Let's talk FIM

[FIMAlumni]

The week of Improvements:

Woodhaven: The improvements talked about earlier were evident in at least one team. 1023 dominated this regional (looks like 102Xs have a habit of that this year). They picked their southfield finalist competitor 3604 and 4405 and were the only alliance to average over 100 points in all 3 rounds. They won the finals over 3rd alliance captain 27 joined by 469 and 3542.

Gull Lake: 4381 improved over their Kentwood finalist position to captain the first alliance to the gold medals. Joined by 2834 and 5675 they were the only alliance to break 100 points at the event. The finalists included 2nd seed 3452, 2656, and 5152.

Traverse City: Another improved team used their experience to excel. 245 ranked first and picked 1711 and 5692. Not without their own improvements, 862 captained the second alliance with 3688 and 5183. These two powerhouse alliance clashed in the finals but in the end the first seed went home with the victory.

Historically good teams to watch out for next week:
Great Lakes Bay Region: 314, 910, and 2145
St. Joseph: 70, 469, 494, and 2474
West Michigan: 74, 85, 107, 1718, 1918, 2054, 2137, and 3572

Current FIM rankings:
Rank: Team number
1: 1023
2: 1025
3: 3604
4: 4381
5: 245
6:1711
7: 862
8:3656
9: 5524
10: 3322

Side note: First seed alliances are 9-0 in FIM, only way I see this changing is if the Arms race for the middle cans increases dramatically in the next few weeks.
Good luck to all teams!

[IKE]

Until 2 alliances can consistently outscore 126 points in elims, I don't know that the race to the middle is completely necessary, though I was glad to see some middle RCs getting utilized.

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by IKE

Until 2 alliances can consistently outscore 126 points in elims, I don't know that the race to the middle is completely necessary, though I was glad to see some middle RCs getting utilized.

Yes, if by utilized you mean that the cans were grabbed and brought to the grabbing alliance's side of the field.

However, in most matches where middle cans were grabbed and 'owned', they were not incrementally scored; i.e., the same score or higher could have been achieved without grabbing the extra can(s).

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It is interesting to compare current FiM ranking against Ed Laws' OPR data:

FiM                                          World              FiM 
OPR Rank	Team	                     OPR Rank         Point Rank
1                1023 - Bedford Express		19		1
2	         67 - The HOT Team		20	
3	         314 - The Megatron Oracles	33	
4	         2337 - EngiNERDs		49	
5	         4967 - That ONE Team		50	
6	         85 - B.O.B.    		60	
7	         33 - Killer Bees		63	
8	         3604 - Goon Squad		75		3
9	         1025 - IMPIS			81		2
10	         3620 - Average Joes		92

[FIMAlumni]

Originally Posted by Richard Wallace

It is interesting to compare current FiM ranking against Ed Laws' OPR data:

Assuming every team doubled its district points from their first event to the second, the actual rankings would be as follows.

Rank:Team number. Points
1:2337. 154
2: 3620. 152
3: 2137. 152
4: 1023. 150
5: 2834. 148
6: 67. 146
7: 314. 146
8: 33. 146
9: 3602. 144
10: 2054. 140

[FIMAlumni]

Week 4 Review:
Great Lakes Bay Region: A second event and a second win for top ranked 314 who is starting to become a powerhouse in the last few seasons (5 blue banners). Joined by alliance members 2619 and 5712, they defeated 7th seed alliance 5509 1506 and 5229 in the finals.

St. Joseph: The Martians always come to play, but very rarely are ever able to team up. That changed with 70 seeded first and was joined by their twins 494 and partner 5623. Not to be outdone, 3452 (2nd seed) reached for a typical powerhouse in 469 and 5501. The second seed upset the first seed in the finals marking the first win by a non-first ranked alliance.

West Michigan: 1918 had something to prove after a disappointing departure in the semifinals of Howell. Seeding first and joined by 2137 and 2405 they won some decisive matches to become the champion. Also impressive were second alliance and finalists 4967, 107 and 3603.

Current FIM Standings:
Rank: Team Number(Points)
1: 2137(153)
2: 1023(150)
3: 314(146)
4: 1025(134)
5: 3452(131)
6: 3604 (127)
7: 4381 (125)
8: 70 (122)
9: 4967 (121)
10: 469 (120)

Historically good teams to watch out for in week 5: 27, 51, 67, 68, 74, 217, 548 573, 2851, and 3098.

Prediction: The winning alliance at Livonia will score 5 RCs every match.

Good Luck to All teams!

[Richard Wallace]

Just watching the early qualifying matches in FiM this week. Looks like teams at Livonia and Escanaba are coopertating and getting the benefit in their qualifying scores -- but at Centerline there is no coopertition at all through two rounds.

Any ideas why?

[FIMAlumni]

Originally Posted by Richard Wallace

Just watching the early qualifying matches in FiM this week. Looks like teams at Livonia and Escanaba are coopertating and getting the benefit in their qualifying scores -- but at Centerline there is no coopertition at all through two rounds.

Any ideas why?

From "Predictions Week Five: Center Cans on Center Stage" thread:

Originally Posted by Aaron (Awe-Sum)

I'm surprised you didn't mention that 42.5% of the teams at FIM Centerline are competing for the first time (including us )

I'm guessing this is the main cause.

[Jarren Harkema]

Originally Posted by Richard Wallace

Just watching the early qualifying matches in FiM this week. Looks like teams at Livonia and Escanaba are coopertating and getting the benefit in their qualifying scores -- but at Centerline there is no coopertition at all through two rounds.

Any ideas why?

Anyone watching the stream? Any teams even trying it?

[Anthony Galea]

Originally Posted by Jarren Harkema

Anyone watching the stream? Any teams even trying it?

Most teams are not even bringing it up in strategy discussions, at least for the matches we have been in. If it gets brought up, it usually gets successfully done.

[SoulianPride]

Originally Posted by 3175student17

Most teams are not even bringing it up in strategy discussions, at least for the matches we have been in. If it gets brought up, it usually gets successfully done.

It was brought up in every discussion that my team partook in but we never successfully finished it because of noodle throwing or the other alliance's or our own landfills being destroyed so we couldn't get through.

[Aaron (Awe-Sum)]

Yes, coopertition was discussed and attepted sometimes at Centerline, however, we personally abandoned it because it was costing us valuable Teleop points whenever our opponent would not complete their side of the agreement. We averaged near 15 QA points during our first 4 matches, all where we tried some form of coopertition, but finished the event with a 49.9 QA, with our final 8 matches focusing on our teleop scoring.