<G14> during eliminations

[PhilBot]

Originally Posted by Bob Steele

I can see an interesting strategy in which an alliance who has won the first match and seems to be losing the 2nd match dumps balls into its own alliance in order to gain the supercell advantage in the third match of the elimination.

My first reaction to this strategy was: "That's terrible, it's like throwing the match. How un-GP".

But then I started to wonder. A LOT of thoughts came to mind.

1) How practical is it to know the likely outcome of the game anyway. Even if the real-time scoring says 40-20, that's only a difference of 2 super-cells. Would you really have enough knowledge and determination to start scoring on yourselves, rather than trying to even the odds a bit and win with a super-cell or two.

2) Since the human players have control over the Super-Cells at the end, how quickly are you going to be able to assess their final scoring capability, and make the determination that you're better off NOT trying to win, but instead hold-back to get better handicap next game.

In other words, the final outcome of the game can be tipped either way with one or two well/badly placed super cells, so I think most teams would be hard pressed to back off. It will be a VERY HARD LESSON to learn.

But perhaps FIRST really is trying to get us to learn it.

FIRST is always about teaching us Life Lessons.

They tried "teamwork" in Aim High, making us help our alliances onto the ramp at the end. Exponential reward for additional robots.
---> Impromptu Cooperation...

They took it further in Rack 'n Roll, where we had to be innovative about lifting strategies so that unknown alliance robots could work together.
--> Cooperation by design...

I think this year they are teaching us that sometimes we need to PLAN to sacrifice our own "glory" to ensure that those around us also have a shot at success.
--> Strategic cooperation.

It's the ultimate "Not winning at all costs" lesson. You actually have to PLAN A STRATEGY to assist your compeditors so that you can both succeed.

Phew..... I get it.

Phil.