Championship Disappointment

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by team1591

There are 86 Teams per division

Of course you're right.

I just plugged in Ken's (rounded-off?) figure of 300 teams. The actual number must be closer to 344.

My point is still the same -- if large regionals like GTR(74), VCU(64), NJ(63), and GLR(63) can use non-sequential pit ordering to get the rookies closer to the veterans, then a Championship division with 86 teams should be able to do the same.

[Martinez]

I've only been to Nationals once (Houston) and was completely overwhelmed. When I saw the entire Astrodome filled with team pit areas, I realised how BIG FIRST is. It was when I really saw the fully size impact of the program. I love the picnic anology, and can't say much more than has been said. All I recommend is get out there an scout. Find a couple teams to hang out with, get close to, and cheer on. If your not confortable in such a large setting, then just explore the entire world of FIRST. You do not need to belong to all of it to still have some sense of belonging.

[lukevanoort]

Although my team isn't at nats this year, we went last year. Although I agree that the announcements are hard to hear, remember the game's effect too. I don't know about other people, but I found most of the robots to be variations on the same basic designs this year. Many are conveyors on one end and shooters (or dumpers) on the other... most people are using a spinning something, or a trap door. (Yes, I am aware there are catapults, they just aren't very common) Last year, there was quite a large variety, you had bottom scorers, pneumatic elevators, motorized elevators, telescopers, thingys mounted on swivels, see-saws, hooks, grippers, so on. The big thing for me at nats was seeing the mass of varying technology that resulted from ~300 teams, some of which were already winners, this year the innovation seems to be more in the small, hard to see stuff and the control and less so in large amazing fast moving structures.