Most Important Game Aspect of '05

[leo_singer]

Here's the breakdown:

Maximum possible team score: 216 pts

A. Stacking a tetra:
3 pts / 1 tetra, up to 40 tetras * 3 pts = 120 pts

B. Putting a tetro inside a goal:
1 pts / 1 tetra, up to 40 tetras * 1 pts = 40 pts

C. Scoring a vision tetra on one of the outside middle goals:
6 pts / 1 tetra, up to 2 vision tetras * 6 pts = 12 pts

D. Scoring a vision tetra on the center goal:
9 pts / 1 tetra, up to 2 vision tetras * 9 pts = 18 pts

E. Scoring one row of tic-tac-toe:
19 pts / 3 tetras or about 6 pts / 1 tetra

F. Scoring two intersecting rows of tic-tac-toe:
24 pts / 5 tetras or about 5 pts / 1 tetra

(Note: tic-tac-toe gets you up to 107 pts / 9 tetras or about 11 pts / 1 tetra, if you get every possible row)

G. End zone:
10 pts / 3 robots, which we'll say is equivalent to about the same level of effort as 3 pts / 1 tetra

This list doesn't take into account the magnetically suspended tetras and many tic-tac-toe configurations.

Clearly, tic-tac-toe can give you the most bang for your buck, but not always. Tic-tac-toe in items E and F are only worth two stacked tetras.

It looks like A will be the most straightforward way to get most of your score, but C and especially D can make a big difference. But G can also decide a match. For that matter, any one of A through G can easily decide any match.

Although A is not the most efficient way to score, it is probably the most feasible way to score a lot.

[Alex Pelan]

Defense and herding are key here. I think we are overestimating the amount of teams that will be able to reliably cap multiple tetras. Think about how long some teams took to cap last year, and then add more edges/having to be perfectly aligned with the top of the goals. Thus, in many matches, especially in the earlier rounds, while some teams that did not get much driver practicing in are getting used to their robots still, there will not be much capping going on. However, herding tetras into goals will be a lot more feasible, and, if there is nothing stacked on top, you can still make tic-tac-toes with tetras in the goal for extra points. Manipulating the tetras is not going to be an easy task. As for defense, it is always integral to the game. All robots should be built hardily and should be able to effectively block other robots. Control of the center, whether it be through capping or herding, will be key here, and we should see a lot of last minute shoving matches here, where capping the center can result in many-point swings.

[richardp]

As I read the rules i beleave that it says that u get points just for haveing a tetra on top it doesnt have to be the top on it just has to be on. I could be wrong ill check with Dave tomarrow. But i think the most important aspect is just being able to get the tertas-themselfs ask fast and effeciently as possible so that they are there to use.

[Petey]

None of the above.

Tetra manipulation. Plain and simple.

Although, if it had to be one of those choices, it would be tetra stacking.

--Petey

[Cory]

Originally Posted by richardp

As I read the rules i beleave that it says that u get points just for haveing a tetra on top it doesnt have to be the top on it just has to be on. I could be wrong ill check with Dave tomarrow. But i think the most important aspect is just being able to get the tertas-themselfs ask fast and effeciently as possible so that they are there to use.

every tetra you get onto a goal counts as points for you.

It has to be on top to count as a row though

[Barry Bonzack]

I'm wondering if what wins football games will end up being the factor in winning a robotics match. Using defense in many ways could assist teammates as they cap, go for the tic-tac-toe, etc. I am expecting the final moments of the game to be intense, and my money is that a robot with serious shoving power teamed up with bots with other capabilities will be a lethal combination.

[unapiedra]

I think the biggest problem is going to be the 3+3 Teams. This forces the teams extremely to work together and to dependent.
For me the most important point is that the robots have to be universal in the design but run specific tasks during the competition.

[n0cturnalxb]

Why do we keep saying tic-tac-toe? It reminds me of bingo, but with 3 per row

I think the stacking's one of the most important aspects. If you can get your robot to hold the tetras relatively stable-y AND stack while collecting (go in and out of the loading zone, collecting more than one tetra and forming a stack before you put it onto the goals) ... you've got a pretty good advantage there.

Then again, they're pretty heavy to keep holding.

And I have no idea how such an arm mechanism would work.

.. But anything's possible!

[rcflyer620]

Originally Posted by Cyberguy34000

What do you think?

Because of the initial height of the center goal I think capping will only be important there for 2 or three tetras. Beyond that, the weight and size limits of the robots and the weight of the tetras will not allow an articulated arm or lifting platform to get high enough to put any more on. What if you were the first one to cap the center and then defended it vigorously while completing rows?

[MikeWherley]

Originally Posted by Kyle

thats what i was thinking that Dave and the rest of the design committee must have gotten really stressed trying to think of a new game and decided to play tic-tack-toe and then it dawned on them, "this could be a great game but first we have to make it extremely complicated and with stuff no one has worked with before." or maybe they just thought of a cool game and it just happened to be similar to tic-tack-toe. i think the most important part of the game is what you do in auto mode.

I think that the game is more a combination of Tic-Tac-Toe and Othello. The combination is very easy to understand and play, but very hard to win, and lots of strategies available, some of which are actually going to win!!

[greencactus3]

Originally Posted by Alex Pelan

Defense and herding are key here. I think we are overestimating the amount of teams that will be able to reliably cap multiple tetras. Think about how long some teams took to cap last year, and then add more edges/having to be perfectly aligned with the top of the goals. Thus, in many matches, especially in the earlier rounds, while some teams that did not get much driver practicing in are getting used to their robots still, there will not be much capping going on. However, herding tetras into goals will be a lot more feasible, and, if there is nothing stacked on top, you can still make tic-tac-toes with tetras in the goal for extra points. Manipulating the tetras is not going to be an easy task. As for defense, it is always integral to the game. All robots should be built hardily and should be able to effectively block other robots. Control of the center, whether it be through capping or herding, will be key here, and we should see a lot of last minute shoving matches here, where capping the center can result in many-point swings.

really? i would think capping tetras would be easier than big balls assuming you have a reliable method of lifting a heavier tetra. and you can cap from any direction not only one side. and if you get the goal tetrahedron tip anywhere inside the bottomside triangle frame of a tetra , you just drop and itll stay.

[Ryan Albright]

tic-tac-toe and being able to cap

First you need a robot that can cap
Second to have the strategy to make the tic tac toe

[bigjhutch]

No Question,
Tetra capping is harder, but it's unreversable and how many points can you score in autonomous mode? If any robot scores more than three single handedly, I will marry that robot.

[Bcahn836]

The most important thing to me is capping the center goal in autonomous mode with the vision tetra. Once that one is capped during that time you get 2 tetras placed on your goals, at that point you then have control of 3 goals and easily can make a row by capping your own goal in the middle against the wall.

[AmyPrib]

Originally Posted by Alex Pelan

However, herding tetras into goals will be a lot more feasible, and, if there is nothing stacked on top, you can still make tic-tac-toes with tetras in the goal for extra points.

I don't think I understand that comment. You don't get a "row" unless it's stacked on top.. You can't get a row using a tetra just sitting underneath a goal.
Maybe I just mis-read your comment....