Are we the only Hearder in this game?

[XaulZan11]

I believe 2041, Midwest winner, was also a hearder. They had a clean ball pick-up method, and a great strategy in QF4-1 to bring the other ball around the track so 1114 had two ball to score with, leading to a high score.

[Goaliexam]

Team 1656 is a herder bot, with a method of knocking down the balls from the overpass. We'll be competing at Chesapeake this year.

[Lions for First]

team 2365 is a herder that can knock down trackballs we will be at AZ tomorrow

[seanl]

Originally Posted by XaulZan11

I believe 2041, Midwest winner, was also a hearder. They had a clean ball pick-up method, and a great strategy in QF4-1 to bring the other ball around the track so 1114 had two ball to score with, leading to a high score.

wow that is relieving

[EricVicenti]

I think the problem with herding is that in many cases it is mathematically unwise to herd. If the ball is left on the overpass for the entire match, it gains 12 points, so to compensate for the 12 points that you likely loose by using the ball at all, you need to do 6+ herds.

This is of course operating under a number of assumptions. For one, it assumes the opposing alliance would not knock your ball down by the end of the match.

I remember one team during a practice match at SVR lost against nobody because they knocked down both of their color balls and made 2 laps. Because the 2 opposite color balls remained, they lost 24-4.

[David Noll]

Herders shouldn't focus on herding. Knock the ball down if you can and lap. The biggest thing though, and few people have been working on it, defense! Knock the other teams ball around, you see 'em going in for it, give them a love tap so they have to get moving. Even if you don't knock down show us you can lap and block, then you will get picked.

[DanDon]

Originally Posted by David Noll

Herders shouldn't focus on herding. Knock the ball down if you can and lap. The biggest thing though, and few people have been working on it, defense! Knock the other teams ball around, you see 'em going in for it, give them a love tap so they have to get moving. Even if you don't knock down show us you can lap and block, then you will get picked.

Tell that to Rage 173 . They've put up more points with "2 and 2's" (herd+lap) than some hurdlers I've seen.

[XaulZan11]

Originally Posted by DanDon

Tell that to Rage 173 . They've put up more points with "2 and 2's" (herd+lap) than some hurdlers I've seen.

I have to second that. I just prescouted them and was very impressed. I didn't think a herder had much of a chance getting selected for eliminations before I watched some of their matches. A very good hybrid paired with good knock off and solid driving make them a very valuable partner in an alliance with 2 hurdlers (or any alliance for that matter).

[Elgin Clock]

There were a ton of Herders in NYC. More than any of the 3 other regionals I went to and saw this year.

Some teams just decide to take on the sure thing part of the game, than challenge themselves to go big.

It's all about what you want to do in the game. Nothing wrong with that.

[waialua359]

IMO,
herding the ball will have the same/similar impact as scoring 1 point balls in the corner goals of Aim High 2006, generally speaking.
Wont go into details but you get the drift. Lets remember that this is championships, where there will be a greater no. of offensive scoring robots than regionals in general, especially during the elimination matches.

Order of importance from what I've observed this season due to strategies, points awarded, and how many matches were won.
1. Hurdling
2. Hybrid
3. Placing balls
4. Laps
5. Knocking balls down. (ranked lower because you dont always have to do it).
6. Herding

[David Brinza]

Herding seems unimportant in this game, that is until you have a tie or a match decided by just a few points!

Effective herders require superb maneuverability to control the balls while zooming around the track. Good driving is important, to say the least.

Herding robots can also play effective defense and are a good partner for an alliance with two good hurdlers. Herding a ball to a good hurdler is not a bad strategy.

Your not the only herder, we're just a quiet (and perhaps a bit under-appreciated) group!

[Donut]

Originally Posted by waialua359

IMO,
herding the ball will have the same/similar impact as scoring 1 point balls in the corner goals of Aim High 2006

Which means we should see at least one robot in the Einstein Finals doing it

[DarkFlame145]

We could hurdle and knock down the ball in hybrid, but we did mostly laps/herding with our flippers and hybrid mode.

[Coach Norm]

We are a herder with the ability to knock the ball down during autonomous and get four lines in hybrid. We placed 5th overall at LSR and won the Rookie All Star. We have improved our autonomous. Our average at LSR was nearly 26 points a round. We did not have the ability for knocking off balls very functional then. We have worked to improve it.n Our speed is 15 f/s as well.

We think a herding/defensive bot is beneficial to two hurdling bots. You have the ability to dislodge opponents balls as they try to control them as well as move balls into position for hurdlers and then zoom around to get more laps and points.

Good luck to fellow hurder and lap bots.

[cwood]

1629 is helping 2614 this year (they are a rookie) and they designed a quick herder and ending up winning pittsburgh. Now they are joining us in Atlanta