Fully breach multiple defenses or cross all defenses first?

[tindleroot]

The first and second passes of defenses are absolutely equivalent. Proof? You earn an equal number of points on both crossings. You cannot create a breach without BOTH crosses on 4 defenses. Assuming you score (or hand off) a boulder during the crossing, you will always get the boulder to the courtyard regardless of the first or second cross.

You start losing efficiency when you cross defenses for the third time. Now you are earning no crossing points, where crossing a different defense for the first or second time would be earning points and advancing towards the breach. As long as you are crossing an UNDAMAGED defense (zero or one cross only), then you are advancing the strategic agenda equally. After all, both crosses must happen on four defenses in order for a breach to happen.

Now that the theoretical stuff is over, time for the practical stuff.

(Hopefully) three robots will be crossing defenses throughout the match. Say that your two alliance partners combined will be crossing the B and D defenses and the low bar. Then, you would want to cross the A and C defenses first, if possible. If you crossed the low bar (for example) first, then one of your alliances partners would be crossing the low bar for no points, which is a waste. In general, you want to make sure that all three robots are crossing undamaged defenses for as long as possible. After you can no longer do so, then choose to cross the quickest defenses after that point.

To answer your original question, the only thing you would be saving by choosing a specific order of defense crossing would be the time for your robot to move around the field. Strategically, there is no difference since every single cross is necessary at some point in the match in order to achieve the breach.