The Chevron Championship Series 2 - Medium Medium Speed Ones

yay! my first victory! great fight joey! you really summed up what a antweight battle is like,

well done

oh, btw in the rrc 17 videos it shows that dead meat cant run inverted, this can quite easily be rectified, by removing 1 strand of gafa! (as we found out when we got home!)

if your interested in ants joey (or anyone else!) check out robotwars101, loads of stuff there. then, if your still interested check out the events page, rrc is held 3 times a year in Reading, the AWS is held 3 times a year and RFRC (my event!) is held twice a year in Richmond!

hope i didnt go off on one lol :uhoh:

jack

Ill assume for the final said strand of gaffa is removed then :P

And I have signed up on RW101 actually, I was the guy who asked about polypropylene armour a while back (Im planning to get an ant built in among the million other things to do this summer :proud:)

Thanks for the comments btw, I watched most of the ant videos I could find to get an idea of how things worked...and having said all that, the semis might be delayed a bit now due to in school testing at the moment. Ill get them done as soon as is practical though :)

Aaaand with profuse apologies for the extreme lateness, I present:

Der firsten Semifinalenspeilungsprachtenengutenabend
Darkestar (1) vs. Hypertension Mk. 3.5

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

Booth 1, left hand side: Alex Holt
Booth 2, right hand side: The driver of Hypertension who is called many things

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

For once in a Chevron Championship fight there is a quick start, with Darkestar being the first to move; the tracks trundle the machine off the starting square as the blade begins to rotate, and across the arena Hypertension pulls away from the arena wall, one of the four horsepower motors acting and then both to take the white wedge up into the top half of the arena. Hypertension swivels around to face Darkestar and, almost as soon as that is done, powers down on the attack, its foe turning to try and get the blade on course to hit Hypertension in its path. Mattys machine comes into range, the two robots eschewing the dance of death as Hypertensions front blade meets the tracks and front prongs of Darkestar at some speed, beginning to push diagonally against the Lynch motor power of its opponent...making minimal progress though, and after a few seconds of stalemating with Hypertension beginning to lose ground, Matty goes for a different approach!
FLIP! The two rams extend and bring the flipper up, catching on Alexs tracks and sending Darkestar up onto its side, hanging precariously for a moment in the air before gravity takes over and he slams down onto the arena floor inverted. The flywheel, which had briefly begun to spin down, begins to rotate faster again, as Hypertension pulls away fron the scene with the flipper still raised, expelling white clouds of gas as the panel lowers and the robot turns to face Darkestar again. Matty pauses briefly as Darkestar begins its approach, but with confidence boosted by his initial success he applies the power to head straight at the fast approaching Darkestar, hoping for another flip...but this time when the two machines meet, the prongs hit Hypertension first, and with a 15kg flywheel weighing them down they go beneath the front wedge, leading Hypertension straight into Alexs weapon!
CRASH! Just as the blade catches on the 7mm Hardox front wedge and flicks Hypertension up into the air, white paint flecks flying, the flipper opens - gas being expelled and pulling the machine further into the air, but hitting at nothing...and Darkestar moves forward, beneath the what comes up, must go down path Hypertension is currently on, having not quite flipped over...the triangular blade doesnt quite crash against the steel baseplate but has enough energy to bury the tip into the surface of the metal, denting it slightly, as all movement ceases briefly from both combatants. After a short pause, Darkestar drives forward, hoping to push Hypertension up against the wall, but the blade rotates of its own accord and lowers Mattys machine down to where its wheels can gain traction, and the resulting burst of reverse speed from the white wedge barreling into the wall confirms to Matty that yes, his controls still work, although the left stick trims are still broken.
Darkestar closes back in on its newly escaped foe, but Alex is spinning the blade in vain as Hypertension darts to one side and then forwards, down diagonally across the arena before swivelling around near the flame pit to face the turning Darkestar again. Alexs machine lines up the prongs with the direction of its opponent, before yet another brief pause befalls both opponents, a variation on the classic Mexican standoff as both robots size each other up...and its Hypertension that breaks this deadlock, the front raising slightly as Matty slams on the amps and goes charging in, swerving around as Darkestar responds in kind, and as the two robots pass in the centre of the arena the Lynch motors on Darkestar suddenly reverse, the tracks trundling Alex machine backwards as Hypertension slams into where Darkestar had not been a second before...but its there now...Matty hits the front prongs, thankfully side on, and attempts a forward drive, trying to push Darkestar over to the wall. The traction from Darkestars tracks prevents this from happening though, only slow progress being made, and Darkestar turns with the prongs to push Hypertension out of the way, the fully spinning blade being buried into the side of the flipping machine as its newly found traction sends it past Darkestar with an exposed broadside!
CRASH! More sparks fly, and Hypertension is beginning to look battle damaged now, several great gouges have appeared in the paintwork and in one or two places the seven millimetre Hardox plating has bowed inwards slightly. Hypertension lands right way up though, pointing in the general direction of Darkestar, and has enough power left to take off past the front of Alexs machine as he tries to maneuver to inflict further punishment on Hypertension. The wedge flipper brakes one sides drive as it flies past Darkestar, bringing the front of the robot around in an arc, and while Alex is thinking about how next to respond Hypertensions wedge blade goes beneath the side tracks of his tank, Matty seeing an opportunity to get back into the action and firing the flipper!
FLIP! Darkestar leaves the front of the weapon, tumbling quickly side over side before landing inverted again, and looks slightly shaken as it turns briefly in one direction before correcting and scrambling away from the scene, the tracks turning it in reverse to face up to Mattys machine again. Hypertension applies the throttle, hoping for another dodge and flip on Darkestar same as the last, as it swings around in a positioning arc maneuver...and winds around to back where it started. There is sudden concern in the Team Devils Incarnate supporters club, as Matty leans up in his control pod, pushing the sticks every which way but loose, but only able to produce movement in one side of the drive. Jerkily backwards and to the right...jerkily forwards and to the right...but no smooth forward, backwards, or left, the right wheel has stopped, and Alex begins to drive in with the blade spinning down on Darkestar, his hopes of a win surely cemented now, and there is barely any contact between the two robots between then and the cease, Darkestar colliding with the side of the stricken Hypertension just as the voice from the heavens has the final word.

CEASE

Hypertension brave, and upsetting the flow of the fight for the while, but after pressurising the champion falls prey to drive issues.
DARKESTAR (1) ADVANCES TO THE HEAT FINAL!

*in the pits, Matty wheeling Hypertensions trolley down the ramp to a smattering of commiserative applause*

Joey: Bad luck Matt, you fought well.
Matty: Yeah...just thats the way things turn out sometimes.
Joey: They looked to be turning out quite well for you at one point...you took a few hits but you seemed a bit more aggressive up until the final attack *Matty nods* so what happened?
Matty: Broken chain. *hands Joey a chain* The last hit from the flywheel - it actually knocked the wheel mountings about a bit, and I drove forwards a bit and it just went out of alignment and fell off the sprocket. Was a hell of a hit though, all credit to Alex for that.
Joey: You enjoyed your time here then?
Matty: On balance yeah, its been fun and...well, I didnt do too badly did I? *laughs* Got five more to do as well, they all need a bit of a respray actually in the new team colours.
Joey: You go do that then. *laughs* Thanks very much.

COMING SOON TO A CENTURY NEAR YOU
Back To Rock III vs. Battle Raptor 5

...thoughts, any more predictions, a potion to make me grow wings? :proud:

*Hands Joey can of Red Bull*

The CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 2
HEAT A
SEMI FINAL 2
BACK TO ROCK III vs. BATTLE RAPTOR 5

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

Booth 1, left hand side: Martijn Benschop
Booth 2, right hand side: Richard Southworth

