Mechanical Noise - Series 1

[kodster]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

w00t w00t W00T! Amazing fight there Marti!

[majinb]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Grand Finals
Fight 2

Black Panther Queen vs Wedge Devolution

3€¦ 2€¦ 1€¦ Activate!

Off we go. Where yesterday€™s match had two spinners going against each other, today we see the two most successful flippers of this tournament facing off. One of them, Wedge Devolution, is a classic, skirted wedge, whereas the other, Black Panther Queen, is more of a pyramid, equipped with a powerful axe. It€™s the latter that leaves the mark first and speeds towards Wedge Devo. Steve fears his opponent€™s offensive abilities and tries to stay out of the Queen€™s reach, but the Queen is just too fast€¦
CLANG
Down comes the axe, right on top of Wedge, and Black Panther reverses. This is hit and run as we now it from Black Panther Queen, a tactic that served Alex quite well during this tournament. Wedge Devo, dented, gives chase to the axebot. Alex can€™t keep running forever, but with Wedge driving in his direction, he can€™t afford to make a mistake. Black Panther Queen slowly halts for another face off with the flipper. Steve skilfully drives diagonally towards the Queen though, to ram his wedge underneath the corner of her Majesty€™s skirt. Alex didn€™t anticipate on this and what do ya know, Wedge is underneath! Steve turns his creation into an effective rambot and carries Black Panther Queen forward a meter or so, before firing that mighty flipper! Alex pyramid-shaped robot gains some airtime before landing, on his back. Steve seeks advantage, but the Queen€™s srimech proves very efficient and self-rights her in no time. Black Panther now finds Wedge Devo at her back, and she quickly flicks her axe back-and-forth to give the VFT-champ a good clobbering before he can do anything. And again, Black Panther Queen drives away straight after the hit. Steve is getting pretty much tired of this tactic, and gives chase again. Black Panther Queen makes a quick U-turn, slowing her down compared to Wedge who drives in a straight line and rams the side skirts. He doesn€™t penetrate them straight away, but after pushing the Queen a bit the bent bottom of Wedge€™s flipper slowly penetrate the Queen€™s side. The flipper moves up again, and so does the Queen. She€™s inverted now and Steve is closing in, and fires the flipper again! Steve is on the offensive now, but the back-on-her-wheels Queen isn€™t scared. She manoeuvres her way to Wedge€™s side, and seeks to penetrate HIS skirts now! At a first glance she seems to fail, but another pound on Wedge€™s top ticks him off-balance a bit, and the Queen€™s spatula slide under Wedge€™s side skirt! FLIP! Wedge moves though the air now, though it becomes clear that Black Panther Queen€™s flipper is slightly weaker than Wedge€™s. Alex doesn€™t care, he has Wedge right where he wants him. Wedge fires his flipper, but not before Black Panther fires her axe!
CLANG
The axe hits Wedge€™s underbelly, and Wedge is still stuck on his back! Not only that, his underbelly is sliced! Steve starts to sweat, and fires his srimech again, simultaneous to Black Panher€™s axe! This axe-blow however comes down under a less effective corner, and Wedge self-rights effectively, only to get hit by another axe-blow, straight on top of his flipper! Steve turns on the aggression again and rams his flipper (which doesn€™t look very much like the Hardox sheet Steve once bought anymore with all those dents) underneath Black Panther Queen€™s front (who once again deals a successful axe-blow in the meantime) and flips her up and over.

10€¦ 9€¦ 8€¦ 7€¦

The clock starts ticking, Wedge comes in.

6€¦ 5€¦ 4€¦

The Queen self-rights, just in time.

3€¦ 2€¦ 1€¦

Wedge hurries forward!

CEASE

OMG, what a battle this was! There€™s no time left, but the two machines are still moving, what will the judges say?!
The judges walk down towards the arena floor, where they inspect the damage done to Wedge€™s belly.

