In rule SC7 d it says that “The Robot’s lowest point is past that Level’s minimum height from the gray foam tiles. Each Level’s height corresponds to the top edge of a rung of the Ladder. For example, a Level 1 Climb represents a Robot whose lowest point is above the foam tiles, but not higher than the first rung of the Ladder.” And in rule SG3 it says that “Once the Match begins, Robots may expand vertically, but may never be “breaking the plane” of more than two Levels of the Ladder at any given time.”
Is it true that touching the tier 2 bar and the floor is legal as long as you don’t cross the top of the tier 2 bar. And if so does this violate the “spirit of the rule” as in the note it say that the purpose is to “prohibit Teams from “skipping a Level”.” Which grabing the bottom of the second bar and lifting yourself above the tier 1 bar would be.
I will probably write a Q&A on this once its open but I wanted to get others opinions on this possible loophole and whether it would change your strategy.
Yes, the floor and the tier 1 bar. I’m not crossing tier 2 because I’m not above the bar. I guess it would be hard to lift a whole robot just from the sides of the bar, but if done right it could make for a tier 2 hang thats quick enough to still be viable.
" The intent of this rule is to prohibit Teams from “skipping a Level”. It is impossible to contact the Ladder in three Levels, or two non-sequential Levels, without violating this rule."
Therefore touching the ladder in Level 2, skipping the ladder in Level 1 and touching the floor (Level 0) is violating the rules and is therefore illegal.
I don’t think the floor is part of the ladder though, does it count as a level? Even so, being on the floor isn’t breaking its plane.
“It is impossible to contact the Ladder in three Levels, or two non-sequential Levels, without violating this rule.”
You wouldn’t be doing that, you’d be contacting just 2 levels.
@NO1 This is probably true, but from the actual definition of a level there is no difference between the empty space under a bar and everything but the very top of the bar. For example the statement in SG3 about when you are touching the floor with “a height limit of 32”, the distance between the Floor and the top of the middle rung of the Ladder.” Implies that you are allowed to touch everything but the top of the bar. To me it feels wierd that you can touch thr bar but not lift off of it. @57193948 Last sentance of SG3 says that “For the purposes of this rule, the Floor is considered a Level.” Touching the floor is breaking its plane.
After a re-read of the rules, I think technically it is ok to grab the bottom of the ladder because you are not contacting the ladder in a non sequential tier. But it is very close to being illegal and I suspect any head ref will have extra scrutiny towards this technique.
Well I mean it’s true that according to SG3, you can and you may touch the tier 2 bar. The bar skipping is for climbing, and it would be illegal if you ever cross the third plane of the second level while still touching the floor.
By the way I have another question while on this problem. According to the rules, it means that you can actually skip level 1 if somehow you lift yourself up from the floor AND climb the 2nd tier bar from under. I mean it’s hard, but it’s technical legal, right?
As @99750B just posted it also seems to be possible to lift yourself up to tier 2 by grabbing the vertical supports of the ladder at a legal hight and lift yourself up to above tier 1.
This seems like a much less janky way to break the “skipping a tier” note. Which tells me that either, the GDC didnt think of climbing the vertical bars, or that this janky workaround is made illegal by some other rule I haven’t seen yet.
It is completely legal as long as you do not go over the third “line” while contacting the floor/“bottom line” the spirit of the rule is to prevent straight shots to the top like the winch bots from over under
Great concept, but I think it’s lacking mobility, as once you latch your robot, it’s final. Maybe you can make a device to climb up THEN latch it, but then why not just build a climber lol
