YMTC: #1 Seed

[Don Wright]

Two collaborated robots, say Robot A and Robot B are in the same division in Atlanta.

A third robot, say Robot C, is also in the division.

During one of the middle round qualifying matches Robot A is paired with Robot C AGAINST Robot B.

Robot A and Robot C beat Robot B.

In the final match of Qualifying, Robot B and Robot C are paired together against Robot A.

Robot A has zero losses.
Robot B has one or more losses.
Robot C has zero losses.

Robot A has more qualifying points than Robot C.

If Robot B and C win, Robot C is the #1 Seed.
If Robot A wins, it will be the #1 Seed.

Robots A & B have picked each other in previous regionals and have "dominated" the competition.

You are the coach for Robot B. What do you do?

[Kevin Sevcik]

I'd play the darn game, is what I'd do. And play to win it just like I would in any other match. Unless you've in fact been playing to lose the entire regional, anything else is dishonest.

EDIT: Haven't we done the throwing the match discussion a few times before?

[jDee_shaRpie]

I would probably have to re-read what you just wrote for me to make that decision.

[pathew100]

I believe whether it is qualifying match 1 or the last qualifying match, each team has a responsibility to their alliance to play to win that match for their alliance. That is the only Gracious Professional thing to do.

The chips may fall one way or another, but for those 2 plus minutes you are only teamed up with the two other teams on your side of the alliance station.

[Ricky Q.]

Play to win or don't play at all.

[Jherbie53]

Being collaborated robots wouldn't mean anything to me. I know both teams worked really hard on both robots, but I want to win, which is selfish I know. Even if your not going to be picking, you want to win and show what you can do. Besides, the #1 seed has a slight disadvantage when picking, which isn't going to be as bad at Nationals.

Anyhoo, Nationals is a whole lot different than the regionals they attended during the year. MORE teams, BETTER teams, and going undefeated is going to be harder there. We'll all have to wait the 4 weeks until Nationals for the results.

[Greg Needel]

Originally Posted by Ricky Q.

Play to win or don't play at all.

ditto.

At most regionals (except for the large ones) you should expect to play against and with most teams. When teams choose to collaborate they should expect to be in those situations. Even if the robots are exactly the same the strategy can set each one apart from each other. So my take is and always will be play your game and let the match unfold as it will.

[Nawaid Ladak]

are you refering to any paticular teams...... the Triplets at GTR come to mind.

[KenWittlief]

ok, you throw the match. And then someone throws up a robot design rule challenge against your opponents, and they are disqualified.

So you win, with 0 points, they are out of the top 8, and everyone at the event thinks your team cant shoot its way out of a paper bag,

and your two alliance partners hate your team

whats more, everywhere you go for the rest of the day you have Ken Wittlief following you around, booing and heckling you until his voice gives out!

[Don Wright]

It could be any collaborated teams.

I'm just pointing out how things could possibly look.

I am not AT ALL SAYING THIS HAS OR WILL happen. It's just a YMTC since we haven't had many this year...

[Bill Moore]

Originally Posted by Don Wright

Two collaborated robots, say Robot A and Robot B are in the same division in Atlanta.

A third robot, say Robot C, is also in the division.

During one of the middle round qualifying matches Robot A is paired with Robot C AGAINST Robot B.

Robot A and Robot C beat Robot B.

In the final match of Qualifying, Robot B and Robot C are paired together against Robot A.

Robot A has zero losses.
Robot B has one or more losses.
Robot C has zero losses.

Robot A has more qualifying points than Robot C.

If Robot B and C win, Robot C is the #1 Seed.
If Robot A wins, it will be the #1 Seed.

Robots A & B have picked each other in previous regionals and have "dominated" the competition.

You are the coach for Robot B. What do you do?

The Ethical Answer is that Robot B plays to win, otherwise, you are not truly acting as an alliance with your other partners in the Qualifying matches. It is dishonest not to attempt a victory.

Surprisingly though, the Logical Answer is still "Robot B plays to win". Basically, if Robots B and C are capable of beating Robot A during qualification matches, it is a good sign that they are capable of doing the same in the playoffs. The scouts for Team C would have to be asleep in the stands to miss the dominance of that pairing.

[henryBsick]

Go big or go home...

[mtaman02]

Play to win or don't bother continue competing. Before and after the competition (or match) we're friends: during the match is a different story - Not exactly GP but hey we all have a place on that ranking sheet - im gonna fight for my alliance in getting those spots.


Another way to look at this is look at Racing Events 2 - 3 teams under the same owner - fairly the same cars and setups would you really slow down to let your team mate win and get passed by 15 cars in doing so or do you floor it and take the trophy home yourself.

[mtaman02]

Originally Posted by Don Wright

It could be any collaborated teams.

I'm just pointing out how things could possibly look.

I am not AT ALL SAYING THIS HAS OR WILL happen. It's just a YMTC since we haven't had many this year...

Haven't had many - I don't think I've seen any in the past 2 years and I usually keep an eye out for them =)

[Don Wright]

Originally Posted by mtaman02

Another way to look at this is look at Racing Events 2 - 3 teams under the same owner - fairly the same cars and setups would you really slow down to let your team mate win and get passed by 15 cars in doing so or do you floor it and take the trophy home yourself.

Actually, that's a good point in favor of throwing the match. "Team Rules" often happen in racing where a teammate is told to let their teammate pass and win because they are in the points race, and the person winning the race isn't.