Wham Bang, Thank you Man. Shine a light, because it€™s time for the 3rd heat.

Heat C

Fight 1

Clawdius Decimus Murderous (1) vs. Intensity vs. Riptile

From Scotland, Seeded number 1 and defending champion, Clawdius Decimus Murderous. Entered by Steve, the FAR 8 champion is unchanged from last war, so it is one and a half years old. Basically a crusher at heart with self-righting arms, which last time only, had to be used twice. The armour is strong enough to restand many of a realistic spinner, and the arm is powerful enough to break anything up to Hardox. However the worry is that with the sudden outburst of super Hardox coated spinners, could Clawdius Decimus Murderous join the rest of the champions and fail to hold onto the cup?
In FAR 8: Champion, beating M2, Disco Dancer, (then champ) Frost-Byte, Panic 3 Gti, Flaming Hell, Bulldog Breed and Son of Ripper 3.5.

From Australia, Intensity. Entered by Team Aussie, this Aaron robot is based loosely on Red Square, with a spring loaded flipper at the front, heavy skirting, armouring, and a kick-ass drive chain which has more torque than a train. A favourite for the championship, this robot could spring a surprise with it€™s flipper which could send robot packing. However, it could find trouble using it€™s flipper against some robots.
In FAR 8: Didn€™t enter

From England, Riptile. Entered by Matt F, he is hoping for his 2nd robot in the semi finals following Tanto 3. With a double disc weapon, this is basically a push-robot with twin Etek drive at 48 volts. However there is some worry about the method those torque mad motors are held down in the chassis, so if it gets stuck, it could rip it€™s own drive shafts away from the robot. The power from the drive should be enough to survive, along with the semi-good armour. Could this be the war of the Scissor?
In FAR 8: (As The Scissor), beaten in round 1 by KO from Growling Storm 2.5.

All three robots are in the arena, waiting for a classic:
3
2
1
ACTIVE

Intensity is the first off the line with it€™s acceleration, and almost at once, turns to it€™s left to have a shot at the champion. Riptile pulls away from the starting blocks more slowly, as Clawdius Decimus Murderous is ready for it to attack, from the right. Steve turns, and deciding not to play, runs away from both robots, taking Clawdius Decimus Murderous along with him. Not the stuff of champions. Intensity is giving chase onto the Scottish crusher, and manages to get the flipper underneath the side and before Clawdius Decimus Murderous can move it is flipped onto it€™s side, then self-rights in a flash of time. Riptile, makes some sparks on the Hardox armour, but Clawdius Decimus Murderous turns around, and drives in underneath Riptile, lifting the wheels off the ground with it€™s low wedge. The crusher starts to come into play onto the titanium top.

Aaron, who is ganging up with Matt, gets underneath the rear of Clawdius Decimus Murderous and flips it over, which by mistake, flips Riptile up as well. Clawdius Decimus Murderous self-rights once more, and as the crusher breaks the top, a pop as air rushes into Riptile. Intensity rams at the side of Clawdius Decimus Murderous and pushes the champion sideways, which is still holding onto Riptile. Aaron is showing no respect, as he flips Clawdius Decimus Murderous, which is held in the arena by Riptile. Clawdius Decimus Murderous self-rights, allowing Riptile to be free, the hole in the top visible from space. Intensity gives Clawdius Decimus Murderous no warming and flips it over once more, Steve responds well and self-rights once more. Riptile rams into the side of Clawdius Decimus Murderous, creating lovely sparks from the discs, as the power from the drive is unleashed.

Clawdius Decimus Murderous is being pushed sideways, but Steve puts down his power and manages to escape Riptile, only to land up in the arms of Intensity, which drives, wedge to wedge, as Clawdius Decimus Murderous still proving that a Razer style wedge is unbeatable, manages to get underneath Intensity, lifting the front 4 wheels off the ground, but Riptile slams in, as Clawdius Decimus Murderous is trying to crush into the flipper itself, but Hardox is too tough for the crusher. Aaron fires the flipper, and gets away from Clawdius Decimus Murderous, but finds himself, being pushed by Riptile. Intensity, not liking being pushed backwards, pushes onto Riptile itself, with Clawdius Decimus Murderous the piggy in the middle. Riptile€™s wheels are spinning trying to put down the power, but Intensity€™s torque, is amazing, as suddenly a loud bang is heard as Riptile€™s left hand side stops working. However this is unnoticed, as Riptile is rammed into the arena wall. Clawdius Decimus Murderous is flipped on top of it, and once more Steve self-rights, before ramming into Riptile to crush into it. Matt turns around, he has some power left, but the I bar ladder chassis has bent, I bars are strong, but in one direction the bar is so weak. Intensity gets underneath Clawdius Decimus Murderous once more and flips it other.

Riptile gets away from both robots, not at full power. Intensity is showing the class of champion material, as it rams into Clawdius Decimus Murderous once more, but is pushing the crusher away from the low wall, heading towards the arena hammer. Riptile turns and puts down all the power and heads back towards the duel. Clawdius Decimus Murderous is slammed into the hammer, with some force that the hammer leaks co2 once more before it can come down. Riptile causes sparks with it€™s spinners against the Hardox, as Clawdius Decimus Murderous is flipped onto the hammer itself, on it€™s rear, held up, the self-righting wings unable to get a hole on anything. Could the champion be heading out at this early stage?