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

There is silence in the arena for one brief moment, before both machines move almost simultaneously as if waiting for some invisible barrier to be lifted. Back To Rock is slightly the faster but moves slower out of the start, in contrast to the fast movement of Battle Raptor, which skids downwards past the flame pit before turning to face BTR, which responds not in kind, but rather by cranking up the power, leaving its square and curving around to bring the front in on Battle Raptor, hoping to get in underneath the sides of the Jurassic machine...Richard turns though, knocking into BTR with the front lifting blade, and up in his booth he pulls on the switch to lift the forks up...and they rise...the flat blade hasnt got underneath BTRs dual front forks though, and when Martijn operates his weapon it has more of an effect, catching beneath the forks as Marti takes advantage of this to slide in further beneath Battle Raptor. The sawblade on the front has been set spinning, and sparks fly as saw meets blade with a brief scraping noise shattering the air in the arena, and the lifter raises ever higher, the drive of Battle Raptor getting no grip on the arena floor and leaving it at the mercy of the Dutch machine.
BTR turns, bringing its front fully parallel with that of Battle Raptor, and a late flick of the Battle Raptor axe just misses the titanium top of the lifter, jolting the machine around and causing more sparks to come from the saw meeting the drilled Hardox base. The axe retracts almost as violently, as BTR begins to push further forwards and scraping the rear of its opponent against the arena floor, towards the edge of the house robots domain, but the progress of the BTR/BR5 train is brought to a halt by the outcropping corner of the arena wall, Battle Raptor left pinned in between the house robots to one side and BTR to the other, but going nowhere. Sergeant Bash is the first of the house robots to pay attention, coming forward to flick out a tongue of flame at the stranded Battle Raptor, whose axe fires once more and jolts the robot again, failing to connect with anything, but cause enough for Marti to drive it further against the wall...whereupon the tyres gain traction, and as the axe retracts Battle Raptor drags itself up the lifter of its adversary, reaching the top and toppling off to one side, landing inverted beside BTR.
Martijn swivels his robot around, but Battle Raptor has taken advantage of its newfound mobility to quickly get away from the action, driving up towards the pit before Richard fires the axe and levers his machine back over its forks and right way up again, the wheels spinning all the while and pulling it straight forward towards BTR the moment it touches the floor, hoping to have a better go at attacking this time. Back To Rock is half facing the advancing machine now, the six wheel drive positioning it just in time, and the two robots meet head to head with an almighty crash! BTR finds itself pushed backwards about a foot, but as the lifter rises it seems that the forks on Battle Raptor have again failed to get beneath the weaponry of their opponent...the axe is in prime position now though, and is fired, impacting on and denting the lid of Back To Rock IIIs lifting arm! The shock of this is enough to bring the orange robot back off the lifter and down onto the arena floor, as the pneumatic weapon retracts and fires again, resulting in a brief but brilliant spark display from titanium axe meeting steel sawblade, and another dent in the titanium armour, this time in the front of the lifter. Battle Raptor backs up and comes in again, swerving past the encroaching BTR and catching one of the side skirts, which although the forks ride up them uselessly do not get in the way of the axe, which fires again, impacting where the first dent was and making it cave in that little bit more, and as it retracts a very slight breakage can be made out in the top of the Dutch robot.
Feeling more confident, Richard fires the axe again, but this time as BTR makes its escape from the firing line, the two Lynch motors only allow it a glancing blow on the rear plate, some sparks from Ti axe on Ti armour being freed, but Battle Raptor is forced into a pursuit, the fleeing BTR making its way up past the flame pit and into the top right corner of the free arena, skidding around just in front of the angle grinders, followed closely by Richard, who deviates from his course to turn around to try and get Back To Rock side on. As Martijn endeavours to prevent that, both robots search each other as a slow dance ensues, Back To Rock turning as Battle Raptor circles.
Someone has to break this waltz eventually, and its Battle Raptor - screeching to a halt as the four go-kart motors slam into reverse, backing up a bit to try and bring the axe in on the side of Martijns machine. BTR is too quick though, and by the time the maneuver is complete is facing its opponent, weapon to weapon. Not wanting to waste a good setup, Battle Raptor charges in anyway, the forks impacting its opponents red paintwork and the axe flicking out to hammer on the top again, perforating the smooth arc that is Back To Rock IIIs front top edge - but the lifter raises again, accompanied by a push from BTR, and Battle Raptor finds itself without traction again! Back To Rock picks up some speed, sensing a way to end this as the pit looms behind Battle Raptor, and the violent retraction of the axe does little more than slightly upset the right-to-left shove across the arena, Richard trying every button on his controls to try and get back in the fight, but with the pit yawning open, hope is fading, and as stainless steel and paint gives way to openness backed with tyres and smoke, the final flick outwards of the axe manages a gouge out of the BTR lifter but also serves as the Cretaceous machines farewell from the competition, the axehead, forks, orange and four wheels disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

CEASE

A battle of dodging, axing, periods of alternate dominance, pushing, but perhaps most importantly a pitting. Battle Raptor loses out, Back to Rock III moves on!

*inside the arena, fairly dark, Richard loading Battle Raptor back onto his trolley*

Joey: What happened there?
Richard: Got pushed around quite a bit, hit it a lot, and ended up down there. *points at pit*
Joey: Bad luck there, commiserations...it seemed as though you were having problems getting underneath it though?
Richard: Well, I was going to have trouble with the side skirts, but...the front I should have been able to get underneath I think, but after the first imapct the lifter seemed to jam, I was telling it to move but it wasnt responding.
Joey: The, uh, saw on Back To Rock seemed to end up in that general area early on...do you think that was to do with it?
Richard: It probably was, I trust my own wiring. *laughs* Yeah, theres a big mark on there where it hit, but the actuator itself looks alright...gonna have to strip it down when I get back to the bench I think, see what the problem was.
Joey: You go do that then, thanks for being here.
Richard: Its been a pleasure.

So, with that all said and done, the heat A final is thus:

Darkestar (1) vs. Back To Rock III

Tactics, comments, thoughts, someone to dispose of this red taurine? :proud:

great reading joey keep it up.

Thanks Shane :)

Chevron Championship Series 2 - The Tournament With The Inconsistent Style Of Opening Posts
Heat A Final
Darkestar (1) vs. Back To Rock III

Joey: Alex, quick word ahead of the final...against a backdrop of the robot in bits as usual...
Alex: *looks over shoulder* Yeah, it usually ends up like this *laughs* Just charging the batteries.
Joey: Ah, thats fine, no major problems. So...Back To Rock III...
Alex: Hmm...could be a tough one possibly. In theory, I should get the upper hand here, got more traction and the bigger weapon. In practice though...we shall see.
Joey: Do you think it could come down to driving then?
Alex: Maybe. Im hoping it doesnt, heh. But it should be a good fight.
Joey: Best of luck Alex.

Joey: Well, Marti, it looks like youre in slightly better shape than you were when I last saw you.
Martijn: Yep, bashed out the dents, done a bit of welding, and the weapon is in full working order again, raring to go.
Joey: Good, good. And the robot?
Martijn: Did some work on that as well, I think its good as new - well, apart from the paint there - and it shouldnt break down or anything.
Joey: Even against Darkestar?
Martijn: Course not, its built like a tank...but I looked and were very similar actually, we run the same motors, Ive got six wheels and hes got tracks...hes got the bigger weapon of course, but I should outmaneuver him.
Joey: Good luck with that one.

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

Booth 1, left hand side: Alex Holt
Booth 2, right hand side: Martijn Benschop

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

The blade of Darkestar begins to rotate up to speed, almost pre-empting the call to begin, while across the arena Back To Rock III has got off to a very quick start, the two Lynch motors powering it across the arena in a banzai run as Martijn hopes to stop the blade of Darkestar from getting up to dangerous levels of energy, the opposing robot now beginning to move forward as the tracks take it straight into the path of Back To Rock...the machines meet, the lifter of Back To Rock recieves a scar to the front paint, but the blade is stopped with no other damage! The two robots have now become wedged on one another, and in all the excitement it has become unclear who precisely has the advantage - but as both drivers pour on the current and tracks and wheels spin, we shall find out...and in the battle of 48v Lynch against 48v Lynch, its the tracks that beat the wheels, as slowly the machines move towards the centre of the arena, a cloud of tyre smoke forming around them as Back To Rock tries to resist the slow yet sure force of Darkestar.
After a few seconds of edging, Back To Rock slams into reverse and pulls off the front of its foe, before Marti turns it to drive up towards the top edge of the arena, moving forward before coming back around to face Darkestar, which is still broadside on as Alex turns the tracks to face his enemy. Not wasting any time, Back To Rock immediately starts forward, coming in rapidly towards Darkestar, which is unable to get into a good position away from the danger, and burying itself straight into the left hand track as pink sparks fly from the contact of stainless steel track on...well, Im not too sure, but I asked Marti about it and when I said what colour sparks will result when your saw hits stainless steel tracks? he answered can I have pink sparks? so there you go.
There seems to be little damage to the track itself, the chain keeps on going with only some of the dark rubber being scraped away to show the bare steel, but Darkestar isnt getting off of the front wedge of BTR that it has found itself on, and the lifter begins to do its duty...the movement from the opposite side track becomes moot as Darkestar is tilted ever higher by the weapon on its foe, until it is supported by only the lifter and the right side armour. Alex can do little to try and extricate his machine, but Martijn seems to have a problem; he currently sits between Darkestar and the pit, with no real way of carrying out his plan. Going for the push instead, he lowers the lifter slightly and slams the power, only for Darkestar to gain traction on the arena floor and swing itself around using its one free track, contacting the ground on a different plane to the others, and pulling the rest of the machine off the lifter and down to terra firma. Now in position to attack Back To Rock, Darkestar pushes forward with the blade running at full tilt, catching the Dutch machine just as it tries to reverse back from the scene!
CRASH! In the first big hit of the fight, Back To Rock is thrown side over side, almost doing a 360 degree spin in the air but hitting the floor with not quite enough energy to roll back onto its wheels, teetering on one corner for a moment. Martijn pulls on his transmitter, as the lifter flicks out in high gear, but too fast, as all it does is stabilise the machine in its current position and leave it looking statuesque on the arena floor. Darkestar looks on, revving the blade up to speed again, as the lifter on Back To Rock retracts, dragging the rest of the robot around - the side skirt hinges scraping up paint from the steel arena floor as this happens - and once fully flush with the body again begins to lift again, this time the Lynch motor and rack mechanism having the desired effect, as the front of the robot rises into the air like some greaceful mechanical dolphin, as the centre of gravity shifts and the robot rolls around its back end and lands just in front of the pit with nary a bump, the lifter beginning to retract almost before it hits the ground. Darkestar has seen a chance though, building up a head of steam as Alex drives in, and before Marti can reverse away from the scene...
CRASH! White sparks fly everywhere as Darkestars vicious triangle is buried into the side of Back To Rock once more, but little damage is actually being caused to the Dutch machine here - the seven millimetre thich titanium panels are resisting anything other than cosmetic scratches and chipped paintwork. But thats not the main worry for Marti right now...the main worry is the kinetic energy transfer sending his machine hopping up in the air, almost attracted to the tube at the top of the arenas inner walls, tumbling over it before catching the railway sleeper again as it comes down and hits the floor again...next to the polycarbonate outer screening! Darkestar backs off slightly, Alex looking somewhat surprised in his booth, but being gamely applauded as the winner across the podium by a no less incredulous Marti, who allows his sense of humour to overcome his disappointment as he laughs off his own robots sudden ejection from the arena.

