Week 1

[the programmer]

So what strategies and problems are we seeing so far at week 1 regionals and what do you think elimation will look like?

[Timz3082]

I am seeing WAY TOO MUCH DEFENSE. The defense is causing way to many 0s and 1s to count. I am also noticing way to many penalties (I saw 9 for one team) these are the two main things to consider moving forward in the next four weeks.

my $0.02

[Lirki]

I'm seeing way too many bots that have a large gap between the ground and their belly causing upwards of 3-6 penalties from the 3" rule. Also a lot of bots that can't acquire or shoot much more that like 5ft.

[Vikesrock]

I definitely agree with the poster above

1) Lots of defense in the qualifiers, even when the team is up by 5+ points. With the new ranking system, this is not to your advantage

2)Tons of penalties. By far the most common was having the ball come in more than 3". Some robots did not appear to have anything at all to stop this, others had devices fairly high up on the ball and they would drive up over the ball, getting it trapped beneath them.

3)With these low scores, fast consistent hangers will definitely have a big edge in qualifications.

4)Don't try to hang before the finale unless you've practiced this maneuver! Expanding while touching the tower, then backing up to reposition a hook was another good way to rack up some penalty points.

5)Stay away from your opponents tower and any robots around it during the Finale. This was the last of the penalties I saw being racked up frequently

[BrendanB]

The new ranking rules are REALLY hurting teams. There are teams in the top 18 who really should not be there and teams down lower who should be higher.

To the GDC: It is not bad to help out teams who are not doing well, but don't drag down teams who build good robots.

I have a feeling that several good teams at regionals will make it into elimination due to the alliance captains being robots that can't do much. No offense.

Good luck tomorrow everyone!

[coldfusion1279]

Although there were no penalties called today in NJ (practice day) I couldn't even keep track in my head. A lot of teams just don't know the rules. I heard, "Someone told me that [blah blah blah] was a rule, you better watch out so the refs don't call a penalty for that."

Teams were just confused. I don't want to hear "somebody told me, so I am going to ask someone else." It was disconcerting.

Other than that, it was interesting that the primary source of scoring came from just herding the ball into the goal. Not so much in the ways of distance shots.

Also hanging appears to be quite challenging for a lot of teams.

On the plus side, scores were higher than I expected... then again there was no defense or penalties on practice day.

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by Timz3082

I am seeing WAY TOO MUCH DEFENSE. The defense is causing way to many 0s and 1s to count. I am also noticing way to many penalties (I saw 9 for one team) these are the two main things to consider moving forward in the next four weeks.

my $0.02

We have almost the exact opposite problem. The rule regarding contrasting bumper colors showing is not being upheld and teams are not consistently getting penalties for shooting balls out of the field.

[coldfusion1279]

Originally Posted by BrendanB

We have almost the exact opposite problem. The rule regarding contrasting bumper colors showing is not being upheld and teams are not consistently getting penalties for shooting balls out of the field.

If bumper color isn't being enforced, that is crazy! Are you supposed to memorize who is on your team each match? Especially this year the teams look so much alike.

As far as shooting the ball off the field, it should only be a penalty if there is intent.

[Timz3082]

Originally Posted by BrendanB

We have almost the exact opposite problem. The rule regarding contrasting bumper colors showing is not being upheld and teams are not consistently getting penalties for shooting balls out of the field.

I see what you are saying which is sort of what I meant. I did not go to a regional however I watched countless rounds on web casts. I did notice a couple teams at every competition with bumper colors that were nowhere near what they should be but somehow they were allowed...? I did also see many balls getting accidentally kicked out which is not a penalty unless it was clearly aimed to go out. But, I completely agree with your statement about bumper colors...the rule should be much better enforced.

[funggiss]

Originally Posted by Vikesrock

I definitely agree with the poster above

1) Lots of defense in the qualifiers, even when the team is up by 5+ points. With the new ranking system, this is not to your advantage

2)Tons of penalties. By far the most common was having the ball come in more than 3". Some robots did not appear to have anything at all to stop this, others had devices fairly high up on the ball and they would drive up over the ball, getting it trapped beneath them.

