Predictions: A cynical view of reality

[JesseK]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

If you did, you would probably get flamed.

That is downright hilarious.

Yay, humor!

It's sort of impressive how big this thread got in such a short amount of time... I guess all the FIRSTers are anxious and online while they wait for the week 1 regionals!

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

Arms are terrible.
Shooters are terrible.
Racers are terrible.

This is the only bot that can win this year.

So who drew the short straw to have to get the unfortunate job of having to swiss cheese that baby to make weight and when are they getting out of traction?

[Dan Richardson]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

I feel like a broken record. In 2006, the game was structured in a way that an individual robot could take over, and claim it's spot as the most feared robot of them all. 2008 is a game where no robot will be able to win them all (or even come very close) without partners that can cooperate and aid it.
Yes, we all know an alliance will win. But, no individual robot will come out with the most wins, on any level (match, regional, championship, etc) without the aid of their partners in some form.

I disagree, robots will dominate, but it will have nothing to do with Arm/Shooter. I realise this thread is mostly directed to shooter / arm strategies but I don't believe you are looking at the game as a whole

Mark my words, this game will be decided by autonomous, a Robot who can knock off both balls and continue around the field, and do this Effectively and Efficiently will win 90% of their matches. Teams dominated in 06' because of autonomous, not because of the game.

If you can score ~ 32 points in auton, some of the time but around a 24-28 point average you will win, and you will dominate most of the time. The only time you'll be challenged is by teams with equivalent autons. Even after that point I believe your bot, shooter or arm could be "just average" and you'd win most of your matches.

This isn't the case usually tho, good autons usually come with good bots ( historically 233, 1114, 111 etc.. ) These type of robots, if they show up with dominating autons, will dominate this game, regardless if their an arm or shooter.

[JesseK]

Mark my words, this game will be decided by autonomous, a Robot who can knock off both balls and continue around the field, and do this Effectively and Efficiently will win 90% of their matches. Teams dominated in 06' because of autonomous, not because of the game.

I generally agree with this until I realize the scope of hybrid. The chances your alliance will accidentally knock off the opponent's trackball are pretty high in qualifications. I predict a couple of alliances will be made for elims solely on hybrid capabilities, but who knows how dominant they'll be.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Stud Man Dan

I disagree, robots will dominate, but it will have nothing to do with Arm/Shooter. I realise this thread is mostly directed to shooter / arm strategies but I don't believe you are looking at the game as a whole

Mark my words, this game will be decided by autonomous, a Robot who can knock off both balls and continue around the field, and do this Effectively and Efficiently will win 90% of their matches. Teams dominated in 06' because of autonomous, not because of the game.

If you can score ~ 32 points in auton, some of the time but around a 24-28 point average you will win, and you will dominate most of the time. The only time you'll be challenged is by teams with equivalent autons. Even after that point I believe your bot, shooter or arm could be "just average" and you'd win most of your matches.

This isn't the case usually tho, good autons usually come with good bots ( historically 233, 1114, 111 etc.. ) These type of robots, if they show up with dominating autons, will dominate this game, regardless if their an arm or shooter.

There is some validity to this argument, to an extent. Especially during week 1, hybrid modes that are very successful will mean very good records. But we may also see some efforts put forth from a few teams in tele-op that are quite outstanding during week 1. As the game evolves I think that the dominance of hybrid will be mitigated, if not nearly negated completely. Eventually many teams will be able to keep hybrid close, especially during the critical elimination matches, and various defensive strategies will greatly hamper less advanced hybrid routines. A four-point lead after hybrid is only a four-point lead (there's no 10-point bonus like in 2006), and while points are easier to come by in hybrid, winning hybrid mode in itself does not grant any additional bonus other than the points you scored.
While not having hybrid in any way/shape/form will most likely spell great trouble (almost guaranteed doom over the course of the whole weekend) for a team, having an outstanding hybrid will likely only take you so far.

[65_Xero_Huskie]

Originally Posted by CraigHickman

Well, normally I keep my opinions to myself, but I figure it would be fun to other's opinions on this.



What we're NOT going to see: An enormous, beautifully engineered arm that can grab from any angle, pick the ball up, and get it over the pass. However wonderful these bots may be, they're just too shaky and too precise. We're not going to see an elevator, either. Any design that involves stopping, and lifting over will be weeded out before the finals on Einstein. We're going to see some of these huge arm-bots do very well, but in the end, it's going to be those low, fast throwers who will take champs.

