The Norman Sheppard Tribute Tournament

[martyn]

The Norman Sheppard Tribute Tournament

and yet panic attakcs skirts which have been breached on countless ocassions were?

[swiss_tony]

The Norman Sheppard Tribute Tournament

Pretty much, yeah.

[mrdaves]

The Norman Sheppard Tribute Tournament

Your front was attacked Martyn, and talking with several people, they said that PAs forks were in theory stonger and lower because they didnt have to go underneath.

[mrdaves]

The Norman Sheppard Tribute Tournament

quote:

The only source of knowledge is experience.

It€™s been a long time coming, but here it comes.

Heat J Final

Panic Attack vs. Battle Raptor 3

In round 1, these two robots met each other, as Panic Attack lifted the rear end of Disco Dancer up which killed itself. In round 2, Panic Attack pitted Panicking in a rematch from far 6, when Battle Raptor 3 beat Stratos-Fear on a judge€™s decision to put himself into another heat final.

3
2
1
ACTIVE

Battle Raptor 3 reverses out of the starting blocks to get the axe into play. Panic Attack, driven by Tony is away and tries to attack the side skirts, Battle Raptor 3 turns and fires the axe, which comes down onto the top of Panic Attack and bounces away from the mixture of aluminium and polycarbonate, as the forks manage to get underneath the rear skirt, and Tony lifts the weapon up, lifting the rear end of Battle Raptor 3 up, and the 4 wheels are off the ground.

Tony spots the pit release and drives into it, in reverse, as quick as he can, as Battle Raptor 3 fires the weapon, as it tries to shake loose from Panic Attack€™s evil grip. Richard is trying every trick in the book to get away, but the forks are caught in the gap between the wheels and the arch, as Battle Raptor 3 is being taken towards the pit. 10 seconds are left, as Panic Attack reaches the pit edge, 4 seconds, and the forks are down, as Tony drives forward, as Battle Raptor 3 fires it€™s weapon, before dropping 6 feet under. The axe hits Panic Attack€™s little light, breaking it into a lot of tiny pieces.

Cease

Battle Raptor 3, attacked at the start, Panic Attack shows great skill and control in controlling the battle.

Next Time on NSTT:
Heat K
No Close Shave 2 (11) vs. BIACS-LE vs. Drilla Killa 7
Wedge Devolution (22) vs. Axe-O-Lotl vs. AK-47 Slapper
Tactics, predictions, did you like heat J?

[swiss_tony]

The Norman Sheppard Tribute Tournament

....Wonderful, Wedge Devolution.
Well, not much to say, just run around like a chicken with its head cut off until my discs at full speed, then try to take out Axe-O-lotl by slamming into it again and again, maybe if the impact inverts hime nough times and Steve opens the pit, I can toss him in there.
...Is it me, or do me and Chris meet WAY too much?
On another note: Woot, I won. Kind of.

[velociraptor]

The Norman Sheppard Tribute Tournament

Drilla Killa 7 will avoid BIACS-LE and go for the sides of No Close Shave 2 and just shove, avoiding the front.

[steven_mcg]

The Norman Sheppard Tribute Tournament

Tactics? Same as ever for Wedge Devo in melees...

FLIP!

1000th post! Huzzah and hurrah!

[dinowarrior]

The Norman Sheppard Tribute Tournament

If I keep Wedgey D between me and AK, I may be able to turn the situation to my advantage.

[mrdaves]

The Norman Sheppard Tribute Tournament

quote:

I wish I had a bottle,
Right here in my pretty face to wear the scars
To show from where I came

Good News Everyone, it€™s time for another heat, heat K, the 11th heat, so only 6 places are left to grab in the semi final brackets, the contest is getting hot, so roll on round 1:

Heat K, Round 1

Melee 1
No Close Shave 2 (11) vs. BIACS-LE vs. Drilla Killa 7

From Canada, Champion of Vapourbot Champions League 2004, and 11th seed, No Close Shave. Entered by Matt, this champion hopes to repeat it€™s success, with it€™s Razer claw, good drive, and good traction. However it might be overtaken by faster machines and lower wedges can get underneath it, although the Srimech is faster.
In Far 8: Came though the heat of death, beating Slaying Mantis E, Shredder Evo and NSBFR before coming to a sticky end in round 4, where it found the camera track with Tsunami.

