A video guide to playing shutdown defense in Stronghold

[Louisiana Jones]

This past weekend S.W.A.T. 1806 Competed in the Oklahoma regional where on one occasion during quals and then continuously during elims we had an alliance partner play defense. We also experienced defense played against us on several occasions often to the opposing alliance’s detriment as the penalties were often costly. I’ve put together some video evidence that should give teams some insight into playing defense successfully.
During qualifications we were ranked #2 and in our second to last match had the opportunity to face off against the #1 ranked 4587 Jersey Voltage who was also undefeated at that point. We knew that we had a pretty tough matchup ahead of us, and there was a good chance that 4587 would both breach and capture as they had already achieved this feat a couple of times in previous matches. They were paired up with 3592 who also had a couple of previous breach and captures running low goal, and we knew this combination would be difficult to outscore. Luckily for us our alliance partner 2461 was setup as a defensive specialist.

Video of 4587 without defense being played on them
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26ZHR1d4c8Y

Video of 4587 being defended by 2461
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saIZtxHu_W0

After this match 4587 went on to add a mechanism that allowed them to low goal, and went on to win the regional never really seeing defense this tough played against them again. 2461 despite the great defensive showing wasn’t selected as teams must have been looking at different strategies for playing the game.

For elimination rounds S.W.A.T. 1806 selected team 5098 as our final alliance partner and they assumed the defensive roll for our alliance.
The following videos shows 5098 defending against the 5th seeded alliance who had breached and captured in both their QF matches to move into the semifinal matches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMiPcmWgq0Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhNJeK35lHs

Unfortunately in the finals 4522 had connection issues that were never resolved so the following videos show 5098 defending against the #2 seeded robot 3507 who had an OPR of 51 for this event, and their alliance partner 1448. I’ve included a video (first one) of 3507 without defense being played against them for comparison.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFrS4XMi1uo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mzojBMaMq8

Last, but not least here is a video of defense being played against us while we were parked in the outerworks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koa7Ur0hogQ

[rich2202]

Fortunately, defense was not played against us in our playoff matches. If it was, the plan was to switch to shooting low goals, as we can't shoot from the Outer Works yet.

The plan for Champs is to calibrate the Shooter to shoot from the Outer Works to give us some protection. We still can't shoot over a high bot right in front of us. But, being in the Outer Works helps there because they can only get so close. If we back up in the Outer Works, we should be able to get enough height for a robot a safe distance away. If they try to get too close, then we move forward and contact them while the rear bumper is still in the Outer Works.

[Louisiana Jones]

Originally Posted by rich2202

Fortunately, defense was not played against us in our playoff matches. If it was, the plan was to switch to shooting low goals, as we can't shoot from the Outer Works yet.

The plan for Champs is to calibrate the Shooter to shoot from the Outer Works to give us some protection. We still can't shoot over a high bot right in front of us. But, being in the Outer Works helps there because they can only get so close. If we back up in the Outer Works, we should be able to get enough height for a robot a safe distance away. If they try to get too close, then we move forward and contact them while the rear bumper is still in the Outer Works.

From what we have seen a good defender will significantly slow down both low goal scorers and any high goal scorers that can't shoot from the outerworks. it seems that having a member of your alliance play defense during qualifications isn't happening much, but strategically should maybe be happening more. We think it is a must for eliminations, and will specifically be selecting our last robot to perform that task.

[KosmicKhaos]

1405 this past weekend at the Finger Lakes Regional has played the best lights out defense I have ever seen. A member of the 5th alliance they shut down the number 1 alliance knocking them out in the semis with the upset then proceeded to come from behind and shut down the number 3 alliance in the finals beating them in 2 matches. Once videos are uploaded you should watch any of the elimination matches with 1405 and also watch the elimination matches where the teams they knocked out were playing another alliance without the lights out defense from 1405

[Louisiana Jones]

Originally Posted by KosmicKhaos

1405 this past weekend at the Finger Lakes Regional has played the best lights out defense I have ever seen. A member of the 5th alliance they shut down the number 1 alliance knocking them out in the semis with the upset then proceeded to come from behind and shut down the number 3 alliance in the finals beating them in 2 matches. Once videos are uploaded you should watch any of the elimination matches with 1405 and also watch the elimination matches where the teams they knocked out were playing another alliance without the lights out defense from 1405

The Finger Lakes Regional Thread also mentioned 1405's excellent defense, but I can't seem to find any video's. Did anyone who was there film matches for scouting that they could share?

