I just realized the implications of the new “Every team on the alliance must play in every round of the elimination tourney” Rule.
This is going to add yet another level of strategy to this year’s game.
Basically, the same teams that play in the first match of a best of 3 round cannot play in the second match (because then there is the potential for an alliance team to miss out playing before the round is over). So, both alliances have to make a substitution.
The big question is, do you put your best pair out in the first round OR do you put your second best pair out first? What will the other alliance do? What do you do if the 2nd best beats their second best in round 2 after our 1st lost to their 1st in round 1, do we switch horses or go with the winners?
Questions questions…
Cool…
Very Cool…
Joe J
I agree that this is a GREAT addition to the rules.
In the past I have seen teams at regionals in a ‘standby’ position and never get a chance to play in the elimination rounds.
In some cases a team would “win” the regional and never even power up their 'bot.In other cases a team may have been able to affect the outcome of their alliance but the alliance captain never gave them a chance to play.
This rule will force the issue and ALL of the teams in an alliance will have to prove their mettle in eliminations. A great idea (I wish I had thunk it!)
When I read the rule yesterday I didn’t like it that much. Now after thinking about it & talking with others about the implementations, I agree that it’s a good rule. I like the fact that it gets rid of the ‘sideline champions,’ the teams that don’t compete at all during the eliminations but still are considered champions.
The strategy of playing which pair of bots in which match is important. Do you want to put your best against your opponent’s best, or do you think your only chance at winning is a mis-match?
This will be a huge addition to an alliance’s strategy in the elims.
Mike
What happens if one alliance bot is on the fritz???
I believe it says that a team is incapacitated or not able to run that they do not have to compete in the elim rounds, and the other two teams could be the competing pair every time
As one of these said ‘sideline champions’, (Team 112, Moto Midwest), I can relate to the reasons this rule was implemented…Not that we were treated unfairly, but it will be nice for everyone to get a little bit of in-game experience. This will definately force the alliance to form several strategies, instead of a single strategy that utilizes a set group of robots.
Tom Fennell
Well, not that people will cheat, but I think the rules clearly say that a team does NOT have to compete if it is imobolized.
Well, a quick cut with a pair of wire cutters can make that possible…
Given that you get 10 points for just sittin there at the goal, (unless another robot drags off your dead, cold robot) I think they SHOULD take that section of the rule out and make them play that one round.
No mercy! 
-Quentin
*Originally posted by Brian C *
**I agree that this is a GREAT addition to the rules.
In some cases a team would “win” the regional and never even power up their 'bot.In other cases a team may have been able to affect the outcome of their alliance but the alliance captain never gave them a chance to play.
**
I think a team may have won Nationals without playing a match in the elimination rounds. I could be wrong, but I heard that to be the case. If it did happen, the corporate sponsor could get by with bragging about it to those not familiar with FIRST, but it would not be a very fulfilling ‘win’ for the actual team members.
I think the new rule is a good idea, and that a ‘dead’ robot should be required to play if necessary to comply with the rule. Maybe, as a compromise, the rule should be changed to guarantee the dead robot’s 10 points and not allow it to be dragged to the other end of the field.