When does "build season" begin?

[Madison]

We all know kick-off is January 5. When, exactly, can we begin work on January 5? The start of the broadcast; the end? The game reveal? Midnight the evening before?

Just curious and (mostly) kidding.

[StephLee]

The "build" part of it begins the second our group that attended a local kickoff makes the 3 hour drive home with the kit; the brainstorming starts the second we have any idea what the game is (so yes, if we think we've got the clue figured out, brainstorming starts then).

[EricH]

Thinking of ideas: during the webcast. Officially (on my team): pretty much right after the webcast, we start strategy talks.

[aaeamdar]

I think it would be a little un-Kosher to start building the morning of - not trying to criticize anyone who does that, just my gut feeling. Personally, I think build season starts after the animation ends, just to pick a more-or-less arbitrary point.

-Paul

For us, the moment the field is unveiled, it all gets rolling. We immediately start scribbling down ideas, and thinking of the best strategy.

[Akash Rastogi]

We usually have a full day meeting right after the broadcast and basically go everyday from there.

[synth3tk]

Well, I don't think I've ever seen anyone say they start the morning of. Strategy or ideas can always be thought up, but it's sort of hard to plan a build for the game you're on your way to see the game.

We plan on coming up with ideas after we get back, but because of our school's schedule, we won't start until Tuesday.

[midway78224]

the min. we get home from the kickoff our buildseason starts

[aaeamdar]

I think what the OP meant was not "when does your team start work" but more technically, "when is it allowable in the rules to start building". Please correct if I'm wrong.

-P

[alex1699]

i would thing the second they release the code for the rule book...

[Billfred]

Well, the rules covering robot fabrication are historically in the Robot section of the manual. I imagine that having the full rules unlocked would be key (no pun intended) to success...so I suppose the answer is "1.618 seconds after they put the encryption key on the screen".

[alex1699]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Well, the rules covering robot fabrication are historically in the Robot section of the manual. I imagine that having the full rules unlocked would be key (no pun intended) to success...so I suppose the answer is "1.618 seconds after they put the encryption key on the screen".

well i would have to say how ever long it takes me to type 20 digits the right way... so more like a minute

[Mark McLeod]

The rules typically say "the period between the Kick-off and robot shipment deadline," so I'd say the moment the kickoff broadcast counts down and goes on the air.

But we're all pretty busy right about then, what with our favorite show on and all.

[dr1008]

hey, are there any rules against ordering parts before the kick off, such as andymark transmission blocks or wheels or such?

[EricH]

There haven't been previously, in regards to COTS items and raw material. No telling what this year's rules will say, though.