[Arhowk]

MI Lansing was a beautiful event for defense in eliminations. After my team (1684) broke in quarterfinals (we were the #1 seed too! And now we probably won't go to states! I hate my life!) and my rookie team (5460) got their drive train broken by the same robot that beat us in semifinals, I gave them a pep talk to fight fire with fire and to just spend the entire match shoving back the defense robot. After losing the first match in semis, anti defense worked wonderfully as they went on to win two quite decisive victories. (Sorry to 5222! It looked like we did quite a bit of damage ). 3327 in the finals match against us proceeded to play no defense whatsoever but some mechanical issues caused one robot to fail to get on the batter and we lost 2 of the 3 matches by a slim margin that we would have won if we had the capture bonus.

[Nyxyxylyth]

Originally Posted by Arhowk

MI Lansing was a beautiful event for defense in eliminations. After my team (1684) broke in quarterfinals (we were the #1 seed too! And now we probably won't go to states! I hate my life!)

81 district points? Relax. See you at MSC.

[IronicDeadBird]

It surprises me that teams didn't see this coming week 1 and come up with a mix up to stop it.

[Louisiana Jones]

Originally Posted by IronicDeadBird

It surprises me that teams didn't see this coming week 1 and come up with a mix up to stop it.

Almost no one is playing defense during Qualifications, but when teams play good defense during qualification it really disrupts the other teams as many aren't expecting it, and most teams aren't shooting from the protection of the outerworks. It is also really crowded in the courtyard with a defender and 3 robots trying to score.

[IronicDeadBird]

Originally Posted by Louisiana Jones

Almost no one is playing defense during Qualifications, but when teams play good defense during qualification it really disrupts the other teams as many aren't expecting it, and most teams aren't shooting from the protection of the outerworks. It is also really crowded in the courtyard with a defender and 3 robots trying to score.

Yeah but there is still counter play to having a robot camp the courtyard it isn't hard to overcome.

[hardcopi]

5222 in Lansing was a tough defender. If they had gotten to finals we had a plan, but the plan involved using the low gear (also known as "able to push a car gear") and just shove them back where they came from. We can't really be pushed too easily unless we are on the batter shooting.

[lethc]

Originally Posted by IronicDeadBird

Yeah but there is still counter play to having a robot camp the courtyard it isn't hard to overcome.

Did you watch the videos? 4587 (an excellent high goal scorer) went from scoring 4-5 high goals per match to only scoring 2 with defense played on them. Defense forced them to play the role of outerworks shooter which they weren't used to, and they only made one of the two outerworks shots they took.

Defense against a robot that doesn't regularly shoot from the outerworks significantly disrupts their offensive flow and forces them to play the game in a way that they aren't comfortable with.

4587 was constantly scoring 3-4 RP per match with no defense played against them and scored 0 RP when 2461 defended them.

I guess I'm not understanding how good defense is easy to overcome if you don't shoot from the outerworks, most of the videos in the OP show otherwise.

[Clayton Summerall]

Playing the batter shot was, what we thought would be the quickest, route to success. Thus, we never practiced in competition as a outer works shooter. If you ever see this happen make sure to play strong defense because it surly disrupted us.

[Landonh12]

Originally Posted by Clayton Summerall

Playing the batter shot was, what we thought would be the quickest, route to success. Thus, we never practiced in competition as a outer works shooter. If you ever see this happen make sure to play strong defense because it surly disrupted us.

Something I noticed from the videos - you guys didn't really try to get shots from the sides of the castle. It seemed like the defensive robot just kind of sat near the middle batter and it disrupted your drivers.

Is your robot able to make side batter shots? I think that the defense wouldn't have been so bad if you guys tried the sides.

[Bryce2471]

I agree with the OP. Defense is very important this year. Here is 2907 putting on a clinic, and preventing the 1st seed alliance from getting the capture:
https://youtu.be/5edWvowIbIg