The Crash & Burn Tournament: Extreme!

[kodster]

The Crash & Burn Tournament: Extreme!

All right, AJ has tactics in, and Steve needs his in.

Also, Matty Fowler, the next match after this one has one of your reserved spaces. If you dont get your stuff in within two weeks, I will either delete your spots or randomly grab a handful of your bots on Vapourbot Resource and put them in instead, capiche?

(Message edited by kodster on February 13, 200

[steven_mcg]

The Crash & Burn Tournament: Extreme!

What is there to do? Get to the sides, flip and pray.

[kodster]

The Crash & Burn Tournament: Extreme!

The moment you€™ve all been waiting for...is here at last. The battle you wanted so much is now before you.

All-Stars
Wedge Devolution vs. Son of Ripper 5.5

Representing Steven McGregor and Team Braveheart: Wedge Devolution! A true golden-oldie, and still kicking bot. Basically a low wedge with 4mm hardox armour and Biohazard-style titanium skirts at the sides and back. LEM130s and 4WD proper the dead-on 100kg bot to 16mph. Apart from the glorious power, what makes this bot so damn successful is that lovely Chaos 2-style flipper, able to flip 1000kg easily. The bottom of the blade is bent, just like Bigger Brother€™s plate, and thus should be to get under robots much easier. It€™s also got awesome manoeuvrability. The only thing wrong with it...limited CO2 capacity, as with all other CO2 flippers. Wedge Devolution has won VFT6 and come fourth in Mechanical Noise - Series 1, plus achieving high ranking seedings in countless other tournaments.

Representing Andrew Jackson and Team ???: Son of Ripper 5.5! All-rounder is the theme here. Tall box shape, front wedge, sloped and skirted sides. That wedge also has a nice wedge extender like Firestorm. Also LEM130 powered, and 2WD makes its top speed 12mph. 4mm hardox is the monocoque on SoR, quite tough indeed. Like Wedge Devo it has a front flipper but it €œgoes across the top and then down the front wedge and finally forming a horizontal Bigger Brother like flipping platform€, according to its builder, and is less powerful but more conservative. Also, at the rear is a horizontal hardox spinning bar, powered by an S28-400 Mag. No RPM or kJ factor given, but it should be quite tough. Son of Ripper won the first VFT tournament, and like Wedge Devolution has pulled through countless tournaments with good rankings.

Here we go!

Roboteers, stand by...

Booth 1: Wedge Devolution
Booth 2: Son of Ripper 5.5

House Robots: Taki-san, Double Whamlet

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

It has begun! And both bots are right after each other, desperate to get at each other€™s sides for an advantage! Wedge Devo takes an aggressive stance and goes right for SoR, who turns and makes a diagonal path towards Wedge Devo€™s sides. This slightly exposes his own sides and Wedge Devo pours on the power, but just a little too late, as SoR himself turns, and both catch the edge of each other€™s front wedges, forcing them to face each other. AJ and Steve smirk at each other from their respective control booths. SoR reverses away from his rival, but Wedge Devo moves in at an angle. Again we are treated to a display of excellent manoeuvrability as SoR juts in for Wedge Devo€™s side, and Wedge Devo turns now, but SoR halts, turns the other way, and tries to get going at the other side skirt. Wedge Devo is right there to block him, and again they are stuck facing each other€™s wedge.

Therefore Steve decides to sod his tactics for a second and take a risk: Wedge Devo dives headlong into SoR€™s wedge, and with a slight BANG they are nose to nose, grinding their motors to try and push the other away. However it€™s Steve€™s 4WD that prevails here over AJ€™s 2WD, and SoR feels itself being forced back towards the wall. Wedge Devo continues to push, but SoR suddenly pulls out of the push and spins around...to find Wedge Devo still coming at him at the front! Steve smiles, as AJ€™s face shows slight signs of shock after seeing this beautiful strategy of Steve€™s. SoR continues to spin around, but Wedge Devo continues to be in his face. AJ gets an idea, and spins the other way. It works, and Wedge Devo continues the previous circular motion, and his rear end is now completely exposed! SoR turns and backs into him with the spinning bar, but it€™s too late to take advantage as Wedge Devo turns the wedge back towards SoR.

CRASH!

