MidKnight Mayhem II - June 28, 2014

[Libby K]

32 now. Just lost 1796.

11- MORT, Mt. Olive NJ
25- Raider Robotix, North Brunswick NJ
87 - RV Robotics, Mt Holly NJ
102 - Gearheads, Somerville NJ
191 - X-Cats, Rochester NY
193 - MORT Beta, Mt. Olive NJ
224 - The Tribe, Piscataway NJ
225 - Tech Fire, York PA
303 - TEST Team, Bridgewater NJ
316 - LuNaTeCs, Carneys Point NJ
329 - Raiders, Medford NY
369 - High Voltage, Brooklyn NY
484 - RoboForce, Havertown PA
810 - Smithtown Mechanical Bulls, Smithtown NY
869 - Power Cord, Middlesex NJ
1089 - Team Mercury, Hightstown NJ
1257 - Parallel Universe, Scotch Plains NJ
1403 - Cougar Robotics, Skillman NJ
1626 - Falcon Robotics, Metuchen NJ
1640 - Sab-BOT-age, Doenigtown, PA
1922 - The MidKnight Marauders, Plainsboro NJ * (1923 'beta' team)
1923 - The MidKnight Inventors, Plainsboro NJ
2016 - Mighty Monkey Wrenches, Ewing NJ
2495 - Hamilton West Robotics, Hamilton, NJ
2590 - Nemesis, Robbinsville NJ
2607 - Fighting Robo Vikings, Warminster PA
3015 - Ranger Robotics, Spencerport NY
4361 - Roxbotix, Succasunna NJ
4454 - Artisinal Rocketeers, Philadelphia PA
4575 - The TIN Mints, Ridley PA
4954 - 4H Palindrome Robotics, Middletown DE
5113 - Combustible Lemons, Moorestown NJ

All other teams are confirmed. We'll still welcome anyone who wants to join us and increase the team count! As long as we stay above 32 we'll be running 4-team alliances for elimination rounds.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Libby K

32 now. Just lost 1796.

11- MORT, Mt. Olive NJ
25- Raider Robotix, North Brunswick NJ
87 - RV Robotics, Mt Holly NJ
102 - Gearheads, Somerville NJ
191 - X-Cats, Rochester NY
193 - MORT Beta, Mt. Olive NJ
224 - The Tribe, Piscataway NJ
225 - Tech Fire, York PA
303 - TEST Team, Bridgewater NJ
316 - LuNaTeCs, Carneys Point NJ
329 - Raiders, Medford NY
369 - High Voltage, Brooklyn NY
484 - RoboForce, Havertown PA
810 - Smithtown Mechanical Bulls, Smithtown NY
869 - Power Cord, Middlesex NJ
1089 - Team Mercury, Hightstown NJ
1257 - Parallel Universe, Scotch Plains NJ
1403 - Cougar Robotics, Skillman NJ
1626 - Falcon Robotics, Metuchen NJ
1640 - Sab-BOT-age, Doenigtown, PA
1922 - The MidKnight Marauders, Plainsboro NJ * (1923 'beta' team)
1923 - The MidKnight Inventors, Plainsboro NJ
2016 - Mighty Monkey Wrenches, Ewing NJ
2495 - Hamilton West Robotics, Hamilton, NJ
2590 - Nemesis, Robbinsville NJ
2607 - Fighting Robo Vikings, Warminster PA
3015 - Ranger Robotics, Spencerport NY
4361 - Roxbotix, Succasunna NJ
4454 - Artisinal Rocketeers, Philadelphia PA
4575 - The TIN Mints, Ridley PA
4954 - 4H Palindrome Robotics, Middletown DE
5113 - Combustible Lemons, Moorestown NJ

All other teams are confirmed. We'll still welcome anyone who wants to join us and increase the team count! As long as we stay above 32 we'll be running 4-team alliances for elimination rounds.

Hopefully no one gets terrifically broken so we can pull it off.

[EricDrost]

Originally Posted by Libby K

32 now. Just lost 1796.

There goes one of the best autonomous modes at the event

[Libby K]

The "MidKnight Mayhem GDC" is working on its last versions of the Mayhem Rule.

Get excited! It's gonna be crazy.

Since we're at 32 teams (with one question-mark), we are still leaving event registration open to any teams that might want to sign up, even this late in the game. This includes existing MKM teams that might want to bring a practice bot (as long as it functions with the field) for extra hands-on experience. As long as it hooks up to the field & has competition-legal bumpers, we're all for it. Register on the site or email midknightmayhem@gmail.com if you're interested.

[Libby K]

3 days left to go, and we have two updates that we think merit a double-post.
(Sorry!)
Just sent out an email to all confirmed MKM team contacts with some event info, but here are the two big things:

#1: Power distribution in the Pit area: We request that each team bring their own 14-gauge, 50-foot extension cord (at least one). Please label it with your team number so that we can get it to its rightful home at the end of the day. MAR is not supplying power distribution equipment this year for off-seasons, and our generous sponsors at Princeton Plasma Physics Lab (PPPL) have donated a generator and all the necessary equipment to power our pit area, but we will need teams' help in routing power to each individual pit in the gym. If you cannot provide one for your team, please let us know, and we'll work to accommodate you.

#2: The "Mayhem Rule": As dictated in the rule changes document in our last update, we are adding our own flair to the event. The 2014 "Mayhem Rule" is as follows:

The "Mayhem Ball": One marked MAYHEM BALL will be placed on the truss prior to each match. The MAYHEM BALL will be put into play at whichever point during the match it falls or is knocked off the truss. Once a MAYHEM BALL is put into play, it is fair game to be carried by either alliance, and may change possessions between alliances if it is so manipulated by the robots. (note: All Aerial Assist robot contact rules will be enforced, and stealing your opponent's MAYHEM BALL by damaging them or contacting them inside the bumper zone will be heavily penalized.)

When the MAYHEM BALL is scored in an alliance's goal, the alliance will receive a 20 point bonus (to be added to the score at the conclusion of the match). The MAYHEM BALL does not accrue assist/truss/catch points. If a MAYHEM BALL goes out of play without being scored, it is returned to the nearest human player from where the ball exited the field. Once the MAYHEM BALL is scored, it is no longer available to the teams in that match -- so grab it while you can!

[Johnbot]

I assume the Mayhem Ball is 20 points in addition to the point value of the goal it is scored in? (I.e. 30 points total for a high goal, 21 for a low goal?)

And isn't 20 points just a little low? I know that that can turn the tides of a match, but this late in the season the match scores seem to be able to go much higher.

The whole idea does sound awesome, though!

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by Johnbot

I assume the Mayhem Ball is 20 points in addition to the point value of the goal it is scored in? (I.e. 30 points total for a high goal, 21 for a low goal?)

And isn't 20 points just a little low? I know that that can turn the tides of a match, but this late in the season the match scores seem to be able to go much higher.

The whole idea does sound awesome, though!

Yep, goal + 20, but no assists or truss points on it.

We didn't want to make anything match-breaking, just a fun alternative that teams could add to their match strategy.

[Domenic Rodriguez]

Really looking forward to the event on Saturday! Any word on whether there will be a webcast or not?

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by Domenic Rodriguez

Really looking forward to the event on Saturday! Any word on whether there will be a webcast or not?

Still not 100% sure. We should know tonight.
(Issues with the school network/being able to get a wired connection vs improvising with our own stuff.)

If/when we know where the webcast will be, I'll post it here, on www.midknightmayhem.org, and on the event & team Facebook & Twitter accounts. (Which for anyone that's interested, are as follows: MKM FB MKM Twitter 1923 FB 1923 Twitter)