The Crash & Burn Tournament 3

[pcbore]

quote:

Why do I get the feeling Im going to do really badly this year?

Dont you say that every year?

[steven_mcg]

Looking at the draw for this season, I mean it more than ever.

[kodster]

Well, we just witnessed the fall of a true champion last heat. But who will join the flipping force of Ge5orce in the Series Semi-Finals? Will it be 3rd seeded Flank Attack: DT, or one of the other seven competitors? Bring on Heat B!

Heat B
Round 1, Eliminbator 1
Flank Attack: DT (3) vs. Gemini vs. Storm Wars vs. Panicking Still

From Holland and seeded number 3, Flank Attack: Divisionary Tactics!
Reached the semi semis last time, but got flanked by the now ex-champ.

Melissa: Mr. MacWilliams, how have you been improving your machine since last series?
Alex M: For starters, look at these. Wheel guards, 4mm Hardox. I€™d like to see a spinning weapon attack them now.
Melissa: And what else?
Alex M: New hydraulics system, can crush with a combined force of 6 tons, 3 with each claw.
Melissa: Gonna go all the way?
Alex M: No doubt, you better believe it.
Melissa: All right, let€™s see how you do back in the arena.

Greatly armoured, over a centimeter of titanium on both the claws and body, and slightly more on the claws, and it has added some wheel housings since last series, however they are still vulnerable to axes. Is Flank Attack once bitten, twice shy?

C&B1: Did not compete.
C&B2: Pitted ArchAngel of the Abyss, Hacked Off-Haka, Turbulence, and BIACS-LE before succumbing to a case of nasty wheel x 2, due to ex-champ Sheer Heart Attack€™s multiple bashes.

From St. Leonards-on-Sea in Hastings, Gemini!
The Team Mace twins enter Crash & Burn for the first time!

Melissa: Right, this is Gemini, the first clusterbot in this tournament. What€™s the deal?
Ben: Flip them?
Howard: Basically what Ben said, we€™ll have to flip the competition out.
Melissa: You do realize that you are in the arena with the 3rd seed Flank Attack, Panicking, and Storm Wars? How will you fare?
Howard: Hopefully we should be able to withstand whatever they can throw at us and get through.
Melissa: Don€™t break up on us out there! :wink:

The first ever clusterbot features a flipper, a steel frame, and 2 wheel drive on each piece. Unfortunately, they are very light apiece, have trouble self-righting, and a single toss could end the dual-ity of the Mace boys!

C&B1: Did not compete.
C&B2: Did not compete.

From Bedford, Storm Wars!
Episode 3: Attack of another ramming machine!

Melissa: Are you a Star Wars fan?
Matty: I€™d rather not answer that.
Melissa: Oh come on!
Matty: All right, yeah I am. A bit.
Melissa: Well, okay...and your machine?
Matty: Does one thing and that€™s to ram, ram, and ram.
Melissa: Return of the rammer?
Matty: Uh€¦possibly.
Melissa: Hahahahaha!

It€™s a box wedge, but, ah€¦6 wheel drive and the dimensions are slightly small in the length department. Nonetheless it€™s very powerful, and the armour is 6mm titanium which isn€™t bad, but being a rammer it does not have any active weaponry.

C&B1: Did not compete.
C&B2: (as Boxed In) Destroyed by Mass Disctruction Ultimate 4 in Round 1.

From Kelvedon, Panicking Still!
A Panic Attack fan? Don€™t paniiiiic!

Melissa: Welcome back, Mr. Forsyth, and this is Panicking Still?
Martyn: That€™s right, we€™re going to lift until something dies. Not us, by the way.
Melissa: Who are you going after?
Martyn: Anybody. Flank Attack can€™t really grab us, Storm Wars have nice tasty wheels and Gemini, pffft.
Melissa: Being a Panic Attack fan, is this robot a tribute to them?
Martyn: Kind of, and kind of not.
Melissa: €¦all right€¦good luck.
Martyn: Thanks.

It is a very compact design, but with excellent armour and power to give it that extra boost. It€™s Panic Attack styled and it€™s Panic Attack shape€¦what it isn€™t about Panic Attack is the ability to run upside-down! That also means exposed tires to axes!

C&B1: Did not compete.
C&B2: Helped Metal Sonic Spin Dash pit Powerpoint the Thrasher 5 in Round 1, but then was defeated by Knightrous Wedge in Round 2.

