The Norman Sheppard Tribute Tournament

[mrdaves]

quote:

If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants (Isaac Newton)

So I lied, saying these would be up yesterday, but meh.

Heat M, Round 2, Fight 1

Orka Mk 4 vs. Natural Selection

It€™s a battle of the Chris€™, both robots shown excellent control in round 1, as they meet in round 2 to decide who goes forward to the heat final, the Fight Against Robots Legend or the newcomer to the scenes?

Both robots are in the arena, as the clock starts ticking down
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Natural Selection gets away from the starting square first, as Chris C is moving to avoid the front bucket scoop of Orka. Natural Selection turns around and goes off straight to attack Orka Mk 4, as Chris M drives the large bus with all 6 wheels turning in turn, as both robots are getting closer together, both have exposed sides, who will get underneath whom to take the initial control?

Orka Mk 4 does a dodge, as Natural Selection follows with an anti-dodge, as both robots meet head on. Chris C dodges once more, and avoids the grabber, as it slips underneath the side of Orka Mk 4, lifting up the left hand side wheels with the front wedge. The crushing grabbing arm comes across, but it can€™t get a crush on the titanium, but the lifting arm starts to raise, lifting up Orka Mk 4 onto it€™s arm. Chris is spinning the wheels on Orka Mk 4, but as the arm rises up, Orka Mk 4 fires the bucket scoop, wobbling Orka on the arm, so that one of the wheels hits solid ground, and pushes Orka Mk 4 off the arm.

The arm slowly lowers, as Orka Mk 4 drives away into the distance away from Natural Selection. Chris follows the other Chris, as Orka Mk 4 opens the pit release button, using Orka Mk 4€™s rear end. Natural Selection gets within the danger zone of Orka Mk 4, as Chris C using his experience in driving dodges Orka Mk 4€™s attack with a duff-dodge. Natural Selection is underneath Orka Mk 4 again, and forces underneath it, so that the crushing arm doesn€™t open, but the arm is up, as Natural Selection is being driven towards the arena hazards. Orka Mk 4 spins it€™s wheels once more to get some traction on the arm, but Chris C has learned from last time, and lifts up the crushing grabber arm up a tad, lifting up the wheels from the main arm, as the arena hammer fires, hitting into the top of Orka Mk 4, not just once, but twice. No damage is done, as Natural Selection pushes Orka Mk 4 over onto it€™s side against the arena hammer unit. Natural Selection gets a hit from the hammer for it€™s payment, as the arm jams going down.

Chris M fires the bucket scoop, which pushes Orka Mk 4 away from the pyramid, but still doesn€™t remove it from the side, as the scoop fires the self-righter, as Orka Mk 4 rises from the ashes like a phoenix. Meanwhile, Natural Selection€™s weapon has gone back down, after the safety system to prevent hydraulic fluid leaks kicked in, a quick reset and both robots are still ready to continue.

Orka Mk 4 is away, and slams into Natural Selection, head on, after a game of dodge-me. Orka Mk 4 gets underneath the front wedge of Natural Selection, and lifts it up, but the two wheels are still on the ground, as the wedge lifts up, so Natural Selection still has traction, as both robots are locked in a torque battle, as Natural Selection locks up the right hand wheel, and puts on full reverse on the left hand wheel to bring Natural Selection around, to stop Orka Mk 4€™s cruise to the pit, as Chris M lowers the bucket scoop, after rising the grabber again.

Natural Selection comes back with a strong attack, and slices underneath the corner of Orka Mk 4, lifting up a selection of wheels, as the crusher comes into play, crushing between the bucket scoop and the chassis, no damage is done, but Natural Selection lifts up Orka Mk 4 from the ground, as the wheels start spinning, as Chris M stops with the power, as the arena spike fires, sending Natural Selection over, forcing Orka Mk 4 over as well. Natural Selection self-rights using the arm, as Orka Mk 4 self-rights using it€™s strange Srimech.

