Team Update #1

[ntroup]

Posted 1/6/09

Team Update 1

-Nate

[Laaba 80]

You beat my post by 2 minutes.

Joey

[smurfgirl]

Thanks Nate! Lots of answers in here. (:

[swamp_child]

So when is the real game going to be announced?

[flyingcrayons]

this makes it very luck based and human players are vital!

[Mr_I]

Originally Posted by flyingcrayons

this makes it very luck based and human players are vital!

Please see the Team 811 motto (below)

[Bobbitay]

Originally Posted by flyingcrayons

this makes it very luck based and human players are vital!

Naw! While it may seem like that at face value; in my opinion, it promotes innovation and more thought. It's silly that most everyone has the same idea (as far as shielding, etc, go) yet think that they are all coming up with some great new idea. Just my two cents. Thanks for the update!

[Laaba 80]

Originally Posted by Bobbitay

Naw! While it may seem like that at face value; in my opinion, it promotes innovation and more thought. It's silly that most everyone has the same idea (as far as shielding, etc, go) yet think that they are all coming up with some great new idea. Just my two cents. Thanks for the update!

I agree with you completely.

[Andrew Schuetze]

I think what is troublesome to many veterans is that FIRST has always allowed some form of defense. Even last year when the object was to race around with trackballs and hurdle. Bonus points were earned for putting it back up at the end of the match. If played under this year's rules, once a trackball is up on the over-head it can't be knocked off.

So we have robot's towing trailers avoiding shots from human players on a surface that doesn't lend itself to control and rapid acceleration or changes in direction. Robots are limited to offense only. The only defense is backing yourself into a corner.
IMHO a lack of balance in game design.

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schuetze

....IMHO a lack of balance in game design.

I just don't see it that way. To me, the rules and game design are just "design parameters" that need to be met. Are they a challenge? You bet!!

Please name me anything that is a real challenge that isn't just as rewarding when you meet that challenge.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schuetze

I think what is troublesome to many veterans is that FIRST has always allowed some form of defense. Even last year when the object was to race around with trackballs and hurdle. Bonus points were earned for putting it back up at the end of the match. If played under this year's rules, once a trackball is up on the over-head it can't be knocked off.

So we have robot's towing trailers avoiding shots from human players on a surface that doesn't lend itself to control and rapid acceleration or changes in direction. Robots are limited to offense only. The only defense is backing yourself into a corner.
IMHO a lack of balance in game design.

From the land of hard defense here in New England, I can tell you that there will be defense ... and lots of it

[nahstobor]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schuetze

...The only defense is backing yourself into a corner.
IMHO a lack of balance in game design.

Are you sure about that? I would think again.

[SWIM]

It sucks that you can't de-score balls.

One idea that came up on our team was making a forklift type appendage that can reach in between the posts on the trailer and remove all the balls from an ally's trailer.

[lingomaniac88]

Originally Posted by SWIM

It sucks that you can't de-score balls.

It may suck, but I think that de-scoring game pieces isn't really the idea of the game. Besides, putting game pieces into your opponents' trailers would be more efficient, both timewise and pointwise, than removing game pieces from your alliance's trailers.

[Rich Kressly]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schuetze

I think what is troublesome to many veterans is that FIRST has always allowed some form of defense. Even last year when the object was to race around with trackballs and hurdle. Bonus points were earned for putting it back up at the end of the match. If played under this year's rules, once a trackball is up on the over-head it can't be knocked off.

So we have robot's towing trailers avoiding shots from human players on a surface that doesn't lend itself to control and rapid acceleration or changes in direction. Robots are limited to offense only. The only defense is backing yourself into a corner.
IMHO a lack of balance in game design.

No worries. Last I checked the Mars Rovers don't play any defense either and that's pretty cool stuff