YMTC: Picking Strategically?

[pakrat]

Sorry to post another YMTC so soon after Don's but this got me thinking....

Suppose two collaborative teams are in the same Division at atlanta: We'll Call Them Magenta and Turquoise. Then, suppose that you are Bluebot with the best record in the division, and looking for einstien trophies. And the kicker: Your alliance captain (the person who will be picking) and some scouts go to both of the collaborative teams' pits and ask them what they think about getting picked by them. Magenta says quite openly that their plan is to pick Turquoise, and Turquoise backs this up, saying that they'd rather form their own alliance at #3 with serpentine picking than join with your #1 alliance because of whatever reason.



You make the call. Should you pick Magenta or Turquoise and make it impossible for them to form an alliance or do you let them form the ultimate powerhouse allinace that you beleive has a very good chance at beating you?

[Travis Hoffman]

You pick whomever you feel gives you the best shot at succeeding during eliminations based upon your scouting. You do not defer to other teams' wishes if you are the higher-seeded team, especially if you feel the resultant partnership would be an extremely difficult one to stop.

Getting to be the higher-seeded team in the first place appears to be the true challenge if we're talking about who I think you are talking about. Good luck!

[StephLee]

We were in this position at Chesapeake, aside from the two teams being collaborative. We were seeded #1 and wanted to pick the #3 seed for our alliance. Our alliance captain went to speak with this team about us possibly picking them, and we were told in quite certain terms that they would decline. We had noticed them talking to several members of another, very good team quite a lot, so we came to the conclusion that these two teams had worked out an agreement as far as picking went. Now, this potential alliance of two of the best shooters at Chesapeake worried us a good bit, but we had others on our list of picks before the team we thought #3 would pick.

In the end, we still invited the #3 seed to join our alliance, but they graciously declined as expected; we picked 175 and later 1184, and went on to win.

The situation you described, though, is a little different; in that case, I'd say pick the lower seeded of the two robots. They can't form that amazing alliance then, and if the lower seed isn't in the top 8, they can't count on being in the finals unless they accept. It's strategy, plain and simple. Another form of playing the game, if you ask me. HOWEVER...if the only reason you'd choose the lower seed is to break up the alliance, and NOT because they are the best complement to your robot, then DON'T do it. Play your game and let the rest play theirs.