Natural Selection is away first and gets under a broadside side attack, could the fight be ending soon, as the arm raises Orka Mk 4 off the ground, as Natural Selection is aiming for the pit. The clock is ticking down, 40 seconds are left, but will Chris M be able to hang on for the decision?

The arena spike once more fires, sending Orka Mk 4 over sideways, as Natural Selection goes straight in with an attack, to cause some damage to the wheels with the crushing arm. The arm lifts the side up a tad, as the crusher comes in, with an indirect hit on the wheels. However Orka Mk 4 self-rights, as the crusher redraws, drawing air. Natural Selection lifts up Orka Mk 4 again, but with 20 seconds left, both robots are drawing out the stalemate. Natural Selection lifts Orka Mk 4 up once more, but Orka Mk 4 spins it€™s wheels to hit the arm to spin away. A very stylist method to get away from danger, but a lack of control, as Natural Selection gets underneath once more to carry on lifting Orka Mk 4 up.

3, 2, 1, Cease.

Natural Selection drops Orka Mk 4 and both robots return to the starting squares, both looking undamaged, as the judges start to do whatever they do.

Aggression:
Natural Selection attacked more often, but Orka Mk 4€™s attacks were more focused, Natural Selection gets the first advantage with 9 lovely points, and what do points make? Orka Mk 4 gets a decent 6 points from this area.

Control:
Both robots shined in the control area, but Natural Selection had the advantage with controlling with it€™s arm, and gets the 2nd advantage in the prize game, claiming only a 1 point advantage with 8 points. Orka Mk 4 gets 7 points for it€™s bag.

Damage Caused:
Apart from the arena hammer and a few dents from the arena spike, no damage was caused by either robot; it was all done by arena hazards. 7 and a half points to each robot today.

Strategy -
Natural Selection€™s strategy was to take to the hazards to damage Orka Mk 4, the judges€™ award that Chris C did fulfil this plan. Orka Mk 4€™s strategy was to *insert missing strategy here*, but it was aiming for the pit every time it could get underneath and control the battle. Orka Mk 4 gets the advantage here, in an 8-7 point€™s victory.

Style:
Orka Mk 4 wins in this area, hands down, but Natural Selection still proved it has style. Orka Mk 4 gets 8.5 points, whereas Natural Selection gets a lovely 6.5 points.

Total:
Orka Mk 4 - 37/75
Natural Selection - 38/75.

So in a 38-37 decision, Orka Mk 4 fails to make the mark with the thinnest of margins, Natural Selection, 2, 1 point spilt decisions, makes it€™s way to the heat final.

Fight 2
Wedga Revo vs. Hell Machine (17)

It seems that I made a mistake with Hell Machine in the last fight when saying it was older than time itself; Dave had updated it with a new drive system and weapons backbone, so it has been kept up to date. Wedga Revo is looking for an easier battle than round 1, where it just beat Disco 5 in a 26-25-24 spilt decision.

Both legend drivers are in the control booths
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It€™s tornado vs. storm 2 once more in terms of drive systems, as Hell Machine jogs to the same speed of Wedga Revo as it zooms out of the starting squares, as both robots look each other out, the low and slim Wedga Revo against the large and bulky Hell Machine, as Dave flicks his controller and Hell Machine dances to the music. Wedga Revo comes slamming in with it€™s large wedge to attack with the flipper.

It€™s a dance between the two robots, as both try to get the advantage, as Hell Machine is trying to get his rear firestorm lifter into play; Andy starts to play with the controls to dodge the attacks to get that flipper into play, as Dave is watching Mr Jackson€™s every move to counter-act the dodges. The dance continues for another 20 seconds, as Hell Machine breaks free and attacks Wedga Revo€™s side. The side skirts prevent Hell Machine getting underneath Wedga Revo, as Dave goes forward and runs away from Wedga Revo.