Ref comes in, as Riptile is being pushed by Intensity, as Matt once more has tried to up-stage the Aussie torque machine. Ref lifts Clawdius Decimus Murderous clear from the hammer, as he puts the champion down. Steve escapes from the corner and slams into Riptile, and crushes down, with the power which won the last war. The wheels on Riptile are being crushed onto, as Intensity opens the pit release. The aluminium hub of the wheel gives way to the power, as Riptile is reduced to three wheels. Intensity slams underneath the rear of Riptile and flips it up. Clawdius Decimus Murderous self-rights, allowing Riptile to go Scott-free. However the damage has been done, as it has a bad limp now, Riptile turns and runs, as Intensity is playing cat and mouse, fed up with playing with Clawdius Decimus Murderous. Matt turns, as Aaron drives over the spike. All in a sudden moment, the fight turns on it€™s head, as another bang is heard from Riptile, as Intensity lands on it€™s back. Quick as a flash, Aaron has self-righted.

Cease

All 3 robots were moving at the end (well Riptile was, just), so the judges will have to decide who moves onto round 2:

Clawdius Decimus Murderous
Aggression - (2/15)
Control - (4/15)
Damage Caused - (10/15)
Strategy - (4/15)
Style - (5/15)

Riptile
Aggression - (4/15)
Control - (5/15)
Damage Caused - (2/15)
Strategy - (7/15)
Style - (6/15)

Intensity
Aggression - (9/15)
Control - (6/15)
Damage Caused - (3/15)
Strategy - (4/15)
Style - (4/15)

Total:
Clawdius Decimus Murderous - (25/75)
Riptile - (24/75)
Intensity - (26/75)

Result: In a very close fight, It€™s Riptile€™s journey that ends here, as the champion and Clawdius Decimus Murderous, sorry Intensity, that go forward to round 2.

Fight 2

Biohazard vs. Lunch Box (32) vs. Starfire the Third

From the United States of America, Triple Battlebots Heavyweight Champion, Biohazard. Entered by Chris, he really couldn€™t have picked a better robot than the hardest robot ever to get underneath, with the toughest armour, a punch for a drive chain, and a weapon which even the mighty Storm 2 cloned. However, even with it€™s skirts, the major weakness of Biohazard is the lack of a self-righter, so Chris must watch out for the spike.
In FAR 8: Didn€™t enter

From the United States of Scotland, and 32nd seed, Lunch Box. Entered by Scott, named after what I have been calling Launch Pad for a long time. Lunch Box has a powerful front hinged flipper, powerful drive, and titanium armour. Lunch Box could shock the world after-all. However the main worry is self-righting, as the flipper is so powerful Lunch Box does 360€™s and could end up sitting on the camera tracks.
In FAR 8: (As Launch Pad), knocked out in round 2, by Firestorm 5, after beating Spawn Again.

From Somewhere in America, Starfire the 3rd. Entered by Devon, this once-comedy jumper has returned with a proper weapon of a 360 degree lifting scoop, and underneath that is a nasty looking spinner. The armour is tough with titanium and lexan top, and the robot is invertible, unless the spikes are fitted to the scoop, which makes it an axe. However the drive system could do with some more juice and the wheels are exposed to axes and crushers.
In FAR 8: Didn€™t enter

All three robots are in the arena:

3
2
1
ACTIVE

Biohazard and Lunch Box has about the same drive chain, so they accelerate from the line in the same time. However the winner of the best acceleration belongs to Starfire the third, as it pulls away from the line, wheels smoking from the line, as Biohazard heads towards Lunch Box, and Lunch Box heads towards Biohazard. Starfire the third is left all on it€™s own, as it rams around the rear of Lunch Box, as it tries to get it€™s wedge underneath Biohazard, but fails like many other robots. Starfire the third has it€™s arm up in the air, as Biohazard flips Lunch Box into Starfire the third, the disc makes a lot of lovely sparks against the titanium armour.

Scott self-rights, doing a lovely roll in the air to land, before accelerating away. Biohazard gives chase, as Starfire the third heads towards the still broken arena hammer from where Intensity flipped Clawdius Decimus Murderous onto last fight, the hammer itself is bent belong easy to fix, and will be out of action for at least this heat. Biohazard gets underneath Lunch Box once more, as Scott flips, but only to flip Biohazard flipping it onto it€™s open flipper. The flipper closes, as Lunch Box is pushed around to face outwards into the arena, so it€™s front is pointing the arena fence. Scott is stuck, he can€™t self-right, as both Starfire and Biohazard are deciding who to toss the box out of the arena.

Starfire the third moves forward to attack, as Scott sees he fires the flipper and sends himself over the fence and straight into my lovely arena cameras, better than to face the shame of being flipped out by a once jumpy robot.

Cease

Lunch Box ends up on the tracks, the first seed drops out in round 1. Biohazard and Starfire the 3rd moves onto round 2.

Round 2 Draw
Biohazard vs. Intensity
Clawdius Decimus Murderous (1) vs. Starfire the 3rd.

Tactics, predictions, did you like round 1?