Human Player

[WhiteShadow1474]

While limiting human player in overdrive to just robo-coach, I believed that FIRST was trying to side-step away from using human players.

Instead, Human Players play a major role in Lunacy. This even includes a 15 point bonus oppurtunity.

Is the competition better with or without human player?

[Hanna2325]

I think the focus on humans scoring and the overbearing rules makes this game worse. When first announced, I saw a lot of potential and creative ideas, but now I really feel like basketball skill are to much of a focal point. But, it'll be interesting to see how everything cleans up in the end.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Look back to 2004, I think you are over underestimating how interesting watching the robots will be.

[WhiteShadow1474]

Originally Posted by Hanna2325

But, it'll be interesting to see how everything cleans up in the end.

True. Many people could just be thinking it is made worse but we well never trully know until the regionals start

[Danny McC]

I personally feel that the PS will be a very important part of this game. I mean they are only way you will be able to get an empty cell for a super cell. But also I believe that they will be able to get a high amount of points by shooting. ^_^. Ok.... maybe not a lot but enough to help determine the out comes of a match.

[Creator Mat]

i think the human player gives the bad robots a chance. because if your robot only drives/ has a major malfunction it still gives your team a role to play in the allaince and if your thrower is good enough maybe a role in the final allaince.

[Tetraman]

Each year, human players are given a different role. And each year, human player interactions with robots, field elements and so on are different. Just as the robots we design are asked to pull off simple or difficult challenges, human players are asked to pull off simple or difficult challenges.

And its not like Human Players have to be pushed aside and let the robots take the stage...who controls the robots? Humans do.

[Laaba 80]

I wish we would have had this game last year. We had a senior on our team last year who is about 6'5, and plays basketball. He is pretty sad he cant be PS. We had him shooting at the trailor and he was hitting everything.

[Ian Curtis]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

Look back to 2004, I think you are over underestimating how interesting watching the robots will be.

This is different. In '04 the robots were a very important part of scoring. If the robot couldn't return balls to the HP, you simply couldn't score. This year, if you had a ridiculous HP, you could score every single point! Granted, launching an empty cell through the itty-bitty hole in the outpost wall and having it land in the air lock is a bit of stretch, but there are no rules against it.

That said, I'm pretty sure that this year not only will we see some really interesting robots, we'll see some really unique robots. And that's cool.

[Kmo]

I think this years game is better with human players because FIRST is trying to get more kids involved with the game. As long as the kids get some kind of interaction then kids will be more interested.

[Danny McC]

Originally Posted by Kmo

I think this years game is better with human players because FIRST is trying to get more kids involved with the game. As long as the kids get some kind of interaction then kids will be more interested.

Hmmm this size of the drive team is the same how does this get more kids involved? Not trying to sound mean or anything I am just wondering what your logic is here.

[thefro526]

I think the Role of the Human player is being over-emphasized in this years game. Yes they are responsible for introducing balls onto the field but this was the same in 2006. The thought of a human player scoring a large amount of points into a trailer seems rather far-fetched unless the trailer is stationary. It requires an immense amount of skill and luck to be able to score into a moving trailer at even 5 fps and I can guarantee many robots will be moving faster than that.

That being said I think the human player will have to be more strategic than in the last few years. Yes, last year we had the robo-coach and they had to know how to send signals to the robot but this is the first time since my involvement in first where the Human Player actually needs to thing strategically. I say this because your Human player will not be at the Driver's station like in previous years so they'll have to know the strategy fairly well if they want to be effective.

[Cyberphil]

Personally, i don't think this allows for the best teams to be the best. What happens if one team gets a bunch of lucky shots and they win. The game is good if FIRST wants the teams to have closer games, but that brings the truly good teams down.

[Danny McC]

Originally Posted by Cyberphil

Personally, i don't think this allows for the best teams to be the best. What happens if one team gets a bunch of lucky shots and they win. The game is good if FIRST wants the teams to have closer games, but that brings the truly good teams down.

I think this is the year of unknown teams coming out of nowhere and winning the Championship.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by Danny McC

I think this is the year of unknown teams coming out of nowhere and winning the Championship.

Highly doubt that.

You said it yourself, odds of turning a match around using the human player is slim to none unless they are used to directly load a robot (if a robot has a crappy loader system or something inefficient).