Damage: Black Panther Queen ((6 out of 10)*2=12)
Wedge Devolution ((2 out of 10)*2=4)
Aggression: Black Panther Queen ((8 out of 10)*1.5=12)
Wedge Devolution ((8 out of 10)*1.5=12)
Control: Black Panther Queen ((7 out of 10)*1=7)
Wedge Devolution ((7 out of 10)*1=7)
Style: Black Panther Queen ((6 out of 10)*0.5=3)
Wedge Devolution ((7 out of 10)*0.5=3.5)

Black Panther Queen: 12+12+7+3=34
Wedge Devolution: 4+12+7+3.5=26.5

Wedge Devolution couldn€™t impress the judges
BLACK PANTHER QUEEN GOES THROUGH TO THE GRAND GRAND FINAL!

+1>ff6000>THE FINAL DRAW HAS BEEN DECIDED
BLACK PANTHER QUEEN VS PSYCLONISED
ff6000>but first€¦

Coming next
THE 3rd PLACE PLAY-OFF

Disco 5 vs Wedge Devolution

Gimme your predictions, gimme your tactics, gimme your thoughts

[kodster]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

*ZOMFGWTFPROTESTATIONSCONTRADICTIONSWEDGEDEVOSHOUL DHAVEONETHEFIGHTWAHWAHWAAAAAAA AAAH*

Nah, its okay. Looks like a good final line-up!

Disco 5 vs. Wedge Devolution

I think Disco 5s weaponry will serve him well here against Wedge Devo. Disco 5 FTW.

BLACK PANTHER QUEEN VS. PSYCLONISED

Oh boy, the one of the other three Psyclonised didnt want to face. Still, its pretty much in Psycloniseds favour. If BPQ hits Psyclonized with the axe from afar, that will still allow Psy to spin up deadly fast. BPQ needs to get in quick and fast, and weve already seen that Disco 5 has done that and failed miserably. I dont think BPQ can win this one.

PSYCLONISED WILL WIN MECHANICAL NOISE - SERIES 1.

[alex_holt]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Ooh... BPs doign very well here - here the tactics can be basically summed up in constant harassing - eveyr flip and axe blow will be done and everythign will be as continuous as possible - charge straight in and just keep attacking with each weapon alternatly to prevent them getting up to speed. If he does... run away.If I am forced to ram him at any point, lift the flipper up to do it so it isnt damaged.

[andrewj]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Woohoo! This has been a great tournament Martijn, and I€™ll be back for Series 2 regardless of the final result. And for that, lets break some things down a bit.

One thing in my favour is that I€™m around 9mph slower than Black Panther Queen. This works greatly in my favour, as I am therefore much better at accelerating, spinning up and coming in for the kill.

Next is the armour, regardless of it€™s fancy name - it is aluminium at the end of the day, and at that just 5mm thick. Psyclonised isn€™t just there for show; it can do some serious damage to extremes such as Titanium and even Hardox. The hammers are going to go through this bot like a knife through hot butter.

All the extra gimmicks like the skirts and flipper are there just to be eaten. Flipping this bot is completely useless - that€™s the whole point of the design. Another aspect of this bot being that if for some chance the ring is slowed down long enough to get a shot it, the bars act very much like Tornado€™s bars to stop axes and crushers getting an effective shot in.

And if a shot comes in - big deal, I€™ve got over 3mm of Hardox on top to stop the thing doing any damage. The wheels are solid enough to hold their own, but BPQ will be damn lucky to get an accurate shot in on them and cause them harm. Anyway, rubber is a shock absorber as it is.

All in all, there is just one thing to do - use my superior acceleration to get away and spin up to the danger zone and then just take that robot apart piece by piece. Oh, and one extra note, if for some odd reason the ring becomes disabled, then I have four or five times more pushing power than the Queen, so I just need to simply push it into danger.

For the playoffs, I€™ll choose Disco 5 to prevail over Wedge Devo due to its higher destructibility factor.

[majinb]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

lol Alex, I remember you saying how glad you were seeing your radical changes paying off back in Heat A, well mate, it brought you to the finals

and cheers Andy, thats one spot in MN 2 filled already

(Message edited by MajinB on June 08, 2007)

[alex_holt]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

You miss the point of me flipping you - in all liklihood if I do that youll at least come down on your side at some point, thus stopping your spinner. You will in all liklihood land on your wheels, but that gives me time to follow up without your weapon being active.

Are there any pictures of it because readign that stats I dont quite get it really - mainly the relationship between the cage and the spinning shell.

