Rule 8.4.1

[Lil' Lavery]

The process continues until Alliance Eight makes
a successful invitation. The same method is used for each Alliance Captain's second choice except the
selection order is reversed, with the eighth seeded alliance picking first. This process will lead to eight
alliances of three teams.

What do you guys think about the new alliance picking order in the 2nd round?

[George A.]

I definately think that this will change things around for the elimination matches...instead of the number 1 seed getting the 1st and 9th pick...which are the "best picks of the rounds" they get one best and one worst...it'll be fun

[Petey]

Originally Posted by M.O.R.T.

I definately think that this will change things around for the elimination matches...instead of the number 1 seed getting the 1st and 9th pick...which are the "best picks of the rounds" they get one best and one worst...it'll be fun

Hmm....

Well, as much as I like the fairness, I also don't like it because I think it could take away from the top seeded teams.

If you take your cues from sports--which I usually do--than this is strange, because you normally have, say, 1st seed playing 8th seed because it is recognized that, although there *needs* to be a playoff, you want to give the 1st seed the advantage because they deserve it--because they finished first during the "regular season."

However, FIRST is different because in the qualifying matches are always done with the aid of an alliance...

I suppose this will make the playoffs more competitive, which is never a bad thing. However, it will make it so that more undeserving teams get picked to go to finals, and more deserving teams get picked by an 8th seed that might well be eliminated.

I mean, put it this way: Team A is 1st seed, Team B is 8th seed. Team C is a non-seeded team with, say, an 8 out of 10 robot, Team D is a non-seeded team with a 5 out of 10 robot.

Normally, Team A would ally with Team C, and Team B would grab Team D. However, it will now be the other way around, and Team A--the first seed--will be paired up with the weakest robot picked during the second round of selection.

Team A will still have an advantage, because the first seed can still pick the second as an alliance partner. However, now that we play with three alliance partners, that third one is much more important than it used to be. It's almost going to be better to aim to finish around the 8th seed, because then you get a decent pick twice.

So I give the new rule a tentative thumbs down, and eagerly wait comp to see what kind of equalizing effect this has on seeding.

--Petey

[Billfred]

Where's the neutral option? Either way is fine with me.

[Joe J.]

I like it just for the fact its changing things up a little bit.

[Matt Adams]

I think that it's an interesting change... I suppose I'm pretty neutral on if I "like" it or not.

One thing it notably does is increase the amount of head scratching that the #1 seed alliance needs to do. A huge perk of being the #1 seed is not needing to spend all the time to try to order 20+ teams since you'd be picking 1st and 9th.

Now the #8 seed has the short pick list.

We'll just have to wait to see how it turns out!

Matt

[sanddrag]

What about who plays who in the first matches of the finals rounds? How does that work?

As for this, I think I like it.

[Goobergunch]

The ladder in 8.4.3 looks the same as last year's....

[Ian Curtis]

Personally, I'm a fan, although that stems from the fact we were the 7th seed last year. I think it makes the matchs more even, especially at the smaller regionals. While it does make first seed less advantageous, it makes the eliminations more exciting.

[Conor Ryan]

You'll see soooooooooo many more quality matches this year in Playoffs. 1st and 2nd Seeds wont be able to stack their alliances as much as they used to be able, and 7th and 8th seeds, now have a shot at doing well. So you'll see some intresting matches and upsets this year, its a much fairer system.

One thing that I think maybe more intresting is the Championship because of this system. Noticible in the 2005 Championship was teams that had easier schedules and an Above average robot were able to remain undefeated and within the top 4, now what you may see is teams with better robots than the undefeated teams really get a chance to show what they got by picking better teams in the 3rd round.

[Beth Sweet]

Alright, I'll be the non-conformist, I don't think that this will be my favorite change of this season. Personally, I think that if you've acheived #1 status that you deserve the top picks of each round. Yeah, I know that creates somewhat inequal matchups, but there have been many more than 1 times when I have seen alliance 8 move on...

[J Flex 188]

I agree with Beth. While this may make for more interesting finals, the first and second placed teams finished there for a reason. Sure some of the Top 8 may have finished on the laurels of others, being a three team game dynamic, you could easily compile a perfect record without doing that much on your own or end up with X wins and 1 loss. With the new system, you are rewarded even more for it by being a low picker because you have the opportunity to pick high in the second round; where is the motivation for being first seed?

that being said, if i find myself in a situation where I am in 7th or 8th place and I am not picked by any higher seeds, I will be glad that rule exists. Nevertheless, I think it takes away from the game.

[Ashley Christine]

Personally I like this new way of doing it.

Yes, it seems unfair to the 1st seeded team, and sure, it somewhat is. But that is where strategy comes in. In life you arent always going to be paired up with others who are the same level as you. So, its not as random as say qualification rounds, but it does add a little more strategy. Which I think is good.

Making things a little harder will make this game more about strategy because it isnt quite like games in the past. Last year there was the making an L or T stratefy [and others] this year, its different.

I think it will make things more exciting and give you more of a reason to push and try your hardest. Some of the lower of the alliances seem to give up sometimes. This will add a little more confidence, and I dont know how else to explain it, but I think it should make things more fun.

Plus, this year the regionals are growing, so you will have many different robots to choose from, maybe you are seeded 1st, but say the second seeded robot is exactly like yours, maybe its not the best way to play the game together.

Just my $.02

[Barry Bonzack]

It occurred to me this changes the strategy not only of those picking alliance, but those that feel they have slim chance to be picked. Before, if your team is ranked below 20 or so, there is barely any reason to be talking to the number 1 or 2 ranks about having them pick you for an alliance. This is where you normally would hope that the 8th ranked alliance might pick you as their second choice. Now if you find yourself in this position you had might as well talk to everyone and letting them know that your team still shines with potential, and is worthy of helping the 1st ranked team win the show.

As for if I like the rule... I don't really care what the rules are as long as every team abides by them and has every advantage and disadvantage as I do.

[Ryan Albright]

I am not going to make a decision until i see how it works out this year. But my first thought is that it will hopefully level the playing field and give the eighth seed a better selection