2015 Champs Discussion

[Ginger Power]

Since the other thread I started was blown up by discussion about strategies, thoughts, question etc. involving the 2015 Championship I figured I'd start a thread for that specific purpose. Hopefully a mod can move that great discussion to this thread.

[EricAnderson191]

Since my questions make more sense here, I copied them over:

What do you think the expansion to 8 divisions does to the alliance choosing process.

Also, if I was in charge of division placement I would work hard to keep the powerhouse teams spread out to avoid say 254 and 1114 having a chance to work together.

Are division placements random?

Eric

[PVCpirate]

I'm not sure how the divisions are done exactly. I'm remembering random with weighting based on team age, so each division has about the same number of rookies, second year teams, etc, but I'm not totally sure. I'm reasonably sure they don't do things like "these are the 5 best robots, let's make sure they're in different divisions" though.

[George A.]

Originally Posted by EricAnderson191

Since my questions make more sense here, I copied them over:

What do you think the expansion to 8 divisions does to the alliance choosing process.

Also, if I was in charge of division placement I would work hard to keep the powerhouse teams spread out to avoid say 254 and 1114 having a chance to work together.

Are division placements random?

Eric

I think with 8 divisions there will be a lot more parity than in years past. Plus this game has a theoretical limit to it (x amount of totes and however man RCs and alliance can grab).

Also if you look if two "powerhouses" from any division pair up with a halfway effective can burglar then it's anyone's game. For instance who is to say that if 1114 and 2056 pair up (insert third robot here) they have any better of a chance to win compared to 254 and 148 (with their third robot). Basically it'll come down to a solid third robot and who drives the most perfect matches

[Christopher149]

According to the FRC Blog (I don't have the post handy), at least 2014 CMP had divisions sorted out by spreading the rookies out evenly, and then assigning teams in order that they qualified.

[tindleroot]

Originally Posted by Christopher149

According to the FRC Blog (I don't have the post handy), at least 2014 CMP had divisions sorted out by spreading the rookies out evenly, and then assigning teams in order that they qualified.

I believe it was the order that teams registered, but that is nearly the same thing. However, last year's Curie division was loaded with big-name teams, including 5 of the 7 three-event winners (there are way more than 7 this year, though).

[BBray_T1296]

It is all about the cans. Whoever gets the cans wins.

It doesn't matter if 254, 1114 and 148 end up on an alliance if they lose the can battles it makes almost no difference whether they stack every other tote in the Dome.

[xman206]

In the PNW District Champs, it all came down to who got the cans from the middle step in auto. 1983 was seeded 3rd and we chose 2930 because they had a wicked fast can grabber (I like to call it a sniper) and we also chose 955 because they were a stacker too. In the semifinals and finals it was the CAN WARS!!!!!! The more cans the better. The team that can stack high and has a can theft auto (autonomous can grabber) will most likely be in Einstein.

[T^2]

Not too much to discuss, really. Einstein will be decided in the first 150 milliseconds, perhaps sooner. If you get 3 of the step cans, it's impossible to lose.

[Michael Corsetto]

Originally Posted by T^2

Not too much to discuss, really. Einstein will be decided in the first 150 milliseconds, perhaps sooner. If you get 3 of the step cans, it's impossible to lose.

Truth.

[themccannman]

Originally Posted by EricAnderson191

Since my questions make more sense here, I copied them over:

What do you think the expansion to 8 divisions does to the alliance choosing process.

Also, if I was in charge of division placement I would work hard to keep the powerhouse teams spread out to avoid say 254 and 1114 having a chance to work together.

Are division placements random?

Eric

Division placement is done roughly by sign-up order. Also if you're really so determined to keep any good teams from pairing up how exactly do you plan to place ~30 teams in 8 divisions without any of those teams being together? I don't know if you've ever been to CMP before but nearly every division has at least 4 alliances that would fall under your qualification of "unfair power alliance". It's not really unfair when every alliance is strong. Alliance choosing process will be exactly the same, perhaps fewer strong alliances since there will be a lower concentration of the higher scoring teams in each division but otherwise the same.

Originally Posted by T^2

Not too much to discuss, really. Einstein will be decided in the first 150 milliseconds, perhaps sooner. If you get 3 of the step cans, it's impossible to lose.

/thread

[Noudvanbrunscho]

Isn't it likely that both alliances will get 2 containers from the step in AUTO? I haven't seen a 4 can grabber which is fast enough. And then it comes down to litter points or some extra tote stacks..?

[John Retkowski]

Originally Posted by Noudvanbrunscho

Isn't it likely that both alliances will get 2 containers from the step in AUTO? I haven't seen a 4 can grabber which is fast enough. And then it comes down to litter points or some extra tote stacks..?

If I were in the top eight at champs the only robots on my pick list would be canburglers (maybe they can do other stuff too.) I would want to make sure ALL of the cans were on my side of the field to have the best chance at winning. Also it's very possible that an alliance captain will already be able to get two cans so they could then pick one canburgler and one stacker.

[jds2001]

Originally Posted by John Retkowski

If I were in the top eight at champs the only robots on my pick list would be canburglers (maybe they can do other stuff too.) I would want to make sure ALL of the cans were on my side of the field to have the best chance at winning. Also it's very possible that an alliance captain will already be able to get two cans so they could then pick one canburgler and one stacker.

The difficulty with this is that if all that you have is canburglers and no stackers, then you don't have anything to put all of your recycling containers on and they'll be worth absolutely zero. You really need a well-balanced alliance.

[Steven Donow]

From the A-Z guide:

Drive Team Badges: Each team will receive four (4) badges in its registration packet. Wear the
badge on the front of your shirt near the left shoulder, so referees, judges, and queuers can see it.
These badges allow the wearers access to the playing field and designate:
 One (1) Coach (this badge has a dot on it. The Coach cannot score points or drive the robot.)
 Two (2) Drivers
 One (1) Feeder

Different badges for human players?