of takes, my prediction is that the four year cycle theory comes to fruition again and we have an unusual game piece.
My fear is that this might be a down year for our team, as we are entering our fourth year and haven't encountered an unusual game piece.

That's the good thing about unusual game pieces. They allow for teams that aren't as established to build a great robot, especially if they think outside of the box. There's never a right way to build a robot, and that can't be even more true with unusual game pieces. With balls, there are catapults and flywheels, as well as some other manipulator devices. Those games allow for teams that have their designs, manufacturing, and testing down pat to excel. Unusual game pieces bring out the more creative designs, where game strategy is even more important.

[ctt956]

Originally Posted by CMBrandon

We had a modder get in the spirit with one of our MasterLiquid Maker 92 coolers.
[images removed to save space]

That's awesome! Now just put some dry ice and water in it...

Originally Posted by Bryce Clegg

That's the good thing about unusual game pieces. They allow for teams that aren't as established to build a great robot, especially if they think outside of the box. There's never a right way to build a robot, and that can't be even more true with unusual game pieces. With balls, there are catapults and flywheels, as well as some other manipulator devices. Those games allow for teams that have their designs, manufacturing, and testing down pat to excel. Unusual game pieces bring out the more creative designs, where game strategy is even more important.

Well said.

[KosmicKhaos]

I definitely wouldn't be disappointed if there was another Frisbee game. It fits the take flight saying by being a flying game piece. It also follows the four year game cycle. It is not unreasonable to think it could happen considering 2013 would be 4 years away when considering 2013-2017 is the same time frame separating 2007-2011.

If there is a "flying" part of the game and its not the game pieces I think it will be a mini-bot that has to be placed on a wire above the field that stretches the length of the field. The mini bot would then have to travel the length of the field to the other side.

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by Bryce Clegg

I'm hoping and predicting that we will use football shaped game pieces this year. If not, this year will most likely be under the Unusual game category, for those that have seen the 4 year cycle theory. Either way, it looks like we'll have a great game this year!

Originally Posted by Aaron (Awe-Sum)

While this isn't exactly the hottest of takes, my prediction is that the four year cycle theory comes to fruition again and we have an unusual game piece.

Originally Posted by Bryce Clegg

That's the good thing about unusual game pieces. They allow for teams that aren't as established to build a great robot, especially if they think outside of the box...

Hey, there's a difference here. 2001 had perfectly normal game pieces (inflated rubber balls), and as I understand it, 2009 game pieces were more unusual looking than actually unusual (balls formed of braided bands) - the unusual physical feature was the mandatory low-friction wheels on a mostly low-friction drive surface. However, 2001, 2005, and 2009, were all definitely unusual games - 4v0, take-back real-time tic-tac-toe, and stomp the balloon respectively. 2013 had an unusual game piece for the main game (frisbee), and an unusual endgame (unique in FRC to date) - a multi-stage climb. (You weren't allowed to zip up to stage three - you had to get off the ground touching nothing above the first rung, then above the first rung touching nothing above the second rung, and only then touch farther up to climb above the second rung.)

Bottom line - I fully expect BOTH at least one unusual game piece and/or field element (to include playing surface), AND an unusual game. The mock game my team came up with after the teaser qualifies on both counts (throwing footballs through round goals that move, but which can be temporarily held by activating a large lever), but I expect the real elements and/or game shall be even more unusual.