[martyn]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Disco 5 vs. Wedge Devolution
Disco will spin up and just go in with the disc and try and cause lots of damage in the hope of disabling the flipper, if i manage to disable the flipper, try and get under it and flip it, or try and flip it with the disc.

[andrewj]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

You miss the point of me flipping you...

Is this before or after I rip the flipper off? :wink:

As for the cage/shell relationship, I guess I could knock you a picture up if you want. In short, rather than teeth it has hammers sticking out and the cage links hammer to hammer for more stability. The anti-axe/crusher mechanism therefore comes naturally as part of the structure.

[steven_mcg]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

FINALS
PLAY-OFF
Disco 5 VS WEDGE DEVOLUTION

Attacking the corners of the skirts seemed to work well last time, so Ill try the same thing here. My slight speed advantage should allow me to outmanouevre it, so hopefully, I wont end up eating flywheel too much. Just head for the skirts corners, flip, sneak underneath and ram to the Pit or arena walls for a final flinging.

This has been an excellent tournament, Marti, and these closing clashes should be the cherry on the cake. Consider this your second reservation for Series 2. :wink:

[alex_holt]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Before... afterwards its more likely that your weapon will get clogged with shrapnel, lol.

One plus side of my weapon is that as its got two halves I in theory get two attempts if Im lucky.

Plus yay for radical changes

[dogbot4000]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Psyclonised to win.

[majinb]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

The 3rd place play-off
Almost there

Disco 5 vs Wedge Devolution

3€¦ 2€¦ 1€¦ Activate!

Spicy detail in this match is that Disco has already beaten two of Steve€™s most infamous vapourbots on its way to this play-off, Whirligig and Clawdius no less. How will the discbot fair against Steve€™s most successful entry of this tournament? Steve himself is more than eager to find out and he drives his bot towards Disco. Disco waits for Wedge to come while spinning up its disc. Wedge tries to find a way around it, but bad luck strikes Steve when Martyn skillfully positions the disc straight between the chassis€™ of Wedge and Disco when the wedge tries to slide under and launch Disco into the air
FLIP!
CRASH!
Wedge launches its flipper alright, but it hits a nasty vertical flywheel in the process. While Disco only topples a bit, Wedge is send up and over, and backwards, with a burst of sparks. A cut can be seen at the bottom of the flipper, nothing too serious really. Wedge self-rights, but Disco is already coming in€¦
CRASH!
Two hits in quick succession. This hit doesn€™t send Wedge flying; however, it knocks one of Wedge€™s side skirts right up. Wedge turns around to come face-to-face with Disco, skirt upright and damaged. Disco tries to attack, but Wedge successfully moves to the side and tries to have a go at Disco€™s front corner, but he misses! Wedge now moves towards Disco€™s rear, where he uses his superior speed to shove his flipper underneath! Wedge flips! Disco moves up, nudges the floor with his disc, and is send flying! Disco lands on its back, but uses his srimech before Wedge Devo can come in to cause more harm. Wedge IS coming in though, and again searches for the front corner of Disco to slide under for a flip. Disco tries to put something against this, but he can€™t help himself! Wedge is underneath again, and the match seems to be going in his favour! Another hefty flip and Disco is flying again! The gyroscopic forces of the disc this time send Disco in a full circle and make him land on his wheels. Again the two machines seek a confrontation. Man, 3rd place play-offs are often seen as pity-finals, but that can€™t be said about this match! Wedge tries to bring in his flipper, while Disco seeks to deal serious damage with his disc. Wedge does give his best shot, but Disco€™s weapon is just a little bit easier to get in€¦
CRASH!
WHOA! This attack send Wedge€™s flipper in upright position, just like what happened with the skirt earlier! Wedge backs off, Steve looking desperate at what happened with his only weapon. Disco turns on the aggression now, launching another assault on Wedge€¦
CRASH!
Wedge topples; the flipper has a nasty slice in it now, and still doesn€™t seem capable of any flips. Disco comes in disc-first, to send once again show us some sparks€¦
CRASH!
Martyn now turns around, flipper-first, to see if he can get the badly damaged Wedge on his back.

10€¦ 9€¦ 8€¦ 7€¦

Wedge reverses€¦ and time is running out!

6€¦ 5€¦ 4€¦

Disco is closing in!

3€¦ 2€¦ 1€¦

Too late now!

