Mechanical Noise - Series 1

[alex_holt]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Hmm.....both of my opponents attackign each other.....works for me...

[majinb]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

And here it is, the start of Mechanical Noise, first of all, I€™d like to say welcome to everyone willing to read this, secondly, I€™d like to say€¦

LET THE WARS BEGIN!

Heat A
Round 1
Fight 1

Black Panther Queen vs Cosmic Thunder 2 vs Yet Another Cut Above The Rest

Black Panther Queen: This is the first robot I€™ll introduce to you, and a royal one it is. Alex Holt designed her majesty with one main tactic in eyes: hit with that fearsome axe, flip with that fearsome flipper and run away with that fearsome speed. Seriously, this pyramid-like robot isn€™t a kitten you should touch without gloves.

Cosmic Thunder 2: Hang on a sec Alex McWilliams. Is there such a thing as thunder in space in the first place? If it exists, it must be as devastating as this robot€™s flipper. Especially when you realize that this flipper is mounted on a very low and sleek wedge, with skirts all around, you should see that this robot is a robot to watch. Will anyone be able to bring this Cosmic Thunder down to Earth?

Yet Another Cut Above The Rest: Here we have the longest robot-name in the entire tournament. An outsider might think that Andy Jackson tries to compensate the downfalls of his robot with the robot€™s name. An insider however, would see that there€™s no need to do so at all. With YACATR, Andy designed an oddly shaped, skirted axlebot with one horizontal spinning disc. A lethal combination perhaps, but is it really a cut above the rest?

3€¦ 2€¦ 1€¦ Activate!

AND MECHANICAL NOISE, SERIES 1 HAS KICKED OFF!
Black Panther Queen uses her excellent speed to drive towards Comsic Thunder 2, wanting to give the Dutch machine a nice battering. McWilliam (using the last names, since there are two Alex€™s over here) sees how the axebot approaches him and €œruns like hell in the other direction€ (well, it€™s a tactic ). This causes Holt€™s axe to JUST miss the wedge, and Black Panther Queen backs off as well. This is Holt€™s hit and run-tactic as we know it! (well, without the hit, it seems like this is the match of the silly tactics ). YACATR, who also was aiming for Cosmic Thunder 2, meets him in the yellow corner of the arena. Cosmic Thunder 2 tries to dodge this assault as well, but with less success, as the horizontal spinner gets a nice touch on the flipper€™s rear and rips the back-skirt halfway off. Andy wants to keep on attacking and chases Cosmic Thunder 2, who€™s back-skirt is loosely following him. Holt however, has decided to try out his hit and run-tactic on YACATR. When the queen reaches the fray, it is too late for Andy to escape her devastating axe-blow, which seriously dents Andy€™s Hardox shell. Now Holt tries to slide his flipper underneath YACATR, but Andy isn€™t planning to make it easy for him. He turns his axlebot around and reaches the queen€™s armour. When the flipper moves upwards, Black Panther Queen bounces backwards due to the impact of the disc, her armour being battered. Both the power of the panther€™s flipper and the impact of his own disc on the other hand make YACATR fly across the arena. This is McWilliam€™s cue, and his flipping bot speeds across the arena to reach the flying body of YACATR and drive underneath. McWilliam slowly realizes this might not have been a wise choice. His wedge does get under YACATR, however, YACATR lands with his disc down, meaning Cosmic Thunder 2€™s Lexan has to deal with a 100 kg spinning bot falling on top of it. McWilliam desperately activates the flipper, which sends YACATR flying once more. But much to the displeasure of the Dutchman, YACATR takes the entire flipping arm, some pieces of Lexan AND the back-skirt with him. Holt, watching the horrifying sight, speeds towards Cosmic Thunder 2 to give him the final blow. He lets his spatula slide underneath and starts hammering down on Cosmic Thunder 2, who can€™t put on much resistance anymore after his almost lethal collision with YACATR. Andy in the meanwhile watches how his robot safely lands within the walls of the arena after being airborne for a while. After Holt has been hammering Cosmic Thunder 2 for some time, bot he and the judges realize there isn€™t much life left in him and he is counted out.

Cosmic Thunder 2 has been beaten into submission
Black Panther Queen and YACATR go through to round 2!