The spinning hardox bar greets Wedge Devo€™s flipper and spins SoR away from his opponent, though hardly even causing a dent in Steve€™s bot€™s weapon. Wedge Devo flies in again to take advantage of a stalled SoR but he€™s back in, now coming in the spinning bar instead of the flipper. Wedge Devo races right in, hoping to get under that bar and toss his opponent over, but SoR turns clockwise, much like he would if he had a 1m turning circle, and finds himself at Wedge Devo€™s side again! And this time, Wedge Devo is too late to avoid it!

CRASH!!!

Steve feels slight relief, as the skirt suffers a hit but manages to stay on for the time being, however, it€™s sent Wedge Devo flying quite a bit. SoR zooms in with the flipper, and rams Wedge Devo€™s side before the latter can recover from the hit, but no luck. Wedge Devo turns clockwise, just like SoR did, and finds himself at SoR€™s side! The story is the same as SoR€™s, sadly, as again skirts prevail. SoR backs off and Wedge Devo goes flying in front of him, exposing the side but not for long, turning quickly before SoR can even attempt a movement. We€™re back at the beginning of the fight again, as both competitors are facing each other and neither have accumulated, really, any damage. Both roboteers, however, are determined to triumph over the other, and will go by any means to do so. Wedge Devo and SoR charge at each other!

And the favour is in Steve€™s, as Wedge Devo€™s plate successfully manages to slide under SoR€™s flipper AND wedge extender and leaves it hanging there! Wedge Devo wastes no time, carrying SoR - BZZT! OH NO! The arena saws have interfered with Steve€™s attempt for an OOTA! FLIP! Good thinking. Lots of sparks, but that didn€™t distract Steve enough to hit the flipper button just in time, resulting in SoR getting his world turned on its head. SoR, though invertible, really wishes to be right€”side-up and POP! Over he goes as Wedge Devo recovers from the saw hit and charges towards SoR once more! AJ is unwilling for a repeat episode of that scary moment and resumes his main tactics; getting the spinning bar ready, he pulls off another spin, but Steve watches SoR€™s movements and Wedge Devo continues to point the wedge at his opponent, not wanting to risk exposing the skirts again.

SoR suddenly places himself right in front of Wedge Devo. Steve hesitates, and then like lightning moves in! AJ grins as SoR then drives in a clockwise arc again, getting the flipper into the side of the mobile Wedge Devo, and it€™s a good€™un! The flipper slides under Wedge Devo€™s skirts! FLIP! Wedge Devo is inverted! SoR hurries to his preferred spot at the rear of Steve€™s bot, who FLIP! rights itself...right onto SoR€™s wedge! FLIP! Wedge Devo goes over again! SoR charges in, getting under the rear of Wedge Devo and pushes it to the wall. Steve waits, not wanting to waste CO2 yet, waiting for the right moment. AJ however is fully aware of what€™s going on and only slightly gets under Wedge Devo€™s rear. FLIP! Wedge Devo is tossed, and the underbelly hits the wall, but doesn€™t stay there for long, as the VFT6 champ tilts back towards SoR and FLIP! NOW Wedge Devo activates the flipper and WOAH! What a fantastic acrobatic display! It€™s definitely a 540, but SoR spins around and...is foiled by Wedge Devo€™s rear skirt.

SoR pushes, hard, but Wedge Devo does an arc himself, and finds himself at SoR€™s side again...and again no luck, the skirts hold up, or should I say hold down. SoR backs off, and both seem able to take whatever the other can dish out here. Wedge Devo goes for another dip at the side skirts or SoR. AJ turns around and exposes the rear hardox bar and drives off, with Wedge Devo on his tail. He drives in a clockwise arc again, maybe to try to trick Steve again, but suddenly goes right past Wedge Devo, as Steve turns his bot slightly, and the result is definitely in AJ€™s favour. SoR swiftly smashes the bar into Wedge Devo€™s rear skirt!

CRASH!!!

Oh that HAD to hurt! Steve cringes as the rear skirt goes flying off and lands several meters away from where he wants it to be, but this has indeed turned Wedge Devo right around and facing SoR€™s rear! Not a good plan. SoR tries to get away but too late - FLIP! SoR goes flying into the arena wall and lands inverted! The now upside-down Son of Ripper turns and jets away just as Wedge Devo comes in for the OOTA, resulting in Wedge Devo eating arena wall. Cue the self-right - FLIP! SoR is back on his proper side, and ready for action! Wedge Devo turns to face SoR, and it€™s a stand-off again...Wedge Devo moves in, and SoR retreats...to have a go at Wedge Devo€™s side! Wedge Devo turns, but SoR has gone all the way around to get at the rear, but only ends up getting the side, which ain€™t too bad considering he€™s gotten under the side skirt! FLIP! Wedge Devo goes over, and Steve mashes the flipper control. FLIP! Wedge Devo goes back over...into the path of SoR€™s spinning bar!

