Official FIRST Stronghold Teaser!

[Gibso23]

Originally Posted by EricH

Ya know, maybe they'll step away from the color-coded bumpers and go back to the flags of '06-'08 for alliance identification.

I was thinking the same thing until further looking at the video and there seem to be a hint that there will be bumpers in the game

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by Gibso23

I was thinking the same thing until further looking at the video and there seem to be a hint that there will be bumpers in the game

There was more than a hint in the FRC Blog previously.
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...y-Pool-Noodles

[Hallry]

Originally Posted by Gibso23

I was thinking the same thing until further looking at the video and there seem to be a hint that there will be bumpers in the game

From when bumpers started in 2006 through 2009, they could be any color of your choice (they could also say other things in addition to your team number). Other means (flags, posts on the Lunacy trailers) were used to identify alliance members. It wasn't until 2010 that bumpers became regulated as blue and red to signify alliances.

[BBray_T1296]

Originally Posted by Hallry

From when bumpers started in 2006 through 2009, they could be any color of your choice (they could also say other things in addition to your team number). Other means (flags, posts on the Lunacy trailers) were used to identify alliance members. It wasn't until 2010 that bumpers became regulated as blue and red to signify alliances.

I think the bumper rules as of lately were the correct step that should not be reversed. It is much easier to tell who is on what team at all times, from queueing to mid-match.

The only way I could see a return to any-bumper-color-goes is in two situations:
a) There are NO alliances whatsoever, everyone plays by themselves against everyone, so you already know bumper colors don't matter
b) There are pre-determined roles that each robot must play, say in a 3v3 match each robot has a "attacker" a "defender" and something else, which is permanent through the match. This would require up to 6 different indicators for a robot to have, and asking for 6 sets of bumpers is ridiculous, so they switch to something else (like flags)

[angelah]

Originally Posted by Hallry

From when bumpers started in 2006 through 2009, they could be any color of your choice (they could also say other things in addition to your team number). Other means (flags, posts on the Lunacy trailers) were used to identify alliance members. It wasn't until 2010 that bumpers became regulated as blue and red to signify alliances.

Changing bumpers can be a logistical issue, so maybe we are going back to freedom in bumpers, but flags mounted to the top of robots to show the alliance (thus the two holes in the top of the robot and them draping a flag over it.)

Also, about the conversation about reaching people outside the tent. I wonder if this is an attempt at the folks "outside the tent but not too far away." Sometimes you can go TOO far outside the tent (you see this sometimes with efforts to recruit more young women to STEM, FIRST, etc.) and then you reach no one. I don't know what the thought was, but I do know we get the most interest from folks when we talk about basketball and frisbee robots.

[burde1jb]

Given the difference between the red and blue flags, here is my thought:

Capture the flag begins with red alliance's "flag" (likely a large bright light that can change between red & blue) already lit. Midfield is broken up by a significant barrier (like 2010) such that you could use only cameras to see once on the other side.

If ALL three blue alliance robots position themselves around the "flag", the "flag" turns to blue and the blue alliance gets X super mega awesome points. The red alliance must defend against them while also manipulating a game piece at midfield.

Game is over when the red alliance moves all game pieces to the center, the blue flag is lit, or 2:15 is over.

STRRRROOOOOOONNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHOOOOOOOLLLLLL LLDDDDD!!!1!1!1!!!111!1!

[P.J.]

Finally, my English degree is useful!

One aspect that I think many people are ignoring are the creatures represented on the flags, the griffin and the dragon. The griffin appears far too many times to just be random, and is even the first thing shown in the trailer. They could have just as easily chosen a different creature (unicorn, wolf, stag, Frank's face, whatever) or just left the flags solid colors. So I feel like the fact that they had designs on these flags has to have some sort of significance.

So the question becomes, what do both of these creatures have in common?

As someone a few posts above pointed out, they both have wings. But I'm not even going to go there.

In the myths of both griffins and dragons, one recurring theme is that the creatures are obsessed with their hoards of treasure. So what if each alliance has a set "hoard" of some sort (tennis balls?). They each begin the game with a certain amount of treasure, maybe spread through a few different goals/baskets/scoring areas and they have to both protect their "hoard" while trying to steal from the "hoard" of the other alliance. What would one use to protect their hoard? A stronghold, of course.

That's all I've got.

[notmattlythgoe]

I keep going back and forth on the 6v0 aspect. On one hand it is interesting that the number of kids they chose is 6, and they mention facing the challenge ahead together.

On the other hand those same 6 kids are all working on the same robot, the kingdom could be the community, and facing it together could just be because it is a team. Also, those same 6 kid are on the "drive team" and 2 of them are just cheering so you could take that as that's the team just cheering on their drive team and robot.

And of course since Frank said it wasn't a hint, nothing in the video could matter except setting a theme for the name.

[rick.oliver]

Originally Posted by P.J.

... both protect their "hoard" while trying to steal from the "hoard" of the other alliance. What would one use to protect their hoard? A stronghold, of course...

Perhaps each alliance has a fixed amount of treasure which must be placed in the Stronghold to count towards the score. One robot on the alliance is designated the "Champion" and that robot is the robot allowed to attack the stronghold of the opposite alliance and/or defend its own alliances stronghold.

The two remaining robots are tasked with placing the treasure in the stronghold and are prohibited from interacting with the Champions.

The Champions carry their respective flags, which may be acquired by the other Champion, once it is raised over the stronghold. The flag acts as a multiplier of the treasure stored in the stronghold.

A Champion may also place their own flag on their opponents stronghold claiming the treasure of the other alliance.

Seeding is similar to last season, where teams earn treasure points.

[Jalerre]

Originally Posted by P.J.

In the myths of both griffins and dragons, one recurring theme is that the creatures are obsessed with their hoards of treasure. So what if each alliance has a set "hoard" of some sort (tennis balls?). They each begin the game with a certain amount of treasure, maybe spread through a few different goals/baskets/scoring areas and they have to both protect their "hoard" while trying to steal from the "hoard" of the other alliance. What would one use to protect their hoard? A stronghold, of course.

I really like this idea and I think it matches the name and theme well. I'm imagining a really defense heavy game.