Heat A
Round 1
Fight 2

Black Panther Queen vs Cosmic Thunder 2 vs Yet Another Cut Above The Rest

Judo Chop!: I haven€™t got a clue what the name refers to (man, I should visit the cinema more often), but I do understand how this machine can be a success. Anthony Politzi took two axes, mounted them horizontally on the sides of an invertible body and put them on high pressure (3000 PSI of CO2 to be exactly). As if this wasn€™t enough, he also placed a plow at the front and a hinged wedge at the back of this machine.
Holy jeepers batman! Err, wait, wrong refrence.

Natural Selection: Chris Cooper was obviously thinking of Darwin when he came up with this machine. The name of Chris€™ robot actually appeared in the title of Darwin€™s book, namely €œThe origin of species by means of natural selection; or, The preservation of favored races in the struggle for life€. Chris is clearly aiming for Natural Selection to be the last bot surviving in the struggle of robotic life. If this powerful crushing/lifting-combo will succeed? We€™ll see.

S.D. IV: Sawbots are quite uncommon nowadays. Is this because they€™re inferior to the more brutal spinning weapons? Perhaps. But have you ever seen a flywheel subtly eating away the wheels of an opponent? Steven McGregor took the highly underused sawblade weapon and mounted it at the very bottom of the front of an invrtible box. Aiming for wheels and skirts as always, Steven€™s machine is here to rock.

3€¦2€¦1€¦ Activate!
S.D. IV has a quick start and immediately aims for Natural Selection. Judo Chop! Starts driving quickly afterwards, and much to Chris€™ displeasure, Anthony€™s creation heads for Natural Selection as well! Chris, looking a bit frightened at the moment, starts driving his machine in the opposite direction. Is Chris a coward? Is he afraid of a confrontation with the tag team that Judo Chop! and S.D. IV have become? The answer comes to us when we hear a loud siren. Natural Selection wasn€™t fleeing away like a coward, instead, he decided to gang up with the pit release button! Judo Chop! quickly changes course and heads for the pit release button, which has Natural Selection still standing next to it. Unable to dodge the quick machine, Natural Selection is slammed against his back and against the arena wall by the axebot€™s plow. Steven€™s machine, slightly slower than Judo Chop!, comes in to join the fray, hitting the side of the Darwinistic box. Chris is struggling to escape from his unpleasant position, but this becomes effortless when Anthony fires his axes and pierces the 4 mm titanium sides of Natural Selection. In the meanwhile, Steven is slowly sawing the side-skirts of Natural Selection. Our Scotsman decides to take on a more aggressive approach as he drives his sawbot backwards, ready to ram his saw-blade into the side of Natural Selection. Chris, now only captured by one opponent instead of two, seizes his chance and puts his machine in reverse. Anthony, who wasn€™t expecting this sudden action, is pulled backwards and quickly loosens his grip on Natural Selection. Steve on the other hand is still eager to ram Natural Selection, and he drives straight to his crushing opponent. However, Natural Selection is now able to move freely and aims his frontal crushing arm towards S.D. IV, and starts driving towards him. The result is a full frontal collision between the two bots, where S.D. IV€™s Tornado-like traction seems to gain the upper hand. However, Chris successfully slides his front scoop underneath the sawbot€™s saw, and before Steven can react, Natural Selection€™s vertical pincers are tightening their grip in S.D. IV. Now Steve only has 2 wheels on the floor and a fierce pushing-match is the result, in which Natural Selection now has a slight advantage. Slowly but steadily Chris starts pushing the Scottish creation towards the pit. However, during this process, the sawblade of S.D. IV has been in contact with Chris€™ crushing jaw, and slowly eating away it€™s titanium. Chris realizes this, but knowing opportunities like this are scarce, he is eager to hold his grip and stay on pushing, even when his crushing jaw starts getting looser and looser. Anthony starts to lose his patience when Natural Selection and S.D. IV finally reach the edge of the pit. He decides to head to the pit full speed and ram straight into the cluster that S.D. IV and Natural Selection have formed. Both Steve and Chris were too busy with each other to react, as Judo Chop!€™s impact pushes both S.D. IV and Natural Selection down the pit, simultaneously!
Two robots pitted! Everyone seems to be puzzled by this outcome, except for Anthony of course, who is celebrating his just bought ticket to round 2!

