Eye Of The Robot - Series 2

Paul, some tips about writing better fights and tournies:

1) Despite what others may say, long fights are not mandatory. In televised Robot Wars, fights would sometimes last a matter of seconds. However, detail is important in a good fight. Describe the dents, the gashes, how many times a robot bounces after being flipped. The dodging and wheeling around each other to get in a good attack leads to good tension.

2) Remember the people controlling the robot. If Killotine is being thrown around by Achilles, try mentioning Steve being worried, or Alex getting excited at the prospect of sending Killotine OOTA. Adding people adds a connection and makes it more real.

3) Research can add to your descriptive flare. Learn what types of weapon are likely to do what kind of damage. For example, toothpick axes will likely punch straight through thin poly, but a Terrorhurtz style one will either crack and chip it, or just shatter a whole panel, depending on the strength.

4) When it comes to tournies, dont just enter a load of robots you want to enter and expect people to get wildly enthusiastic. Ive read a couple of fights, but I havent been interest A) because the fight quality is lacking, and B) because I dont have any entries, and therefore no vested interest. If youre just trying io improve your writing, write random fights and ask for feedback.

5) Most importantly, dont write a robot to win a fight just because its seeded or because you like it. Case in point, MDU 4 in Crash & Burn (I believe). While normally a very sucesful and destructive design, it was drawn against a robot designed specifically to beat it, and lost at an early stage.

pfff I dont remember MDU 4 being particularly successful or destructive... :P

Ive actually been remembering to write about some of the people at the controls of the robot, and youll see that later on in the contests.

And I understand the points of writing battles, but its very difficult to get them all into a fight.

Thats why practise is your friend, and why its a good idea to get feedback between fights instead of writing a huge number of fights at your current skill level.

OK, Ill make sure I take all these points on board for E.O.T.R 3, but more importantly, the semis are about to be posted, so if you could send your predictions for semi-final 1, that would be great.

SEMI-FINAL 1
Killotine: EVO (1) vs. Shovearound 2 (28)
Leprosy Infection (10) vs. Star 69
Orka MK.4 (13) vs. Achilles (22)
Kali vs. ForcePower Turbo

SEMI-FINAL 2
Black Panther Queen (4) vs. Big Nipper (16)
Wedge Devolution (11) vs. Psyclonised (23)
Storm 2 (2) vs. Push-Ish
Whirligig 4.0 (8) vs. Roo 2

You wanted predictions, yeah? :wink:

Those are JUST the type of predictions Im after! :proud: Thanks Kody, Ill just wait until a few more have been sent in, and then Ill post Round One of Semi-Final 1

SEMI-FINAL 1

ROUND FOUR:
Killotine: EVO (1) vs. Shovearound 2 (28)
Leprosy Infection (10) vs. Star 69
Orka MK.4 (13) vs. Achilles (22)
Kali vs. ForcePower Turbo

From Scotland, seeded #1, KILLOTINE: EVO!!
Entered by Steven McGregor
Back again from winning last year, Killotine: EVO is still a low red box, armoured in 15mm Polycarbonate and 3.25mm Hardox. It also has 2 LEM130€™s giving 18hp and 16mph, and it uses its axe to chop and kill! And that€™s exactly what it did in Round One of Heat A, when he took on Ramthrax 2 and TIRTASM. TIRTASM got flipped by the flipper spikes, beaten by Killotine and then pitted by Ramthrax! In Round Two, Killotine took on another newcomer in the form of the Welsh Dallas - he gave the Champion a knock, but was soon confined to the pit! Then finally, Ramthrax fell when Killotine punctured the armour and hit the electrics, putting Ramthrax in the skip and Killotine in the next round!

From Ottawa, New York, seeded #28, Shovearound 2!!
Entered by Antony Politz
Shovearound 2 - it does exactly what it says on the tin! This year, with its rep improved after winning FFW 4, this pusher has got everything it needs to win! First of all is the super traction, generated by its 4 wheel drive, each wheel power by 1 x LEM 130 46V motor, the total output of power is 36hp! Great amounts! The armour is 12mm Hardox (which few can even dint) and it€™s uncatchable with speeds of 28mph. The skirts are designed to prevent almost anything from getting under! But it can get under anything else, including Death Adder 3 in Round One, who was quickly pitted by the rammer. In Round Two, The Nose 3.0 was no match and quickly over-powered and over-turned, and then left to be beaten. In the heat final, Shovearound 2 took on the deadly A.K.A. Idiot. However, the 12mm Hardox took the blows quite nicely, and after the speed and power allowed Shovearound to pit him, Antony was in the final 16!

The first semi-final battle is about to commence, as the studio is packed with spectators, all cheering on the great robots! The drivers drive from their control booths€¦

Booth #1: Antony P
Booth #2: Steven M

Roboteers, stand by!!!

3€¦2€¦1€¦activate!!!

