we all know that battlecry is gonna be 2 vs 2, but what does everyone feel about this change in rules?
i for one think itll be an interesting challenge to say the least, since everyone designed their bots with this years 4 vs 0 game in mind
I’m excited to see how things pan out. It should be an interesting competition to say the least! I bet though that the change in rules will affect who is expected to win. I think bots that may have had poor luck in the 4 vs 0 may have a better shot in the 2 vs 2.
I’ll be there to see anyway!
~ lora
I definitely wanted to see BattleCry give 2v2 a whirl and have been a strong proponent of it since day one. The planning board decided they would listen to the opinions of the competing teams though… and everyone was interested in seeing the game in 2v2 version.
I personally can’t wait-- I think it will change a lot of dynamics to the game and make for some major room for strategically sound and robotically sound teams to win, and not just the defaults that we have grown to love this year.
The key is in the rules… it truely adds, I think, a ‘diabolical’ level to the game, because there are soooo many ways to play and so many ways to win.
We shall see. Looking forward to it like no one can believe!!
–colleen
The BCII organizers better be prepared to repair a lot of goals. I think we’ll see them getting knocked over a bunch, and a lot of wishbone action with one team from each alliance grabbing the same goal.
I’ve also been wondering if it will be legal to remove an opponents ball from a balanced goal as long as you don’t disturb the balanced condition of the bridge. If this is the case, I think we’ll see some pretty exciting matches.
It should be interesting.
Oh yeah - if anyone is considering tweaking the rules a bit further, I would suggest the following:
1: adding a bonus for the team that clocks out 1st
2: providing some measure of protection for limbo machines while they are limboing (kind of goes hand in hand with protecting robots on the bridge)
If you read the rules, it states you may not hinder a robot’s progress on the bridge or the balance.
Meaning, so I would read it, that if you can take the ball w/o unbalanced bridge/goals, it’s fair game.
However-- one slipup and the goal goes flying unbalanced, that’s penalty time for your alliance. So you have to ensure it’s worth risking the ultimate loss to take their ball.
But, if you’ve been practicing, it shouldn’t be a problem 
BCII will be very fun. T190 has been reading the rules to be sure we’re completely up-to-snuff on them. Playing by them will make for so fun matches.
As for spare goals-- I know we get what FIRST gives us… our own team goal is ducktaped together cause we broke it when we knocked it over once… so we’ll see 
Colleen,
What are the rules about intentionally placing a goal on its side?
Tom
(note: I’m not on staff… so I know as much about the rules as all the other teams… but I can ask direct sources :P)
Tom–
From the rules, there is nothing against goals being toppled, turned over, or placed on their sides.
Understand, that this could likely only be done when it’s not in the possesion of another team, they are going to balance, or have balanced.
Otherwise-- the FIRST rule stands, and goals may become un-upright. It was legal in FIRST competition, and there has been no rule change regarding, so it stands.
colleen
Would it be legal to hold down a bridge so that an opposing robot on the other side of the field heading towards the bridge may not go onto it?
I just was thinking…
I’ve done a lot of reading of the rules as coach for T190…
That, I would say, is a bit clouded. Basically, no robot can block/hinder another’s ‘progression’ once they have touched the ramp (i.e. the TOP surface of the ramp)
So, technically, if you were sitting on the ramp, that is your ramp and you are in control… and since being on the ramp and even balancing w/o goals is worth points @ BCII, then if they tried to get on the ramp, they would be hindering your progress.
My interpretation of the rules: if you’re touching the top surface, it’s your ramp- and those folks will have to find another method to get across…
(just remember: I’m on the team for 190, not BattleCry staff… so the things I say aren’t final or anything… just offering my interpretation of the rules :))