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Re: Picking Teams in Elimination Rounds
I think I would prefer the number one pick in a small regional like Pitt or FLR with a couple conditions:
1. My bot is clearly the best bot. This is not always the case with #1 seeds. Since the serpentine draft evens out the skill of the draft picks, the only real advantage you have is your own bot. If my bot really isn't the best bot, I might be better served as alliance 8 where I can get help from 2 bots about my skill level.
2. There are only a few other "very good" bots. Too many good bots will favor the lower seeds. Good scouting will come into play here as I choose the second best bot, who will likely be among the Top 8 (this should shift the Top 8 in my favor). We will have to have the offensive power to outscore all the other 3 bot Alliances since our other partner will likely have problems scoring.
3. At least 1 of the last few bots is "mobile". A mobile bot can get thru a match without routinely dieing or flipping itself. It might be able to play some decent D or get on the ramp. As long as it doesn't die in the defensive zone and force a healthy bot as a backbot, the alliance should be ok. Only 2 bots can play D anyway so if it can't then that is ok.
Keep in mind the Alliances are not going to be a good as those in larger regional no matter what draft method is used. The 2 best bots even without a 3rd alliance member might be able to beat any other 3 bot alliance. Last year in a Pitt semifinal, our bot got stuck in a goal autonomously and our partners 869 and 808 won the match anyway.
With both Pitt (25 teams) and Finger Lakes (30 teams) coming up this weekend, it should be a very exciting and educational weekend.
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Electrical & Programming Mentor ---Team #365 "The Miracle Workerz"
Programming Mentor ---Team #4342 "Demon Robotics"
Founding Mentor --- Team #1495 Avon Grove High School
2007 CMP Chairman's Award - Thanks to all MOE members (and others) past and present who made it a reality.
 Robot Inspector
"I don't think I'm ever more ''aware'' than I am right after I burn my thumb with a soldering iron"
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