Not to jinx next year, but...

[kylestach1678]

Originally Posted by amannababanana

This is what I want for next year:

2 fields, 2 robots: robot on one field shoots balls, robot on the other field intakes the balls and passes them over a wall to the other robot. Both robots have to balance a double inverted pendulum, and if it falls, the robot gets disabled for 5 seconds. The "balls" contain motors that activate randomly, so they can move around by themselves. Minibots on the field follow lines on the field, and can crash into the robots to make the pendulum fall over. There are 5 types of balls and 4 goals, and each counts negative if scored into the wrong goal. However, one type of ball changes color every 2 seconds, and must be scored at the right time. Did I mention that it is on a lunacy floor heated to 400 degrees Celsius?

Fixed it for you.

In addition, at the end of the game, you can pass your pendulum to a quadcopter for additional bonus points.

[GeeTwo]

New that we've gone off topic, let me toss in the ultimate water game a couple of mentors have been thinking about. It's the sort of water game that Dean is more likely to approve, as well. They'll have to ditch the seven-to-twelve rounds plus playoffs, though.

The game: Solar Slingshot. Teams build robots which roam the solar system, collecting and purifying water and delivering it to impoverished space stations.

Autonomous: There is a two hour autonomous period during which teams may launch their robot. There is a 20 point bonus for reaching LEO (low earth orbit) during autonomous, and a 40 point bonus for reaching earth escape velocity. Note: teams competing at regionals and districts more than 300m above sea level will have adjusted reaction mass allocations and autonomous scoring. For an additional shipping fee, teams may begin aboard a SpaceX-launched craft in LEO at the end of the autonomous period, thus waiving eligibility for autonomous points.

Teleop: Teams direct their robots to a comet. Robots then mine the comet for water and deliver said water to one of two beacons located at the L4 and L5 metastable orbits leading and trailing the moon. Since the temperature will be below freezing, scoring is by mass, not volume: 1 point per 100g delivered. Maximum payload: 20kg per round trip.

Endgame: Before closing ceremonies, return the robot to the LEO craft for a 20 point bonus or the terrestrial regional for 40 bonus points. The "license plate" must still be intact and (after cleaning) legible to receive endgame bonus points.

Spoiler for strategy:

This game will get really interesting once teams realize that their still isn't working and it's time to play defense..

[Mykey]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

Endgame: Before closing ceremonies, return the robot to the LEO craft for a 20 point bonus or the terrestrial regional for 40 bonus points. The "license plate" must still be intact and (after cleaning) legible to receive endgame bonus points.

If the plate is partially covered and your robot comes back as a massive new life form named "Vee-ger" looking for the "creator" do you still get the Auton points?


-----
Edited for typo.

[Jacob Bendicksen]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

New that we've gone off topic, let me toss in the ultimate water game a couple of mentors have been thinking about. It's the sort of water game that Dean is more likely to approve, as well. They'll have to ditch the seven-to-twelve rounds plus playoffs, though.

The game: Solar Slingshot. Teams build robots which roam the solar system, collecting and purifying water and delivering it to impoverished space stations.

Autonomous: There is a two hour autonomous period during which teams may launch their robot. There is a 20 point bonus for reaching LEO (low earth orbit) during autonomous, and a 40 point bonus for reaching earth escape velocity. Note: teams competing at regionals and districts more than 300m above sea level will have adjusted reaction mass allocations and autonomous scoring. For an additional shipping fee, teams may begin aboard a SpaceX-launched craft in LEO at the end of the autonomous period, thus waiving eligibility for autonomous points.

Teleop: Teams direct their robots to a comet. Robots then mine the comet for water and deliver said water to one of two beacons located at the L4 and L5 metastable orbits leading and trailing the moon. Since the temperature will be below freezing, scoring is by mass, not volume: 1 point per 100g delivered. Maximum payload: 20kg per round trip.