From England, BIACS-LE. Entered by Matt, who sadly still can€™t be with us, this Axlebot has a swinging drum which comes down to show a spinning disc, which can hurt. However it might find life hard trying to get that weapon into play because it€™s the slowest machine out there today. In addition it has low traction, so if a rammer comes near and survives the drum, than Bull in a china shop might be caught.
In Far 8: Didn€™t enter

From England, Drilla Killa 7. Entered by Richard, the robot€™s weapon is a spinning drill, fast and efficient. However you might laugh at it, but when it comes at you with Tornado€™s drive system, than who will be laughing when your wheels have been made holey? The 17mph speed gives it the best speed in the battle, and a second drill at the rear of an inverted wedge. Some might say this is a waste of weight, because Richard could have a Srimech instead of the extra drill. In addition, because of the inverted rear wedge, the rear ground clearance is high, and the drills might find life hard with today€™s robots.
In Far 8: Didn€™t enter.

All 3 robots are in the arena, for the fight to the death, or 5 minutes.

3
2
1
ACTIVE

The smell of smoking wheels in the evening, how rare indeed Mr Richard, who is busy revising for his exams, so he sent along Richard 2, a clone. No Close Shave 2 has started to move forward, as BIACS-LE starts to spin it€™s drum up to speed. As it starts to move forward. The mystery person is driving BIACS-LE, as No Close Shave 2 circles Matt€™s machine, but look at the punch of Drilla Killa 7, as it intersects No Close Shave 2 and pushes it sideways, straight into the arena hammer. The hammer comes down, once, twice, and three times, but no damage has been done. BIACS-LE comes near and rams the front with the drum, lifting No Close Shave 2 up, with the front wedge damaged. Drilla Killa 7 runs from BIACS-LE, as No Close Shave 2 attacks it, by getting underneath the rear ground clearance, but it can€™t get the claw around the body, as Drilla Killa 7 opens the pit.

No Close Shave 2 is pushing BIACS-LE, which wheels are off the ground and drum pointing in the air, as Drilla Killa 7 comes into the attack on No Close Shave 2 and pushes it sideways once more, as BIACS-LE is released and slams the drum down onto empty space, as Drilla Killa 7 has put it onto the arena spike. The spike fires, sending No Close Shave 2 onto it€™s side. BIACS-LE goes straight into it, knocking away the top self-righting arm, as No Close Shave 2 self-rights, but another hit from BIACS-LE sees it put onto it€™s side. Drilla Killa 7 isn€™t waiting as the wedge is underneath No Close Shave 2 and a quick jog, sees the 11th seeds dropped down the pit and out.

Cease

No Close Shave 2 attacked and pitted, the VCL 04 champion is out, BIACS-LE, and Drilla Killa 7 is into round 2.

Melee 2

Wedge Devolution (22) vs. Axe-O-Lotl vs. AK-47 Slapper

From Scotland, the number 22 seed, and world€™s most famous vapourbot, Wedge Devolution. Entered by Steve€¦

€¦Do I need to say more?
In Far 8: Beat Dr Flip Gold and Tengu 5.1 before being lined up against the wall in the heat final when Firestorm proved to be the more controlled and won the day.

From England, Axe-O-Lotl. Entered by Chris Mason, this box-wedge with axe was a new robot when sign ups opened, and still is a battle-virgin. It has a powerful, fast axe and a good speed; however it€™s the slowest in the melee and a wedge can get underneath the front ground clearance of 3mm.
In Far 8: Didn€™t enter.

From America, AK-47 Slapper. Entered by Tony, this vertical disc machine has 2 wheels are the rear protected by a guard and a massive front cow-scoop. I wonder if Scott has Hefty€™s replacement in mind when he designed this robot. It has a powerful disc and the drive chain is powerful, but if something gets around the sides, then it will be fun because the armour isn€™t the strongest.
In Far 8: Didn€™t enter

3
2
1
ACTIVE

Wedge Devolution and Ak-47 Slapper get away the quickest, leaving Axe-O-Lotl in the background, as Wedge Devolution turns to get first blood onto the American competitor, but Tony has other ideas and drives straight into the front end of Wedge Devolution. Steve doesn€™t have time to react, as the scoop, scoops underneath the spatula, and the disc bents the spatula up, and Wedge Devolution is onto it€™s back. Steve self-rights Wedge Devolution, but it is hit again by Ak-47, as it rests against the pit release. The pit has opened, as Wedge Devolution self-rights for a 2nd time, the front spatula is bent upwards, as Axe-O-Lotl manages to get around the rear of Ak-47 Slapper and fires the axe into the back of it.

