Car nack 2014?

[bduddy]

Why is everyone focusing on playing defense on a single robot? There's only one ball - your defense should be focused on that!

[nuggetsyl]

Mech wheeled robots will not be alliance captain, 1st pick, or 2nd pick on Einstein.

[Whippet]

Originally Posted by nuggetsyl

Mech wheeled robots will not be alliance captain, 1st pick, or 2nd pick on Einstein.

Andy Baker puts mecanum wheels on his robot ... and wins champs anyway.

[nuggetsyl]

Originally Posted by Whippet

Andy Baker puts mecanum wheels on his robot ... and wins champs anyway.

Ok I will bite Which team did this? And my comment were for this game.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by nuggetsyl

Ok I will bite Which team did this? And my comment was for this game.

Andy Baker's team. I understand that this year, Andy Baker's robot can acquire the ball from the Human Player, throw it over the Truss and catch it itself, and score in the high goal, all in approximately 4.5 seconds. The rest of the alliance? Trying to slow down Andy Baker's robot so it can actually be seen.

Last year, Andy Baker's robot could shoot every white frisbee into the high goal in roughly 2 minutes, then dump all 6 colored frisbees into the pyramid goal (and yes, it did take two trips) while scoring the 30 point climb bonus AND hauling its partners up with it for an extra 60 points. How, you ask? It was Andy Baker's robot.


(... and sometimes they just jump into the boat. )

[nuggetsyl]

Andy Baker is Chuck Norris

Sticks and stones may break your bones but Andy Baker robots will beat you

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by magnets

Also, one more prediction, this year is the year of swerve. I think we'll see at least a few of the big teams that haven't done swerve in a while (like 111, 118, 254, 1114, 148) go swerve this year.

254 has shown me 14 years and counting, that you can be successful with a WCD no matter what game is presented. I'd be shocked to see them do a swerve this year. Much like 1717 NOT doing a swerve.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Originally Posted by waialua359

254 has shown me 14 years and counting, that you can be successful with a WCD no matter what game is presented. I'd be shocked to see them do a swerve this year. Much like 1717 NOT doing a swerve.

Anything that moves sideways is a waste of time.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Wayne TenBrink

Successful alliances will feature a combination of robots that can make a very soft toss and those that can catch the ball. The ideal pass/assist will resemble Lunacy more than Rebound Rumble or Breakaway. The transfer needs to happen in a moment's contact without careful alignment between of the passer and receiver.

Defense will be important and brutal, but less of a winning strategy than many think. Unlike previous multi-piece games where the result was based on pieces scored, a defense specialist can't produce a net "positive" for the alliance by taking down the opponent's top scorer. Having the third bot possess the ball - even briefly - is worth 20 points per cycle. Everyone that is capable of possessing the ball will be compelled to do it. Those who can't won't go far in eliminations. Defense will be everybody's part time job, not their career.

Why do you consider "career defense" and assists to be mutually exclusive?

[Wayne TenBrink]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

Why do you consider "career defense" and assists to be mutually exclusive?

You can specialize in defense and never "complete" a cycle, but if defense is ALL you do, you are costing your alliance 20 points per cycle. Defense specialists will need to take frequent (hopefully) pauses from playing defense to handle their own alliance ball. By the same token, offense specialists will find themselves needing to play a lot of defense.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Wayne TenBrink

You can specialize in defense and never "complete" a cycle, but if defense is ALL you do, you are costing your alliance 20 points per cycle. Defense specialists will need to take frequent (hopefully) pauses from playing defense to handle their own alliance ball. By the same token, offense specialists will find themselves needing to play a lot of defense.

Who says you need to "pause" playing defense to handle your alliance's ball?

[TravusCubington]

Originally Posted by magnets

Also, one more prediction, this year is the year of swerve. I think we'll see at least a few of the big teams that haven't done swerve in a while (like 111, 118, 254, 1114, 148) go swerve this year.

#caughtbluehanded

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by TravusCubington

#caughtbluehanded

[Whippet]

Originally Posted by TravusCubington

#caughtbluehanded

Also from 254:

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

Anything that moves sideways is a waste of time.

[Hallry]

Originally Posted by TravusCubington

#caughtbluehanded

Hmm...http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/29988