Endgame: Before closing ceremonies, return the robot to the LEO craft for a 20 point bonus or the terrestrial regional for 40 bonus points. The "license plate" must still be intact and (after cleaning) legible to receive endgame bonus points.

Spoiler for strategy:

This game will get really interesting once teams realize that their still isn't working and it's time to play defense..

*slow clap*

This might be the greatest thing I've read all week, and perhaps the most reasonable water game proposal yet...

[DaveL]

I too am in favor of a fast passed shooting game with defense. I could see the scoring automated by having a lot of different sized targets. Once a target is hit it falls off its stand like an old style shooting game and then the targets get reset every 20 seconds which matches up with the time to reset.

I also like the idea of passing game balls from robot to robot. Hopefully FIRST will make next year's game fun to watch.

D

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by Mykey

If the plate is partially covered and your robot comes back as a massive new life form named "Vee-ger" looking for the "creator" do you still get the Auton points?

I couldn't find anything against it in the Game Manual. I can't find my Admin Manual right now, but you may qualify for a special FIRST Contact Award.

[Pouncing Zebra]

I'm calling a game with boomerangs or grifball

[connoc1]

I like the idea of a game with tennis balls to celebrate the 25th game.

My idea would be something where there's a see-saw like game element in the center of the field(which is somewhat v-shaped), with 2 scoring containers on each side. The 2 sides of the see-saw would be marked by color. One scoring container will be next to the center of the see-saw, and the other will be all the way on the end. Tennis balls scored in the center container, and therefore lower and closer to the ground, making them easier to score in, are worth 3-5 points(I don't really know how much yet). Tennis balls scored in the outer and higher container are worth 8 points each. Also, tennis balls on the ground in an alliance's zone contribute 1 point each to that alliance's score. Also, whichever team puts more tennis balls in the containers, causing it to tip towards that team's alliance station, gets and additional bonus added to their score of a value to be determined.

I don't really know how the tennis balls would be added to the field, but that could be decided. I also think that having different levels of scoring allow participation from all levels of teams, as the more valuable goals/containers are more difficult to achieve.

[Caleb Sykes]

Originally Posted by Mykey

I am hoping for lots of small spherical game pieces.

Me too.

My vote is in for marbles.

[Jarren Harkema]

Originally Posted by connoc1

I like the idea of a game with tennis balls to celebrate the 25th game.

My idea would be something where there's a see-saw like game element in the center of the field(which is somewhat v-shaped), with 2 scoring containers on each side. The 2 sides of the see-saw would be marked by color. One scoring container will be next to the center of the see-saw, and the other will be all the way on the end. Tennis balls scored in the center container, and therefore lower and closer to the ground, making them easier to score in, are worth 3-5 points(I don't really know how much yet). Tennis balls scored in the outer and higher container are worth 8 points each. Also, tennis balls on the ground in an alliance's zone contribute 1 point each to that alliance's score. Also, whichever team puts more tennis balls in the containers, causing it to tip towards that team's alliance station, gets and additional bonus added to their score of a value to be determined.

I don't really know how the tennis balls would be added to the field, but that could be decided. I also think that having different levels of scoring allow participation from all levels of teams, as the more valuable goals/containers are more difficult to achieve.

I would like to take that one step further. Color the balls, and let them be scored in any containers. The robot has to sort out balls, or risk scoring points for the opposing alliance. Starving the other alliance is also a viable strategy. Black balls on the field could nullify the entire container, yellow balls double the entire container.

[Travis Hoffman]

6v0

[Doug Frisk]

Originally Posted by riverdrake250

An off-balance ball with a weighted side? Actuated field elements? Traffic cones?

We would have had that this year if they'd let me put bowling balls in random totes!

[TheBoulderite]

Well, something with footballs is a possibility, based on the fact that the NFL's 50th anniversary is next year.

Either that, or Recycle Rush with tote cannons. So you could shoot totes at the other side and knock over their stacks.