CEASE

Joey: A battle of technicolour sparks and lots of action, topped off by a great finish...Back To Rock III fought well, but the winner and still the reigning champion, Darkestar!

*gestures* Come on up guys.

*both booths raise, the roboteers join Joey via some stairs. Much handshaking occurs amidst comments of jolly good and great work*

Joey: Well, Marti...that was a bit sudden I must say.
Martijn: It was rather...I was hoping to last a bit longer, until that double whammy of hits I thought I was on top there.
Joey: I thought that too...truth be told when I started watching this I thought youd win, but...
Martijn: ...things just turned out differently yeah, I was on top but didnt get under him at the right time I think.
Joey: Ah well, youve been great so far, and youve got three more in the competition so all is not lost.
Martijn: Thankyou, Captain Obvious. It has been fun so far though.
Joey: *odd look*...hmm...anyway, lets raise a hand for Martijn Benschop, with Back To Rock III!

*cheering*

Alex: The champion is marching on!
Joey: So it is, so it is...you looked a bit surprised to be throwing him out of the ring though, was that the intention?
Alex: Indirectly it was *laughs* I was going to try and prop it up against the wall so I could get it out on the next hit, but...I guess I dont know my own strength, heh.
Joey: Do you think that strength could carry you all the way?
Alex: Well see, like I said two weeks ago Id like to get as far as possible though. Anyone who wants this crown is gonna have to fight me for it...
Joey: Youll be doing a lot of fighting then, that seems to be everyone elses aim. *laughs* Give it up, heat A winner, Darkestar!

*cheering*

Join us next time, whenever that may be, for Heat B, where we shall have a Tug Of War trial and the following machines:
MORD 2
Thor
Disco 5
Shadow Zone Forever
System Shock V: Hex
Night Stalker

Catch you then, and any comments, tactics or predictions are warmly welcomed. :)

(Message edited by joeychevron on February 26, 2009)

nice fight Mr. McConnell... I will go with... Disco to go out then possibly Thor in Tug of War

...and so the tournament progresses at a medium medium speed...very sorry for the recent delays, had problems with a leaking fishtank and the fact that School have decided that they are going to give me some work to do for once.

Still, got a weekend free now so should be able to get the gauntlet up within the next couple of days. Till then, heres some lovely intros :)

FIRST, FROM LANCASHIRE, MASTER OF ROBOT DESTRUCTION 2!
A long, narrow machine that uses a shuffling propulsion system to gain a weight advantage, MORD runs on electric go-kart motors and is encased in Hardox wearplating for protection, the main weapons system being a titanium 180 degree electric lifting scoop, which lifts up to reveal a 2000rpm spinning drum, which makes up almost a fifth of the robots weight!

FROM KINGSTHORPE IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, THOR!
The god of thunder returns for the new series, covered in silver lightning bolts over a black Hardox bodyshell and powered by a pair of four horsepower Magmotors. The main feature of Thor is the pneumatic hammer working with the front scoop to ram into opponents and perform a few gentle taps to sort out any virus problems the opposing machines may have. :proud:

FROM KELVEDON IN ESSEX, DISCO 5!
Disco 5s main weapon is the rear yellow vertical flywheel device run from a C40-500 magmotor through timing belts, backed up by the front hinge 10 bar flipper and side skirts to try and thwart wedge attacks. A well engineered titanium monocoque chassis gives the innards strong but light protection, and it has quite a reputation to uphold in the arena.

FROM TORONTO IN CANADA, SHADOW ZONE FOREVER!
Another monocoque design, using a classic Lynch motor driven rammer setup with four aluminium wheels but making use of lithium battery technology to save weight for a Hardox and titanium body and heavily shockproofed front scoop designed to withstand spinner hits with its concave surface. The rear full pressure flipper can be used as a weapon but is mainly a self righting device.

FROM CARDIFF IN WALES, SYSTEM SHOCK V: HEX!
Interchangable weapons is the key to System Shock - the team have a choice of a spinning disc, an anti crusher frame attached to said disc, a variety of scoops and wedges and a vertical drum, all surrounding a Hardox four wheel drive fast box wedge that can also have tracks fitted, making it a real chameleon. The two drive motors run at 48 volts and weigh eleven kilograms each!

FROM ARIZONA IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, NIGHT STALKER!
Finally, this wide machine from the very southern reaches of the States hopes to use its scaring eyes to intimidate the opposition, backed up as they are by a revolving body with sawblade teeth spaced around the bottom edge to rip into opponents. The motors in Night Stalker are from wheelchairs, the batteries designed for golf carts, and the shell is made of thick and heavy steel.

COMING UP NEXT CENTURY:
The Gauntlet
Quick reminder to Liam that System Shock is interchangable and I need to know what hes using

Classic Setup for the gauntlet

Tracks or wheels?

wheels

sorry i forgot i put that in the stats :P will be more in formative next time, and faster

Thanks for that dude.

Will get the gauntlet done...at some stage. Its still on track for one heat a month isnt it :proud:

Onwards and upwards, or downwards as the case may be...

Heat B - Gauntlet

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

Rich Southworth is back for this episode, this time first up with MORD 2.

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

Within one second of the activate Richard has applied power to his machines motors and MORD races forward out of the starting cage, moving a few metres before pausing, contemplating the breezeblock wall ahead of it as Richard decides which direction to take. There is a short pause, followed by a high pitched whine as Killalots tracks activate and the house robot moves up past the Sentinel, which MORD takes as its cue to turn, the shuffling feet vibrating as MORD curves to the left and drives with increasing speed towards the angle grinders, which whir up obligingly, as MORD brakes one side and performs another 90 degree turn before speeding up again, moving forwards...and although the ramrig is closed, the only a third of a metre wide MORD manages to slip between the rig and the saws regardless of this, much to Richards excitement as he picks up speed, accelerating MORD to its full 20mph velocity and flying down the ramrig route...only to meet a sudden stop and a shower of bright sparks as one of the titanium side skirts clips the saws and brings MORD to an abrupt halt, having gone down the route at a slight angle. Momentarily set back, Richard reverses his machine slightly, turning one side to line MORD up for an escape, and then flooring the accelerator to push his machine forward just as the rig closes in...and MORD avoids the rig, Matilda comes in, raising the tusks to try and grab on to the skirt hinges of the machine, which she does, but only succeeding in changing MORDs direction slightly, the tip of the tusk wrenched away as the charge continues, and MORD avoids Matilda, the flames flare up, MORD avoids the flames, MORD avoids the fence, but MORD does not avoid the end zone!

STOP, AND DEACTIVATE ROBOTS

MORD 2 - Completed in 25 seconds

***

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

Next up is Thor, back again with Jason Marston and Shane Swan.

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

A slower start from Thor, driving forward into the arena, and beginning a very deliberate and controlled curve past one of the dividing fences and turning into the Sentinels route. The arena spikes come up in warning from the arena floor, as Jason eases off on his controls and allows Thor to coast to a gentle collision with them, awaiting their retraction so he can move across and into the route proper. The spikes retract...and Thor turns up the power, accelerating almost perfectly across the spikes before they raise again, the leftmost catching the rear of the robot but only succeeding in making it jump slightly as the momentum pulls Thor away. Past the first pit, and Thor picks up speed as it approaches the Sentinel, hoping to time it right...and Thor does, missing the arm as it edges beneath the obstacle, but now faces a much more difficult challenge in the shape of Sir Killalot. The house robot moves forward to block any chance of Thors escape, but something Shane is saying up in the booth makes Jason keep going, in fact slamming the sticks forward - prompting a burst of speed and an almighty crash as competitor and house robot meet, and the pneumatically powered hammer weapon flies over the top of Thor, burying itself into the fibreglass shoulder plate of Killalot!
The crowd are startled into paying attention by this sudden excitement, but their reaction is extremely positive, and egged on by this Shane retracts Thors hammer and brings it over again, this time seeming a lot slower but still hitting with enough force to cleave into Killalots mask and cause something to fall away from the front of the house robot! Shane is celebrating up in the control booth, as Jason pushes the sticks forward with a grin on his face...a grin that turns into a concerned grimace, Thor doesnt seem to have the power to shift the great 300kg house robot out of the way, only producing a tiny bit of backwards movement. Behind Killalot, Dead Metal comes in, ramming the house machine with pincers closed, but to much the same effect; Killalot is immobile there in the middle of the route, and as Thor reverses slightly - the hammer dropping from its crevice in the house robots armour before flicking back into place atop the robot - and rams in again, it doesnt seem as though Thor is going to progress much further, with the house robot broken down and in the way, and time is ticking down...

STOP, AND DEACTIVATE ROBOTS

Thor - 8.5 metres

***

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

At the controls of the next machine Disco 5, Martyn Forsyth.

