Mechanical Maelstrom: Annihilation

16th October 2009, 15:16

First battle up later tonight or this weekend

**shadowflare** · 17th October 2009, 05:56

Figured I ought to get at least one tactic up now...

Wedga Triton [#4] vs. Nidhogg Cubed vs. SOTAR vs. Orka RV vs. Wedginator 9.0 vs. Mornington Crescent

I don't think I want to bother with Mornington Crescent or NÂ³, so if they try to bother me, try to get away. But Wedga Triton, Wedginator 9.0, and Orca RV... heh heh heh.

I think I'll go after.... Orca, though if there is a really good opening on any of the other 2, take advantage of it, just to let them know I care!
...It seems like a plan, at least. XD

17th October 2009, 12:56

Hello and welcome to tonightâ‚¬â„¢s thrilling episode of Mechanical Maelstrom, the first of the Annihilation series.
6 robots will enter the Annihilation Stadium, but only 1 will live to fight again in the series final. One robot will be eliminated each round until only the winner remains in classic annihilator style.
First off, letâ‚¬â„¢s meet tonightâ‚¬â„¢s competitors!

From Lincolnshire in England, representing Team ??? and currently ranked #4, Wedga Triton!
This blue box wedge is no stranger to Mechanical Maelstrom, as it finished in a very high 4th place in season 2.0, reaching the heady heights of the semi-finals before it fell to eventual champion Dantu. It is unchanged from then, and still packs the full pressure rear hinged flipper that sent robots tumbling out of the arena last time around. The S28-400 magmotors in the drive easily move the robot around, and the hardox armour gives adequate protection, but the the co2 supply is limited as with any pneumatic flipper.

From Pontefract in West Yorkshire, representing Team Picus, Nidhogg Cubed!
Also a veteran of Mechanical Maelstrom, this lifter/crusher lost in the opening melee of Mechanical Maelstrom 2.0 when it was outclassed by Autoism 3.0 and Back to Rock III and dumped from the competition. It returns unchanged, with front lifting forks and overhead hydraulic crusher, perfectly capable of a lot of damage, but more commonly used to clamp opponents and drop them in the pit. The hydrostatic drive gives very precise and easy control, but the base armour is only aluminium and the main titanium armour quite thin by vapourbot standards.

From Patricia in Canada, representing Team Alt, SOTAR!
This seasonâ‚¬â„¢s first newcomer is a powerful ring spinner that can also run inverted. With both drive and weapon being powered by meaty PERM motors this machine packs some serious punch, and with the name Sit On This And Rotate to scare away opponents what could possibly go wrong? Everything, if it meets any axes as with such powerful weaponry and motors top and bottom armour has paid the price with just aluminium to protect itself, and the shape isnâ‚¬â„¢t ideal to push other robots around either.

From Onehouse in Suffolk, representing Team Dinowarrior, Orka RV!
The latest version in the Orka line of robots is a simple box wedge with a rear hinged flipping arm on board. Itâ‚¬â„¢s a newcomer to Mechanical Maelstrom, although the team has previous experience as Leprosy Infection reached the semi-finals of the first season and also competed the second time around along with Mega Masher 2. This machine is a very good all rounder, with tough 7mm titanium armour, a durable and powerful flipping arm and also a 6 wheel drive that can work upside down! However, it isnâ‚¬â„¢t the best at turning.

From Etobicoke in Canada, representing Team Zlayerz, Wedginator 9.0!
Perhaps the most original robot in this opening annihilator, the ninth robot in the Wedginator series has a set of long eletric lifting prongs coupled with a powerful pneumatic spike that can not only damage but also flip robots after they are lifted by the arms. The 4mm hardox monocoque armour has bolted to it a 5mm titanium/vanadium alloy cage for extra defence and the lynch motors in the drive provide plenty of power for shoving other robots around the arena. The omni-wheels at the rear work well with the normal front wheels giving Wedginator both power and manouevrability to use against opponents, but it is an untested design.

From Glasgow in Scotland, representing Team Braveheart, Mornington Crescent!
Another unusual competitor is Mornington Crescent, a nice innovation in the crowded world of vapourbot ring spinners. This machine packs not one, but two spinning rings into the robot. It can still run when inverted, and has magmotors in the drive for controlled movement, while lynch motors power the weaponry. Each ring spins in a different direction, cancelling out any gyroscopic forces and allowing the robot to drive around easier. However, with two spinning rings perhaps each one lacks power compared to wepaons like the mega-ring of SOTAR in this fight.

Roboteers, standby!

Booth Red: Team???, Team Picus, Team Braveheart
Booth Blue: Team Dinowarrior, Team Zlayerz, Team Alt

3...
2...
1...
ACTIVATE!

Activate is called and Mechanical Maelstrom: Annihilation gets underway, with all six machines moving across the arena towards one another, as all 3 spinning rings get up to speed and Wedginator 9.0 makes the first onslaught very quickly, ramming straight for Orka RV, catching Chris by surprise as the attack was so swift and unexpected! Wedginator drives the forks under the 8mm side ground clearance of Orka, lifting the arms and taking Orka off the ground very quickly, firing the spike and turning Orka over very quickly! SOTAR takes advantage of Orka being on its side and runs in on the attack just as Orka self-rights, hitting the base and ripping a gash in it as well as flipping Orka back over!