With two robots immobilized simultaneously, the judges have to decide which one goes through. And as this is a judges decision between two bots, the judges approach the battle as if Judo Chop! wasn€™t there (nor the holes in Natural Selection€™s armour caused by the axes )

Damage: S.D. IV ((7 out of 10)+4=11)
NS ((3 out of 10)+4=7)
S.D. IV did some damage to the side-skirts, but more impressive was how NS€™s crusher was nearly sawn off
NS did some very minor damage on S.D. IV€™s armour with it€™s claw
Aggression: S.D. IV ((8 out of 10)+3=11)
NS ((6 out of 10)+3=9)
S.D. IV successfully rammed NS twice, and showed much aggression with it€™s saw blade during the fight
NS rammed S.D. IV once
Control: S.D. IV ((6 out of 10)+2=
NS ((8 out of 10)+2=10)
S.D. IV was pretty much in control in the beginning, with NS against the arena wall, it didn€™t use that control for much except for some damage at the side-skirts
NS had some very solid control over S.D. IV while he was in his pincers
Style: S.D. IV ((5 out of 10)+1=6)
NS ((8 out of 10)+1=9)
S.D. IV€™s rams weren€™t all that stylish
NS however stylishly lifted S.D. IV off the ground, much to the pleasure of the audience

S.D. IV: 11+11+8+6=36 points
NS: 7+9+10+9=35 points

Natural Selection couldn€™t impress the judges
S.D. IV and Judo Chop! go through to round 2!

Coming next:
Black Panther Queen vs Judo Chop!

S.D. IV vs YACATR

I want tactics, I want predictions, I want thought and I especially want to know what you think of my battles

[swiss_tony]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Very nice for a first timer, Martjin. I think weve just gotten another serious writer...

Black Panther Queen VS Judo Chop!
Crud. Looks like Im out.
Get under the rear If I can, then axe it as much as possible. I think I have more pushing power, so try to pit it ASAP After im out of CO2.
Thats one bot down, 5 to go...

[knightrous]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Nice Quality Battles!!!

Wanna write some of mine

[steven_mcg]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

All hail the heir to the FRA writers throne!

HEAT A
ROUND 2
1) Black Panther Queen VS Judo Chop
Close grapple battle, but Im going with the PTT3 Semi-Finalist to come up trumphs

2) S.D. IV VS Yet Another Cut Above the Rest
The wheels could be hard to get to given its skirting, but I have the superior traction. Axlebots arent reknowned for being pushy, are they? :wink:
Anyways, the main plan is simply to ram straight in. The disc will be stopped on impact without doing too much damage to the Hardox, at which point I can just shove it all over the shop and hopefully into the Pit. And if the saw gets under to the wheels, thats just a bonus

Cracking debut again, Mr B. Nice to know the place wont completely go to the dogs once the PTT draws to a close.

[andrewj]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Fantastic stuff Martijn! Im really looking forward to this tournament.

Black Panther Queen vs Judo Chop!

Ill go for Black Panther Queen here, it just seems that bit more stronger in all areas.

S.D. IV vs YACATR

Quite a few things are going for me in this fight.

First of all YACATR isnt really an axlebot. What it does have is about 10hp more than SD IV and the skirts that can act as wedges for pushing it around. So its chances of outpushing are quite slim.
Secondly, there is little chance of that saw getting past the 4mm Ti and 3.25mm Hardox so its main methods of attack are pretty much useless.

So thats what SD IV cant do to me, now for what I am going to do to it...

The power of the disc on YACATR is pretty good, it has plenty of weight and power behind it to destroy. Not much gets past 4mm Hardox but this can at least cause some minor dents and cuts.
Then there is the part I mentioned earlier. Steves plan is based around stopping my disc and then pushing me around. First of all the impact with the disc will propell both robots away slightly and the disc shouldnt completely stop dead. Then for the pushing. Well, for a start its flat surface vs. angled surface so its very unlikely SD IV will get a push in, the more likely case is it driving up the skirts. Then there is the fact YACATR has loads more push to push back with. So either wait until SD IV foolishly drives up the wedges and then push it around or scoop it up and then push. The pit should be the best place to put it.