Any thoughts on the winning bot design?

This thought of yours intrigues me, I guarantee you that one of these robots will be on the winning alliance. The winning alliance will have a speed demon that can get around the track with a ball. It will have a launcher bot. And it will have an arm bot. All play an important role this year. And about the beautiful robot that can do everything. There is ALWAYS a robot that can do everything and they either win the championship (My fav that could do everything was 217 in '06) Or do Very well and lose due to some circumstances.

[dlavery]

This and other threads have been reduced to:.. "shooters are better" ..."no, arms are better"..."no shooters".

"Duck season!"

"Rabbit season!"

"DUCK season!"

"RABBIT season!"

"DUCK SEASON!"

"RABBIT SEASON!"

"DUCK SEASON!!!"

"RABBIT SEASON!!!"






(I couldn't help myself )

-dave



.

[Wayne C.]

Originally Posted by dlavery

"Duck season!"

"Rabbit season!"

"DUCK season!"

"RABBIT season!"

"DUCK SEASON!"

"RABBIT SEASON!"

"DUCK SEASON!!!"

"RABBIT SEASON!!!"






(I couldn't help myself )

-dave



.

ELMER season!!!!

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Wayne C.

ELMER season!!!!

Wouldn't that be,
"DAVE season!!!!!!!!!!"? At least in this case?

[gdawg116]

Originally Posted by dlavery

"Duck season!"

"Rabbit season!"

"DUCK season!"

"RABBIT season!"

"DUCK SEASON!"

"RABBIT SEASON!"

"DUCK SEASON!!!"

"RABBIT SEASON!!!"






(I couldn't help myself )

-dave



.

Dave wouldnt it be more like
"duck season"
"Wabbit Season"
"duck Season"
"Wabbit Season"

[ALIBI]

Originally Posted by gdawg116

Dave wouldnt it be more like
"duck season"
"Wabbit Season"
"duck Season"
"Wabbit Season"

What about:

Duck Season
Wabbit Season
Duck Season
Wabbit Season
Duck Season
WOBOT Season!

Michigan Teams should know what I mean. The WOBOT will probably be hunted this season.

[65_Xero_Huskie]

Originally Posted by ALIBI

What about:

Duck Season
Wabbit Season
Duck Season
Wabbit Season
Duck Season
WOBOT Season!

Michigan Teams should know what I mean. The WOBOT will probably be hunted this season.

Hehe, Its WOBOT hunting season!

[Pavan Dave]

Originally Posted by Stud Man Dan

I disagree, robots will dominate, but it will have nothing to do with Arm/Shooter. I realise this thread is mostly directed to shooter / arm strategies but I don't believe you are looking at the game as a whole

Mark my words, this game will be decided by autonomous, a Robot who can knock off both balls and continue around the field, and do this Effectively and Efficiently will win 90% of their matches. Teams dominated in 06' because of autonomous, not because of the game.

If you can score ~ 32 points in auton, some of the time but around a 24-28 point average you will win, and you will dominate most of the time. The only time you'll be challenged is by teams with equivalent autons. Even after that point I believe your bot, shooter or arm could be "just average" and you'd win most of your matches.

This isn't the case usually tho, good autons usually come with good bots ( historically 233, 1114, 111 etc.. ) These type of robots, if they show up with dominating autons, will dominate this game, regardless if their an arm or shooter.

This year if you win the autonomous period it means your team has robots that move. In auton if all robots move than the matches will be close, BUT if one is sitting idle, that alliance is at a huge disadvantage. Of course teams with good autons will stand at an advantage but that advantage will be limited since there is not much "skill" involved with auton like in previous years (ex: placing a tube on a rack). That is how matches will be called, just like 2006.

# of Robots with Auton RED = # of Robots with Auton BLUE = Close match
# of Robots with Auton RED > # of Robots with Auton BLUE = Red predicted win
# of Robots with Auton RED < # of Robots with Auton BLUE = Blue predicted win

All you need in this game is a kitbot with a pole sticking up [and a remote], if you have those than you stand at an advantage. Of course there will be dominant bots on alliances that can stick out but their room for completely overtaking a match will be somewhat limited if they are down an alliance partner or something happens. This is a game that those teams without functional robots on Thursday because they can/[possibly]will end up seeded in the top eight on Saturday.

Pavan.




.

[Cooley744]

that's very true, unless a very stable and functional claw arm with excellent drivers are present...and that's team 744 (sorry i've gotta represent) lol