What's the best qualifying rounds strategy?

[meaubry]

Ken,
This is a great question and it also brings to light how important scouting could be when selecting a partner. Teams in seeding matches could just decide to show what they are good at, knowing or coming to the conclusion they will not make the top 8. Teams in seeding matches should also know that the qualifying rounds are not exactly the same game because the strategy to win "is" different. There are many, many variables that come into play during the selection process. Picking teams have to make an extremely important decision - What is the best features that are needed in combination with theirs to win a different game? Picking teams may have features that got them to be a picking team that may not be the best at winning the "new" game that is played in the elimination tourney.
This year, strategy must be considered at the same time as scouting for a great alliance partner. Especially with the rotational alliance rule, where the winning alliance must rotate out one of the teams.
Variables to consider:
Goal grabbers: Multiple vs. One (Can't let the other team get 3, unless you can keep them in your scoring zone)
Speed: Very important feature when considering Multiple goal grabbers, or when trying to keep away from the opposing robot
Agility without a goal: Important if trapping a robot in your scoring zone, or keeping them away from their zone is part of your strategy
Agility with a goal: Only important if the plan is to try and the "keep away and outscore" technique
Power: Very important once the "tug o war" is underway -
"One on one" if the single goal grabber can't keep the other team from latching on the more powerful team wins
"2 teams vs one" looks like 2 probably wins more often than not - given enough time
"2 vs 2" if both sets are evenly matched it boils down to "Time" and "Angles" - Given enough time obviously the stronger team wins, if they have the angle. You can beat a more powerful team if you can keep them from getting the angle needed - this depends on the orientation of their drive wheels, and yours.
CG - Robots tip or can be pulled over, yes even attached to goals
Robustness - its really aggressive in the elim's - parts are falling off everywhere, and selecting a team that won't fall apart under extremely violent conditions will be important.
Current draw - seems like a silly factor, but be careful not to overload the circuit breaker - once tripped, strategy doesn't matter.

Lastly, this year the top 8 teams are also eligible to be picked as partners, but if you turn down the 1st team that selects you, you have to turn down everyone else - so if say you were ranked 7th and the 2nd seeded team picked you, you could say "No thanks", but then none of the rest (3 thru 6) could pick you - You essentially decide at that moment "How important it is" to be in total control of the destiny of the alliance. I wonder how many people would think it would be Politically Incorrect, to turn down another team that is ranked higher than you? So you can be sure to be the one to "Call the shots". I think you put the best combined alliance together whenever possible, and "accept" if asked and you believe you fit well together as a team. This is a very difficult decision, and its an additional issue for teams to think about.
Sorry, about the long post - thought I'd share what I learned in Cleveland, we'll see if it holds true at the Great Lakes Regional next weekend.