Andy heads over to Hell Machine with Wedga Revo, as Hell Machine has opened the pit release. Hell Machine turns, as wedge meets the scoop, as Wedga Revo with the lower wedge gets underneath Hell Machine and before you can say Flip, Wedga Revo has flipped Hell Machine over 360 degree, as Hell Machine lands and goes straight towards Wedga Revo, and drives up and straight over the wedge, and doing a lovely drive. Andy doesn€™t know what hit him, as he fires the flipper, lifting up the rear end of Hell Machine up, but nothing else, as Hell Machine lands and sticks up full reverse to ram into the rear end of Wedga Revo.

Wedga Revo selects reverse, as the rear wedge manages to get underneath the rear skirt, as it hasn€™t been fully repaired from round 1, as Hell Machine gets underneath the rear end of Wedga Revo and drives underneath fully to remove the wheels from the ground, as they are spinning in mid-air, as the rear lifter starts to lift Wedga Revo up, against the arena wall, to expose the base plate. Dave stops, and thinks, as Wedga Revo is hanging on, as the flipper is vertical, as he continues and drops Wedga Revo against the wall.

The flipper fires, but Hell Machine comes in at full speed with the axe, firing it, once, twice, three times, the 4th time, and now the 5th time. The rear base plate is full of holes, as co2 starts to leak, only a little leak, but it could be the deciding factor, as Ref comes in, breaking up the robots and removes the pinned Wedga Revo from the wall, and drops it on it€™s wheels, and counts 10 seconds for it to get away. Hell Machine is waiting for the 10 second breathing period, as Wedga Revo is moving slower than before, as it turns around to face Hell Machine, Dave puts on full power and drives towards Wedga Revo at full speed.

2 metres, and Dave dodges, Wedga Revo, and head off into the distance. 1 minute of fighting is left, as Hell Machine comes in with another attack onto Wedga Revo, as Andy tries to drive Wedga Revo, but he is having trouble, as Hell Machine slams into the side to ride the wedge, and the force pushes Wedga Revo sideways, as something comes out of the side, it€™s a mount of something inside, something is hanging off, as Wedga Revo turns to get away, and slams into the side of Hell Machine getting underneath the side ground clearance, and tries to flip, but the pressure has gone with the leak, and so the flipper lifts up slowly, as Wedga Revo starts to push Hell Machine sideways, Dave has lost his drive, as the wheels are spinning in mid-air.

10 seconds are left, as Wedga Revo doesn€™t know what to do, as the power has disappeared, the batteries has come out of the chassis, hanging on to the insides by string, as the judges decide that the end is now.

Cease

Hell Machine is pinned to the wedge of Wedga Revo, Wedga Revo is almost broken down, but still the judges need to decide.

Aggression: Wedga Revo shown the more aggression at the start, but it died off after the axe attacks, Hell Machine shown aggression throughout the battle and so gets 9 points, compared to Wedga Revo€™s 6 points.

Control - Both had excellent control throughout fight, but Hell Machine losses a mark for driving onto the wedge, as Wedga Revo gets 8 points, compared to Hell Machine€™s 7.

Damage Caused:
A white wash for Hell Machine, as it caused massive internal damage to Wedga Revo in the axe attacks. 14 points for Hell Machine, 1 point for Wedga Revo.

Strategy -
Hell Machine - 8 points
Wedga Revo - 7 Points

Style:
Hell Machine - 8 points
Wedga Revo - 7 points

Total:
Hell Machine - 46/75
Wedga Revo - 29/75

In a 46-29, the old war horse proves that it still has bite, and moves into the heat final. Wedga Revo had the power, it had the weapon, but it hasn€™t yet had it€™s finest hour and crashes out.

The Heat M Final Draw
*See fights for winners*

Tactics, predictions, did you like round 2?

[razerdave]

K, all I know about Natural selection is its a crusher with a hydralic lifter, ala Mantis. Hydraulic lifters are too slow to do me any harm. I would like some more information if possible

[darkguru]

Wooty fights

Ditto on wanting information My stats arent too far up so if Dave could post both...

Right now im thinking that i have to push the bugger again ill be making use of the hazards and later on the pit.

[mrdaves]

Stats, you want stats, you cant handle http://farr.proboards21.com/index.cgi?board=NSTTStats

[darkguru]

I have equal speed to Hell Machine but higher ground clearence, i need to stay away from the axe if possible and hit it from the side or behind, again, i will aim to use the hazards. If i pin Hell Machine to the wall, thats when my pincers can come into play.

[razerdave]

K, so it has a rounded back, meaning that both my ends will go under (dunno if there are skirts right the way around). 4mm Titainium is not too big a problem, I just gotta avoid the crusher and hammer it until its dead

[mrdaves]

quote:

If you never try you will never know. Lights will guide you home, and enlighten your bones, and I will try to fix you.

I€™m high on a mixture of medicine and tablets to keep my illness at bay, so I€™m sorry if this fight isn€™t up to normal standards.

Has anyone else noticed that Fix You is such a sad song to listen to?

Heat M Final
Natural Selection vs. Hell Machine (17)

Both robots got through round 2 on the back of judge€™s decisions, but who will claim on of the covered semi final places?

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Both vapourbots are away, these two drivers do not like hanging around squares which used to be coloured but over time, all the wheel spins has painted them black. You get your history from the union jack, as both robots take their own routes to determine who gets to draw the first blood. The axe is ready on Hell Machine, as it is hoping to draw Natural Selection down to hell. Suspended high in the sky is the words that we see in our dreams.

Hell Machines breaks the deadlock first and goes over to try to get underneath the rear end of Natural Selection, but Chris turns around to defence his exposed rear end, it has a modest ground clearance, but no weapons to defend against wedges. Both robots meet head-on, as Natural Selection gets it€™s wedge underneath the front wedge of Hell Machine, as the arm starts to rise, the axe comes swinging across back and forward like the Cornish mad axe-man.

Each swing is putting a lovely go-faster dent into the top of Natural Selection, the hydraulic lifting arm has stuck up, as the crusher starts to move, as Hell Machine tries to get away from the slightly raised arm, as the top of Natural Selection looks like a pepper-pot, as the crusher comes into play and starts to crush though the wedge itself, with ease really, but what is that leaking from Natural Selection, as the axe on Hell Machine starts another burst of attacks, as the axe arm is swinging back and forward at full rate of hitting, putting lots more dents into the top of Natural Selection, as Chris starts to move forward, but the wheels are spinning, pushing up what looks like to be hydraulic fluid, the weapons on Natural Selection do look a bit dead.

Hell Machine stops swinging the axe as the pivot is getting slightly warm, as Ref comes in to spilt the two robots up. Lifting Hell Machine up from Natural Selection, but having trouble, as the front wedge is still pinned to the body of Natural Selection though it€™s weapon, which has broken, all the safety systems has been knocked out by blowing of axes. The clock is stopped, as ref comes into it€™s own, and manages to lift Hell Machine up, by trying to push back up the crusher. The wheels of Ref have started to spin backwards, as he places Hell Machine down, and pushes Natural Selection forward, to show a large lake of hydraulic fluid. The arena cleaners are heard to be moaning about the extra clean up job.

The clock has been started once more, as both robots return to a game of contact, as Ref has returned back to the corner, with Natural Selection looking a lot worse for wear, Chris goes for the attack, avoiding the large lake, which Hell Machine has dodged around the side. The arena spikes fire at once, sending Hell Machine into the air and onto it€™s back, a quick self-right, self-rights Hell Machine, as it comes back to attacking mode, spinning on it self to avoid an attack from Natural Selection, but Chris knows that without a weapon, and with the arena spike in effect within a few metres, he is looking worried, with his pepper-pot machine. Hell Machine slams into the front end of Natural Selection, and gets underneath the weapon, and pushes forward, lifting Natural Selection€™s front wedge up a tad. The full power from Hell Machine comes into play, as Natural Selection is being pushed backwards, smoke pouring off it€™s tyres as they try to find grip, a large wave has formed from the standing fluid, as Hell Machines goes forward more, and pushes Natural Selection onto the spike.

