biggest threat in atlanta

[Joel J]

He said he doesn't need an arm. I am curious to see what the strategy is.

Three scorers, one is a hybrid (254) capable of 2@12, and two have fairly strong drivetrains (148 and company). Without an arm on the opposing alliance, they'd just need to hang a single tube, then get two robots on the ramp. If one robot is going to take a penalty to prevent the ramping at the end, then they only need to cancel out the one opposing alliance's robot that has ramped. So, the beefy drivetrain (148) stops trying to get on 254's ramps, and they instead protect their partner. The ramps neutralize, and they win on the rack.

Such teases, though-- now I'm curious what strategy I'm missing.

[Quijas]

330
254
39
25
987
359
968
i think these are some of the big hitters to look out for i know there is still more.

[BRosser314]

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

Ah, you are all underestimating the power of an alliance. A united front we stand, a united front we fall.

More cryptology after the jump.

Sorry 842, but I ahve to agree with Tom on this one, If you get an alliance with atleast one good scorere then 2 defensive bots, or even 2 scorers and 1 defensive bot, I ahve seen where the 2 can protect the scorer from opponents, and defend opponents aswell. If here were an alliance of 2 scorers and 1 defensive, I have seen the defensive bot hold of teams and keeep them from scoring, and the 2 scorers amnage to get a couple ringers on the rack. I believe in Atlanta we will see an aliance of teams that we would never expect to be aligned togther, not as in teams together, but seeing that order of bots. YAY for having FIRST keep us on our feets.

[Arefin Bari]

Everyone forget to mention team 2056 (Patriotics), they maybe a rookie, but they do have two regional wins under their belt. They also have a simple design and have an autonomous mode that caps on the opposing side's rack. They also have a Rookie All-Star award backing them up. I have talked about "great" teams in other threads, but watch out for this one rookie at championship.

[Corey Balint]

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

I have a strategy that will beat that 9 times out of ten. And I don't even need an arm.

Cya in a week

Actually...thats my strategy. At least a variance of it. I wouldn't expect anything like this to happen until Elims though, when it actually will be possible.

There will be some highpowered alliances out there, definitely.
The way most will go is 2 scorers then a hybrid(ramp/scorer). That will be the most potent. But youll probably see more 2 scorers and a hybrid(ramp defender).

Robots that'll matter the most are the likes of 330, 69, 696, 254. Teams thatll score and have ramps. Its a great combo, especially in 69 and 330.
There are a ton of teams that may get overlooked though. Its a great year for scouting to suck.
I still think one of the top 5 teams is gonna be staying at home. 1626 had some bad luck at Boston and Palmetto and ended up as Finalists twice. But they are by far one of the best I've seen this year. They play through anything.
My strategy probably will not be seen this year, but would be most effective, and I'd take it over anything else you could dream of.

[M4 Sherman]

Originally Posted by Otaku

Honestly, if 1662 was going (Raptor Force Engineering), them. 675 went to SVR and Davis, and they were the only bot out of the 48/39 teams that pushed US around. And we pushed 1280 and the rack at the same time.

Video of rack turn-age:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5LdLXl2sips

Oh yeah! we'll be there!

[SBass]

watch out for defensive auto.. 815 stopped a few, and 842 came up with one and started fine tuning it by the end of vegas

[Cactus_Robotics]

There are going to be so many good teams this year. 498 has made some changes, got a auto mode (kinda) and retooled our manipulator so hopefully we can hang with these teams o and our ramp is driver friendly! see ya all very soon.

[dtengineering]

Originally Posted by Joel J.

Such teases, though-- now I'm curious what strategy I'm missing.

Speaking on behalf of one of the two alliances so far this year to take a win from 1114, here's our secret strategy for winning.

Wait for their radio to glitch out.

Aside from that... good luck. We played them three times at GTR in a variety of alliances, including some heavy weight "D" from 48 on our side. The only time 1114 wasn't dangerous was when they weren't moving.

Jason

[seraphim33]

Originally Posted by Joel J.

He said he doesn't need an arm. I am curious to see what the strategy is.

Three scorers, one is a hybrid (254) capable of 2@12, and two have fairly strong drivetrains (148 and company). Without an arm on the opposing alliance, they'd just need to hang a single tube, then get two robots on the ramp. If one robot is going to take a penalty to prevent the ramping at the end, then they only need to cancel out the one opposing alliance's robot that has ramped. So, the beefy drivetrain (148) stops trying to get on 254's ramps, and they instead protect their partner. The ramps neutralize, and they win on the rack.

Such teases, though-- now I'm curious what strategy I'm missing.

i know of three such teams where a single tube could never be scored

[Joel J]

Originally Posted by seraphim33

i know of three such teams where a single tube could never be scored

I hear 148 has a pretty mean autonomous.. . I'm (almost) sure the partners could drive forward to protect them during that initial 15 seconds.

I like the defense+ramps strategy. I'm serious when I say that. But I believe that three scorers, a 2@12 ramp, and two strong drivetrains on the same alliance have the lattitude to take on any alliance. And if that alliance goes up against another of the same construction, then you have a match on Einstein, IMO. From what I see, what carries the defense+ramps alliance (puts a score on the board) are the good ramps. A scoring alliance that also has a hybrid neutralizes that advantage.

I'm hoping defense+ramps isn't Tom's strategy-- as its nothing new. I don't think it is, though.

[Koko Ed]

Like 296 last year there will be robots that noone will see comming that will rise up and surprise everyone just like there will be teams that are getting all sorts of hype that will dissapoint for one reason or another. It happens all th time at the championships and this year you really need good partners to succeed.

[Grant Cox]

148
1114
27
703
45
469

just to name a few.

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by dtengineering

The only time 1114 wasn't dangerous was when they weren't moving.

Jason

That....or moving involuntarily perpendicular or backwards relative to the direction of their desired path of travel. But then again, the same can be said of any team. The problem is catching up to them - they're so durned speedy!

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Joel J.

I hear 148 has a pretty mean autonomous.. . I'm (almost) sure the partners could drive forward to protect them during that initial 15 seconds.

I like the defense+ramps strategy. I'm serious when I say that. But I believe that three scorers, a 2@12 ramp, and two strong drivetrains on the same alliance have the lattitude to take on any alliance. And if that alliance goes up against another of the same construction, then you have a match on Einstein, IMO. From what I see, what carries the defense+ramps alliance (puts a score on the board) are the good ramps. A scoring alliance that also has a hybrid neutralizes that advantage.

I'm hoping defense+ramps isn't Tom's strategy-- as its nothing new. I don't think it is, though.

2 Defense + 1 awesome scorer. Everyone thinks defensive-minded alliances can't score tubes. Purge that thought from your heads. Also purge the thought that all defensive robots have to play defense all the time - they don't. Some do; many don't.

Ramps aren't nullified if you hold a defensively-created rack score advantage at the beginning of endgame.

Again, we'll see. I challenge some of the big scorers to consider the possibilities of participating in a defensive alliance as an option as opposed to the "drown 'em in offense" alliance strategy - which is "nothing new".