Orka is beached for a few seconds before the flipper resets, but then itâ‚¬â„¢s invertibility enables it to drive away and press the pit release button before it self-rights! Meanwhile Wedga Triton has taken advantage of SOTARâ‚¬â„¢s momentary stationary pause after its connection with Orka RV and rams the new ring spinner onto the killsaws! A shower of sparks and SOTAR is thrown away across the floor as it spins up the weaponry again. Mornington Crescent remains in the background at this point, both rings spun up to speed, but staying out of the action for the time being. Nidhogg Cubed is playing a similar game, seemingly just waiting for that opening to attack an opponent.

Orka RV seems to be Wedginatorâ‚¬â„¢s main target in this match, as the distinctive alligator wedge drives at Chris again, this time failing to get around the side as Orka runs past Wedginator and pushes under the side of Wedginator, firing the flipper to send Wedginator over! Kody self-rights quickly with the arms and uses is rear to push against the side of Orka RV, using his more powerful drive to push Chrisâ‚¬â„¢ machine into the dual spinning rings of Mornington Crescent! Orka is tossed away with another gash, this time in the side and already the Team Dinowarrior entry is looking pretty beaten up!

It must be tough being teamed up on like this, but Orka RV sees an opening to attack Wedga Triton, ramming at Andyâ‚¬â„¢s side as backs away from SOTAR, breaching the side of Wedga and firing the flipper to toss the blue box wedge robot up and over! It self-rights quickly, but in drives SOTAR, colliding with both robots and leaving Wedga Triton with scars in the hardox armour as well as ripping the gash in the side of Orka RV even wider! And now carbon dioxide gas is escaping from Chrisâ‚¬â„¢ robot, leading us to believe that the co2 supply has been ruptured, and so Orka RV canâ‚¬â„¢t use its flipper!

Realising this, Wedginator 9.0 drives in quickly and lifts, using the spike a second time to send Orka RV tumbling over again just as Nidhogg Cubed sees that the time is right to attack and drives towards the pair of robots just as Orka RV lands on its backside, allowing Joey to drive under the side and lift it with the forks before the crusher comes down, digging into the gash SOTAR put into the base armour of Orka RV and holding on tight to Orka RV, turning and heading towards the pit that Orka RV itself opened earlier on in this bout. Chris has now lost control over his robot anyway as it would seem Nidhogg Cubed pierced through the radio receiver, and all the team from Suffolk can do is look on as Nidhogg dumps Orka RV into the pit of oblivion to disappear in a puff of smoke!

CEASE!

Orka RV is destroyed and pitted and is the first eliminated from the competition!

Battle-Board
Wedga Triton [#4] vs. Nidhogg Cubed vs. SOTAR vs. Orka RV vs. Wedginator 9.0 vs. Mornington Crescent

**kodster** · 17th October 2009, 15:32

w00t, the mega team-up worked.

Wedga Triton [#4] vs. N^3 vs. S.O.T.A.R. vs. Wedginator 9.0 vs. Mornington Crescent

Seems I'm the target next, however. Here I shall attack Wedga Triton. It needs CO2 to use its flipper, so I'll just keep lifting it over so its flipper gets drained from self-righting. My lifting spikes have much more leverage and force (surface area rule

) than his flat flipper, or any of his sides or back, so I should get under him quite easily. If S.O.T.A.R. or Mornington Crescent stick their spinny things in, ram them with the rear panel. It can take quite great a bashing before giving way. Most importantly, stay AWAY from Nidhogg as it seems the most threatening here, unless Nidhogg comes after me. If it does, try to swerve around to its sides and lift it over. If Wedga or Nidhogg present me with an opportunity, slam them into S.O.T.A.R. or Mornington Crescent and watch with glee.

If at all the situation becomes dire, open the pit and shunt something non-spinny in.

21st October 2009, 21:00

Anymore tactics?

Next fight should be up Sunday at the latest, and I'll try and get a few more done over half-term

Let's see if I can get this first annihilator done by the end of the month

**steven_mcg** · 21st October 2009, 21:45

Woo, survival!

Same tactics as before - use my good speed and manoueverability to weave through the competitors and focus my attacks on Wedginator, aiming for the sides. If I can, I'll have a go at Wedga's skirts again or S.O.T.A.R. if someone manages to stop its spinning ring.

**joey_picus** · 21st October 2009, 22:11

Same tactics as before please :P

**shadowflare** · 1st November 2009, 23:13

*cough* Uhh... <_<

Look for a chance to hit everybody, and if a great opprutunity opens up, attack. Until I see a good change though, annoy Wedga and Weginator, just because.

**death robotics** · 3rd November 2009, 15:37

ive been looking at what you all say about mark, sure i dont know him that well as ive only been here since september
but you guys should show some (or even a little) respect for him like you give me (amazing isnt it that im defending mark) but i cant stand idly by and watch you pick on one of my best mates (sure you have issues with him bots and tournies) but that doesnt mean you cant treat him any different from me or you, you can team up on him in tournies sure but you cant team up on him out of a tournie

p.s now that ive said this im now waiting for every one to give me a full on punch in the face