Wrecking Ball Robots

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by davidthefat

Eh, I guess it doesn't apply to FRC then.

No need to guess. It's in the rules.

<G48> Strategies aimed at the destruction, attachment, damage, tipping or entanglement of ROBOTS, MINIBOTS, or HOSTBOTS are not in the spirit of the FRC and are not allowed.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by davidthefat

I believe a good defense is as good as, if not better than, a good offensive bot. Now imagine this: what good is a high scoring bot if it is:
1.) Capsized
2.) Demobilized
3.) Blocked
4.) Broken in general

Intentional destruction is blatantly illegal.

Doesn't matter if your bot is steel, your 120 pound robot making legal contact is going to hit exactly as hard as a "normal" robot that also weighs 120 pounds. Just because your robot is dense and steel doesn't somehow make it a better rammer.

Tipping is also illegal if intentional.

Seriously - read the rules. It's week 5.

[EricH]

Alan, I think I know what he was referring to.

In football, there is a saying that "Defense wins championships". I know that David does play football, and I would guess that he's heard that saying at least a few times.

However, whoever came up with that saying did not mean a defense that got a personal foul or pass interference penalty every other play. He meant a defense that got a turnover every few plays, particularly at critical points in the game. Say, for example, the SDSM&T defense coming up with a pick-6 in the end zone in second overtime when up by 3 points and their opponent's offense was on the 3. (Too bad the extra 6 points weren't counted.)

To draw a football analogy, the strategy David suggested would be akin to getting a roughing the passer, pass interference, facemask, or tripping penalty by the same person every play he was in the game. How long would that person last in the football game before either the coaches or refs sent him to the showers? (And, in the case of the coaches doing the sending, the practice squad?)