[TC11] Technic Contest Battle Bots - Discussion Topic

[Mantarri]

3 hours ago, Saberwing40k said:

Okay, I have a couple of different ideas, but first, I'd like to clarify something: Does this contest exclude unmanned tanks? I'm thinking, I could build a small robot tank that fits the rules, but is not really like a BattleBots robot as such. Or, does this have to be something like what you would see on the BattleBots TV show?

Only PF IR, and Sbrick is allowed, so no Mindstorms or the like. 

[msk6003]

can make replica of real battlerobot? like witchdoctor, nightmare, or etc.

of colse, working.

[Milan]

5 hours ago, msk6003 said:

can make replica of real battlerobot? like witchdoctor, nightmare, or etc.

of colse, working.

Yes, you can! Happy building!

Also, try to use capital letters at the start of the sentence.

[msk6003]

5 hours ago, Milan said:

Yes, you can! Happy building!

Also, try to use capital letters at the start of the sentence.

Thanks for replies! Ok. i will start build "brickwave"

[DaFokka]

I am considering a bot which fires a 'grapeshot' of 1x1 round plates to jam the mechanisms of the opponent.

[nerdsforprez]

1 hour ago, DaFokka said:

I am considering a bot which fires a 'grapeshot' of 1x1 round plates to jam the mechanisms of the opponent.

Shhhhh...don't give away your secrets.  Others can then build to counter 

Also,  the is a "shock" factor to voting,  and u want to be able to surprise the judges.......

[Erik Leppen]

The problem with shooting mechanisms is that you have a problem as soon as you run out of ammo. How long is a match? To be honest I prefer non-projectile weapons, also vecause that's what I'm used to seeing on TV (on BattleBots). So, expect a blade or a swinger or a hammer or a lifter or whatever. In fact, I have something in the making tthat looks painful :)

 

By the way it's nice to see so much activity here! It's gonna be fun :)

[Alex Ilea]

PF motors aren't as powerfull as 3rd party motors so the wepons won't be as efective as in real life . Will this be take in consideration when voting ? Also , are we allowed to use buggy motors ?

[Jim]

Just now, IA creations said:

PF motors aren't as powerfull as 3rd party motors so the wepons won't be as efective as in real life . Will this be take in consideration when voting ? Also , are we allowed to use buggy motors ?

Please read the rules.

[hrontos]

Since PF support only 4 channels, would it make sense to put as a limit, that only 2 channels can be used?

So that two battle bot could really fight if they meet.

Without this limit robot using more channels could fight with other robot. And of course some equivalent limit in SBrick category would fair - but may be it is desired to emphasise SBrick advantages by not having this limit in SBrick category.

[Milan]

13 minutes ago, hrontos said:

Since PF support only 4 channels, would it make sense to put as a limit, that only 2 channels can be used?

So that two battle bot could really fight if they meet.

Without this limit robot using more channels could fight with other robot. And of course some equivalent limit in SBrick category would fair - but may be it is desired to emphasise SBrick advantages by not having this limit in SBrick category.

Rules say your model needs to have steering and driving, and at least one motorized signature move.  Besides that you can have additional motorized functions. Someone might want to use all the channels available, or signature move could require different movements with different motors.

[Jim]

26 minutes ago, hrontos said:

Since PF support only 4 channels, would it make sense to put as a limit, that only 2 channels can be used?

So that two battle bot could really fight if they meet.

Without this limit robot using more channels could fight with other robot. And of course some equivalent limit in SBrick category would fair - but may be it is desired to emphasise SBrick advantages by not having this limit in SBrick category.

We have two categories. Let's leave it at that.

[Matty04]

Hi! can we use skid steering?

[Jim]

2 minutes ago, Matty04 said:

Hi! can we use skid steering?

Hi. Welcome to EB!

Sure you can. You can build whatever you want, just stick to the rules. Official LEGO motors and either PF IR remote or SBrick app.

[aminnich]

So I started building my bot.  My bot made me bleed.  You guys better be prepared  

Spoiler

Yes, I got my finger caught in the gear train. I will be fine 

 

[PKW]

16 minutes ago, aminnich said:

So I started building my bot.  My bot made me bleed.  You guys better be prepared  

  Reveal hidden contents

Yes, I got my finger caught in the gear train. I will be fine 

 

don't worry it happened to me lots of time! especially with high power drivertrain for lifter or drive and 2k rpm disks, you have to mind that combat robots are always combat robots, not really a toy ;)


jim it is too difficult to apply a weight limit like in real competition right? it will be really fun because i may found some design to use in my videos but i have 1kg limit, hope most of ppl will keep in this limit that is the best not to stress a battery bot and have decent pushing and weapon power (even if lego pro builders never aim to performances and that will mean max size plenty of things and detail and no ability to fight -.-)