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

Disco 5 starts rather quickly, clattering the starting cage as one side moves before the other but driving out into the central section of the gauntlet after a few more seconds of clattering, and Martyn keeps going in towards the wall, his machines front wedge undercutting the front bricks and causing the blocks to fall backwards onto Discos wedge, before the flipper fires and kicks away the blocks, the disturbance bringing down more blocks from the still standing sections of the wall. Surrounded by concrete chips and white dust, Disco pauses briefly as the flipper retracts, before edging forward on to the ramp...pausing again...and Martyn leans forward in his booth to see whats going on, as Disco 5 doesnt appear to have any traction on the arena floor. The wheels spin and spin from the four horsepower motors, but the robot is well and truly stuck in the interface between the ground and the ramp; a flick of the flipper jolts the machine but cant seem to free it. Martyns face falls as he tries everything on his transmitter to free his stricken machine, but his efforts have not gone unnoticed by a repaired Sir Killalot, who is now rounding the top corner and closing in on Disco...the house robot pauses, lowers the lance, and drives forward, impaling the disc slot in the rear of the machine and stopping the weapon from rotating! The poke has given Disco some traction with the front wheels, but the weight of Killalot doesnt let it escape, and there is naught but tyre smoke from the ramp, as Killalot lifts Disco slightly and pulls it to one side, the lance wrenched free of the machine as it topples over the side of the ramp, flipper opening to arrest its descent, and now completely without traction as the wheels slow in the air.

STOP, AND DEACTIVATE ROBOTS

Disco 5 - 3.75 metres

***

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

All the way from Canada with Shadow Zone Forever, its Kody Kunz.

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

Kody slams his transmitter stick forward almost pre-emptively, and Shadow Zone immediately rushes out and barrels into the breezeblock wall, tyres squealing, sending white clouds and chips everywhere as the barrier implodes around his machine. Not slowing down, Kody keeps pouring on the amps and the front scoop scrapes up the concrete fragments from the floor and drives forward onto the ramp...and stops. The sound of chains on sprockets fills the arena as Shadow Zones wheels spin, but the rear blades are jamming into the arena floor with the weight of the robot acting on them, and with the front scoop hung up on the ramp, Shadow Zone is facing the same problems with having zero ground clearance at the front and rear as Disco 5 had earlier!
Kody tries the flipper, looking worried as Killalot has sensed his machines stress and is making his way up the Sentinel route to meet him, while Matilda is driving up the ramrig in support...and with the rear blades jammed in the ground the flipper only gives a small kick to the robots position...and jolts the ramp forward, allowing Shadow Zone to get free! The still spinning wheels clutch at the arena floor and amidst much squealing jolt the robot forward...forward onto the ramp...and Kody clasps his hand to his head as he realises his robot is stuck once more, that chain-on-sprocket sound confirming his suspicions. Matilda interrupts his despair by barging past the vestigial wall with her dangerous backside (...oo-er) and, revving the chainsaw, deliberately forces it down onto Shadow Zones shell, creating a steady stream of brilliant white titanium sparks from the chainsaw blade, but not having much penetrating effect.

STOP, AND DEACTIVATE ROBOTS

Shadow Zone Forever - 3.85 metres

***

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

Liam Eliot is the penultimate contender, with System Shock.

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

Like Shadow Zone before it, System Shock immediately moves straight out of the starting box, but unlike the previous machine not having the lightning acceleration of Shadow Zone with its 28mph top speed. It is enough however to maintain a straight line collision trajectory with the blocks and cause another wall implosion as the bricks tumble on to the Hardox lid of System Shock in a white mist. Liam backs up a bit, turning as he does so, before driving forward and turning again to effectively sweep the path in front of him of bricks, and facing the ramp again powers forward onto it...and, in a first for this heat, maintaining traction and getting up on to the ramp with ease. A relieved System Shock hesitates for a second, across the ramp Shunt is backing up almost to catch it as it comes down, but after that pause Liam drives forward again, picking up speed...up over the halfway point, the ramp topples over just in time for System Shock to fly off it, and there is no yielding in direction to the house robot as Shunt awaits...the competitor slams straight into the house machine, and as the axe pecks down and dents the top armour of System Shock, scraping away the grey and yellow paint, the sound of wheelspin fills the arena...the two wheels of Shunt are not proving to be a match for the four wheel Lynch drive of System Shock, and the two machines are edging backwards...backwards...almost to the line! Dead Metal charges in to come to his house robot friends aid, hitting the deadlock, but its not enough to stop System Shock and Liam from edging over the finish line, to joyous shouts from Liam!

STOP, AND DEACTIVATE ROBOTS

System Shock V - Completed in 31.5 seconds

***

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

And finally Night Stalker, captained by Tim McTigue with Elliot Stevens on the weapons.

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

Night Stalker is the widest machine in the heat, and as such is starting from in front of the cage...and is making a slow start, easing forward and pushing against the concrete wall, which gives way after a few seconds with bricks falling left right and centre , bouncing off the steel outer dome of Night Stalker. Tim reverses the machine and drives forward again, turning and allowing the dome to rotate and push some more of the blocks away, before turning again, coming up to the ramp, and the far reaches of the blade catch on one of the spiked pyramids and jam it against the surface of the ramp. Elliot turns on the full body spinner, and Night Stalker remains still for a couple of seconds before the pyramid is wrenched free, allowing Tim to drive his machine up on to the ramp.
Ascending the obstacle at something of a jaunty angle, Night Stalker pauses just before the halfway point, bringing the spinning shell to a stop, and can be seen beneath the clear top making some adjustments to the angle of the inner body, before Tim turns up the throttle again, and Night Stalker drives sideways and over the edge of the ramp, the sawblade edge of the shell jamming itself in the dividing fence.
Tim hangs his head, reversing the two wheelchair motors of Night Stalker to try and claw itself back on the ramp, but Elliot shakes his head as the ramp is merely forced backwards by the turning of the wheels, leaving their robot well and truly stranded now. Dead Metal grapples onto the ramp with its claws, the two series wound drive motors of the house robot forcing him further up the course, but as the saw arm comes down it doesnt seem to be able to reach the stranded shell spinner, and Tim retracts his transmitter aerial with a shake of the head, but also a small smile in the knowledge that the house robots cant reach his machine, and also confident that while he may not have got far, hes got far enough...

STOP, AND DEACTIVATE ROBOTS

Night Stalker - 5.5 metres

Leaderboard:
1: MORD 2 - Completed
2: System Shock V: Hex - Completed
3: Thor - 8.5m
4: Night Stalker - 5.5m
5: Shadow Zone Forever - 3.85m
6: Disco 5 - 3.75m

*cut to pits*

Joey: Martyn, I kind of realise this might not be the best time to tell you this, but...youre out of the tournament...
Martyn: Yes...
Joey: ...by ten centimetres.
Martyn: Ouch.
Joey: Yeah...how did you end up stuck on the ramp?
Martyn: Ground clearance problems I think...theres no hinges in the design, the rear wedge (pushes down on rear wedge) is sprung down to the floor and it cant travel up beyond a certain point, and because the fronts scraping the floor as well I had trouble when going onto the ramp.
Joey: Ah. Kody was saying he had that problem too...better luck next time though, sorry it had to be you that went out.
Martyn: Yeah, best to look to the future.

COMING UP NEXT:
Tug Of War (vs. Dead Metal, dont think Ill need tactics so will get on that tomorrow)

Any comments/thoughts/random fish? :)

Since Nightstalker is designed for destroying things and not for playground games, I think it is going out :proud:

w00t! :proud:

Great writing Joey, hopefully the traction of my err.. tracks and lynch motor power will see through here :)

Same setup as before, but with tracks instead of wheels

(Message edited by Swimm3r on March 14, 2009)

thats what we would do with thor too. sweet

On behalf of Mr McConnell...

Joey sez: Firstly, I can't post on my own account right now because apparently phpbb's standard setting is to block all IP addresses from Kuwait, or some other odd reason, and therefore I can do everything with my own account except actually post anything.

Which...sucks. :lame:

I have had words with Kane and hopefully a solution is on the horizon, but until such a time that I may be able to post freely I shall have to put my words in the mouths of other people. How I go about that, I know not; I can imagine saliva, tubes and tongs may or may not be involved.
(and on that topic thanks to Steve for posting this for me, cheers dude :) )

And for now...I present to you the Chevron Championship Heat B Tug Of War!

MORD 2

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

After a brief pause both machines move, and the chain pulls tight over the pit...and immediately slackens again, MORD's shuffling beams losing grip on the floor of the gangway as they lift up and down, with Richard checking his hands are in the right place, pulling back on the sticks...MORD pulls back, bringing the rope tight again, but as Dead Metal

moves forward it jerks MORD back towards the pit, the drive is working but to little effect on the floor. MORD grabs some advantage though, managing to pull the chain tight, but the four go-kart motors can't get the grip needed, and Dead Metal drives forward a third time, closing its pincers, and reaches the ramp down, MORD kicking and screaming

as it's dragged back, almost to the edge! Richard raises his controls above his head, hoping for some last minute reprieve, and the shuffling beams edge his robot away...until a final pull, Dead Metal descending the ramp and MORD going sideways on to the pit before tumbling over the edge, into the smoke and darkness!

