[FTC]: Defense robots and competition

[gblake]

Originally Posted by team F.T.C 4240

... what the game is intended for ...
~Derrick

Hey Derrick - It looks like you started an interesting discussion that is headed in the right directions.

However, in your original post, I think you made a mistake. Your comment about "what the game is intended for" makes me want to swat something with a rolled up newspaper and shout "Bad mathematician".

Once the rules are published, the game is what it the rules say it is. No amount of opinions will change that one whit. The rules (and I mean the real rules, not the introductory material) determine the scores, and the scores determine the QP and RP.

In discussions that don't stray off into outrageously exotic scenarios, there is little to nothing else that enters into the situation.

If you want to put some sort of extra constraints on your ability to succeed, no one can stop you; but if/when you do that, you begin playing some personal variation of the FTC game, and not the real one. When/if that happens, teams who are playing the real game will have an advantage over yours.

Cooperate like crazy off the field, compete like crazy on the field.

An enthusiastic, helpful and effective team; carrying out a thoughtful and successful defensive strategy; should be able to make a perfectly fine impression on well trained judges and on the other competitors.

Blake