Edited February 24, 2017 by PKW

[Jim]

27 minutes ago, PKW said:

jim it is too difficult to apply a weight limit like in real competition right? it will be really fun because i may found some design to use in my videos but i have 1kg limit, hope most of ppl will keep in this limit that is the best not to stress a battery bot and have decent pushing and weapon power (even if lego pro builders never aim to performances and that will mean max size plenty of things and detail and no ability to fight -.-)

We have two categories. Let's leave it at that ;)

[Jim]

On 2/23/2017 at 6:46 PM, Polo-Freak said:

nice video for this topic :-)

A bit late with my reply, but that is exactly what we are looking for.

About the criteria. I have discussed it with Milan and we don't want to make things more complicated than they already are. 

A cool looking battle bot with a properly working signature move, which has the best chance to win the battle. 

I know the latter is pretty subjective, but since we don't have actual battles, the voters will be the judge of that. Basically, these 3 criteria:

1. Good looking
2. Properly working signature move
3. Likeliness to win the battle

[Erik Leppen]

I was thinking, it would be an advantage to use large wheels on a flat bot so it could work upside down. But if I go for that, building a nice body will be a lot more difficult.

 

Dilemmas, dilemmas...

Edited February 25, 2017 by Erik Leppen

[nerdsforprez]

2 hours ago, Jim said:

A bit late with my reply, but that is exactly what we are looking for.

About the criteria. I have discussed it with Milan and we don't want to make things more complicated than they already are. 

A cool looking battle bot with a properly working signature move, which has the best chance to win the battle. 

I know the latter is pretty subjective, but since we don't have actual battles, the voters will be the judge of that. Basically, these 3 criteria:

1. Good looking
2. Properly working signature move
3. Likeliness to win the battle

In the real show, many of the top contenders' bots are hideous looking.  Many don't place much emphasis on looks at all.  If there were ever a contest that the adage "function over form" applied, this would seem to be it.  How come in our competition not only is a criterion, but the number one criterion at that?

Is it because we can't have actual battles, therefore some other criterion must take precedence?  And the criterion of "likeliness to win the battle" too subjective?

[Jurss]

1 hour ago, Erik Leppen said:

I was thinking, it would be an advantage to use large wheels on a flat bot so it could work upside down. But if I go for that, building a nice body will be a lot more difficult.

I chose from start Volvo loader wheels. This time i chose to go big, because almost always something big wins. :)

[Jay Psi]

26 minutes ago, nerdsforprez said:

Is it because we can't have actual battles, therefore some other criterion must take precedence?  And the criterion of "likeliness to win the battle" too subjective?

I would think so.

While I'm not @Jim (more's the pity...), I have taken part in "theorycrafting" discussions before (e.g. sports drafts, character showdowns) and even with every effort to make the rules clear and keep on top of the more fervent opinions it can still get out of hand, forcing a line to be drawn which inevitably leads to animosity for somebody involved. Add in the raising of the stakes that the prizes introduce and the fact that this hasn't been done before and it's easy to see how it can get out of hand even with the best of intentions.

Now the looks of the battle bots are also a subjective point that could be debated endlessly, but when everyone can see the bots it's easier to form an opinion and - crucially - to see where another person's opposing opinion might have come from.

Edited February 25, 2017 by Jay Psi

[Milan]

43 minutes ago, nerdsforprez said:

In the real show, many of the top contenders' bots are hideous looking.  Many don't place much emphasis on looks at all.

And that's what we are looking for. A machine that will look like what is supposed to look - a fierce gladiator capable of push, pull, punch, drive over and destroy the opponent. No one said it has to look pretty. It has to look good for what it is.

43 minutes ago, nerdsforprez said:

 And the criterion of "likeliness to win the battle" too subjective?

It needs to be subjective. Each of the builders and each of the voters will have its own opinion which machine has the most "likeliness to win the battle", and will build and vote accordingly.

[Jim]

37 minutes ago, Milan said:

No one said it has to look pretty. It has to look good for what it is.

Exactly!

And now we stop asking questions or debating the voting criteria......and we START BUILDING....whoohoooo!!

 

2 hours ago, Erik Leppen said:

I was thinking, it would be an advantage to use large wheels on a flat bot so it could work upside down. But if I go for that, building a nice body will be a lot more difficult.

 

Dilemmas, dilemmas...

It is a decent plan though 

[Matty04]

can we only use photos? or we can use vids as well? is there a maximum vid time?