I believe this was discussed and agreed along with judging guidelines after this years fw uk champs by everyone? We have said for a long time that we didn't feel allowing the robots out of the pit is acceptable as it favours flippers.

After what I felt was a wrong decision at the champs I felt it needed addressing. Lets not forget that this has been the rule since rw began and only changed because RR thought it was entertaining which is fine for whiteboards however a champs is a sport.

Allowing robots out the pit has caused incorrect decisions and confusion many times in a sport situation. It's a given that flippers will get out so are not counted out where as all other robots are out. This also happens when a flipper is on its back. When venom is on its back the timer starts.

We also want to promote diversity in robot designs so anything we feel gives a particular robot an overwhelming advantage we look at how we can address it.