FIRST STRONGHOLD Discussion

[rich2202]

Originally Posted by Mikyway

Would it be possible and viable to just have your robot stand in front of the human player station and launch boulders into the tower like some teams did with the frisbees in Ultimate Ascent

See G39

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Mikyway

Would it be possible and viable to just have your robot stand in front of the human player station and launch boulders into the tower like some teams did with the frisbees in Ultimate Ascent

No. Tech Foul. You have to be in your opponents' Courtyard to launch.

[MasterEric]

Originally Posted by picklecrackers

Has anyone found anything regarding how the boulders must be rolled into the secret passages? Do they have to be entered using a bowling-type fashion?

https://youtu.be/HsvsOI5jV-s?t=45s

Either through a bowling-style throw or pushing in a hole in the top (where it can only fall vertically).

[alopex_rex]

Originally Posted by evanperryg

I read the words "audience selection" and I died inside... seriously, who thought of this horribly imbalanced way of deciding the outcome of a game. Especially at smaller events (looking at you, districts) It's a pretty easy way for big teams to leverage their size to shift a match in their favor, either by picking a defense their team can score in, or picking a defense that other teams can't score in. How much of an effect will this have for the first few weeks, and at lower levels of play? Probably none. However, at high levels of play, it could have an effect.

Bear in mind the scope of the audience selection is really limited. They only get to pick the middle defense, they only get to pick between two options, and both alliances get the same defense. I don't know how often there'll be a situation where one alliance would clearly benefit from one choice, and the other alliance from the other. I do suspect that drivers will dislike the tall, vision-obstructing defenses (portcullis and drawbridge), and maybe encourage their teams not to vote for those.

[northstardon]

Originally Posted by evanperryg

BUT...[list][*]I read the words "audience selection" and I died inside... seriously, who thought of this horribly imbalanced way of deciding the outcome of a game. Especially at smaller events (looking at you, districts) It's a pretty easy way for big teams to leverage their size to shift a match in their favor, either by picking a defense their team can score in, or picking a defense that other teams can't score in. How much of an effect will this have for the first few weeks, and at lower levels of play? Probably none. However, at high levels of play, it could have an effect.

Check out rule 5.5.10.1.

If I am reading it right, the audience only gets to pick between the defense options within a single group, and the groups are rotated alphabetically. So we won't see the same audience selection round after round after round (despite what the biggest or loudest team might want).

[TheRozb]

Originally Posted by greekfire100

What are the perks of having a spy on the other side of the map? I'm curious to know.

As far as human players are concerned, with many of the defenses, visibility is going to be an absolute NIGHTMARE. The low bar, drawbridge, sally door, and, to some extent, the portcullis cut down on visibility of the robot, especially considering that there will be two layers of defense objects to look through. The human spy can communicate back to the drive team on the position of the robot, whether it is lined up, etc.

[Collin Stiers]

Originally Posted by TheRozb

As far as human players are concerned, with many of the defenses, visibility is going to be an absolute NIGHTMARE. The low bar, drawbridge, sally door, and, to some extent, the portcullis cut down on visibility of the robot, especially considering that there will be two layers of defense objects to look through. The human spy can communicate back to the drive team on the position of the robot, whether it is lined up, etc.

just thinking about this, if you have a robot that is shorter than 1 ft 4 inches (designed to get under the low bar) you will not be able to see your robot pretty much at all while it is in the opponents courtyard

[MaGiC_PiKaChU]

Originally Posted by tindleroot

For those who are worried about the price of the boulders, keep in mind that you don't need many, 1 - 4 would be fine. The only issue would be wear and tear over time, but if you plan to play ONLY with new balls then you shouldn't plan to play in eliminations.

^+1

[Hasan333]

Originally Posted by JoshWilson

Btw, doesn anyone know if flying is illegal?

i mean you cant score if you are touching the carpet....

[FRC Warrior]

Originally Posted by Collin Stiers

just thinking about this, if you have a robot that is shorter than 1 ft 4 inches (designed to get under the low bar) you will not be able to see your robot pretty much at all while it is in the opponents courtyard

Put a tall collapsable flag on your robot.

[RidingTiger71]

How many points would be considered average in this competition

[mrnoble]

Originally Posted by FRC Warrior

Put a tall collapsable flag on your robot.

Not against this idea at all. Nice.

[MaGiC_PiKaChU]

Originally Posted by FRC Warrior

Put a tall collapsable flag on your robot.

make sure it does not extend past 15" your frame when going under that bar!

[GIrobotics]

My team was thinking of using treads. Is there any place other than Andymark where we got get treads?

[evanperryg]

Originally Posted by northstardon

Check out rule 5.5.10.1.

If I am reading it right, the audience only gets to pick between the defense options within a single group, and the groups are rotated alphabetically. So we won't see the same audience selection round after round after round (despite what the biggest or loudest team might want).

My concern is that scouting data could easily be used to find which defense among the two a particular team is good/bad with. Here's a hypothetical situation: Team A has 19 QP, and is the first seed. Team B has 18 QP, and is the second seed. However, although they aren't terrible, Team A isn't better than anyone else in the top 8, and Team B would much rather be with someone else. Team A, understanding their situation, is willing to scorch to ensure a win in elims. Both teams have one match left in qualifications. Now, let's say that Team B is a big team, and they know that in team A's last match, the audience decides the Group A barriers; their scouts know Team A is good with the portcullis, but terrible with the Cheval de Frise. So, Team B leverages their size, outscreams everyone, and gets the Cheval in A's last match, thereby influencing the outcome of a match they aren't even in.

All I'm saying is, I wouldn't have any hesitation in making big signs with the names of the defenses on them, and flashing them to my team to tell them what structure to cheer for.

Originally Posted by GIrobotics

My team was thinking of using treads. Is there any place other than Andymark where we got get treads?

Here you go, bud. I suggest the wedgetop.

Originally Posted by FRC Warrior

Put a tall collapsable flag on your robot.

I recall seeing teams use those fiberglass rods in 2013 as alignment tools, and they could flex to fit under the pyramid. I don't know if they'd be flexible enough for this, though.