So I was setting up my sizing tool and was remined of the 1.5" increments in adjustment.
The tool can be set to 21" and 24", but the only size between is 22.5"
Surely we don’t want EPs customizing these tools, right? Do we just keep the parts loose and slide between 18" hard stop and a marked 22" Sounds like that would be awkward.
Yeah - we’re aware.
Manual Update tomorrow should help give EPs and Teams a little more freedom with regards to how they measure expansion. I won’t spoil everything, though.
We’re exploring alternative options, including making a new, better tool that can measure more sizes and/or releasing a few simple designs that can easily be constructed from materials that you might find at home or at a hardware store.
Stay tuned…
I will look forward to the manual tomorrow, but will also grump this one grump:
You can ask everyone in the world to compensate to have a round number with a tool that cannot provide that number… or require the world to buy a new tool that accommodates that round number… or you could have the handful of people on the GDC decide that the gameplay implications of 22" vs 22.5" (or 21") are irrelevant and modify the rule one more time.
With utmost respect, there is an easy solution to the problem.
Not wrong - long time EPs have seen so many pendulum swings on enforcement of rules with bad implementations of tools. The wiggle room is problematic as one event implements one solution and as a result causes problems at future events “but so and so event said it was ok”
I want hard limits of max 18" x 18" x 18" for start of match… of teams need wiggle room, build a 17-1/2", or 35 hole solution.
I do not look forward to tomorrow’s new Game Manual in terms of sizing - just more grief for EPs, Referees, and teams.
I am strongly in support of this. Its truly a better solution than making people improvise their own solutions or buy a new tool, and I dont think the community will mind either.
Better this play out now over the summer rather than the regular season.
Why not look forward to the manual update?
We appear to be getting plenty of communication and acknowledgement on issues with the manual.
Two beefy tape measures with a beam bolted to the tab ends and another between the bodies? Sharpie marks on the tape.
Unfortunately, it does not appear the GDC took that off-ramp…
I had already started making sizing tool for inspection to speed things up. Thankfully, simple addition in Game Manual allowing EPs more options.
Well this sucks.
Event Partners may construct and/or provide any sizing tool that measures the correct dimensions.
So instead of just fixing the rules to be easily enforceable, the GDC is now putting the burden of responsibility on the Event Partners? (Either by forcing them to make their own sizing tool or buying the new vex sizing tool that isn’t out and I’m sure is perfectly reasonably priced). This wasn’t anything I was seeing anyone ask for. I don’t see any reason why its critical that robots are limited to a 22by22 footprint from a game design point of view and why the GDC couldn’t just make it a 30 or 31 inch point to point expansion limit. That way its not an issue to need to measure in more than 1 direction. Plenty of events are going to have a basic metre stick lying around. Which can measure any point to point and vertical expansion without issue.
And sure, if you want a new sizing tool that can do those as well, go ahead and make a new one, but there is no need to make a rule that thousands of sizing tools teams already have can’t enforce. (not to mention that by encouraging event partners to make their own tools, you will have events where teams pass inspection at one event, make no changes, then fail at the next event which is never good). This seems like a whole lot of work when the GDC could just make sensible rules instead.
i mean it might not be a problem because i think most EPs will resort to a simple measuring tape.
However, I feel like allowing EPs to construct their own sizing tool may lead to measurements that are not precise if they dont pay attention to detail when building.
This could cause teams to have to sacrifice cutting down part of their robot just because of imprecise measurements. I think it would be a lot better to just say EPs can use measuring tape until whatever new sizing tool comes out as that is more precise
its not like an EP would want to make their own sizing tool so some might rush and the tool might be not exactly 22 by 22.
I think most EP have access to enough technology to make exact measuring frames. We did it in the past. 