MORD 2 - 15 seconds

***

SYSTEM SHOCK V

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

System Shock powers forward almost immediately, the white markings on the belt tracks moving forward and swallowed by the inky blackness of the wheel holes, and the speed of the machine catches Dead Metal off guard, jolting the house robot backwards and forcing the drive motors to kick into gear...the wheels spin, but not producing much

forward movement, as Liam applies the throttle and Dead Metal is increasingly faster as it approaches the edge of the pit! The pincers open, doing little more than scraping the paint from the barriers as the backwards slide continues...and stops, Liam deciding to reverse System Shock towards the pit a few centimetres. Dead Metal siezes his chance and

begins to pull the chain taut, but Liam has a sly smile on his face...removing his fingers from the throttle trims and flooring the power, his robot flying down the gangway and dragging Dead Metal, saw arm waving in the air, to the edge of the pit and sliding down until the pincers snap at the air like a wounded dolphin, to an eruption of smoke from the pit,

joy from the crowd, and cheers from the pits and from Liam!

System Shock V: Hex - WON in 11 seconds

***

THOR

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

As usual, the two robots start pulling, the chain pulling tight above the central pit. Thor's wheels squeak against the floorboards, and the faintest trace of tyre smoke can be seen drifting up from the base of Thor...but also from the base of the house robot too. Dead Metal pauses and finds itself dragged back an inch by Thor, but Jason's efforts are

cancelled out as the series wound drive motors resume operation and slowly edge back to equilibrium...both machines pulling and pulling, the slightest bit of some movement towards the bottom of the arena as Dead Metal seems to be proving slightly the stronger, but it's almost indiscernible, interrupted only by brief periods of pulling one way or the

other as either house or contestant robot take a break. No end seems to be in sight, Thor is pulling and slowing the progress enough to survive, Dead Metal is advancing at too slow a rate to really be worthwhile...and the only resolution forthcoming is the klaxon, the chain slackening once more as Jason shrugs contentedly.

Thor - Survived

***

NIGHT STALKER

Joey: So let me get this straight...you're not confident at all?
Tim: Nope.
Elliot: Not at all *grins*
Joey: ...how come?
Elliot: Well it's built for smashing things to pieces, not for pulling house robots...we're pretty much not going to win this.
Joey: Right...there's nothing quite like complete and total unadulterated confidence is there?

*cut to arena*

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

Dead Metal moves down the arena, pulling the chain tight, as Night Stalker's wheelchair motors begin to push it up to the top end of the gangway...but it moves less than half a metre before the chain pulls it back, the shell rocking precariously as the 1.2m diameter circular machine slides down towards the pit, not looking as if it'll stay in there much longer.

Elliot, at the controls, puts some more pressure on the sticks, but Dead Metal is determined...pausing as Night Stalker sits a hair's breadth from oblivion, the competitor robot pulls at the chain but can only produce a few centimetres of movement up towards safety...and as Dead Metal turns up the power again, Night Stalker loses all grip as the front

end tilts up, the wheels lift, and the house robot pulls it over the edge, leaving it wedged in the pit, the green eyes disappearing in the smoke.

Night Stalker - 8.5 seconds

***

SHADOW ZONE FOREVER

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

Shadow Zone starts quickly, pulling the chain tight and arresting Dead Metal's attempts at gaining the upper hand, the house robot's pincers rising up in the air as the rear end of the house robot is yanked downwards. The wheels of both machines spin, a squealing sound filling the arena, as Shadow Zone slowly drags Dead Metal closer and closer to the pit, the two Lynch motors giving plenty of power to close the gap...Dead Metal turns though, slowing the progress of Shadow Zone, and the wheels begin to spin slower as they get some grip on the gangway. Kody pauses for a second, the sudden relief in the chain tension causing Dead Metal to move a few inches forward and gain some ground, but then the pulling resumes...Shadow Zone slowly but surely getting the better of the house robot. The progress is slow though, there is but a metre between the tail end of the house robot and the drop down into the pit, but it's not closing very fast, Dead Metal slowly beginning to cancel out the pulling of the competitor robot, and as Kody tries and tries to drag it the final short distance into the pit, time ticks down...and while Dead Metal might not have been too successful this round, it ends it on a high, the klaxon going as Dead Metal clings on to the area at the end of the gangway.

Shadow Zone Forever - Survived

Leaderboard
1: System Shock V: Hex - Victorious
2: Shadow Zone Forever - Survived
3: Thor - Survived
4: MORD 2 - 15 secs
5: Night Stalker - 8.5 secs

Coming next:
Heat B - Arena
System Shock V: Hex vs. Thor
Shadow Zone Forever vs. MORD 2

To paraphrase Marti: Gimme your tactics, gimme your predictions, gimme your thoughts :proud:

w00t! :P

System Shock V: Hex vs. Thor

hmm.. Thor.... It's a tough robot, so I'll be using the wheeled setup and putting the spinning drum on the front, mainly attempting to ram Thor from the sides with the drum with knock it around the arena, using my superior power to help with this. I'm aiming for the pit, or even over the fence if I can manage it. Good luck Shane :)

Shadow Zone Forever vs. MORD 2

This will be close, but I think MORD2 may edge a judge's decision on damage.

Excellent stuff thus far Joey, keep up the great work :D 8)

Being back feels good. :proud: w00t!

System Shock V: Hex vs. Thor

Thor's a tough nut to crack, and I fear too tough. System Shock to lose a judges decision based on damage.

Shadow Zone Forever vs. M.O.R.D. 2

I've beaten M.O.R.D. 2 before, but with Wedginator...5.0. XD How'd I beat it? Pushing it around and eventually into the pit. I plan to make this time no different. Bore into it with the scoop and smack it around. The drum shouldn't really damage me, at the very least not the front. Aim to get it down the pit, and toss it over only if it's being a pest or if I need to self-right.

Good luck Richard ol' pal.

Good luck back, Kody! SZF looks like a tough nut - I'll try and use the drum on the sides, and lower the scoop and push if I run into the front or rear.

FEATHERWEIGHTS ROUND ONE
Rolling Pin FTW vs. Skink vs. Heretic vs. Micrompression vs. Little Hitter 2

Joey: Okay, now the reason you readers - all three of you - are listening to my drivel now is because it's time for the weight classes other than the 100kg heavyweights to take the stage and show us what they can do, as they fight for a place in the otherweight finals later in the series. Two of the machines here will go through, out of five...first one is Rolling Pin For The Win, built by Steve and very Barberous-esque in its approach, it has a Speed 900 driving the body to about two thousand revs per minute, drill motor drive, and I've been asked to say it's the *gets out piece of paper* Perfect balance of spin-up and slaughter, whatever that may mean or whichever object it refers to, but there it is. Skink is next, it has two Gold motors here for power, armoured largely in high density polyethylene of varying thicknesses and this flipper *Jack raises robot's flipper* can throw quite a lot, it runs on full bottle pressure CO2.
Heretic is another of Kody's Canadian machines, it's...Kody, take your hand out of the robot's wires when I'm showing it off!...it's got two drive motors, a Magmotor in here that powers a blade, and the entire machine in my opinion actually looks like it came out of Doom...might be just me, but the paintwork is similar. Now, the only featherweight in the competition with hydraulics in is next, Micrompression, courtesy of one Lewis Matthews, it's also powered by Gold motors and has a Hardox monocoque body with these claws on the front, hydraulically driven, and a wedge in between for beaching opponents so they can be compressed. Finally, the machine that scares me more than any of the others here *Sam laughs*, it's the titanium covered Little Hitter, which might incorporate water bottles as part of its construction but this axe here does the business.

*cut to arena*

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

Booth 1: Steve McGregor (middle left hand side), Jack Orr, Mike Hamilton-Macy (lower left hand side)
Booth 2: Kody Kunz (top centre), Lewis Matthews (upper right hand side), Mark Lumb, Samuel Park (middle right hand side)