You wanted tactics, yeah? :wink:

[steven_mcg]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Yeah? Well...um...

*pours coffee over AJs head and runs*

[darkguru]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Ack, one point. Ah well, always the next heat. Very well writen.

(Message edited by darkguru on October 22, 2005)

[majinb]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Thank you all for the awesome comments lads

Heat A
Round 2
Fight 1

Judo Chop! vs Black Panther Queen

3€¦ 2€¦ 1€¦ Activate!

Both robots speed away immediately, and reach the centre of the arena at an incredible pace. Anthony, fearing the queen€™s reputation, shows much caution in approaching his opponent. Steadily he tries to manoeuvre his machine towards the queen€™s back, who answers with a single blow of her mighty double sided axe, before speeding away to another direction. Alex now makes a U-turn with his machine, and aims his front towards the now dented Judo Chop! Anthony reacts and aims his own front towards the panther. Alex keeps on driving, knowing that his current momentum can easily make his front plate slide underneath the chop€™s front plow. However, right before Alex€™ machine would hit Judo Chop!, Anthony quickly fires his horizontal axes to stop the march of the queen. With two axe-heads impaling his sides, Alex decides to make the most of the situation and fires his own axe as well, now impaling Judo Chop!€™s roof. What follows is a pushing match in which Judo Chop! is victorious, resulting in Black Panther Queen being slammed against the arena wall. It€™s a beautiful sight to see the two axebots having each other in their clutches, almost like a robotic hug, or perhaps more like two gangsters holding their gun at each other. Both roboteers realise that the current situation won€™t help them any further, and they withdraw their axes. The two robots start moving around each other, waiting for another opportunity to attack. The slightly better controllable Judo Chop! makes the first move, as he turns his machine around and tries a side-on assault on Black Panther Queen. Judo Chop! collides against the queen€™s side and manages to get in a few successful axe-blows, denting his opponents armour, before Alex turns his machine around and escapes from Judo Chop!€™s attack. Alex makes a small U-turn once more, only this time he gives Anthony less time to react, and his lifting plate slides underneath the side of Judo Chop! Alex fires his axe, creating a subtle hole on top of Judo Chop!, and he fires his flipper, sending Judo Chop! airborne before he lands on his invertible back. Still on the attacking end, Alex speeds towards Judo Chop! and deals yet another axe-blow. Anthony fires his axe once more, but as Alex is already speeding away 24 mph (using his hit and run tactics as always), only one of the two horizontal axes actually hits Alex€™ black machine, leaving a nothing more than a VERY ugly scratch on Alex€™ black paint. Anthony seems to be getting sick and tired by Alex€™ annoying hit and run tactic, and sends his bot straight after the black panther. Alex dodges Anthony€™s reckless assault, and know tries to turn to the back of Judo Chop! and slide underneath it. Anthony is not willing to let this happen, and turns his machine around, which doesn€™t seem very helpful when Black Panther Queen slides underneath the side of Judo Chop! instead of the back. Willing to finish this match once and for all, Alex fires his axe, followed by his flipper, creating a wobbly kind of grip on Judo Chop! As Judo Chop tries to escape, Alex drives Black Panther Queen straight towards the nearest arena wall, where he loosens his grip on Judo Chop! Anthony desperately tries do drive away, when a blur of CO2 appears. Black Panther Queen€™s flipper moves up, and so does Judo Chop! OOTA, that is.

CEASE

Judo Chop! has hit the camera tracks
Black Panther Queen goes through to the heat final!



Heat A
Round 2
Fight 2

S.D. IV vs YACATR

3€¦ 2€¦ 1€¦ Activate!

