A video guide to playing shutdown defense in Stronghold

[The FRC King]

One of the most exciting games to play and i have to admit what an amazing defense by 5098, we always thought about the strategy but were never able to execute it. Since we weren't able to shoot from outerworks or batter we only had the option to score low goals which also very difficult against such a good defensive robot. Congratulations 1806, 4857, and 5098! what an alliance to play against.

[Louisiana Jones]

Originally Posted by The FRC King

One of the most exciting games to play and i have to admit what an amazing defense by 5098, we always thought about the strategy but were never able to execute it. Since we weren't able to shoot from outerworks or batter we only had the option to score low goals which also very difficult against such a good defensive robot. Congratulations 1806, 4857, and 5098! what an alliance to play against.

Our biggest concern was trying to defend against both you and 4522 since you shot from different positions. Unfortunately we didn't get that opportunity since 4522 had issues in both matches. Not sure how things would have turned out then, but I'm sure both matches would have been very close.

[SharonO]

Originally Posted by Louisiana Jones

Our biggest concern was trying to defend against both you and 4522 since you shot from different positions. Unfortunately we didn't get that opportunity since 4522 had issues in both matches. Not sure how things would have turned out then, but I'm sure both matches would have been very close.

I have to admit, watching from home, I was really looking forward to the finals matches between teams we have formed friendships with over the years. It was hard to choose who to root for. I was so disappointed to see 4522 sitting still after autonomous. I believe the finals would have been very exciting if all six robots were in action.

[hardcopi]

My team has been debating, with the exception of the pinning rule is it illegal to just push the defender into the moat? For a defender to be mobile they are usually kit-bot style chassis (not always I know) and I am pretty sure we can push them (provided we aren't on the batter) anywhere we want to in 1st gear.

Not talking about breaking their robot just pushing them out of the way.

[Louisiana Jones]

Originally Posted by hardcopi

My team has been debating, with the exception of the pinning rule is it illegal to just push the defender into the moat? For a defender to be mobile they are usually kit-bot style chassis (not always I know) and I am pretty sure we can push them (provided we aren't on the batter) anywhere we want to in 1st gear.

Not talking about breaking their robot just pushing them out of the way.

There would be some penalties for pushing them into the moat, I'm not sure how it would be called, but it is illegal for them to make contact with you while in the outerworks, but you may get called for pushing them into the moat to intentionally draw a penalty.

[BenBernard]

It is illegal for them to make conact with you while YOU are in the outerworks. If you push THEM into the outerworks without entering the outerworks yourself, I don't see any rule violations (nor did the refs at the couple of matches where I saw this happen).

[Louisiana Jones]

Originally Posted by BenBernard

It is illegal for them to make conact with you while YOU are in the outerworks. If you push THEM into the outerworks without entering the outerworks yourself, I don't see any rule violations (nor did the refs at the couple of matches where I saw this happen).

I guess depending on the size of your robot and the robot you push you might not have to enter the outerworks yourself to push someone into them, but even if just your bumpers cross the plane of the outerworks a penalty of some kind should be called.

I think if you are able to move a robot around the field without them being able to control their movements at all a pin should be called.

[hardcopi]

But pushing them around starts the count, at that point you have a few seconds to push them around. Just trying to figure out what we can and can't do. We got a foul for a defense bot breaking the arm off our bot. (just popped a bolt, was fixed by time the next match started). We'd like to within the rules be able to fight back.

[Abhishek R]

Originally Posted by hardcopi

But pushing them around starts the count, at that point you have a few seconds to push them around. Just trying to figure out what we can and can't do. We got a foul for a defense bot breaking the arm off our bot. (just popped a bolt, was fixed by time the next match started). We'd like to within the rules be able to fight back.

I don't think pushing them around starts the count unless they're up against a wall and cant move or something like that.

[IronicDeadBird]

Originally Posted by Abhishek R

I don't think pushing them around starts the count unless they're up against a wall and cant move or something like that.

Yeah thats how I have always seen it called.
If a robot is completely prevented from moving by another robot (its pushed into a corner its wheels are lifted off the ground, its stuck between two robots) then it is a pin.
If you are spinning out a robot, or just pushing a robot away from its intended direction (without stopping them completely) then I have never seen that called as a pin.
In my head I think of it as "if you are preventing directional inputs on a controller from doing anything then you are pinning if you are not preventing directional inputs from influencing a robot then you are not pinning"
Not that I've ever seen any indication that anyone on the field will be watching controller inputs to robot to robot contact.