This is a brutal game.

[Justin]

My answer to this question is plain and simple no. The defense seen is this game is something that has been missing for a long long time. Defense is something you have to be ready for, and no matter how tough your robot is you are going to take some hits, your robot is going to get hurt. I think that FIRST went out of their way this year to implore teams to build tough robots, with bumpers, etc, etc. I think that no secret was made of the fact that this was going to be a rougher game. I mean they created a dynamic which encourages teams to play defense (thank you FIRST). The matches (especially finals) I've witnessed this year are some of the best I have seen since the pre-2000 era largely because teams are playing defense this year and they can do so without fear of 30 point penalty, a DQ, or some controversy for flipping. I also think that truly blatant things are getting called for the most part I have witnessed some well founded penalties for teams that basically ram another robot from the other side of the field these penalties are justified as far as I am concerned. Being and old-schooler I am glad to see a return to a dynamic where defense is excepted and can again be a viable strategy.

To this end I'll just offer a little advice. First be prepared for defense, if you have a great robot and a great shooter you are going to get d'ed up hard...be ready for it. Also be weary of all offensive strategies. I saw a few alliances at UTC who put together three stellar shooters. They lost to an alliance with really defensive style of play. Proving that perhaps in this year's game "the best offense is a good defense" is not necessarily the case. Lastly loosing to a defensive alliance is a different experience. It stings a little more because with an offensive loss it was for the most part under your control. In the case of loosing because you got d'ed up by two robots that is perhaps something you have less control over. I think it is a different feeling.

So in conclusion I love the new style of play, be ready, and GOOD LUCK!!!

Justin