3, 2, 1, the spike fires, sending Natural Selection onto it€™s top. With no self-righter, all hope is lost, as Hell Machine gives the underbelly another hit with the axe. The count-down has started, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and there goes the red card.

Cease

In your honour, Natural Selection, beaten by lots and lots of axe hits, Hell Machine, the 17th seed, makes a fine return to past-glory and is selected to move onto the final 16.

Next Time:
3 spots are left in the quest to find the 16 chosen semi finalists, who from the 5-robot Heat N will be next to follow:
Heat N
Giga-Byte (15) vs. Love Bite V2.0 vs. BYE

The Crashing Bore (1 vs. 13 Black vs. Archangel of the abyss

So if your stuck in square 1, and you been run-though.

Tactics, Predictions and what did you think of heat M?

[pcbore]

Depends on what Alex is planning here. Either way, Im going after 13 Black and pushing it into Archangel. If Alex is going after 13 Black Ill help him out by shoving it into his spinner side first, but if hes after me, Im pushing 13 Black in flywheel first

[alex_holt]

Ill go for 13 black as its got relativly soft armour, I should tear it apart with relative ease.

[mrdaves]

quote:

Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river. (Nikita Khrushchev)

Welcome to another heat, only 3 places are left, and 17 robots are fighting for those 3 places. Who will claim the 14th place from heat N?

NSTT, Heat N
Round 1, Melee 1
Giga-Byte (15) vs. Love Bite V2.0 vs. Mr. Bye

From England, the 15th seed and series 7 champion, Giga-Byte. Entered by Andy, Byte is one of the most successful series of robots. Aimed with a lovely pair of horizontal claws to look like Tough as Nails. Armoured by Hardox, powered by Lynch motors, nitrogen powers the claws. Right here, right now, do you know what I mean? However the weakness is that if it clamps onto the front of more powerful drives, it can be out pushed and that with 10mm of ground clearance, wedges aren€™t Giga-Byte€™s best friend.
In Far 8: (As Frost-Byte) - beat MoBird and Tanto 2 before losing to eventual champion, Clawdius in the heat final.

From The Black Country, England, Love Bit Version Two Point Zero. Entered by Chris. It is another pair of horizontal crushers designed to crush, and run. Chris must have made a mistake with the speed at 33 mph, surly. The front weapon is a self-righting flipper like Firestorm. The armour is tough as it is Hardox, but it might get out pushed with only a Bosch drive in the world of Lynch driven vapourbots.
In far 8: Didn€™t enter

From the centre of the universe aka Scaro, Mr. Bye. Entered by Mr. A Dalek, this amazing machine has a front Gravity style flipper and a rear MDU style flywheel. Surly it will win the entire series because it has the ultimate chassis with 100% feedback and infinity drive. However the driver is a dalek who is out busy destroying the universe and Doctor Who, so Mr. Bye is in the locket, we think, unless it has been stolen by Professor Vengeance after returning Wedge Devolution.

Result: Mr. Bye is exterminated; the random dalek says EX-TER-MIN-ATE! To the world, Andy and Chris go into round 2, after hiding underneath a random table with a stick to knock over the Dalek, which falls on top of the coffee-boy, as Frank is heard to be moaning that his coffee has been knocked flying.

Melee 2
Archangel of the abyss vs. The Crashing Bore (1 vs. 13 Black
From England, Archangel of the abyss. Entered by Alex, this double walking spinner is pure evil. The two spinner has a virtual spin-up time to give the larger bottom to spin up to speed to get it€™s claws into play. It has the power to do some destruction however it can be taken aback by rammers and due to how large it is, it may find turning.
In Far 8: Didn€™t enter into the main contest (I think)

From England, the 18th seed, The Crashing Bore. The world€™s most famous mouse-trap. It won the new-blood last season to get 2nd seeding, but it has changed; now it has an electric trap in place of the co2. The blade has changed, and the two self-righting arms have been removed, so that the bore has to self-right using it€™s trap. A couple of rear spikes prevent unauthorized wedge access, however it is slow compared to the rest of the field and there is a modest ground clearance under the skirts. Will The Crashing Bore continue what it set out to do last season?
In far 8: Beat 25€™s Revenge, then Leprosy, before being flipped OOTA by Tsunami 2.