Roboteers, stand by€¦
Right, let€™s look at the teams. Booth 1 has Alex M&W on the left and Martyn Forsyth on the right, and Booth 2 has Ben Read and Howard Jones on the left, and Matthew Fowler on the right€¦and in the arena for the house robots, we have Matilda! And Growler!

3€¦
2€¦
1€¦
ACTIVATE!

Flank Attack€™s 21mph speed spurs it out first to greet the wedge of Storm Wars, while the Gemini twins split up to attack€¦Panicking Still! The great forks of Panicking slide immediately under the ground clearance of one of the twins and lifts it up with ease, but the other twin attacks the exposed front! Over goes Panicking, but don€™t forget that it€™s invertible, can run both ways up€¦which is more than can be send for the other twin, who is now inverted, and a flick of the flipper only sends it up onto its rear end! The other tries to help but Panicking tackles it, and raises it up butt-end like its other half! The Gemini twins are unable to self-right, and very disappointing this is as The Watcher moves in to make quick work of the two clusters!
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10!
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10!

Gemini is already out, but the 3rd seed is intent on sending another out quickly, it€™s clamped around Storm Wars€™ sides and now squeezes it! The wedge of Matty€™s rammer can€™t slide under that scoop, but now it€™s pushing Flank Attack against the wall, yet the claws are penetrating that titanium! And Panicking thinks this would be a good time to intervene and attack Storm Wars from the rear! The rear end is lifted and a wheel slot is captured! Panicking with its prize backs away and into the pit release button, opening that damned pit. Flank Attack, however, is still hooking onto Storm Wars; realizing what Martyn is going to do, Alex release Storm Wars and backs off as Martyn finds the damned hole, rolls over to it and ejects Storm Wars down into death!

CEASE!

Gemini€™s split decision costs it big time! Storm Wars€™ battle strategy is blown off-course!
Flank Attack: DT (3) & Panicking Still advance to Round 2!

----

Round 1, Eliminator 2
Wedge Devolution (19) vs. Dervish: Generation X vs. Black Panther vs. Knyfe

From Glasgow, Scotland, seeded number 19, Wedge Devolution!
Fought in many other tournaments, Axeon stopped it in Crash & Burn€™s last series.

Melissa: Mr. McGregor, how are you?
Steven: Spiffing, m€™dear.
Melissa: And here is the 19th seed! What are going to do out there?
Steven: Survive, of course! Oh, and flip stuff around if I can.
Melissa: I€™m surprised it doesn€™t come with its own tartan.
Steven: It€™s in the making. :wink:
Melissa: Lovely.

Presenting your basic wedge shape, skirts, 4mm Hardox armour, and a really powerful flipper. It€™s a good all-rounder, and though it doesn€™t have any damaging weaponry, it has the power to push you around all day. Oh, and it flies the Scotland flag.

C&B1: Defeated Leprosy Infection in a JD, but then had the same done to him by Terrorhurtz in Round 2.
C&B2: Flipped Axe to Fall OOTA in Round 1, and same thing to Scorpion Bite in Round 2€¦but it got the chop by Axeon in the Heat Final.

From Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, Dervish: Generation X!
The new generation is upon us!

Melissa: Let me say, first of all, that I LOVE that weapon.
Daniel: It€™s a beater, it€™s like a drum but it can throw robots easier.
Melissa: Ah, wonderful! So, who are you going after first?
Daniel: That boxy machine over there called Knyfe. Keep attacking, show no mercy.
Melissa: And after that?
Daniel: No idea. Attack equally, I guess.
Melissa: And Dervish is from Wales, is it?
Daniel: Proud of it. Bring €˜em on.
Melissa: Good luck.

A beater! First time we€™ve seen one. It€™s powered by a chainsaw motor at 1000rpm and is seriously powerful, and also it€™s an axlebot, so there€™s hardly any getting around it! Of course, that does mean it can€™t push for hell, even with Lynch-drive, and wheels can be attacked€¦

C&B1: Did not compete.
C&B2: Did not compete.

From Geddington in Northamptonshire, Black Panther!
On the prowl for the crown a second time€¦didn€™t do so well last time however.

