New featherweight builders

[stu]

they were impressed by the power of Pillow Torque

Dont say that, Geoffs head will just get bigger.

Mr Stu

[jenny]

Dont worry Stu, I keep a pin handy for just that scenario. But its nice to have the feed back.

Reading through the above posts it would appear that perhaps we should ask what we are trying to achieve with a new class?

Are we trying to set up a class where the robots are easier and cheaper to build or are we looking for a class with a different type of gentler competition to keep the new entrants running once they are at the events?

I would have thought that those who have the will to build and compete understand and indeed are attracted by the current style of competition. The help they require is with the technical and cost issues. A limited amount of non-costly fun and entertaining damage could be what is needed. For myself and the Scouts, the challange of on-event repairs/bodges to damage caused by robots such as Kitty, Scorpion and Vortex was a big part of the joy of the sport. In that respect bots such as Pillow Torque and the flippers just arent entertaining opponents as no damage means a long boring wait until your next fight

Where this leads us Im not quite sure, but maybe we shouldnt go down the no-spinners road but limit the technology used to run them for instance.

A totally off the cuff spur of the moment thought is that lower tech cheaper armour is heavier, but can provide good protection with a weight penalty as well as being very easy to work with. How about an extra weight allowance for woodies within the current class? From personal experince an extra few kilos would allow fun bots that would allow wood bots with a second skin for visual impact damage with little seriuous risk to internal components even againest the likes of Vortex. If wood is to be used I would exclude MDF,as I gave up using it with youngsters as it is quite revolting to work with power tools.

regards

Tim Jones

Theres an awful lot more to worry about than vortex these days

[stu]

And Kitty for that matter. LOL!!!

Mr Stu

[john_frizell]

We need new roboteers so an entry level class for feathers is a very good idea. Lets not spend time debating a rule set for it or which weapons to allow - just give it the standard FRA rules.
What would distinguish the entry level machines is that they would only have to fight other entry level machines. So a new roboteer can be guaranteed that s/he wont come up against one of the existing high power feathers.
The key to a successful entry level class is not rules, it is the opportunity to compete. This comes down to the event organisers. Lets ask if they are willing to provide one entry level new blood feather fight as part of the line-up at big public events like the Roaming Robots Winter Tour or the Extreme Fighting Machines event. The fight would begin with an announcement to the crowd that what they are seeing is new roboteers starting out and an entry level machine would be put on display afterwards with someone to explain how it works and what it cost.
This approach might inspire some of the new builds and new roboteers we need to keep our sport alive and give it a chance to grow.

I agree with John here. How many times have I seen people wince when they find out the price of just one of Pillows astroflights.
Cost is (in my experience) the main thing people ask about but it is difficult to explain that it doesnt have to be like that when there is nothing around to show as an example. In fact I think (correct me if Im wrong) that one of Johns feathers has the drills themselves mounted (motors, gears, casing, except the handles). That really shows a beginner what can be done to start. It even got me thinking :wink:

So when a new roboteer enters the arena with another featherweight thats new... when do they stop fighting new roboteers and fight the existing high power ones? If you get me there im not very good at explaining

[storm]

This was going to be announced at the upcoming Extreme Fighting Machines event at Halloween, however on the basis of this thread I thought it was worth mentioning here... well not here, actually http://www.extremefightingmachines.co.uk/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=1935&post=53912#POST53912>here as its technically a commercial ad.

Ed - XFM
http://www.extremefightingmachines.comhttp://www.extremefightingmachines.com

[geoff]

Bex,
If I understand you correctly, A new roboteer could fight a top level machine at any time. (If he/she were feeling brave/suicidal!!) But that would be totally volentary. Providing his/her machine remains within the specifications of the entry class then he/she could stay & fight in the entry class indefinatly.
But the whole point would be to encourage roboteers to learn by experience and develop their robot to the point where they will be promoted to the top level.

Geoff.