JVN Build Tip: READ!

[Foster]

I'd like to add, not only read the rules, but read prior CD posts before you post. I'm watching the onslaught of CD threads asking the same things over and over and over.

Look for a similar thread and read it through and maybe the answer you want will be in that thread. Lots of common info has been asked, answered, re-asked and re-answered. The search function is your friend.

FIRST published about 50 pages of info 28 hours ago. That means you should have spent 30 minutes reading each page, breaking each page into tiny paragraphs, each paragraph into tiny sentences. The GDC is very good at meaning what they write, writing what they mean (I personally love how each sentence has both a noun and a verb, oh if only CD posts followed that).

Reading is fundamental, take your time, read the document. JVN has a super tip, read it out loud. Reading out loud slows your brain down from a billion words a minute to just a few dozen.

But remember the rules and the official Q&A always trumps CD responses! So rules interpretations posted here flawed. On the other hand a post from Andy saying that you can't order game parts for 12 more days from his store is most likely a good bet.

[MagiChau]

My team always does a group rule reading session before even starting any strategy sessions.

This year we splitted into groups each covering a section of the rules (We did not read the intro or the tournament section)

Each group would have spokespeople and diagrams drawn on whiteboards to show field layout, scoring, robot maximum dimensions e.t.c

Everyone is encouraged to voice concerns over interpreting the rules and the possibility of doing something thought to be unlisted.

Forgetting a rule like <G16> seems like it can easily happen on at least the 1st week by teams that didn't read all the rules thoroughly.