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

The spotlights lift from all the featherweights as the lighting in the arena generally brightens...this is a very good thing as within a second of the call to begin all the featherweights have left their appointed starting positions, up at the top of the arena Heretic turns towards the pit as Micrompression shoots past it with claws extended, while at the other side of the pit Rolling Pin FTW's giant turd is looking more and more so as the black teeth blur with the wood effect body to give a very fecal overall effect. Skink powers into the middle of the arena, angling towards and colliding with Micrompression going in the opposite direction, but Lewis has no time to get a grip before the robots bounce apart and brush each other aside, the hydraulic crushing claws close on thin air. Little Hitter sees its chance now, driving in on Micrompression, which turns around and clatters the titanium box with its claws, deflecting the charge of Sam and Mark to one side.
The axe flicks over the body, but hits at nothing, and as Little Hitter turns away from the scene to line up another attack, Micrompression charges in, full forwards, with the claws half open as they collide with the side of the axebot, scraping over the paintwork as the sideways push begins, until they clear the bodywork and Little Hitter fits snugly inside the claws as Micrompression pushes its opponent towards the top end of the arena...as they approach the outer corner of the patrol zone, Heretic slams into reverse, the blade now a red and grey blur beneath the robot, and comes in at the side of both robots!
CRASH! Micrompression's claws lose grip on Little Hitter as both robots are thrown aside, but the damage seems to be mainly kinetic - aside from the paintwork of Micrompression being scratched and Little Hitter's armour recieving a nasty gouge, both machines still seem to function properly, Micrompression ramming in again on Little Hitter, which is now in the correct orientation to use its weapon...and does so, flicking it back over the robot before firing it once more, slamming down on the Hardox lid of Micrompression as Lewis' machine pushes it towards the arena wall once more. Meanwhile, Rolling Pin FTW is accelerating across the arena pursued by a slightly dented looking Skink, which has some deforming of the HDPE armour on the right hand side of the robot, but seems fast as ever as it angles to one side, Mike and Jack attempting to catch up to Steve's machine.
Rolling Pin FTW turns, as Heretic is reversing out from the edge of the patrol zone - Killalot having come a bit too close for Kody's liking - and barely dodges the full body drum spinner, only to come between it and Skink and ride up on the scoop of the plastic flipper! The bar packs very little energy now, and is slowed to a stop by the flipper plate and the arena floor. Skink almost immediately deviates from its course and pushes Heretic towards the top left hand corner of the arena, turning and picking up speed, while Micrompression, having been clawing at Little Hitter while recieving punishment from the axe, reverses its drive to back away from the arena wall, away from the range of the weapon, which gets a final hit in on the hinged wedge as the right hand claw wrenches itself free from the gouge made in the titanium cladding. The top armour badly dented, Micrompression creeps backwards, back from the arena wall - and straight into Rolling Pin FTW!
CRASH! Micrompression is thrown end over end, landing on Little Hitter, which though it fires the axe again does little more than push it out of its way. Both machines move away from the still advancing Rolling Pin, Little Hitter as part of a retreat pushing Micrompression out of the way, and Lewis getting traction just in time to flee a second hit from the drum and swerve off around one of the wheel hubs of Steve's machine. Heretic and Skink, meanwhile, have reached the top of the arena, and although there is no opportunity to flip opponents OOTA at this juncture, Jack presses on the switch anyway, flicking the still stranded Heretic up into the air and off the wedge, bouncing off the wall and back over the top of Skink...and landing on the edge of the pit, skidding, straddling the edge of the abyss before hitting the corner and the weight of the blade turning to pull Heretic down onto the tyres, to an eruption of pyrotechnic smoke from the pit and a resigned sigh from Kody, the first person eliminated from the melee!
Four left, two to go, as Rolling Pin FTW backs up at an angle in pursuit of Micrompression, which brakes on one side to swivel and face it with the wide open hydraulic claws, and after a couple of spoken thoughts from Steve he starts to move forward instead, the drum spinning for all it is worth, turning as Little Hitter comes across from the left with purpose. The axe fires, but at thin air as Rolling Pin FTW's wheel moves deftly out of the way...and the drum comes in on the side of Mark Lumb's machine!
CRASH! Titanium sparks light up the arena as Little Hitter is thrown somersaulting over onto its back, the titanium plating showing signs of warping from the impact energy of this and earlier collisions. The axe flicks over, though, flipping the robot back onto its wheels as it bounces on the arena floor...but the Pin comes back, and Little Hitter can't seem to get away from the second charge! There's no movement, no twitch of the weaponry - something had been dislodged by the self righting after repeated attacks, and Sam seems to realise this as Rolling Pin almost coasts into the side of Little Hitter, flicking it up with some sparks, and allowing it to hang in the air for a moment before toppling onto its side, immobilised, and out.
Skink has turned from the arena wall, and Mike is sending it back into the action - shooting past the still waiting Micrompression, which elects to take up the chase having been out of the action for a bit. The Rolling Pin reverses back onto the scene as well, colliding with a speeding Micrompression but the slowed drum having no real effect, the titanium teeth halted by the Hardox claws. Lewis powers ahead regardless, catching on the wheel hub of Rolling Pin FTW and edging it to one side, and beyond that foe is Skink, who has made a U-turn and is headed squarely in Micrompression's direction...and its foe pauses for a moment before accelerating forward to meet it, the featherweights collide...and Skink rides up the front hinged scoop of Micrompression! The hydraulic claws begin to close, one side slipping beneath the increased clearance of the beached Skink but the other finding a weak spot...not penetrating much due to the lack of anything to crush against, but twisting Skink sideways on the front scoop, stranding it firmly.
Up in the control booth, Kody is advising Lewis to 'get it down the pit' and it seems that is advice well taken by the Micrompression driver, who turns in a 200 degree arc on one wheel before applying power to the other side, Skink remaining stuck on the front, and Mike and Jack seem to be able to do nothing as their machine is driven towards the pit, a flick of the flipper doing little more than hopping it into the air to land further wedged on the top edge of Micrompression...until the edge of the pit is reached, and with the Rolling Pin looking on, its weapon spinning down, Micrompression performs a quick turn as the plastic yellow and blue machine slides off the claw and wedge and falls out of view, descending to land on top of the beaten Heretic!

CEASE

Micrompression backs up from the pit as Rolling Pin FTW begins to spin around in victory, Steve showing a broad grin as he shakes hands with Mike and Jack, while Kody pats Lewis on the back as he exchanges congratulations with Mark and Sam.
Heretic pitted by Skink
Little Hitter immobilised after attacks from Rolling Pin FTW
Skink pitted by Micrompression
Micrompression and Rolling Pin FTW go through to the featherweight final!

Aw dangit. I guess Pillow Torque got revenge through Skink. :P

Wonderfully written nonetheless :D

Thor is built for spinners. With hardox armour spinners will have a tough job stopping Thor. Hammers love spinners and Thors hammer will cut short any spinners life. Now with 30 to 40 top power fires there is lots of damage to be done. Good Luck guys

Firstly, apologies for the delay recently, I have been a bit ill and unable to concentrate on writing.

However, one sudden burst of inspiration has resulted in this, which I present to tide you over:

Heat B
Semi Final 1
System Shock V: Hex vs. Thor

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

Booth 1, left hand side: Liam Eliot
Booth 2, right hand side: Jason Marston, Shane Swan

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

Both robots in the fight almost jump the gun, System Shock's drum already rotating fast as it darts forward from its starting position while Thor turns to one side before correcting itself, coming out slightly slower, as it curves around to face the rapidly accelerating System Shock. Liam pushes harder at his robot's controls, sending it on a banzai run across the arena and braking one side of the drive to swing the left wheels around, bringing the rapidly spinning weapon in on the side of Thor just after the centre of the arena!
CRASH! The Lynch motor driven weapon hasn't had time to store a lot of energy, but it's still enough for the drum teeth to create a shower of sparks on contact with the Hardox weapon, and the hammer of Thor flicks over to little use as it hits thin air, the machine having been flicked up in the air by five or six inches. Liam takes advantage of this and continues the assault, the drum slowing to a halt against the front edge and base of Thor but the robot well in underneath, before System Shock abruptly brakes, and Thor's hammer retracts only to pull Thor further over its side and cause it to topple over onto the flame grid. The fire flares up, briefly engulfing the black and silver machine, but the hammer raises the body of the robot out of the flames, Thor tumbling out of the way of System Shock and bouncing back on its wheels just to the side of the flame pit, pulling away in reverse and retracting the hammer as Jason sees System Shock turning towards his machine.
Thor glides to a stop before turning and accelerating slowly towards System Shock again, which responds in kind, but Liam has twice as many volts at his disposal, and with the drum beginning to spin up again he suddenly floors the power and his robot jumps forward towards Thor...the drum sparks from the front edge but does little other than knock Thor upwards a bit, the lack of energy meaning one wheel still has contact with the ground...and as System Shock comes in for another drive, Thor's hammer flicks over the top...and impacts just to the left of one of the motor covers! Liam winces up in his control box, pushing further forward on the sticks to get Thor out of the way...but as the drum scrapes on the front of Thor and the two robots move towards the left of the arena, in a cacophony of squealing tyres, the hammer retracts...and fires again, this time directly impacting the large bump atop the robot housing one of the drive motors!
The height of System Shock's chassis left the motors very exposed, snuggled right against an arch of Hardox that was the only protection for the part of the 20cm diameter motor left outside of the 15cm high chassis...and the shove suddenly stops, as Thor backs away, the hammer scraping over the top armour and dropping down onto the stainless steel arena floor. System Shock twitches, and the drum begins to spin again as it moves forward...and downwards...tracing an arc over the arena floor as it becomes clear that only one side of the drive is working. Thor's hammer flicks back over the body, before Jason, allowing a small smile to show on his face, drives in for the kill...System Shock can't get away, Liam's efforts to get the shocked motor to respond are for naught, and Thor cruises in on the side of his machine before the hammer hits a third time, chipping at the paint atop the Welsh machine, and retracts to leave a distinct dent in the Hardox top, firing again and denting again...
Thor eventually pulls away, having rained down blow after blow on the now rather bowed inwards top armour on System Shock, and it has taken its toll as Liam can't seem to get any power to his robot at all. Jason looks very satisfied across the podium, his shoulders relaxing as Shane grins widely, flicking the axe back into position one more time as Thor begins to rotate in a spin of victory.

CEASE

System Shock, on top early on, is defeated by a single hammer blow from the thunder god.
THOR GOES THROUGH TO THE HEAT FINAL!

*cut to the pits*

Joey: ...uh...far be it from me to ask the obvious, but what happened?
Liam: *laughs* We got hammered, basically. Something shorted out against the top armour in the end...I'm amazed, it actually bent it down to scrape the components, it got a right bashing.
Joey: It did indeed...what's that?
Liam: That is...well, rather it was one of the motors, the LEM 200...it got hit by the hammer, through the armour, small dent here, and it cracked the magnets, no power from it at all. Just stopped one side of the drive dead in its tracks.
Joey: Ah well, it's been good having you here...you're back in a few heats anyway, better get working on your other menaces *laughs*
Liam: Thanks, yeah I better had get working *grins*

COMING NEXT:
Shadow Zone Forever vs. MORD 2

Comments, predictions, a large rubber fish? :proud:

I had a feeling Nightstalker was going to lose :proud:

Sweet. Onwards and upwards with the mighty Thor.