Melissa: What improvemens have you made, Alex?
Alex: Well first off, it€™s a lower design so we€™ll have a leverage advantage, and the axe is more powerful this time around so we€™ll be able to smash up a lot of robots now. The front€™s titanium so we can withstand a lot of hits.
Melissa: Can it bite and scratch its way to the top?
Alex: I€™d like to think so.
Melissa: Who is your target for this match?
Alex: Any of them.
Melissa: I thought you would say that, well good luck Alex.
Alex: Yeah€¦

The 180 degree wedge gives protection from flippers due to its lowness, however the rear has quite a high clearance. The axe is powerful and in combination with the flipper can be deadly. The armour isn€™t too bad and the poor pushing power can be made up for with that leverage. Rawr!

C&B1: Did not compete.
C&B2: Went out to Infusion in Round 1 after a failed team-up with Clawdius Decimus Murderous.

From Orpington in Kent, Knyfe!
A sharp cut above? Or a dulled dream?

Melissa: Knyfe, huh€¦
Paul: That€™s right. It€™s going to ram opponents into unconsciousness.
Melissa: Looks pretty solid. What set-up do you have on for this match.
Paul: The 42 degree wedge, I guess.
Melissa: So€¦you€™re ready to take them on?
Paul: Oh hell yeah.
Melissa: Good for you.

Boxy, tough armour, invertible, interchangeable weaponry - not bad. It also has - gasp - power! And lots of it! But with no active weaponry, and exposed tires from the top, Knyfe could be cut down to size quite quickly!

C&B1: Did not compete.
C&B2: Did not compete.

Roboteers, stand by€¦
The teams are: Alex Holt on the left side of Booth 1, and Paul Cuomo on the right; Booth 2 has Steven McGregor on the left and Daniel Stickler on the right€¦and for our arena we have two house robots! Namely€¦Shunt and Sir Killalot!

3€¦
2€¦
1€¦
ACTIVATE!

Black Panther is the quickest here, and it€™s away after Knyfe! Knyfe responds by turning away from it and attacking Dervish: Generation X, who€™s spinning up to speed already! Wedge Devolution€¦backs into the pit release button, and goes after€¦Shunt! House robot attacking already? How could you! It reaches the CPZ, slides under Shunt€™s side clearance, and ejects it from the warzone instantly! Poor old Shunt, not looking good for him, is it€¦Sir Killalot is right miffed by this act and moves in to give the McGregor machine some deliverance, but it€™s Wedge Devo who gives some deliverance€¦it slips under the lance of Sir Killalot and sends the 280kg house robot onto its side! As The Watcher nears, Wedge Devo attacks the side of the ref, wedging it, and then takes the referee over to the wall! FLIP! Within three fights, The Watcher finds himself twice flung over the fence, and is right fuming about it!

Now that Steven has had his fun, he rejoins the fight between the other bots, as Knyfe is flung over again by Dervish, the side Hardox panel dislodged greatly€¦not just flung over, but flung into the air! What power! Knyfe goes airborne, lands on his side, and the panel comes off! Wedge Devo moves in to punish while it€™s stopped, but Dervish is away; Wedge Devo instead turns to attack Knyfe, but finds Black Panther at its rear! WHACK! The red siren atop the Wedge is shattered! Wedge Devo is furious; no one€™s ever attacked that, ever! It turns around and moves around Black Panther€™s front€¦but Black Panther keeps the wedge pointing at him. Alex smirks; he isn€™t going to let Steven have any kind of revenge just yet.

Meanwhile, it€™s become a real tossing fest out there as Knye takes yet another blow from the spinning weapon of the highly impressive-looking Dervish: Generation X, and gets sent flying across the arena, losing another panel! It€™s become evident that Daniel not only wants to immobilize Knyfe, but tear him into itty bitty pieces! And at this rate, it€™s bound to happen sooner or later! Paul tries to get his machine to put up a fight, but it€™s not turning properly, the wheels must be jammed somewhat from all that hell of a clouting, and now Daniel and Dervish move in to kill!

CRASH!!!

It€™s a real CRASH this time, and Knyfe is mercilessly tossed like a rag doll across the arena, losing the front wedge in the process! Look at the power of that thing! It€™s not done much damage to the panels themselves, but ripping them clean off it can do indeed! And Knyfe definitely isn€™t moving anymore; surprisingly, Black Panther turns its attentions away from Wedge Devo, who can€™t seem to gain any purchase under that front, to attack Knyfe€™s tires! WHACK! Dead-on! The tire€™s split open, whatever traction it had if it could still move is diminished greatly! Wedge Devo follows its axed adversary, but is interrupted by a slam from Dervish!

CRASH!!!

Short attention span much? It€™s unfortunate as the 19th seed goes belly-up, but self-rights immediately; however Dervish is after it; maybe it did only want to K.O. Knyfe so it could attack Wedge Devo! Steve isn€™t fazed, but thinks it unwise to risk getting killed at this stage and has a go at Black Panther€™s exposed rear! Look out, Alex! Black Panther turns, and it€™s got the - no way! Wedge Devo has finally slipped under that front of Black Panther€™s, and now Wedge Devo carries it to the wall! Black Panther fires the axe, striking Wedge Devo€™s top armour, but doing nothing more than slightly denting it and jolting up onto the wedge more! And€¦ZING! Out goes Black Panther, out of the arena! It appears Dervish ISN€™T done with Knyfe, not yet! Paul yells at Daniel to stop, but noooooooo. Dan decides to conquer!

CRASH!!!

Knyfe is tossed again, and the internals show themselves at last, stripped bare of any protection! Wedge Devo returns, and the McGregor flipper slides under Knyfe easily, carries it to the wall, and flips it out too! Daniel looks annoyed for some reason, but Paul is relieved. Steven shrugs, but decided to complete the run, and goes after Sir Killalot, who is still stuck on his side - no wait, Daniel moves in to attack Sir Killalot! Oh my!

CRASH!!!

Sir Killalot is righted€¦but woo boy€¦the rear caging has been totally destroyed! And Wedge Devo drives him over to the pit, Killalot ain€™t moving either, and seconds later€¦BOOM! Out.

CEASE!

Black Panther€™s made out to be a harmless Siamese kitten! Knyfe gets chopped into pieces too small for a mouse!
Wedge Devolution (19) & Dervish: Generation X advance to Round 2!

[kodster]

Heat B: The Round Two Draw

Flank Attack: DT (3) vs. Dervish: Generation X
Wedge Devolution (19) vs. Panicking Still

Tactics! Predictions! Need €˜em while they€™re hot!

(Message edited by kodster on August 29, 200

[samuel3764]

Flank Attack and Wedge Devo FTW.

In the heat final, Ill go for Flank Attack.

[pcbore]

Dervish and Wedge Devo for my money*

I also predict more wonderful fights

-2>*No actual money will be transfered

[siphai]

Full body drums of any kind are usually unreliable due to the construction of the robot and placement of the electronics. And actually, on a technicality due to the stats, Dervish would not actually be able to move (FBDs need some kind of stabiliser, usually a pole or something out in front of the robot, to push against so that the body of the FBD doesnt just spin around when it drives forward. Check out pictures of Barberous to see what I mean).

However this is a technicality and left up to Kody. Its a small thing and he already had one successful fight so its not as if I expect it to stop working or whatever. Kodys decision.

For tactics I would try and grapple onto a wheel, and really crush it to upset the balance of the robot. Maybe even grapple onto the body and bend the beater onto the body itself (which is feasible, despite the armor of the beater, considering it is 100cm long). Use my superior torque, speed, and maneuverability to out-drive him to victory. My armor is extremely well done, especially my wheelguards, so I doubt a KO would be feasible for him in this match.

[siphai]

At least, thats based on my understanding of Derish. I cant access the picture from school so I might be wrong :P only know what the stats say

[team_britespark]

Tactics

Flank Attacks claws dont look wide enough to get Dervish into its grip (and with no dimensions listed in the stats, it is hard to actually work out if he can or not). In this fight, I will aim for the claws on FA - hopefully doing the same as I did in Round 1 against Knyfe, not actually damaging the claws but dislodging them completely. If this fails, focus on the wheel guards (there is a little gap at the bottom where the wheel sticks out - if I can hit that gap with the beater, FA should be sent flying into the air and the wheel guard should become dislodged or a lot looser. A few more hits like that will hopefully remove the wheel guards completely and expose the precious wheeeeeels! of FA. If FA does look as if it will get a successful grip on me, spin the machine around on its axis, kinda like a thwackbot, and hope the beater gets a hit or FA thinks again of attacking.

BEWARE OF THE PIT, DO NOT GO NEAR THE PIT. STAY AWAY FROM THE PITTED AREA!

Good luck Alex.

[siphai]

Push him into the pit

Looking at the picture I can now see that all of the electronics would have to be placed in the wheels, ala stinger. If I were to get one good grab on a wheel, it would immobilize him, crushing straight through the wheel.

(Message edited by Siphai on August 29, 200