Shovearound speeds away, but not at Killotine - he€™s actually going for the pit release switch! Steven notices and stays back, but spins around as Shovearound charges head-on at him! As he spins, Steven activates the axe, and gets it into Shovearound wheel housings! Killotine now shoves the American into the corner of the ring and gets under the skirts, and now starts to hammer the top armour, not piercing the shell but causing a good amount of slight perforations into the armour! Killotine has been asked to back off, so he does, and now spins away, as Shovearound 2 drives on, but just as they make contact, Steven calmly fires the axe down onto the lifting prongs, causing a slight dent and sparks to fly off it. The audience cheers as Killotine lands another blow, this time, jamming the axe between the robot and the right side skirt! The audience cheers even more, as Antony finally drives his rack underneath Killotine, and flips over Killotine! Antony now powers his robot over to the pit, getting faster and faster. He reaches it, but Killotine self-rights out the way of the pit, BUT SHOVEAROUND 2 IS ON THE EDGE OF THE PIT! Killotine now slams the axe into the wheel housing again, preventing it from driving away, and Steven puts the power down and dumps the rammer into the pit!

Result:
Shovearound 2 (28) gets a taste of his own medicine!
KILLOTINE: EVO (1) GOES THROUGH TO ROUND 5!!!

From Onehouse, Suffolk, seeded #10, Leprosy Infection!!
Entered by Christopher Mason
Back again to start its reign of infection, Chris Mason€™s latest machine returns! Back again, this 4 wheel drive drummer with attitude and 7mm Titanium protection and 18mph top speeds returns with two noticeable improvements - the Shunt like scoop on the front to help push robots around and the 8mm Titanium wheel flaps. The drum spins at 4000rpm and weighs 15kg, generating around 35-40kj of energy! Nothing can go wrong, unless the wheels get targeted by axes! But that is unlikely to happen, as there are no axes left in the competition! In the heat, he took some flips from Wedgie 5 and Aquarius, but eventually caused damage to Aquarius, who was then thrown OOTA by Wedgie! It took on Happy Birthday Party Pooper in the second round, and dented in the armour preventing the shell spinning, and then drumming it OOTA. It took on Wedgie in the heat final, and after taking a nasty flip, it overturned Wedgie and then sliced up the wheels, before overturning him, and attacking the self-righter. Leprosy Infection was then in the semis!

From Kelvedon, Star 69!!
Entered by Martyn Forsyth
Here comes the rudest robot in the world, and the first star shaped one as well! Shaped like a 5 point star, its points are attached to a spinning ring, powered by a C40-500 Magmotor, giving it repulsive damaging powers. It€™s also got 19mph top speed and 18hp! In Round One, it took apart the 2mm Polycarbonate armoured Gyrate, killing it with one hit. In the second round, it unbelievably took out the 3rd seed Y4 by immobilising it. In the heat final, it took on the 19th seed, Son Of Ripper 4, and caused some damage, and eventually pitted it, making it the second semi-finalist.

Y4 belonged to Chris, and Chris wants revenge on Star 69 for it. Likewise, Happy Birthday Party Pooper belonged to Martyn, and he wants Leprosy Infection for it. Who gets it? Only time will tell€¦

Booth #1: Martyn F
Booth #2: Chris M

Roboteers, stand by!!!

3€¦2€¦1€¦activate!!!

Both robots spin-up their weapons, and approach each other. The blades of both contestants are spinning way too fast for anyone to even see the speed that they€™re moving at! One robot is waiting for the other to make a move, and it€™s Martyn who bashes into the side and rips open a panel! On second contact, Chris€™ seed drives forward at the slowed shell, and it has the edge, and stops Martyn€™s robot spinning, and then flips it over. Martyn€™s robot is slightly faster, but Leprosy Infection catches him out, and pins him against the pit release button. Star 69 batters its way out, but Chris flips it again, and Star 69 is moving slightly slowly. Leprosy powers in, and rams it down the pit. CHRIS HAS HIS REVENGE!

Result:
Star 69 goes super-nova!
LEPROSY INFECTION (10) GOES THROUGH TO ROUND 5!!!

From Onehouse, Suffolk, seeded #13, Orka MK.4!!
Entered by Christopher Mason
The monster from the deeps is here to do battle! A 6 wheeled box shape with a riding-up middle section, to house the weapon - which is an electric lifting scoop capable of lifting a bus, as well as a grabbing claw - and a dorsal fin like self-righter. It has 3 12V batteries powering 2 Magmotors, giving speed of 15mph and great pushing power! This pushing power showed in the heats, when it teamed up on Behemoth with The Ultimate Wedge, taking out the real robot. In Round Two, it managed to stack up Disco 5, facing it in the way of the wall, leaving it unable to self-right. In the heat final, Chris took on his old nemesis, 29th seed Tengu VII. It was very hit and miss, with damage being taken from the spinner, but eventually, Orka stacked Tengu against the sidewall, allowing the 13th seed to win the heat!

