First of all, I like this year’s game and think it is the best we have had in years. Since 2000 at least.
My problems have mostly been with the robot rules. There is one item in our robot where we are still not sure whether or not we are compliant. Some people on the team read the rules (and updates) one way and say we are compliant, others say we aren’t. For now we’ve decided to wait for the “consolidated” rules and see where we stand.
But since the robot has shipped it’s a pretty pitiful state to be in. When we get to our first competition we are either going to be working our tushes off, or not. It’s kind of a pain that we might not find out (due to delays in getting inspected) until mid-day or later on Thursday that we have a must fix issue.
If we had shipped at 135lbs we would know where we stand and be making plans to deal with it. But this other issue where there have been apparently contradictory rulings has us stymied. We will strive mightily to comply with the rules as soon as somebody can tell us what they are.
There is a slight possibility that we might get a reasonable answer from the Jive forum, but since I’ve already had three questions they refused to post, I doubt it. One thing the whole team agrees on is that the Jive forums are appropriately named. In fact, when I first saw them refered to that way I thought it was an editorial comment based on last year. While this year has been an improvment in many ways over last year, I still think the name is apt.
On 4v0, I think it might be more workable with the proper game and the current rules for alliances. Our biggest problems with that game were the result having to decide a strategy and communicate it in two minutes in an environment where communication is difficult under any circumstances. Too often, he who shouted loudest won by intimidation. There was no time for every team to present their idea on how to play the match. The current rules, where you know your partners up to a day ahead of time removes all of that pressure.
On the other hand, with 2v2 you have water polo and with 4v0 you have synchronized swimming. Which is more exciting to watch and more likely to get people to want to participate? At our church men’s retreat, I’ve seen plenty of spontaneous water polo matches, but never spontaneous synchronized swimming. Somehow I just don’t think I ever will.:rolleyes: