This thread will be used to publish updates to the VRC Starstruck Game Manual .
Please start a separate thread in this forum for discussion of any of these changes. For an official questions, please post in the official VRC Starstruck Q&A.
On June 15th, 2016, the following updates were made to the VRC Starstruck Game Manual .
---
1. Fixed annotation error on Figure 3
---
2. The definition of Drive Team Member was updated to state the following (with major changes marked in bold):
VEX Robotics Competition Starstruck Game Manual Drive Team Member – Any of the three (3) Students allowed in the Alliance Station during a Match for each team. Only Student Drive Team Members are allowed to touch the controls at any time during the Match, interact with the Robot as per <SG3>, and interact with Scoring Objects as per <SG4>. Adults are not allowed to be Drive Team Members.
The intent of this change was to make it illegal for Adults to be Drive Team Members.
---
3. The definition of High Hanging was updated to state the following (with major changes marked in bold):
VEX Robotics Competition Starstruck Game Manual High Hanging – A Robot is considered to be High Hanging if it is touching the Hanging Bar of its own color and completely above the plane parallel to the foam field tiles, formed by the top of the field perimeter. A Robot that is touching the field perimeter is not considered to be High Hanging. Note: A High Hanging Robot does not also count as a Low Hanging Robot. Only one (1) Alliance Robot can earn points for Hanging (High or Low) during a Match.
The intent of this change was to make it clear that Robots must not touch the field perimeter while High Hanging.
---
4. Clause 2 of the definition of Scored was updated with the following additional criteria
VEX Robotics Competition Starstruck Game Manual b. If a Scoring Object is Supported by a Hanging Robot the Scoring Object would be Scored in the Far Zone adjacent to the Hanging Bar that the Robot is Hanging from.
The intent of this change was to make it clear that Scoring Objects could not be simply descored by a Robot Supporting them while Hanging.
---
5. <G7a> was updated to fix typos:
VEX Robotics Competition Starstruck Game Manual Drive Team Members are not permitted to break the plane of field perimeter at any time during the match, with the exception of the actions described in <SG3> and <SG4>.
---
6. <G12> was updated to state the following (with major changes marked in bold):
VEX Robotics Competition Starstruck Game Manual <G12> Strategies aimed solely at the destruction, damage, tipping over, disruption of Hanging, or Entanglement of Robots are not part of the ethos of the VEX Robotics Competition and are not allowed. However, VEX Starstruck is an interactive game. Some incidental tipping, Entanglement, and damage may occur as a part of normal game play. If the tipping, Entanglement, or damage is ruled to be intentional or egregious, the offending team may be disqualified from that Match. Repeated offenses could result in a team being Disqualified from the remainder of the competition.
VEX Robotics Competition Starstruck is intended to be an offensive game. Teams that partake in solely defensive strategies will undergo extra scrutiny in regard to <G12>. In the case where referees are forced to make a judgment call on interaction between a defensive and offensive Robot, the referees will err on the side of the offensive Robot.
A team is responsible for the actions of its Robot at all times, including the Autonomous Period. This goes for teams that are driving recklessly and potentially causing damage, but also goes for teams that drive around with a small wheel base. A team should design its Robot such that it is not easily tipped over or damaged by minor contact.”
The intent of this rule is to make it clear that Robots may not intentionally interfere with an opposing Robot’s attempt to Hang. This includes intentionally launching Scoring Objects directly at a Robot trying to Hang.
---
7. <G14> has been updated to state the following (with major changes marked in bold):
VEX Robotics Competition Starstruck Game Manual <G14> Field tolerances may vary by as much as ±1”, except where otherwise noted, so teams must design Robots accordingly. Please make sure to check Appendix A for more specific tolerances. Note: The field perimeter should always be resting upon the Field Perimeter Rubber Feet, regardless of whether or not the tabs have been cut off the foam field tiles.
This change reflects the addition of the Field Perimeter Rubber Feet to the field setup.
---
8. <SG6a> was added and states the following:
VEX Robotics Competition Starstruck Game Manual <SG6a> Contact between Robots in opposing Zones is expected due to the interactive nature of VRC Starstruck. However, intentionally restricting the movement of an opposing Robot by contacting them on their side of the Fence is illegal.
