Yeah, we convinced the refs after the match that the other team had sabotaged our ramp, and that they put the mobile goal there. They did put it there, but the refs didn’t see it. We won that match because we are good at debate.
A massive mess with pur sister team on whether we should or should not alliance. Several other teams were also involved. We were constantly discussing with many other people from the moment the standings were finalized to the point where the representatives were standing in line.
Thats how you know you have a good robot and driver
Something that makes me really sad is when teams are cagey about talking about their robots, how they work etc. I don’t see this happening in Hawaii, but when I go to the mainland some teams are really hesitant to talk about the specific ways in which their robots work, to the point where they give vague answers or deflect. I think that competition robotics is to build cool robots, part of encouraging engineering though, so to let the competition part of this activity overtake that sense of community is kind of saddening to me. I love talking to and listening to people talk about their robots, so to have such experiences is kind of distressing.
Aside from that, there are referee calls that I find distressing, but after several years of competition I’ve come to an understanding that these people (they are just people, after all) aren’t perfect, and that my perspective as a competitor means that my testimony is not completely trustable. I’ve been pinned (illegally, resulting in a DQ for that team as well) into a platform past 30s and DQ’ed due to SG3, but at the end of the day that’s just how the rules are written and should be followed, so no need to get angry at the people in stripes or the driver across of me.
Why did the red alliance give them the tall yellow goal?
To benefit their strength of schedule points.
The strength of schedule points are calculated by the sum of the losing alliance’s scores in each match.
During a signature event qualification:
We play a match where we got the AWP and a narrow victory. The head ref walks away while scores are being confirmed, turns out one of the scorekeepers added a 30 point platform penalty against us (we knew at the time this didn’t happen and we later rewatched the clip and it definitely didn’t happen). Anyways I try and talk to the head ref but they clear the field and everyone left - after the next match I caught the head ref where it was confirmed we weren’t supposed to get the penalty. Since everyone left before this it was a replay instead of being fixed.
But then in the replay, our alliance didn’t start their autonomous which messed up half of the AWP. Then we lost the match fair and square. It really burns because we deserved the win from the start but then we were also left worse off than we would’ve just letting that faulty call happen.
Opponent got an extra parked robot because we touched a goal that was touching a goal that was touching a robot that was touching a goal that was touching the platform. Like, the recf should put a limit as to how many objects can be chained to the platform.
Woah, calm down. There’s no need for insults. It was probably an honest mistake, and yeah, it sucks that you lost, but it’s going to happen.
As for replays, this thread shows the benefits but also why this might not be viable.
what was the tournament name?
For the replays, I know. I read that thread already and I agree there are valid points as to why it’s not feasible most of the time, but I would say at larger events like the one I was at replays should be allowed during eliminations.
Also I wasn’t trying to insult anyone I’m just saying the head ref was clearly not qualified (too young and he was not certified), and he was acting a bit cocky and narcissistic. I also know the ref having met him at several non vex related events in years past and he is a really nice guy but he wasn’t at his best that day.
We were going for some strength of schedule points. I know they aren’t a huge factor in placements, but we were having a bad day at the competition and needed every point we could get.
Oh and he also forgot to read the rule number that was violated every time he made a call.
To be fair to the volunteer Solaris is talking about, due to a miscommunication the certified adult head referee scheduled for the event (not me, just to be clear, although I am from the same region) wasn’t available. A decision had to be made between canceling the event or using an underage volunteer who has taken the referee course and served as a scorekeeping referee at numerous TP events this season. After talking to the RECF EEM, they advised using the available volunteer. This emergency head referee had never intended to head ref, wasn’t prepared, and put himself in the line of fire to enable the event to run. Even we experienced head referees make occasional bad calls or miss seeing something; that this unprepared teenager made some mistakes isn’t surprising. I do wish that the affected teams would display more gratitude and less ire. Just saying. Annoyed/angry is fine, but remember that he’s the reason you had an event at all that day.
You don’t have to…?
I think
I was not aware of those circumstances. I’m super grateful that he stepped in. I would have hated to have that tournament canceled. Now that I know that there was a reason that there wasn’t a normal head ref and that he wasn’t prepared to step in and do it it’s makes total sense. Although I feel some of his calls could have been better he actually did really well for not being prepared to do the job.
You do. Rule T1d says “ The Head Referee must give the rule number of the rule violated when issuing a Disqualification or Warning to a Team.”
Hm. Interesting. Although my experience with head refs is that none of them really did that for me… And honestly that’s fine if everyone knows the rules in my opinion.
Our worst experience wasn’t that bad and it was quite recent to. We were in a match absolutely destroying out opponent but the middle goals stick came off. So we had to re-run the match on a un-game affecting penalty. Luckily we still destroyed in the rematch.
Oh yes, that too. But now that I think of it there is something far worse, that we both forgot. It was only in October but for me feels like ages ago. Our bot, a hero bot that required 2 months of hard work and rebuilding, did not work in our fist match. The wheels spun in opposite directions. I forgot what happened, but our driver and @10820ACoder got in such an argument (don’t judge them please) that the ref had to come over and give us a talking to. Our alliance was trash, and we were up against the best team in North Texas, 580X. We lost 178-2.