Is Defense key to this game?

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

The one thing you missed is that 217 was on their side for all of the first finals match and our arm was broken for the last 1/2 of the second finals match. The ramp didn't beat our alliance, their more robust robots beat our alliance. Each robot on their alliance did one thing well and performed their task per their strategy.

Congratulations to the 1444, 45, and 829 alliance on their great win.

By the way, look out for 148. They are a really, really fast ringer that can score through defense.

I totally agree with this based on personally being on an alliance that made it as a 7th seed to the finals. It was the key to being able to successfully beat the 2nd and 3rd ranked teams in the playoffs.
They had awesome scoring, no question......however, very and I mean VERY few teams will be able to score 6++ ringers if one or two robots are defending you. It has been proven in 99% of the matches (i.e. not including team 25) that those teams may only score 1 or 2 at most.
Thus the ramp bot is the X-factor.

If I was in the top seed, and there were only 1 or 2 effective, reliable ramp bots (60 point max capability), i would take them over the next best ringer scorer. Top seeds may get their great second scorers in the first round of selections if they choose so, but at the lower seeding teams expense of picking the best rampbots in the second round.

When both the robots, defenders defending and the rack moves, it presents some really tough situations in trying to score. Any decent scorer can score 7+ ringers with no opposition and lots of practice.