Heat B
Semi Final 2
Shadow Zone Forever vs. Thor

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

Booth 1, left hand side: Kody Kunz
Booth 2, right hand side: Richard Southworth

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

MORD drives forward almost immediately, banking to the right, and unusually Richard has elected to start the fight with the scoop raised high here...not as odd as it seems as this exposes the front spinning drum weapon, which is slowly being brought up to speed by two of the four electric kart motors powering the machine. Shadow Zone moves tentatively out also, twitching and turning slightly, Kody glancing up at his transmitter aerial briefly...before, while MORD is cruising across the arena, slamming down the power and sending Shadow Zone lurching forward, barrelling across the arena and slamming into the front corner of Richard's machine!
CRASH! Both machines rebound from the collision (as do a shower of titanium on titanium sparks!), the teeth on the drum of MORD now visible as the motion is temporarily stopped, their stored energy showing itself in the scratched paintwork on the titanium scoop though. And it recovers quickly, the shuffling beams propelling MORD straight across and just in front of the corner of Shadow Zone, which turns, applying more power to the other side as the scoop edges are wedged forward onto the edges of the skirts, folding them underneath a bit and lifting the left side of the long machine from the floor, but the beams keep going and the right hand one, still in contact with the floor, pulls Richard's robot forward, swinging it off the front scoop as Shadow Zone begins its push...but as it breaks free, MORD banks worryingly, tipping over to one side as it turns, before the scoop is brought down by Richard to contact the floor and stabilise the robot, tipping it back onto its feet just as Shadow Zone turns and Kody is powering his machine forward on another charge! MORD evades it though, speeding backwards, briefly over the flame pit, which then flares obligingly as Richard stops, turns, and accelerates MORD forward through the flames and into the centre of the arena.
The last vestigial flames fading away in its wake, MORD comes to a stop and, with Shadow Zone in close pursuit, the beams swivel Richard's machine around quickly as the scoop raises, revealing the spinning drum to its opponent. Shadow Zone pauses briefly, Kody quickly working out a plan of attack, before applying power to the Lynch motors and darting up towards the top patrol zone, past the advancing MORD, and braking one side, swinging the four wheel drive rammer around and the edges of the scoop go beneath MORD's skirts once more...there is no last minute pull away for MORD2 this time, and the throttle is floored as Shadow Zone begins a push down the arena, in towards the house robots as it gets faster and faster...screeching to a halt at the edge of the patrol area, allowing its stricken opponent to slide off the scoop, the shuffling beams only getting traction with the floor in time to reverse the machine into Sir Killalot, crashing into the left track of the house robot! MORD turns away, but Killalot brings the lance across, turning and catching on the edge of MORD's scoop to drag it back into the zone, while Shunt comes across and barely misses the titanium top of MORD with the axe, retracting it and firing again to hammer the left shuffling beam. Richard looks concerned up in his booth, trying to get out of the corner he finds himself in, while also trying to steer his robot away from the house machines making his life difficult.
He backs MORD up a bit, causing the next axe blow to miss entirely, and shoots forward...out of the patrol zone...and manages to catch Shadow Zone Forever by surprise, the drum not spinning very fast but still creating a few sparks and a little hop when it impacts on the front side of the scoop. Shadow Zone reverses its wheels, but MORD is already in on the front corner and influencing its direction, edging it in an arc just in front of the flame pit...guiding Shadow Zone to neatly wedge itself in the wall, the faintest whiff of Shadow Zone's tyre smoke hanging in the air. MORD backs up, and the two PERM motors begin to spin the drum again, while Shadow Zone Forever drives forward away from the wall...the scoop grazing against the arena floor...ah. Shadow Zone cones to a stop, one side of the scoop having its corner firmly wedged at the edge of the flame pit, and as Kody's face falls behind the Lexan, a close up shot shows the scoop's supporting rubber is bent and slightly torn from the second impact from the drum, rendering the front end of Shadow Zone more of a hindrance than a help. Thinking quickly, Kody reverses Shadow Zone back, and slowly turns it in an arc so the rear end faces towards MORD 2, which is back on the attack with a rapidly spinning drum. MORD banks to one side, turning one way then the other to try and get in on the side of Shadow Zone, but Kody is quick to react and swings his robot's rear end in, the conrer just getting beneath the unskirted front of MORD before the drum can come into play...it pushes the wedge back slightly as sparks skim from the surface armour of Shadow Zone, but...
FLIP! MORD2 doesn't take much of the power of the flip, but it is still flicked...and CRASH! The drum makes midair contact with the flipper blade and pings both robots away from each other, Shadow Zone being flicked back into the corner of the arena and MORD beginning to fall back down, at a distinct angle...landing on its side, the skirt folding underneath the machine...and worryingly, the raised scoop that accommodates the drum is preventing MORD from falling completely over onto its back, the robot stuck between the side corner and the scoop! Richard tries his controls, and MORD's scoop turns...writhing the robot like some sort of agonized robotic worm, but as Shadow Zone slowly turns and controls itself back across the flame pit, dragging the now sorry looking scoop behind it, MORD doesn't show any signs of getting back onto its feet...the lifting plow is there whenever it manages to overbalance itself, preventing it from getting completely mobile again, and a resigned look forms on the face of the Lancashire roboteer as his results from the first heat seem, inextricably, duplicated in this; a gauntlet completion, a narrow scraping through in the trials, and...inevitably...a defeat in the semi finals.

CEASE

MORD2 had the upper hand just before the end, but one flip changed it all...
SHADOW ZONE FOREVER GOES THROUGH TO THE HEAT FINAL!

*in the pits, Richard straightening out one of MORD's skirts*

Joey: Bad luck there mate, you seemed to be doing well.
Richard: Well...after I got out of the patrol zone I had him on the ropes, before I dunno *laughs* but it was a good fight, just my luck really.
Joey: Yep...kind of strange, really, how the exact same thing happened last time.
Richard: It is actually...what are the odds of someone finishing the gauntlet, being fourth in the trials, and then going out...in consecutive heats?
Joey: Accidentally in consecutive heats.
Richard: Yes, accidentally having the exact same results...*looks directly at camera*
Joey: ...yeah. I can virtually guarantee it won't happen a third time though, sorry about that. *also looks at camera*

*pause*

Richard: *whispering* ...Joey...this improved budget of yours...does it extend to such luxuries as having a fourth wall?
Joey: *whispering* ...no...

COMING NEXT:
HEAT B FINAL
Thor vs. Shadow Zone Forever

...I'd like to apologise for the pace of this lately. My cousin visiting didn't help things :proud:, but after he left I didn't really have a good reason to slack off as I did...sorry about the lack of fights lately, I have a little bit more free time now so I shall endeavor to try and make this move quicker in future.

For now though, could I have some tactics, predictions, comments, and something gentle, creamy and rich please. No, Karoline, not what you're about to say :)

Good fight Joey, commiserations to Richie, yeh did well. :)

Thor vs. Shadow Zone Forever

Right. Thought I'd be seeing Thor in the heat final if I won, even before Thor's fight, and I've been cooking up a plan for its downfall. As with all evil plans it'll probably fail, but we'll see. :P

I'm gonna start out with the flipper pointed at Thor, and I'm just gonna come right at him and try to get under him. If I get under, flip immediately, then ram him all around the shop, it's what SZF does best. :proud: If he gets under me, I should still be okay. Reason being is that if he fires the hammer (which I'm sure he will), I can fire the flipper into the 'open' position and negate his hammer stroke for the most part, since he'll be smacking my flipper back down into its 'closed' position. I might even catch the axe shaft and stop it completely. In this way I can also protect my wheels. It will also be effective at negating him if he tries to grapple me, and then after either of these situations I can scoot away for another attack. My main target will be the sides and rear of Thor, and try to get it out of the arena or into the pit, if it's been opened, but if he's on the attack, I'll have the flipper pointed at his front to ward off his hammer strokes. The hammer's powerful, no denying that, but it can't do anything if all the force of it is being put into changing the position of my flipper. :proud: And yeah, if the flipper does go bye-bye, or if Thor's trying to get at the scoop, I'll turn around, and repeat my side/rear/get to pit tactics.

Hope those are sufficient enough tactics. :P Good luck Swanny.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by joeychevron

Heat B
Semi Final 2
Shadow Zone Forever vs. Thor

---

...as Andy has just informed me, this is a bit of a fail on my part :( It should read

Quote:

---

Heat B
Semi Final 2
Shadow Zone Forever vs. MORD 2

---

Sorry to Richard for accidentally omitting his machine's name there.

Move along now, nothing to see here...

That's OK, Joey - brilliant fight, even though I lost.

Thanks Richard, glad to entertain people :)

The Chevron Championship Series 2: Medium Medium Speed Ones
Heat B final
Thor vs. Shadow Zone Forever

*Team Bud's pit bench, Thor minus its top covers*

Joey: Well, we're at the heat B final...
Liam: *from off camera* About bloody time!
Joey: ...after what I have to admit have been a few delays, and the Thor team seem to be busy getting their robot ready for the finals?
Jason: Well...yeah. Actually the batteries are just on trickle charge, we're all fired up otherwise.
Joey: I see. What's the tactics then, if I need ask?
Shane: Hit it. That usually works.
Jason: To be a bit more precise, hit it repeatedly until it moves, then get it back in range and hit it again.
Joey: No lack of finesse there I see *laughs* Good luck guys, may you hit things until they're as flat as...Flat Stanley.