Not just once, but twice, and a third time, putting little dents in the steel armour, as it pushes Ak-47 Slapper into Wedge Devolution, which gets out of the way, as the disc rips up the pit release tyre, allowing Wedge Devolution to come onto the attack, getting underneath the side and the flipper fires, sending Ak-47 onto it€™s back. Wedge Devolution turns, and can€™t get underneath Axe-O-Lotl, who gets underneath the front bent spatula and pushes Wedge Devolution into Ak-47€™s spinner. Wedge Devolution is jumped away, being forced into the ground, as AK-47 Slapper comes back onto the attack, but the disc is spinning downwards. Wedge Devolution comes back from being attacked by Axe-O-Lotl and tries to attack Ak-47 Slapper again, but Tony€™s machine turns to counter-act the strike, as Axe-O-Lotl fires the axe into the rear end of Wedge Devolution, smashing the little light on top, and another hit pulls off the Scottish flag, as Ak-47 Slapper tries to use it€™s weapon to it€™s advantage, but Wedge Devolution is pushing against the weapon, which has climbed onto the wedge and is caught, as Ak-47 is forced back into the arena hammer. Another blow onto the top panel from the arena hammer, as Wedge Devolution fires Ak-47 Slapper into the hammer itself, to self-right it. Axe-O-Lotl comes around the rear end of Wedge Devolution and attacks it€™s top again, but the armour is holding out against the axe.

Ak-47 Slapper rams into Wedge Devolution once more, which flips the flipper machine onto it€™s back, and another hit, puts a large dent into Axe-O-Lotl€™s front wedge. Wedge Devolution self-rights, as Ak-47 has got into overtime mode, as it turns into rammer, and attacks Axe-O-Lotl again, as Wedge Devolution makes the break and gets under the side and flips AK-47 Slapper up, but the flipper hits the disc, but Ak-47 is on it€™s back. The flipper of Wedge Devolution is damaged, a large slice is been taken up, as Axe-O-Lotl fires the axe into Ak-47€™s rear end, another hit, and what a good hit, as the chain for the weapon is hit, and is pushed off it€™s bracket. Wedge Devolution tries to get underneath Ak-47 Slapper, but the reverse happens, as Wedge Devolution is gotten underneath and is pushed across the arena, the 2 wheels of Ak-47 Slapper has power, as the spike fires, sending Wedge Devolution onto it€™s back. Steve self-rights quickly, hitting into the top of the cow scoop and pushing it backwards. Axe-O-Lotl comes into the attack once more, and fires the axe into both machines, as Wedge Devolution is gotten underneath once more, and is being taken towards the arena hammer, as the clock is ticking away. Axe-O-Lotl stands in the way and fires the axe, getting it between the disc and the gap, and pulling backwards. Wedge Devolution gets away from danger for the time being and comes back onto the attack, as it gets underneath the side of Ak-47 and fires the flipper, to land Ak-47 onto Axe-O-Lotl.

Cease

The five minutes are up, with no clear winner or loser in that melee, the judges are called in to decide on the toughest melee so far:

Aggression:
Wedge Devolution - (4/15)
Axe-O-Lotl - (5/15)
AK-47 Slapper - (6/15)

Control:
Wedge Devolution - (5/15)
Axe-O-Lotl - (6/15)
AK-47 Slapper - (4/15)

Damage Caused:
Wedge Devolution - (3/15)
Axe-O-Lotl - (5/15)
AK-47 Slapper - (7/15)

Style:
Wedge Devolution - (6/15) (Flipping mad was it)
Axe-O-Lotl - (4/15)
AK-47 Slapper - (5/15) (Attacking robots with disc, very stylist)

Strategy -
Wedge Devolution - (7/15)
Axe-O-Lotl - (4/15)
AK-47 Slapper - (4/15)

Total -
Wedge Devolution - (25/75)
Axe-O-Lotl - (24/75)
AK-47 Slapper - (26/75)

It€™s a close finish, but in a 26-25-24 decision, Axe-O-Lotl axes itself out of the contest, Wedge Devolution and AK-47 Slapper go forward into round 2. (Note, this must have been the hardest melee to write to date)

Round 2 Draw
Wedge Devolution (22) vs. BIACS-LE
AK-47 Slapper vs. Drilla Killa

Tactics, Predictions, Thoughts, Hammer Steve?

[swiss_tony]

The Norman Sheppard Tribute Tournament

Well Richard, we meet again.
This dosent seem to be too hard. His weapon dosent apeer to be able to do much to me, and he has a wedge, which plows can easily get under. Bascially just always keep the front towards him [which i can easily do since I have great turning] and ram into him at full speed. Eventually, he should die out.

[velociraptor]

The Norman Sheppard Tribute Tournament

Should be tough, this one - try to keep at AK-47 Slappers sides, shove and try to use the drill.

[matt_macdonald]

The Norman Sheppard Tribute Tournament

This is why I dont enter tournies anymore, coz everyone always picks on me in the melees.

[steven_mcg]

The Norman Sheppard Tribute Tournament

Tactics? Repair damage and...

FLIP!

[pcbore]

The Norman Sheppard Tribute Tournament

Does anyone else think Steve and Andy have been going to the same school of tacticing? :P

[mrdaves]

The Norman Sheppard Tribute Tournament

Yep.

Im assuming Steve is aiming to flip Ref in the battle