From Geddington, seeded #22, Achilles!!
Entered by Alex Holt
You can€™t hurt this robot - where€™s its heel?! This time, this box-shaped 30hp generating robot has all the power and weapons to do well. The weapon is a powerful lifter/flipper, capable of lifting up 500kg. The armour is 5mm Titanium, a weak substance against spinners, but at the front, it is very strong. The 2 x Eteks at 46V giving 18mph as well as the 30hp, giving superb speed. The 4 wheels also give it the right amount of grip on the arena floor. Overall, a thoroughly good robot with a great record! This showed in Round One, where it and Automatic Schmuck attacked Windiest Killer, taking some damage from the bar of Automatic Schmuck, but soon pitting Windiest Killer! In Round Two, it took on SD IV, and bossed it for the whole fight, pushing around, ramming it, and soon flipping it OOTA! In the heat final, it faced its toughest challenge yet, as it took serious damage from Automatic Schmuck, but when the Aussies got their bar caught in the wall, it was all over!

The third battle of the top 16, and the competition is seriously heating up as we€™re going to make an action-packed grand final! Lets begin this next fight!

Booth #1: Alex H
Booth #2: Chris M

Roboteers, stand by!!!

3€¦2€¦1€¦activate!!!

Orka and Achilles drive out, but not at each other - actually at the pit release button! Achilles reaches it first, but this can allow Orka to attack the skirts on Achilles. Chris€™ weapon breaks the skirts and he lifts up the Holt robot, and charges forward, turning it over! Good driving from Chris there, but Achilles self-rights, and goes for Orka€™s side! The 30hp helps Alex get under and pin Orka against the sidewall. He tries to flip, but is a bad position to do so. Achilles backs off, and Orka runs away, but Alex charges back again, and flips up Orka, but Chris self-rights too quickly for Achilles to do anything. Orka now charges head-first into Achilles, and now gets under the lifting plate, as Orka pushes the lower seed into the wall again, and lifts it onto the wall! Achilles flips himself away, before Chris blocks his self-righting to roll him 360! Orka charges again, as Achilles charges again, but this time Alex is in under and now pushes Orka into the Hardox spikes, and flips. Orka is left with his front over the arena wall, as Achilles comes in and flips. Orka crashes down onto the outside of the arena!

Result:
Orka MK.4 (13) dives too far down!
ACHILLES (22) GOES THROUGH TO ROUND 5!!!!

From Geddington, Kali!!
Entered by Alex Holt
Back comes a Storm 2 clone, hoping to recreate the formers success. A simple box wedge, with 6 wheel drive, and 2 LEM-130€™S at 46V, giving 25mph and 18hp. It also has a fiercely thick front end, being armoured with 1cm of Aluminium Boron Carbide, a substance which is twice as thick as the tough metal, Tungsten Steel, but lighter than Titanium, as well as having 5mm ABC for the sides and rear, including 14mm Polycarbonate for the top. The Bio-Hazard flipper has some power, but an axe could get through the top!

From Bourne, Lincolnshire, ForcePower Turbo!!
Entered by AJ
POWERRRRRR!! Considered to be one of the most powerful vapourbot rammers. Its still a serious tough nut, using two B42-500 Magmotors at 60V, produce what AJ describes as €˜a kick-ass 64hp!€™ which is a lot. The speed is low at 15mph to give good control, and the front is nearly unbreakable at 5mm Hardox! The 4 wheels give good grip, but a sudden change in torque could break the motors, and the fixed wedge is useless if flipped! But it did well in the heat, as it pitted Nodachi, with help from 9th seed, Tornado. In Round Two, it took damage from The Demonic Element, but soon confined it to the pit. And in the heat final, more damage from Mr. Slave 2, but also confined him to the pit!

The final round 4 battle of the first semi is about to kick off. It€™s a big battle, so lets start it!

Booth #1: Alex H
Booth #2: AJ

Roboteers, stand by!!!

3€¦2€¦1€¦activate!!!

Kali is much faster than its more powerful opponent, as he speeds in, with all 6 Vulkalon treaded tyres gripping the wood, and gets under the front of the 4-wheel-drive ForcePower and slams back the AJ machine! Kali backs off and attacks the sides of ForcePower Turbo, and flips it over! AJ now runs over to the flipping spikes, but Kali catches him first, and slams him into the top-left corner, but not flipping yet. AJ spins his machine away from Kali, as he flips. ForcePower now gets under the flipper and pins Kali in the corner. But soon, Kali is back underneath, and charges ForcePower into the bottom of the arena, smacks into the wall, and flips! OOTA! ForcePower is gone!

Result:
ForcePower Turbo isn€™t so forceful after all!
KALI GOES THROUGH TO ROUND 5!!!

ROUND FIVE:
Killotine: EVO (1) vs. Achilles (22)
Leprosy Infection (10) vs. Kali

Who wins through? You decide now! PLACE YOUR BETS!!!!

SEMI-FINAL 1
Killotine: EVO (1) vs. Shovearound 2 (28)
Leprosy Infection (10) vs. Star 69
Orka MK.4 (13) vs. Achilles (22)
Kali vs. ForcePower Turbo

SEMI-FINAL 2
Black Panther Queen (4) vs. Big Nipper (16)
Wedge Devolution (11) vs. Psyclonised (23)
Storm 2 (2) vs. Push-Ish
Whirligig 4.0 (8) vs. Roo 2

Thank you Alex, very good predictions. The amazing thing is I decided to send Round One in just as you sent the predictions in :mrgreen:

Sorry about that. :sad: