The Fowler Fic War Series 5

[matty_haka]

Welcome to the second first round battle of Heat 3 of the Fowler Fic War Series 5.

First in and seeded number 21, Salamander 3!

Essentially an axlebot in principle, with all the electronics housed in the wheels, Alex has created an invertible horizontal spinner with great power. The drive will never be the best, and the 3mm Hardox could be vulnerable to more dangerous weapons, but the weapon and manouvreability should make up for it.

FFW History

In FFW3 - Used the disc to great effect to destroy Double Killa in round 1, however was easily beaten in round 2 by SOR 4.0

In FFW4 - Got one round further this time, knocking out A Large Red Bus Drove My Love Away in round 1, before removing Cacodemon via K.O. in round 2. Lost to eventual quarter finalists Wedginator 5.0 in the heat final, after being flipped out of the arena.

FFW Points
FFW3 - 2/2 = 1
FFW4 - 3
Total - 4

Next in is one of Frank€™s new machines, Dead Horse Beater!

With a weapon which is shaped like a baseball bat with a nail sticking out of it, you can tell that Dead Horse Beater is out for all out brutality. The low box wedge has good armour, reasonable pushing power, and with the powerful weapon as well could be a dangerous adversary. However the axe will be hard to aim and if it€™s flipped over the underbelly is vulnerable.

FFW History

In FFW3 - Did Not Enter

In FFW4 - Did Not Enter

FFW Points
FFW3 - 0
FFW4 - 0
Total - 0

And finally, Yet Another Cut Above The Rest.

One of the oddest shaped robots in the whole competition, this robot has 2 truncated pyramids housing 2 wheels, with a bar section through the middle which houses a mighty horizontal disc. The armour is 3.25mm Hardox with 4mm titanium skirts, while the weapon should be able to seriously arm more than its own armour.

FFW History

In FFW3 - Lost in Round 1 to Drilla Killa Renaissance who caught him on the drills and pushed him down the pit.

In FFW4 - Did Not Enter

FFW Points
FFW3 - ½ = 0.5
FFW4 - 0
Total - 0.5

3€¦
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Activate!

2 horizontal spinners versus 1 insane axe, this could prove to be a very interesting battle indeed. Both spinners move away to try and get up to speed but Dead Horse Beater goes straight on the pursuit of Salamander and slams the axe down on the disc. It bounces back upwards doing no damage, but has stopped the disc. Frank slides his robot underneath and slams him into the fence bringing the axe down again, this time denting the Hardox armour on the Salamander.

By this point Yet Another cut Above The Rest is spun up, and comes flying into the back end of Dead Horse Beater. The disc slams into the armour on Dead Horse Beater but does nothing but scratch the tough outer shell. Frank turns around to pay his attentions towards YACATR, bringing the axe down on the Hardox bars across the disc. He slams down on it 3 times in quick succession, and it looks obviously bent, but as of yet not enough to impact on the movement of the weapon.

Salamander 3 has used this opportunity to spin up his weapon though and comes in at the side of YACATR. There€™s a loud whirr and he slams into the side skirts, tearing one off completely, the 4mm titanium and its hinges not enough to stand up to the power. AJ turns his machine and brings it into the wheel of Salamander 2, scratching the hubs, and taking small chunks out of the rubber wheels.

Dead Horse Beater has moved away at this point to allow the other 2 to get on with their battle but allows himself to run up to the top of the arena and nudge the pit release button.

Salamander 3 and Yet Another Cut Above The Rest are still embraced in a tenacious waltz, and the 2 of them are still trying to score scratches and scrapes off of one another, but Dead Horse Beater comes back across to try and end it, slamming the axe down on top of YACATR and getting the nail stuck in between the wheel and it€™s casing. He tries to move it back out but the axe appears to be lodged. Salamander 3 sees this as a chance to cause some mayhem, spinning up the disc and striking in between where the 2 robots are stuck, there€™s a loud noise, as another skirt comes off of YACATR, and Frank€™s axe is pulled out of the wheel, albeit without the nail. It also seems to have stopped working as Frank, moving frantically at the controls, can€™t get it out of it€™s fired position on the ground.

Dead Horse Beater tries to prod the other 2 with his baseball bat but it€™s no good and the 2 just go back to fighting each other, Salamander 3 aiming for the exposed side where the skirt was torn from but managing very little other than scratches. YACATR tries to make his own response and slams into the wheel of Salamander 3 again. Instantly the wheel stops moving. As it happens the force of that attack has broken the magnet in the motor of the drive in one side and Salamander 3 is left a sitting duck. Frank decides to get the fight over with before he can receive any more damage and nudges Alex€™s machine with his back end, across the arena and down into the pit he€™d opened earlier.

CEASE

Salamander 3 could do newt about that. Dead Horse Beater goes through along with an impressive looking Yet Another Cut Above The Rest

Round 2 draw

Whirligig 4.0 (5) v Dead Horse Beater
Sengazanken v Yet Another Cut Above The Rest

Thoughts, Tactics, Predictions, Comments?

