This might have to do with rule SG3. Without this fourth level, it would be possible for a robot on level 2 to place a ring on the High Stake.
As the High Stake is on level 4, the robot on level 2 would be breaking the plane of 3 levels, breaking the rule.
Tl;dr: its to enforce the vertical expansion limit in SG3
@EcstaticPilot @Micahy321
@7187K is correct SC3a says
A Ring is considered Scored on a Stake if it meets the following criteria:
a. The Ring is not contacting a Robot from the same color Alliance as the Ring.
As his image was showing, you can fulfil SG5c by not touching the stake and still touching the robot (which is required anyway SG5a) which make the ring not scored.
The strategy being discussed is illegal.
Per SG5 c
Each Robot gets one Ring as a preload. Prior to the start of each Match, each preload that is used must be placed such that it is:
a. Contacting one Robot of the same Alliance color as the preload.
b. Not contacting the same Robot as another preload.
c. Not in a scored location.
Even if the ring is not touching the stake and is touching the robot (thus making it not scored), the ring is still in a scored location. The ring can be in a scored location even if it’s not actually scored. Since in this scenario the ring is around the stake and would be considered scored in the absence of a robot touching it, it is in a scored location. This would make the starting position of the preload ring illegal.
Good point. Now here is the interesting question.
What does “scored location” mean in SG5c? Does it only refer to the ring’s position on the field, or does it take into account other factors like the fact that the ring is touching a robot?
Now that I write this, I’m even more confused! It is true that a ring is not scored if it is touching a robot, so @Foximusprime s example is legal
Maybe we all need to sprinkle some G3 onto this rule. The GDC doesn’t want us to preload the ring directly on the alliance stake.
@EcstaticPilot, I think this
The ring can be in a scored location even if it’s not actually scored
is unhelpful as you provide no source for this rule and this has never been how that has been ruled (as far as I know). The only definition of a scored position for ring in the game manual is SC3 which states that a ring is not considered scored when contacting a robot from the same color alliance as the ring.
That being said do agree with @Micahy321 that this is illegal (only under G3 for now) as this is obviously the loophole they are trying to close with this change.
The GDC has allowed some interesting loopholes in the past though. I was surprised that robots in VIQRC Slapshot were allowed to dispense the disks from the purple dispenser directly instead of having to spin the purple wheel. Another example is PYRO’s air cannon.
However, now I also think this time they don’t want to allow this loophole.
To further @kotlcbooknerd’s explanation, the first level is the ground. It’s pointless to get scored for keeping your robot on the ground. That’s like giving out 10 extra points because you finished the match.
The first level (level 1) is obtained simply by not touching the ground.
I believe you are merging this with level 0, which is the floor.
Level 4 is considered above the top of the top rung of the ladder, which I was speaking of (sorry should’ve specified this earlier)
Come to think of it… with the rules updates, the endgame has shifted from purely corners fights to “how many levels can you climb in 10sec” + a bit of corners fights.
Going to be a bit hard, knowing that most teams will only use red motors.
Clawbots with 4 blue motors for climb might actually have an advantage 
What I find most interesting is how the negative corners aren’t protected, so we probably will still be seeing a number of corner fights during the endgame
I think I have mixed feelings on the corners changing. I feel like now that they are adjacent instead of diagonal, it makes it easier for one team to be able to guard the pairs of corners. This is just my line of thinking though so correct me if I’m wrong.
I agree with that, we will see dominant teams holding a whole side of the field
I agree that pushfights for the corner in the end would be cool because that’s what my team built our robot for Is to be good to push the steaks out of the corners.
Does your robot also have a mechanism for seasoning and cooking the steaks?