The intent of this change is to make it abundantly clear that teams are not allowed restrict the movement of their opponent via contact. Contact between opposing Robots is expected to occur while teams fight over Scoring Objects above the Fence, however pinning, grabbing, etc. are not legal.
---
9. <SG8> was modified to state the following (with major changes marked in bold):
VEX Robotics Competition Starstruck Game Manual <SG8> Robots may not intentionally grasp, grapple or attach to any Field Elements or the opposing Hanging Bar. Strategies with mechanisms that react against multiple sides of a field element in an effort to latch onto said field element are prohibited. The intent of this rule is to prevent teams from both unintentionally damaging the field, and from anchoring themselves to the field. Minor violations of this rule that do not affect the match will result in a warning. Egregious (match affecting) offenses will result in a Disqualification. Teams that receive multiple warnings may also receive a Disqualification at the head referee's discretion.
a. Robots are permitted to attach to their own Hanging Bar for the sole purpose of Hanging.
The intent of this change is to prevent Robots from anchoring to the field via attaching to the opposing Hanging Bar. It also makes it clear that Robots are allowed to attach to their own Hanging Bar in an effort to Hang.
---
10. <SG10> was added and states the following:
VEX Robotics Competition Starstruck Game Manual <SG10> Scoring Objects that become split into multiple pieces can no longer be Scored.
The intent of this change was to state what happens if a Scoring Object breaks during a Match.
On August 17th, 2016, the following updates were made to the VRC Starstruck Game Manual . (Please note, updates are still propagating to the VRC Hub App, and may take some time to display)
---
1. The definition of Student was updated to say the following (new text in bold):
VEX Robotics Competition Starstruck Game Manual Student – Anyone enrolled in a pre-college school or home-schooled as part of a pre-college educational curriculum and is born after April 22nd, 1998. Eligibility may also be granted based on a disability that has delayed education by at least one year.
• Middle School Student – A Student enrolled in grade 8 or lower or enrolled in grade 9 in a school, which includes grade 8, but not grade 10.
• High School Student – Any eligible Student that is not a Middle School Student.
The intent of this change was to provide exact definitions of Middle and High School Students.
---
2. The definition of High Hanging was updated to say the following (new text in bold):
VEX Robotics Competition Starstruck Game Manual High Hanging – A Robot is considered to be High Hanging if it is touching the Hanging Bar of its own color and completely above the infinite plane parallel to the foam field tiles, formed by the top of the field perimeter. A Robot that is touching the field perimeter is not considered to be High Hanging. Note: A High Hanging Robot does not also count as a Low Hanging Robot. Only one (1) Alliance Robot can earn points for Hanging (High or Low) during a Match.
The intent of this change was to make it clear that the plane that Robots need to be above to count as High Hanging is not solely within the field perimeter.
---
3. Rule <SG6a> was updated to say the following (new text in bold):
VEX Robotics Competition Starstruck Game Manual Contact between Robots in opposing Zones is expected due to the interactive nature of VRC Starstruck, especially as Robots are trying to score and block scoring attempts. However, intentionally restricting the movement of an opposing Robot by contacting them on their side of the Fence is illegal. (i.e. Pinning, trapping, and grabbing opposing Robots that are on the opposite of the Fence is illegal)
The intent of this clarification is to make it clear that contact between Robots in the process of scoring and blocking is legal, but pinning/trapping/grabbing of Robots across the Fence is illegal.
---
4. Section 3 of the Manual was updated to make it clear that DQed teams do not receive any APs.
---
5. Appendix B and Appendix C were combined to reflect the combination of the Driver Skills Challenge and the Robot Skills Challenge. There is now one challenge known as the Robot Skills Challenge which involves two types of Matches, Driver Skills Matches and Programming Skills Matches
---
6. Appendix E was updated with the following new rule:
VEX Robotics Competition Starstruck Game Manual, Appendix E - VEX U <VUG6> Each team will have one (1) Star and one (1) Cube available as Driver Control Loads. These are subject to same restrictions listed in Section 2 of the VEX Starstruck Game Manual.
The intent of this change was to make use of the extra Star that became available by reducing the game from 2 v 2 to 1 v 1.