[kodster]

Predictions

Whirligig 4.0 (5) v Dead Horse Beater

I dont think that axe can do much to the shuffling pads of Whirly...Steve through by a KO.

Sengazanken v Yet Another Cut Above The Rest

Surprising that Sengazanken went through to be honest...so actually, I will have to pass as again either could go through.

Tactics

Read, enjoy, rinse and repeat.

[pcbore]

Hah, I knew Id be seeing ol Whirly if I got through round 1.

Itd be too easy to just give up and say Im screwed, so Im not going to because I honestly dont think I am

My plan is to let Whirly spin up to full power, then hit the top with the axe. Even a slight tilt should cause Whirly to go gyroscopic, hit the floor and bounce itself halfway across the arena. I think Ive said it before, Whirly is too powerful for its own good and I intend to exploit that.

If he catches me a few times before I can axe him, the armour should protect me. If his weapon breaks and the robot itself is still working, Ill push him around and try to pit him or something. He might have a good drive, but his shape really isnt efficient for pushing.

Great battles so far and good luck Steve.

[steven_mcg]

HEAT C
ROUND 2
Dead Horse Beater VS WHIRLIGIG 4.0 (5)

Spin. Shuffle to sides. Kill.

You expect anything more from Whirligig?

[paulc]

I think I might post my predictions, as well as bring this thread back into attention - as I dont want this piece of brilliat work to go under:

Whirligig 4.0 (5) v Dead Horse Beater: Im going to go for the 5th seed to kill the drive motors.

Sengazanken v Yet Another Cut Above The Rest: Sengazanken is made of Titanium, at 8mm thick - AJs going to rip that up!

[matty_haka]

Should have internet access again soon

[kodster]

Ah, so thats the reason for your absence. Well I cant say I blame you. My internet has been bannedty for God knows how long.

[paulc]

This isnt a bump, but its to ask if this is going to turn out to be a hypothetical? Because I dont want it to, but if it has to, I understand. But please Matty - DONT LEAVE THIS THREAD TO DIE! :sad:

[matty_haka]

it wont be.

[matty_haka]

And so finally, after a long break, Will is finally ready to start writing again, and with this comes the first second round battle of Heat 3, which involves Whirligig 4.0 and Dead Horse Beater.

3€¦
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Activate!

Straight from the off, Whirligig 4.0 attempts to move as far away as possible from Dead Horse Beater to get it€™s ring spinning up, but Dead Horse Beater catches it with little difficulty and hammers the axe down on top, getting into the shuffling plates. Steve tries to manoeuvre Whirly away but Dead Horse Beater begins dragging him around, with a bit of a struggle. Unfortunately for Frank, in the time he€™s spent holding onto him, Steve has been able to get the spin of Whirligig 4.0 up to its maximum power. Frank continues to try and drag him around and eventually manages to get him over to the Pit Release Button which he duly presses; sending the sirens off and the pit immediately begins to descend.

Before he has a chance to try and manoeuvre his prey towards a smoky descent however, he is warned by the officials to release him from the pin as he has been captive for over 30 seconds. He lets go and immediately tries to slam straight into him with the front wedge but the impact sends him flying away, albeit with no damage other than a couple of sheared nuts and bolts. Whirligig 4.0 barely slows down at all however, and comes straight into him again with another attack on the wedge. The same thing happens again with Dead Horse Beater bearing the brunt of the attack seemingly very well.

Frank tries to regain control over his spinning machine but just ends up careering into the wall, leaving him a sitting duck for another attack for an increasingly menacing looking Whirligig 4.0. Frank attempts to get into forward motion, but before he can manage it another attack on the wedge leaves the main panel flying across the arena, having had most of the nuts and bolts sheared off.

Missing both a panel, and also beginning to limp slightly Frank tries to pull a plan out of the bag, and decides he will continually go in with the front of the now badly damaged wedge. After all, what more damage is he going to do? He comes in again, and brings down the axe once more, hoping to be in a position again to drag him into the pit or some other such hazardous obstacles, but as he brings it down, Whirligig backs off, before coming straight back in. The noise from the impact is tremendous, as gas fills the arena and the axe appears, hanging limply in its downward position, the sheer force sent through it apparently being enough to rip part of it away from its mechanisms.


Dead Horse Beater is in an absolute state and is barely able to move around the arena. Steve appears to take pity on this and slows down the outer shell to a less destructive speed. He nudges him once, sending him away with a few sparks, and nudges him again, and it appears he€™s trying to manoeuvre him towards the pit. A couple more nudges, and with Dead Horse Beater sitting limp on the edge of the pit, he turns the shell right down, and with one last nudge, sends him plummeting into the drop to meet his maker.

CEASE

Dead Horse Beater couldn€™t beat anything more than that. Whirligig 4.0 is through to the Heat Final.