CRASH!!!

Removed from two of your skirts is not such a good thing, and the previously hit side skirt from before now joins the rear skirt in freedom, and the devastating hit sends Wedge Devo into a pirouette again! SoR moves in again with the flipping arm, but Steve turns his ever-so-slightly wounded wedgebot to face him again. SoR veers off-course at another attempt to get at those delicious sides, but Wedge Devo turns with him, and attacks SoR€™s own sides! Finally! Wedge Devo gets under SoR€™s skirts this time! FLIP! SoR is launched by the high pressure flipper; it€™s a 360, but Wedge Devo comes in again and slides under! FLIP! SoR goes over onto his back this time. This isn€™t working out exactly like AJ planned, and he carefully moves SoR away from Wedge Devo, with the latter in hot pursuit. With the inverted wedge pointing at Wedge Devo...FLIP! SoR pops himself into the air, and keeps the bar spinning. Wedge Devo flies in regardless, and the bar has little to no effect on the wedge, but it€™s worked in AJ€™s favour nonetheless: it€™s moved SoR away from Wedge Devo!

10...9...8...7...

Finally, the end of the matches approaches. Steve moves in again, not wanting to show signs of fatigue, and the two meet nose-to-nose.

6...5...4...

Wedge Devo pushes SoR backwards, and towards the wall. SoR spins in a backwards arc, and Wedge Devo goes flying forward, right past him.

3...2...1...

SoR moves in, but can€™t get under the remaining side skirt. Still, he manages to push Wedge Devo back a bit...

CEASE!

What. A. Fight. It€™ll have to go to the judges...

...after this commercial break.

[kodster]

The Crash & Burn Tournament: Extreme!

Judges decision time! And from now on in this tournament I will be using a slightly different system of judging:

Strategy - /5
Style - /10
Control - /15
Aggression - /20
Damage - /25

So...

Wedge Devolution - Son of Ripper 5.5

Strategy = 2/5 - 3/5
Style = 7/10 - 3/10
Control = 7/15 - 8/15
Aggression = 12/20 - 8/20
Damage = 6/25 - 19/25

Total = 34/75 - 41/75

Winner: Son of Ripper 5.5

Coming up in Heat C...
More All-Stars action!
MeCannibal makes its debut in our third Mayhem, angoing with Tempest Evil-er-oution and Baldur Gamma, and then meets the advancing Liar in our next Challenge Belt contest.
And our main event: another Wedge Devolution match, but this time its for Vengeance: hes facing Hypertension Mk 3!

[paulc]

The Crash & Burn Tournament: Extreme!

All-Stars: Die-Ceratops Re-Invertus vs. (Matty entry): I dont know about this fight until Matty gives the robot hes planning to enter.

All-Stars: Black and White vs. The Crashing Bore: I predict a win here for Frank and his executing gullotine machine.

Mayhem: MeCannibal vs. Tempest Evil-er-oution vs. Baldur Gamma: I think Ill go for Tempest, and try to make it self-destruct. After that, just attack the edges of Baldur.

Challenge Belt: Liar vs. MeCannibal: Go for the rear where all the internal workings are stored. Ill rip through the bodywork like paper or just shock-kill it.

Vengeance: Hypertension Mk.3 vs. Wedge Devolution: Ill go for Hypertension Mk.3, as it can flip Wedge OOTA much more easily.

Very good fights, Kody. Im looking forward to the next battles.

[majinb]

The Crash & Burn Tournament: Extreme!

Challenge Belt: Liar vs. MeCannibal: Go for the rear where all the internal workings are stored. Ill rip through the bodywork like paper or just shock-kill it.

8 mm titanium wont act like paper that soon, Ill wedge MeCannibal ASAP and see how it survives its own blows, OOTA ASAP

[alex_holt]

The Crash & Burn Tournament: Extreme!

Just ram into things and push them around, into each other walls hazards and whatever. I really am not particularly nervous about either damaging me particularly in any meaningful way.

[dinowarrior]

The Crash & Burn Tournament: Extreme!