*over to the bench of Team Zlayerz*

Joey: Are you preparing to be hit and then hit again, Mr. Kunz?
Kody: Hopefully it won't come to that, heh. I've got it mostly worked out.
Joey: Oh?
Kody: Yeah, start with the flipper facing Thor and flip it before it can hit me, try and take the energy out of the impact. Flip it over and then ram it all over the shop really.
Joey: Going for the pit then?
Kody: At some point, possibly. May as well *laughs*
Joey: You'd do well to, it hasn't seen much action lately *laughs* Good luck.

*cut to arena*

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

Booth 1, left hand side: Jason Marston, Shane Swan
Booth 2, right hand side: Kody Kunz

3
2
1
ACTIVATE

The call to arms dies away and it's the box that gets off the mark first, Shadow Zone Forever lurching forward off the starting square and driving purposely towards the more...scorpion looking Thor, which also comes forward to meet it after a short delay. Kody's started the fight with his machine pointing backwards, hoping to get the flipper in and underneath the front scoop of his foe, and as they come to meet each other in the centre of the arena...
FLIP! Kody's strategy bears fruit, as Thor is flicked up into the air, the hammer flicking over and swivelling Jason Marston's machine around on its rear end (anyone who can successfully visualise that will recieve a handsome prize) before Thor crashes over onto its side! Shadow Zone follows through, as the flipper comes down and makes contact with the base of Thor, rolling it over the hammer shaft and pushing it up against the wall with the power of the two nine horsepower motors. Thor's hammer retracts, though, raising it briefly up in the air as the lower end remains pinned against the wall by Shadow Zone, before being fired again and wrenching the black machine free, jumping it up and over the side of Shadow Zone's still not yet retracted flipper and onto the wall at a rakish angle, before getting traction on the left hand wheel against the railing...reversing off the barrier, down into the arena, but with the hammerhead still stuck on the fence! Jason tosses his head forwards in disbelief, while Shane operates the hammer again, retracting it, and finally allowing Thor to reverse away from the wall and away from the approaching Shadow Zone, which is reversing towards them at a rate of knots.
Thor stops, before switching into forwards as the two Magmotors power it up to meet the advancing Shadow Zone...and Shane gets in a preemptive strike with the hammer, bringing it over and forcing Kody to fire the flipper upwards before the two collide! The weapons meet, and while a percussive thump from metal on metal resounds through the arena, no immediate damage is obvious as the axe shaft meets the titanium flipper plate. Both robots are stopped in their tracks though, and Thor's hammer flicks back into position after a moment...only to fire again, as the flipper retracts, and this time the head meets the plate and an ugly scar can be seen on Shadow Zone's beautiful paintwork! Kody winces slightly, and responds by pouring on the amps and reversing Shadow Zone up by the pit, brushing Thor and its hammer away to one side.
Thor's hammer retracts again, the machine turning towards Shadow Zone as it changes tack, driving front end first away from the CPZ and bearing down on its foe. Once more, Jason reacts quickly by beginning to move his machine forward, but Kody's head start proves too much as Thor barely gets moving before the scoop of Shadow Zone ploughs underneath the front end of Thor, the hammer flicking over but only reaching the very end of its stroke as it impacts the top of Shadow Zone, the result being little more than a tap, and Kody powers on, getting further underneath Thor and pushing it faster and faster towards the bottom end of the arena...Thor's hammer retracts, to little avail, as its and Shadow Zone's journey ends with a bump at the lower end of the arena, at the edge of the lower patrol zone, before Shadow Zone applies power to one side to twist the hammerbot past the corner and into the danger area!
Sir Killalot is the first to be alerted, as Matilda drives out and around to get at Thor, which edges forward but finds itself stopped by the lance of the house robot. The hammer flicks over, Jason holding his controls above his head to try and steer free, but having little luck as Killalot's tracks and Thor's wheels spin and cancel one another out...Matilda reverses in now, as Shadow Zone backs away from pinning in its opponent, and the hammer flicks back, Thor getting some movement against Killalot, but the chainsaw of Matilda is brought down and sweeps across, to etch a long, painful scratch on the surface of the Hardox shell! Thor's hammer fires again, as Shadow Zone looks on (Kody by now having restored his machine's reverse orientation) to see the lance of Killalot give a little...the shaft of the axe bats the chainsaw out of the way to a brief flurry of sparks, and a gap opens for Thor to make its escape good, powering through and out of the corner!
Jason swings the back end of his machine around as Shane retracts the hammer, while Kody has seen the situation and is reversing his robot in, turning it to get the blades lined up with the front of Thor...which comes forward a bit, out to meet the advancing rammer, and the hammer flicks over again...Kody, true to form, fires the flipper to stop the hammer's descent, but times it just wrong to catch the shaft and the hammer head slams into the top rear edge of the flipper, noticably bending the 5mm titanium panel downwards over the ram! Up behind the polycarbonate screening, Kody's expression suddenly changes to one of concern, as he mouths a word that should not really be said on prime time television, but he keeps his fingers firmly down on the controls as Shadow Zone's sloped rear end catches the front scoop of Thor, edging beneath it as the flipper and hammer are forced apart, and pushing forward...there is resistance from the two four horsepower drive motors of Thor, but Shadow Zone slowly edges its foe further to the right...further to the right...into the corner of the arena, as the angle grinder closest to the corner briefly spits some sparks across the arena floor before stopping.
Almost as soon as the two robots hit the wall though, the balance seems to change, as much tyre squealing is heard around the arena that was not there before...and it's Thor that is pushing back, retracting the hammer and slowly but surely edging Shadow Zone back across the front of the patrol zone! Kody, perhaps sensing that another hammering is coming up, switches his machine into forwards and drives up towards the flame pit, dragging the flipper off the top of Thor - revealing the extent of the bending, a definite kink can be made out in the top panel and the front edge no longer contacts the floor cleanly. Jason pursues his foe, but the robot appears to be moving slower than it did - indeed, as Shadow Zone turns around to bring the scoop to face Thor, both machines appear to be suffering the onset of fatigue.
The timing of this is almost too convenient, as the battle enters the final ten seconds according to the clock above the presenter's gantry. Shadow Zone pulls all the speed it can muster out as it comes in on another attack, scoop first this time...Kody doesn't appear to want to risk his machine grounding itself as happened in the Gauntlet and against MORD2. Thor turns, readying itself for the approaching Shadow Zone, and as the rammer crashes into the scorpion once more, the hammer of Thor flicks over the top of the machine...in what is certainly the last act of the match, as both machines slowly travel towards the southern end of the arena, it impacts on the now rather battered 5mm titanium flipper plate and removes another few chips from the bluish green paintwork!

CEASE

Shadow Zone immediately brakes, as Kody removes the transmitter from around his neck, allowing a last little push back by Thor before Jason eases off the control sticks as well. The match will have to be decided by the judges...

Damage: Both robots took cosmetic damage, Thor from the house robots and arena grinders and Shadow Zone from Thor's hammer, but Shadow Zone later had its flipper bent up badly by Thor: Thor 4 (x4 = 16) Shadow Zone 1 (x4 = 4)
Aggression: Thor was largely defensive, although it made good use of the hammer. Shadow Zone was more aggressive from the start and dominated nearly all the pursuing and pushing battles: Thor 1 (x3 = 3) Shadow Zone 4 (x3 = 12)
Control: Shadow Zone controlled most of the match, it was eased back a bit towards the end though by Thor: Thor 1 (x2 = 2) Shadow Zone 4 (x2 = 8 )
Style: Very little style shown, Shadow Zone's ramming into an airborne Thor and Thor's self righting and hammering being the only real moments: Thor 3, Shadow Zone 2

Thor: 24 points
Shadow Zone Forever: 26 points

By a margin of two points, SHADOW ZONE FOREVER GOES THROUGH TO THE SERIES SEMI FINALS!

Coming up this geological time period
Heat C - Football
Alpha Bolt
Harraz
Monsoon Season
Venus Fly Trap
Blue Hurricane
Boxx

Hope you enjoyed that, sorry for the lack of end interviews (it'd been delayed enough with exam revision and other messing around, so I decided to forgo them for the initial release). Comments, predictions and route choices for the next heat please :)

Wow! That felt more like a Grand Final than a Heat Final! :proud: Read more like one, too! Good fight, Shane, and superb writing, Joey! :)

I really should get C&B4 going faster...

tactics hmm... tactics

i will try and wait until the ball is available and in a sensible place (no point trying 2 get it if its out the arena now...) and then try and push it (boxx rush it lol :rofl: ) towards the goal, perhaps try and dummy the goal keeper and/or any defenders...hopefully score! :proud:

jack

Oops, really should get some tactics in here.

Venus Fly Trap will take the left-hand route due to being nice and flat. I've got a decent top speed so if I get my timing right, I should be able nip past the Sentinal with little fuss. Tacking Killalot, however, will be a tougher task. Just try to slip past him or, if in a jam, get the plate underneath and see if I can either damage his tracks or topple him over (most unlikely).

Awesome stuff thus far, Joey. Can't wait for the next update. :proud:

Previously mentioned, take the middle route.