3)With these low scores, fast consistent hangers will definitely have a big edge in qualifications.

4)Don't try to hang before the finale unless you've practiced this maneuver! Expanding while touching the tower, then backing up to reposition a hook was another good way to rack up some penalty points.

5)Stay away from your opponents tower and any robots around it during the Finale. This was the last of the penalties I saw being racked up frequently

1. it's the only way to win regardless of how mean it is

2. we broke some stuff on ours and it will be fixed tomorrow

3.we got the most consistent one at kansas city and thats what were hoping we didn't have good teams with us

4. we did and don't get any penaltys that way

5.that lost us lots of games with our partners geting unecessary penaltys we're up on the tower by then

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by funggiss

1. it's the only way to win regardless of how mean it is

My point is that if you win every match 1-0, you will end up with just 1 QP per match which will put you near the bottom of the standings, you would have a better chance at seeding in the top 8 by losing every match 5-1 then winning 1-0.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by funggiss

1. it's the only way to win regardless of how mean it is

If I lose 0-3 I'm still three times better off than I am if I win 1-0.

Originally Posted by Section 9, The Tournament

9.3.4 Match Seeding Points
All teams on the winning ALLIANCE will receive a number of seeding points equal to the penalized score (the score with any assessed penalties) of the winning ALLIANCE.
All teams on the losing ALLIANCE will receive a number of seeding points equal to un-penalized score (the score without any assessed penalties) of the winning ALLIANCE.
In the case of a tie, all participating teams will receive a number of seeding points equal to their ALLIANCE score (with any assessed penalties).
9.3.5 Coopertition™ Bonus
All teams on the winning ALLIANCE will receive a coopertition bonus: a number of seeding points equal to twice the un-penalized score (the score without any assessed penalties) of the losing ALLIANCE.
In the case of a tie, all participating teams will receive a coopertition bonus of a number of seeding points equal to twice their ALLIANCE score (with any assessed penalties).
9.3.6 Seeding Point Exceptions
A SURROGATE TEAM will receive zero seeding points and zero coopertition bonus.
A TEAM is declared a no-show if no
During the qualification matches, TEAMS can individually receive RED CARDS. A RED CARDED TEAM will receive zero seeding points and zero coopertition bonus. member of the team is in the ALLIANCE ZONE at the start of the MATCH; a no-show team will receive a RED CARD for that MATCH.
In the very unlikely case that all three TEAMS on an ALLIANCE receive RED CARDS, all three TEAMS on the winning ALLIANCE would get their own ALLIANCE score as their seeding points for that MATCH.
9.3.7 Seeding Score
The total number of seeding points (Match Seeding Points plus Coopertition Bonuses) earned by a TEAM throughout their qualification matches will be their seeding score.

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by coldfusion1279

If bumper color isn't being enforced, that is crazy! Are you supposed to memorize who is on your team each match? Especially this year the teams look so much alike.

As far as shooting the ball off the field, it should only be a penalty if there is intent.

Originally Posted by Timz3082

I see what you are saying which is sort of what I meant. I did not go to a regional however I watched countless rounds on web casts. I did notice a couple teams at every competition with bumper colors that were nowhere near what they should be but somehow they were allowed...? I did also see many balls getting accidentally kicked out which is not a penalty unless it was clearly aimed to go out. But, I completely agree with your statement about bumper colors...the rule should be much better enforced.

It is frustrating because our team made two sets because we did not want to get a penalty for having ANY contrasting color showing. But that rule apparently does not matter. Oh well!

[Chris is me]

Ball posession is EVERYTHING. Even if you don't have a kicker, possessing balls and being able to maneuver consistently with a ball in tow triples the amount of points you'll get. With only a few balls ever accessible, everything you can do to make this number higher is necessary.

Hanging is really, really nice to have.

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by funggiss

1. it's the only way to win regardless of how mean it is

Winning doesn't matter until the final eliminations.