IRI - 2015 Rule Modification Ideas?

[asid61]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

More than anything else in this game, the biggest problem with it in my opinion is how the elims structure leaves no margin for error.

In the quarters and semi-finals, drop the lowest score from each average calculation. So, best match in quarters counts, best two in semis counts. There's some cool benefits to not having win / loss / tie before the finals, and this doesn't get rid of those, but it does get rid of the one-mistake-and-you're-out nature of elims.

I agree with this. We had a 0 point match at SVR that dropped us 10 places in quals. Our elevator carriage had literally popped out of the rails after our elevator arms tried to go down with a tote beneath it. If that happened in elims that would be really bad.

[Sunshine]

Ok, I know I'll get beat up for this one but at least I'll get it off my chest. A tether must be a real tether and not a piece of string. In my world, a tether in a robotics competition is a device that connects one device to another for data communication between the two. It is not a rope or chain used purely to restrict movement. There, I feel better now.

[Aren Siekmeier]

Originally Posted by Sunshine

Ok, I know I'll get beat up for this one but at least I'll get it off my chest. A tether must be a real tether and not a piece of string. In my world, a tether in a robotics competition is a device that connects one device to another for data communication between the two. It is not a rope or chain used purely to restrict movement. There, I feel better now.

Great, luckily for you the rules don't require a "tether" (however people might interpret the word), merely that no parts of a ROBOT are detached.

[ThePancakeMan]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

More than anything else in this game, the biggest problem with it in my opinion is how the elims structure leaves no margin for error.

In the quarters and semi-finals, drop the lowest score from each average calculation. So, best match in quarters counts, best two in semis counts. There's some cool benefits to not having win / loss / tie before the finals, and this doesn't get rid of those, but it does get rid of the one-mistake-and-you're-out nature of elims.

This is a really good idea. It isn't unfair and will mainly benefit those who really need it.

[rick.oliver]

Much discussion on playoff structure.

I disagree with the assertion that W-L-T only works for Finals in this game; that said, I agree that the playoff structure tends to advance the better alliance. Therefore, I prefer the this year's structure; very much, in fact.

If the lowest score were to be dropped (and I am not in favor of that), then a third match needs to be added in the Quarter Final round. And that would add 25ish minutes to the playoffs. Not my first choice, but something I could support.

[notmattlythgoe]

a third match needs to be added in the Quarter Final round

This is something we are thinking about for the Rumble in the Roads. We're also thinking about adding additional alliances to the playoffs instead of adding 4th teams to alliances. Only 4 teams would still move on to SF, but this gives all teams a chance to play in the playoffs without forcing alliances to use different robots in different matches.

[Nemo]

Originally Posted by notmattlythgoe

We're also thinking about adding additional alliances to the playoffs instead of adding 4th teams to alliances. Only 4 teams would still move on to SF, but this gives all teams a chance to play in the playoffs without forcing alliances to use different robots in different matches.

Great point. This year's playoff structure allows any number of teams you want in the playoffs, so time is the only constraint one needs to care about. If you liked prime numbers, you could do 11 playoff alliances, then let 5 into the second playoff round. No new playoff structures required to accommodate that in this year's game.

[Alyssa]

I agree, get rid of the playoff structure!

[ratdude747]

What about a compromise that I've seen work (I know bowling in 8th grade Gym worked like this) where it is WLT played in a round robin format. In that it's round robin in terms of who plays who, but it's WLT in terms of initial ranking calculations. With such a small pool of alliances there will be ties, but those could be resolved using highest score (or average of best scores or the like).

Again, any changes would probably be a PITA to implement (unless FMS is given some sort of an option to change the structure), but in terms of "aspects that have a lot of hate" the playoff format is certainly up there.

[who716]

i think this is impossible but allow for defence

[Rypsnort]

Originally Posted by Hallry

As crazy as it sounds, I'm gonna spit it out there: Remove the Step.

(Though, that's not really a 'small change')

Keep the step and put a 2012 bridge on each side. End game come back.

[ThePancakeMan]

Over all I would just like to see the opportunity for higher scoring matches. Maybe add more cans?

[Chinske4296]

Okay while we are on the topic of IRI, I have what may be a stupid question. So we are a younger team, going on 5 years, last year we talked about going to IRI, but didn't make it. So this year we are trying to make it happen. We had a few questions. Do the standard first rules apply usually? Such as robot dimensions and robot weight? From reading this thread it seems like the game is subject to change, we were wondering mostly about weight. Thanks!

[Kevin Leonard]

Originally Posted by Chinske4296

Okay while we are on the topic of IRI, I have what may be a stupid question. So we are a younger team, going on 5 years, last year we talked about going to IRI, but didn't make it. So this year we are trying to make it happen. We had a few questions. Do the standard first rules apply usually? Such as robot dimensions and robot weight? From reading this thread it seems like the game is subject to change, we were wondering mostly about weight. Thanks!

Usually the IRI Planning people make a few reasonable rules modifications- one of which is often an extra five pounds to use on your robot.
But I wouldn't plan on having those five pounds just yet. Wait until rule changes are official.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Chinske4296

Do the standard first rules apply usually? Such as robot dimensions and robot weight?

All the robot rules apply.

As everyone is assumed to have passed inspection at an official FRC event, any inspections at IRI are very informal. Weight is not normally checked unless something seems obviously too heavy, and usually there's a bit of leeway given (typically an extra five pounds) to accommodate teams that have made modifications but don't have access to a good scale.