Newby question

[typhoon_driver]

The topic of an easy starter class is a non starter in my book for a number of reasons.

- Any class started up, it doesn't take long for those in the know to take builds to the limits of what's possible
- You don't have to have a great deal of cash or materials available. BITZA being a prime example, built on the cheap and it survived a fight with one of the deadliest machines in the arena at that time
- A simple steel box rammer is easy enough to throw together with a drill and a cheap welder and until recently these were the machines winning the competitions
- If you don't want to fight spinners then many of the heavyweight events hold featherweight fights that spinners can't compete in

[maddox10]

The topic of an easy starter class is a non starter in my book for a number of reasons.

How do you define starter class?
Weightclass ain't a good definition. There are antweights that are more expensive than heavies.
Allowed materials? Riveting ali sheet is cheap, welding the same sheet is rather expensive.

- Any class started up, it doesn't take long for those in the know to take builds to the limits of what's possible

Yep. for example. the German raptors have a limitation on motorsize and magnet-technology. Speed 700 can-size and no rare earth magnets. But that didn't stop people to use more smaller motors to achive the goal of more power.

- You don't have to have a great deal of cash or materials available. BITZA being a prime example, built on the cheap and it survived a fight with one of the deadliest machines in the arena at that time
- A simple steel box rammer is easy enough to throw together with a drill and a cheap welder and until recently these were the machines winning the competitions

BonX survived a US competition. And the current rebuild is even stronger and better shaped. A BonX clone with a cheaper drive still is worth the effort.

[PJ-27]

BITZA being a prime example, built on the cheap and it survived a fight with one of the deadliest machines in the arena at that time

It won! I would say though, building a bot from bits like we do is more challenging and very weighty. We mostly won through luck and making the robot very tough, but it had naff-all offensive capabilities and was pretty much written off after the event.

One thing I would say is that there is a pretty good rock-paper-scissors set of designs and many variables that can alter the outcome of an fight.
Spending lots of money doesn't necessarily mean winning either (but it does help)
Only 1 of the 10 robots that qualified last year did so this year and this year's winner didn't qualify last year, despite being the same bot.