TACTICS
Sit there, twiddling my thumbs and wait for the 5 minutes to exhaust. Until I know otherwise, I dont have an oppodent, so why do anything? Except attack a House Robot.

[pcbore]

The Crash & Burn Tournament: Extreme!

Paul, Tempest doesnt have anywhere near Meccanibals KJ count for a very good reason. I designed it for durability and reliability. Plus, might I remind you that this is the original Meccanibal which according to my calculations gives out nearly 500 KJs per hit. One robot is going to self destruct when we collide, and I promise you it wont be Tempest.

So, yeah. Hit Meccanibal when its fully spun up. After that one hit KO Ill turn my attentions to Baldur. Im not going to do much damage to the armour, but I should be able to rip off a plate here and there.

Crashing Bore will go for Black and push it into White to stall the spinner, then clamp White, damage the shell some so it cant spin up well and then pit it.

[paulc]

The Crash & Burn Tournament: Extreme!

3 things to point out to Frank - it ISNT the original MeCannibal, as its the one with 205kj (it wasnt possible for one to have 500kj of energy). And how can you garantee that Tempest wont self-destruct, as Im the one who notes more shock-proofing? And how can you believe youll rip a plate off the near impervious Baldur?

[andrewj]

The Crash & Burn Tournament: Extreme!

Wow... an amazing battle and a great result for SOR. Bad luck to Wedge Devo, as without the damage in my favour he would have had that one. Great fight once again, Kody!

[pcbore]

The Crash & Burn Tournament: Extreme!

Regarding Meccanimbals power, you claimed 205 KJ. Research and a kinetic energy calculator gave me a figure closer to 500 KJs.

Regarding tempest:

1) Tempest might not have five inches of foam, but it is fully shock proofed. The stats state rubber placed between just about every surface possible, as well as all the componants being rubber mounted. Not just by sticking 5 inches of foam around the outer componants and expecting that to prevent movement in the centre. But all this isnt to protect against hits, this is to protect Tempest from its other feature.

2) Working on the fact that spinners absorb some of their own kinetic energy, Tempest is designed to bounce off of opponants after striking. The theory is that instead of shaking up Tempests insides, the kinetic backlash is bled away by moving tempest away from the scene as much as possible, a transfer of energy so to speak. This isnt just to make Tempest hell to catch for flippers and rammers although it does serve that double purpose quite nicely.

Lets see, why do I think panels can be ripped off Baldur? Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaY2iHV1YHUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaY2iHV1YHU

Mekkaniac, the robot being ripped a new one by Supernova in this fight is made entirely of Hardox. Armour is only as strong as what keeps it in place. Alex states the following for armour:

5mm Titanium Kevlar composite over a thick hardox chassis, the chassis is broken up into triangles for more strength. Behind the front scoop-weapon of the robot there is an 4cm titanium foam to make it even tougher but lightweight due to the fact that it absorbs the hit as its foam. Over the front there is a 5mm hardox plate. All in all that means the front has 51mm of armour. This means that its essentially invulnerable to damage from the front. Everything inside is heavily shcokproofed to counter any kind of blow.

First up, Kevlar is very strong against all types of attack, except for cutting attacks. So in reality, if youre going to take a whack at it with a huge spinner, that main armour isnt going to hold up.

Secondly, the hardox plate on the front on top of this 5 mm Ti/Kevlar gives a big clue to Baldurs Achilles heel. Pun very much intended. Unless hes somehow welded Hardox to Titanium, that thing is bolted in place. Bolts can be broken, that front plate can be torn off without even damaging it. Just like Supernova did to Meccaniac.

Thirdly, by hitting the sides a couple of times I should be able to dig into them and break the bolts there too. The foam can be ripped out in one long strip, which wont hinder Tempest at all as the teeth dont go near the internals.

All in all, Baldur is nowhere near as impervious as Alex might like us to think. Sorry Alex

[kodster]

The Crash & Burn Tournament: Extreme!

Update

I stated about two Wednesdays ago that Matty Fowler had two weeks to get his entries in. If he does not get his entries in by this Wednesday, then someone will take his place.

[dinowarrior]

The Crash & Burn Tournament: Extreme!

If you do have to find someone else, just let me (and obviously everyone else) know before doing the fight, otherwise Ill be stuck without specific tactics (although the main one is the Fully Obvious One To Achieve. Think about it).

[paulc]

The Crash & Burn Tournament: Extreme!

Chris means Flip Out Of The Arena. Quite easy when you think about it.