At the start of the battle the two machines immediately aim for each other. Knowing a frontal collision will make S.D. IV€™s saw hit the space underneath his disc, where there is nothing to be damaged, Andy accelerates his machine even further, with a successful disc-hit as a result. Both machines are slightly tossed away from each other and a very minor battering can be seen on S.D. IV€™s armour. Andy looks worried about the fact that his disc hardly seems to hurt the sawbot, while Steven looks even more worried, seeing his saw-blade was useless so far. S.D. IV now turns around and tries a side-on attack, which seems to be a success as S.D. IV€™s blade hits a side-skirt of YACATR and some impressive sparks can be seen! Andy isn€™t willing to sacrifice one of his skirts and turns around, discing S.D. IV once more. The result is exactly the same as before, with both machines backing off and S.D. IV€™s front being scarred once more. Both men are quite annoyed by the very minor amount of damage they€™re able to do, both machines are trying a headlong attack. This time, however, the aiming is worse than with the first headlong assault, and S.D. IV€™s front is wedged by the front skirt of one of the side-boxes of YACATR (told you that thing is oddly shaped ). Because of this, S.D. IV€™s saw-blade is lifted up, and at the same height of Andy€™s spinning disc. Knowing this might be his only chance to seriously damage his opponent, Andy quickly turns his machine around and turns his disc towards S.D. IV€™s blade. The result is devastating, for this time the impact hardly does anything to YACATR, while S.D. IV is thrown backwards and has it€™s beloved saw-blade nearly ripped off! When Steven€™s machine hits solid ground, with his saw-blade clearly hanging loose, Steve discovers that his infamous weapon has no life left in it anymore, much to Andy€™s pleasure. Steve realises that only a quick KO can make him win this battle now, and he speeds towards the pit release button. Andy is more than willing to help his Scottish friend, speeds towards the pit release button himself and slams S.D. IV against it. Steven now drives towards the other corner of the arena, in a desperate attempt to lure YACATR towards it. Andy follows S.D. IV, and once both of them have reached the corner, Steven tries one last assault. Using his back-skirt as a wedge, S.D. IV speeds towards Andy€™s axlebot. Andy isn€™t impressed, and he speeds forward. Andy manages to ram his skirt underneath S.D. IV€™s skirt, due to the simple fact that he has more torque. With the pit within his reach, Andy decides to waste no more time. With S.D. IV son one of his skirts, YACATR drives towards the pit. There€™s nothing Steven can do about it, when he sees how his pride tumbles down the pit.

CEASE

S.D. IV meets the bottom of the pit
YACATR goes through to the heat final!

Coming next:
Black Panther Queen vs YACATR

I want tactics, I want predictions and I want thoughts

[steven_mcg]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

And so falls my Metal Sonic. I hate that hedgeh...erm...Jackson! Perhaps this calls for another upgrade.

*grabs plastic spanner*

HEAT A
HEAT FINAL
Black Panther Queen VS Yet Another Cut Above the Rest

I could see either robot triumphing here in one way or another, but I can see YACATR clawing past Alex into the Semis. :wink:

I have to say this is a highly impressive writing debut, Marti. Especially since this isnt even your first language. My top hat goes off to you, sir.

[dinowarrior]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

*Steves top hat lands in a field where a goat eats it for tea*

NOTE TO SELF: Get Thomas The Tank Engine out of my life before I turn 25!

[alex_holt]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Well done to you Martijin, very good fights.

Furthermore Im glad to see I was justified with my radical changes to the panther, they seem to be paying off well.

Anyways: Hit and run, keep away from the weapon whenever possible, and general oumanouver. Go for as many attacks as is possible without large risks though, get both weapons into play as much as I can.

[andrewj]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Black Panther Queen vs YACATR

I can only really repeat what happened in the last fight. Black Panther Queen loses out by even more power than SD IV did in the last fight.
So as soon as possible, scoop it up and get it down that pit. Another bonus is that the armour isnt as good on BPQ as SD IV so Im hoping for a bit of damage, try and rip those skirts off!
My skirts should be enough so stop BPQs flipper doing anything (even then YACATR is invertible) and the axe wont cause a serious amount of damage hopefully.

Should be a good fight. Loving it all so far Martijn!

[majinb]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Here I am again, saying thank you once more

but the real reason Im hear is because I have a small question about Chris Coopers stats, Chris, are Love Bites pincers mounted vertically or horizontally? Same goes Going Crunch spinner, is it mounted vertically, horizontally or angled in some way?
Thanks in advance, expect the Heat A final to be posted later this week

(Message edited by MajinB on October 24, 2005)

[darkguru]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Love Bites pincers are vertical, Crunch has a horizontal spinner, Going can beach opponents on Crunch if the spinner isnt moving. I dont think i ever specified but im pretty sure Frank assumed horizontal when he wrote in that tactic so that works for me.