Value & Credibility of 4th robots on an Alliance

[ASD20]

Originally Posted by Ernst

Soon the manual will say that there are two championship events. That'll be "right", but is it right? The manual gets updates during the season. It isn't some infallible, unquestionable document.

Wasn't the decision to switch Champs to 4-bot alliances mostly a logistical one? During elims it's a lot easier to call up a backup bot that already has a mobile pit and to let other teams pack up immediately to make load-out easier. Not every alliance used a backup bot before the change, and I'm sure not all do now.

My team was a 4th bot (thanks 4334, 294, 2013!) that only touched the carpet once during elims (and shredded some gear teeth and could barely drive during our match). If our alliance went on to win the division or Einstein and that was our only in-match contribution I would have felt great about taking home some blue banners, but pretty embarrassed by our own on-field performance. We were definitely a member of the alliance, but we were there as a backup/defense bot, and the first 3 teams deserve basically all of the recognition for the matches the alliance won.

There is a big difference between saying that 4th bots should not exist and belittling the achievements of the 4th bots that do exist. It is the exact same as the difference between saying that 2 Champs shouldn't exist and saying that the winning alliances don't deserve to be called winners (which will be a thread within 30 minutes of the end of Einstein next year). By saying that the 4th bot shouldn't be considered a winner, you are not telling FIRST that you think that they should get rid of 4 bot alliances, you are insulting a team who already probably is doubting their self-worth. If you don't think 4th bots should exist email FIRST, but right now they do, so according to the manual they are considered a full member of the winning alliance and should be treated as such. Plenty of teams hate the bumper rules, but just because you think the bumper rules should change, does not mean you can just show up for a competition with no bumpers. This is no different.