What is the best strategy

[bk111]

By the time competitions start, determining the best team strategy is almost irrelevant, since it would have already been determined at least late in the build season. Design + Drive & Human Player Strategy = Team Strategy. Drive & Human Player Strategy are the direct consequences of Design, and cannot be created independently. Team Strategy + Scouting = Alliance Strategy Has any team analyzed scouting data through a computer-based alliance selection process? What I mean is: Enter the strengths and weaknesses of teams into a computer and print out a display of the best and worst partners for your team? (think compatibility tests for dating sites)

[Kim Masi]

one word- Defense

[Cowmankoza]

As mentioned by many before me, one impressive shooter, one sturdy defender, and one all around robot (that can switch to do the needed task). This setup of an alliance is what allowed 11, 247 and us (1251) to win palmetto regional!

[TheNotoriousKid]

For this years game i think the best strategy is winning in autonomous mode and playin defence after that

[Paul Copioli]

Two autonomous shooters is a must. Period. End of story. If you do not have this and your opponent does, then you will be defeated. All three robots better be able to play defense (we added bumpers after Detroit for this very reason). You do not need three shooters, but it would be nice.

[Francis-134]

Personally, I think it is important to have a killer autonomous mode that can put up at least 21 points consistantly. As for the makeup of an alliance, it seems that two awesome shooters (i.e. number one picks number two) and another shooter of lesser quality is the only real way to win in a highly competitive elimination round. Two defensive robots cannot stop three shooters from scoring at the same time, especially if one of them can shoot from far away, or out of the "red zone" right in front of the ramp.

Not only that, but isa shooter is the backbot, by the time the next round starts, that robot has a full load of balls and is in position to shoot them off. The only way to stop them would be to send one of your offensive robots to defend them, which takes away from your scoring potential. I've seen alliances work very well like this at both Manchester and Boston, which seem to be two highly competitive regionals.

[Richsgt]

This game is definitely one where there is no 'best strategy' you need to win autonomous, but you CAN overcome not winning it via strong offense in the round. Or by stronge defense. This year definitely has an emphasis on the ability to change the strategy depending on who you're playing, who you're playing with and the teams you will play against.
To sum it all up the best alliance/strategy is a team that has 3 bots that can play strong defense, shoot high, score low, get on the ramp and have autonomous. You need all to have that ability because just due to game variance and parts breaking, if your high shooter dies and everyone else cannot score, then the game changes entirely for your alliance.

....And the Ramp, definitely the ramp because no matter what else, the ramp is shiney and all robots are attracted to shiney objects

[newton418]

At the Lone Star Regionals we (418 LASA) were allied with 231 (High Voltage) and 1421 (Chaos). 231 had an awesome shooter and could pick up balls off the ground. 1421 was effective at defending, a very good dumper and always got 10 balls in the lower goal in autonomous. 418 was okay at dumping but found that we were best defending. We also had an autonomous that stopped the other allience from scoring. We won autonomous all but two games, and those two team 118 scored either 9 or 10 in the upper goal, but one of those games we came back and won.

So, a solid shooter, a reliable dumper, a good defender, consistent autonomous and a defensive autonomous is what won the Lone Star Regionals for us.

[DaveA412]

Originally Posted by Francis-134

Personally, I think it is important to have a killer autonomous mode that can put up at least 21 points consistantly. As for the makeup of an alliance, it seems that two awesome shooters (i.e. number one picks number two) and another shooter of lesser quality is the only real way to win in a highly competitive elimination round. Two defensive robots cannot stop three shooters from scoring at the same time, especially if one of them can shoot from far away, or out of the "red zone" right in front of the ramp.

Not only that, but isa shooter is the backbot, by the time the next round starts, that robot has a full load of balls and is in position to shoot them off. The only way to stop them would be to send one of your offensive robots to defend them, which takes away from your scoring potential. I've seen alliances work very well like this at both Manchester and Boston, which seem to be two highly competitive regionals.

you guys definitely have the best autonomous ever we always had to guess at it but were never sure where u were going keep it up and good luck

[aallen88]

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

Two autonomous shooters is a must. Period. End of story. If you do not have this and your opponent does, then you will be defeated. All three robots better be able to play defense (we added bumpers after Detroit for this very reason). You do not need three shooters, but it would be nice.

At the Palmetto Regional, Team 11 was the only autonomous shooter in our alliance and we were faced against teams with two shooters also in auto. We won every autonomous and actual round in the quater, semi, and finals. 1251 would defend us as we drove up and shot, while 247 rammed through any opponent's shooters on the opposite side of the field.

...Anything can happen.

[Craig Roys]

Two shooters and one good defensive bot. The defensive bot serves two purposes, defend your goal (obviously) and protect your shooters during offensive period - ability to get up ramp a big plus. I've seen a few alliances with 2 good shooters, but the 3rd was unable to protect well enough on both offense and defense.

Of course my comments here are biased as we are a very defensive robot. We've had good success shutting down some very good shooters. We hope to do some more at Nat's - and hopefully get noticed for it.

[jDee_shaRpie]

Id say Good Shooters and Dumpers with an Insane Defensive Bot. Win Auton heard tons while backbot, defensive bot has to get rid of threats to the shooter. But most of all TEAMWORK! Im actually surprised i havent seen that said a bunch of times. communication between the coaches incase a team needs help up a ramp or something, or if they need to shoot balls into a robot, or something like that.

[DaveA412]

even though i stated 3 good shooters would be unstoppable i take it back because 2 shooters and a good defensive bot its back to even with 2 shooters and 2 shooters on top of that if the defensive bot can block more then one shooter of if one shooter has to go back to reload then the 2 shooter one defense team gets an advantage so i change my mind and 2 shooters one good defense is the best team and 2 good defense one shooter could also level the playing field with three shooters

[Cowmankoza]

Originally Posted by aallen88

At the Palmetto Regional, Team 11 was the only autonomous shooter in our alliance and we were faced against teams with two shooters also in auto. We won every autonomous and actual round in the quater, semi, and finals. 1251 would defend us as we drove up and shot, while 247 rammed through any opponent's shooters on the opposite side of the field.

...Anything can happen.

Here Here to big poofy pool noodle bumpers!

[akshar]

without a doubt: 2 awesome shooters and a very good defensive bot (sole job: defense)
a defensive bot can shut down 2/3 of an alliance with help from one of the shooters, this can be seen if you watch the videos of 121, 233, 1568 in eliminations. 1568 moved around defending it blocked the best bots on the opposing alliance, and either 121 or 233 would come back and help defending, however the defensive bot has more work to do because it has to block the shooters and help block for its alliance members when it is offensive mode. so 2 offense 1 defense and a whole lot of teamwork can definetly beat 3 good shooters...

just my .02