From England, 13 Black. Entered by Kody, who has left the building, this realie, has two discs which spin counter clockwise to each other, and a working Srimech. However the wheels are exposed at the sides unless it is doing a spin on the spot to get the disc up to speed. The discs can damage a lot, but the main worry is that each disc isn€™t that heavy compared to Archangel of the abyss€™s flywheels.
In Far 8: Beaten by Asimov 1.5 in round 1.

All 3 robots are in the arena for this fight.

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And they are off, as 13 Black, driven by the ghost of the unknown vapourbotter, starts to spin on the spot to get both discs up to speed; it is in the yellow square and moves away from the wall. The Crashing Bore has got out of the red square now and is aiming to drive into 13 Black, as Archangel of the abyss starts to make it€™s big advance, both flywheels are spinning at full speed, throwing up small pieces of metal from all of the past fights.

Meanwhile, 13 Black has dodged Frank€™s driving attack to hit into 13 Black, and so aims for the side skirt. Frank turns The Crashing Bore quickly, but not quick enough, as one of the discs hit the corner of the skirt and the mystery skirt material is ripped clean away from the side to only to be held on by the rear nuts, bolts, and springs. Meanwhile Archangel of the abyss has started to walk towards the other two, but seeing as the gyro forces generated from both spinners is large, that the body wants to remain horizontal and not lift up with every step. 13 Black, being the fastest in this battle is away, already re-spun it€™s 2nd disc up to speed.

The Crashing Bore is giving chase to 13 Black, as Archangel of the abyss is following both robots slowly. The Crashing Bore slams into 13 Black, as the disc makes pretty sparks with the front wedge, the trap comes over to clamp onto the centre part of 13 Black. Archangel of the abyss comes across and hits into the rear end, but no damage is done, as the discs are spinning counter-clockwise to each other. The Crashing Bore slams 13 Black into the pit release as Archangel of the abyss comes back onto the attack, and lands a direct side hit onto the poor machine.

The wheel looks very damaged, as Archangel of the abyss slams into it once more, and the wheel is ripped completely off 13 Black, as it goes into 1 wheel drive mode, as both Archangel of the abyss and The Crashing Bore leaves it in peace to be counted out. Ref starts to move to count out 13 Black, as the unknown ghost has faded out, leaving the controller on the control booth window.

Cease

The battle is over, but that random dalek which has destroyed a lot of the pits with his pie gun, has opened the door, and rolls in, for fun and bringing out a nasty looking corkscrew starts to move towards The Crashing Bore. Archangel of the abyss starts to spin up again and move towards the dalek, as The Crashing Bore comes across and slams the trap down onto the Dalek€™s front, ripping away the deadly corkscrew, as Archangel of the abyss hits into the plastic cladding ripping pieces of the Dalek away. Ref comes in, annoyed at the Dalek for destroying his dad comes in with the hydraulic claws and slices off the pie gun in one fine slice, as the bottom end has been destroyed by Archangel of the abyss, as The Crashing Bore moves the dalek over the arena spike to flip the half-dalek over onto it€™s side.

As soon as the dalek lands on it€™s side, it disappears, along with all the parts that were destroyed off it, as the arena starts to spin, as both Frank and Alex wake up after a funny dream.

13 Black, picked on, and out. Archangel of the abyss and The Crashing Bore move onto round 2.

Round 2 Draw
The Crashing Bore (1 vs. Love Bite V2.0
Giga-Byte (15) vs. Archangel of the abyss

Tactics, predictions, thoughts, coffee?