Aerial Assist and Ill Will

[DampRobot]

Originally Posted by Abhishek R

Really, you can argue both sides, and there's never one right or a wrong answer. It's going to be dependent on how each team works it out as situations will vary. It depends on what the motives and goals of the team are.

Your goal can be to demonstrate all abilities of your robot, and there's absolutely nothing wrong there.

Your goal can be to sacrifice that if it means a higher probability of winning the match, and there's nothing wrong there either.

I'd argue that teams don't have a right to lose a match just because they decide it's to their advantage to show off. If these matches were 1v1, sure that would be fine. You'd only be hurting yourself. Of course, it doesn't work that way aren't. That team, which might just barely make the top 8 if they win this match? You're screwing them over if you lose this match. The other member, which might see their first win of a long, hard season this match? You'll be hurting them too. Like it or not, teams have some obligation to their alliance partners.

I can tell you for a fact that teams that decide to show off their robot and cripple their alliance are not going to be teams we'd like to work with for eliminations. A box on wheels (well, traction wheels) that can work with their alliance partners is exactly what you want as a third pick for this game. You don't want a robot that's a mediocre shooter, you want one that's a beastly inbounder and a great defensive bot.

Ultimately, the decision to hurt your own alliance for your own potential gain isn't just self-serving, it's the wrong way to achieve your goal. If your shooter is inaccurate and it takes you 40 seconds to pick up a ball, you won't get chosen for those capabilities, even if you demonstrate them at your alliances expense. You will get chosen for showing off your awesome drivetrain, defense and assist capabilities, which are going to help your alliance anyway.

If you're going to hurt your own alliance, don't shoot yourself in the foot while doing it.