From the rules Travis posted above (primarily, G35, also using the definition of the field and game piece), it seems to me that the IRI Staff should have worked to get the Ubertube back on the field. The Ubertube IS a game piece, and, technically, the net area is NOT in the parameter of the field.
Also, Travis said that if FTAs didn’t replace netted Ubertubes in regular season, IRI shouldn’t be any different. I would agree with that statement if the active Ubertube rule wasn’t in effect. There was no real point to return an Ubertube to play in “official” competition because it would just clutter up the field. At IRI, that Ubertube could have made the difference between the Red Alliance being eliminated or going into a third match, especially if HOT and The Simbots didn’t have waste precious time trying to get it back down, in vein.
It seems to me the situation should have played out like this: When Simbot Steve missed it’s autonomous and netted that ubertube, FTAs should have immediately went to return it to the field, as soon as the bot backed away from the alliance station and netted area (As per the “at the earliest safe opportunity” part of G35). Had this happened, 67 and 1114 wouldn’t have had to attempt to reach for the tube (which SHOULD technically have resulted in disablement). It seems, had the situation panned out like this, the tide of the match could have been turned.
Long story short: A short-sight in making rule changes. No one would have even contemplated this discussion had it not happened and, in my opinion, cost the alliance an elimination. There will always be situations that can’t be accounted for, and this is one that just happened to arise at a horrible time. It’s a woulda-coulda-shoulda situation. So it goes.
Still, a great match by all involved. Despite missing (IMO) the most valuable piece in the game, the alliance battled to no end, the likes of which only 1114, 987 and 67 could battle. It was a great match, and a hard earned victory by 2056, 33 and 217.
IRI was a great event. I’m honored to have been involved, and I congratulate every team on a world class performance for every match.
Having the chance to work with both of these amazing teams at the same time was a huge honour. Our strategy sessions were great and there was some definite on field chemistry between all three robots. All of us on 1114 are sick about how our miscues (radio resetting after the collision in SF1.1, and our first match of the entire season not scoring an ubertube in SF1.2, even worse putting the ubertube on the stupid net) cost us in the semis. We’re sorry to have let you down, and will absolutely not let that happen the next time we have a chance to work together. Also, a shoutout to Team 1732, a team who easily should have been picked long before they came back to us. Seriously though, when you hear about an alliance of 1114, 987, 67 and 1732, doesn’t that just sound like something out of a Fantasy FIRST draft? (Of course, basically every IRI alliance seemed that way this year)