Best Atlanta Alliances

[BBnum3]

Originally Posted by Chris Fultz

I'm with Paul (I think).

Three good or great scoring robots can beat out 2 scorers with a ramp -
why, i saw it time and time again -

at 1:30, the ramp bot retreats to the home zone, 1 opposing robot is now 'free to score'
at 1:40, the other two bots retreat to the home zone, 2 more opposing robots now 'free to score'.

during ramp time - the three scorers put up another 6 - 9 tubes or spoilers and create more than the 60 points from the ramps.

I think what you describe will happen--most of the time. With the right strategy and execution the ramp alliance has a good shot at the win. Defense is the key to the ramp alliance's success. That alliance needs to place tubes defensively to limit big rows, and the ramp needs to defend the opposing alliance's best scorer. Assuming all of the tube scoring bots are all of similar caliber this is a viable strategy. If the ramp alliance prevents any rows of more than 4 then the max score of the opposing alliance is 88. Not a bad score, but it assumes the rest of the rack is full.

Also the idea that 6-9 tubes could be put up during ramp time is not realistic. By this point in the match the 3 scorers alliance has most likely used up all of the alliance station ringers, and can't go to the other side to pick them up because of the endgame. I could see 4 or so in the last 30 seconds, but not much more. However, it's still enough to swing the outcome of the match.

What we're not taking into account here is the placing of keepers. Expect some of the top alliances to have two, if not three robots that can place keepers. If that alliance happens (and I think we'll see one) watch out.