2012 IRI Predictions

[LeelandS]

Originally Posted by Bjenks548

This thread has been dead a little too long so...

The winning alliance will have how many long/wide bots?
Will all alliances be able to triple balance and if not, do they stand a chance?
What will the Coop bridge % be durring qualifications?
Will we finnaly see the super starve strategy (6 with hp 9 on robots and 2 on bridge)?
Will any long bots go as a third pick?

My guesses,
1 long 2 wide
All will be able to, if not there is no chance
90%
No, people like scoring more
Only if there's already 3 wide bots on the alliance

I'll try my hat at some of these:

2 wide, 1 long robot certainly would be most likely. I, however, feel that the winning alliance will actually be 2 long, 1 wide.

I'm still not sure how we define "able to triple balance", but I think we'll see at least one alliance advance past the quarterfinals without triple balancing. I don't see an alliance winning IRI without tripling at least once, however. Though, Einstein was won on double balances. So I wouldn't say it's impossible. Smart alliance may see the advantage of scoring the heck out of a match and doubling versus taking the risk of tripling, much like 1717 often did in matches (score as much as possible while their partners balanced).

I'd expect a 98% coop balance, if not 100%. There will be an attempt every match, and maybe a slip up or two. But considering the overall quality of team's at IRI, the general consensus that cooping is necessary to compete well, and the number of teams who will probably be practicing balancing and possibly even installing stingers/balancing aids of some kind, balancing on the coop bridge will be a very common occurance.

I don't see that starving strategy really being effective. Teams of IRI caliber could make much better use of those balls by putting them to use in hoops. I think you'll see it attempted at least once, and that match will be extremely slow, but I don't think one alliance will be able to control every ball. Especially since getting balls from the alliance bridge in hybrid seems to be a huge advantage for an alliance, and will be attempted more.

Absolutely. But I doubt it will be because of their orientation. Great teams go to the third pick all the time, so I think long robots will absolutely go to the third pick. But wide robots will, too.