Yeah things are getting interesting. The one thing to remember though is that even though we all have different opinions, we're having a good thorough discussion about changes and improvements, and that can only be good for the spobby and for all of us :)
When I raised the Active Weapon Proposal a while back, even though it turned out to be not very viable, the main comment that kept jumping up there was 'why not change the fighting environment instead'. Now that comment has surfaced several times here too and is, at the moment, seeming to be the option with the most potential.
As has been mentioned, a height increase in the arena wall is an option. This would make it more of a challenge for flippers to OOTA their opponents (although judging by some robots, you could add a metre to the wall height and they'd still flip their opponents out with room to spare!) and it would also lower the chances of spinners throwing themselves out. (or you could all just build verticals :proud: )
Now in doing this, it's possible that the distribution of power between spinners and flippers would balance out a bit; i.e. both designs would have just as much of a chance of beating each other.
Also, a wall height increase would have to be done by the Robo Challenge crew at a cost to them, so I'm just wondering James what your feelings would be on that matter?
So that may even out the spinners and flippers but still doesn't really lend itself to benefiting crushers and axes. I think it was Gary that said that the reason all the spinners come out to play at Robo Challenge events is because they can be accommodated. And the best way to beat a spinner is a hardox box. Axes and crushers can play at any event and this could be what is leading people to build spinners (and rammers) for RC events. I know that I do, partly because for the travelling distance involved, I want to take full advantage of the class of arena.
We maybe also need to look at our building techniques. We tend to try and fit in the most powerful weapon setup available to us, and this occasionally comes at a cost of lower-powered drives and thin armour. An axe or crusher would be more likely to get further if the weapon was limited to a certain power level (regardless of whether it could penetrate armour or not) and then have it supplemented by a decent drive/armour setup. For example, an axe isn't going to win a battle these days by punching holes through an opponent's hardox top panel and smashing their interiors. But if the axe repeatedly hits the top panel - even if it only scratches - it scores judging points, then if necessary it can dispatch its opponent by pushing it into the pit. If this tactic worked for all its battles, you would have a robot winning the championship in the same way as a rambot would, but still looking the part with its axe attacks.
Another option, and this one is purely tentative, just to get a general feeling for it, is to allow another weapon type. We now work to the same general rule set for featherweights as the Americans and Australians (the main three FW nations) but we are the only group that haven't run, or have scope to run, flamethrowers. Now I fully understand the dangers involved in making such a weapon and there would have to be strict rules in place to stop any excited but inexperienced builders from just sticking a deodorant can and lighter on their robot, but with the steel floor, the Robo Challenge arena is best suited to accommodate such a weapon and while they may not have a highly damaging effect, they would provide some weapon diversity and would without a doubt would be an enjoyable viewing spectacle for the audience. Just something to chew on.