CEASE

We€™ve gone through one hell of a battle, and still the bronze medalist isn€™t decided€¦ well then€¦ let the judges decide for us!

Damage: Disco 5 ((8 out of 10)*2=16)
Wedge Devolution ((4 out of 10)*2=
Aggression: Disco 5 ((8 out of 10)*1.5=12)
Wedge Devolution ((7 out of 10)*1.5=10.5)
Control: Disco 5 ((7 out of 10)*1=7)
Wedge Devolution ((7 out of 10)*1=7)
Style: Disco 5 ((5 out of 10)*0.5=2.5)
Wedge Devolution ((7 out of 10)*0.5=3.5)

Disco 5: 16+12+7+2.5=37.5
Wedge Devolution: 8+10.5+7+3.5=29

Wedge Devolution couldn€™t impress the judges
Disco 5 wins the 3rd place play-off!

Coming next
We know who came 3rd€¦

Who will come 1st?

BLACK PANTHER QUEEN vs PSYCLONISED

Come and see it€¦

Come and see it€¦

[martyn]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Wow third place

[majinb]

Mechanical Noise - Series 1

Ahem€¦

Back in October 2005, I decided it was time for the FRA to get a new major. As a matter of fact, there weren€™t many majors left at that point in time, so it was me who took it upon himself to break the deadlock and show people how important major€™s are for the FRA. Mechanical Noise turned out to be a major like many others. It had arguments, controversy and HUGE delays.
Right now, over a year went by. Eight Heats were finished. Four Semi-Finals resulted in two Grand Finals. The Grand Grand Finalists have been decided. Forty-six robots met their defeat; two remain, fighting for the first place.
Before the final battles starts though, I feel I have some awards to give away.

Mechanical Noise - Series1; The Awards

Most original design
An award meant for the robot of which there was none other, a one of a kind. Several machines fit this description. How about S.D. IV with its low-mounted saw blade, Flank Attack with its huge rubber coated pincers and scoop, Going Crunch, the only clusterbot and Omniforce, with its omnidirectional drive-system? The machine I give this award will be one that was rather unlucky being overpowered by two highly destructive full-body spinners in round 1, namely Slammer V. It is the self-flipping device of this axlebot that makes it so unique, combined with a wide range of interchangeable weapons. Congratulations Alex H!

Best design
Meant for the most thought-out design. For that one design that is ready for everything thrown at it, be it a powerful flipper, a destructive spinners of a high-powered rambot. Machines that fit this description well include Disco 5, Wedge Devolution, Die-Ceratops Re-Invertus, Achilles and SOR 5.0. The one this award will go to however is Psyclonised, for being a great invertible design, merging Son of Whyachi€™s spinning cage with a standard spinning ring to create a great line of both offence and defense. Congratulations Andy!

Best engineered
Meant for that one technical masterpiece out there. For the machine that is build so smart, so well, that it€™ll make my science teacher cry. Again, there were many candidates. Black Panther Queen, Shovearound 2 and GeForce 4.0 were serious contenders, but I decided to give this award to Wedge Devolution. Congrats Steve!

Best sportsman
I have to admit, there were no bad sportsmen in this tournament. There have been some arguments, but all of them have been settled nicely and quickly. I€™m gonna give this award to Steven McGregor, who is famous for always being his optimistic self, and never complains. Not that he had any reasons two complain, he brought two vapours within the top six of this tournament. Congrats!

Best realie
This is an easy award . Only three realies were entered, and of them, only one was capable of fighting its way past round 1. 13Black it is, for being the only realie that managed to overpower one of the many overpowered vapours out there. Congrats Chris C!

Most aggressive
An award meant for that one vapourbot designed for offence, rather than defense. Again, many candidates were looked at by me. Black Panther Queen, Disco 5, Forcepower 5.0 and Novastorm 2 were all great. In the end though, I had to give this one to Cyberdemon. Its translational drive-system made it perfectly well suited to come in at opponents and completely destroy them, like it did to Axe-O-Lotle in round 2. It was eventual finalist Psyclonised that had to stop this beast, and did so by having better control. Congrats Anthony!

Best fight
In this category, only one fight stood out. It is shared winner of 2006€™ Best Fight Award. It is the vapour equivalent of Gravity vs Razer€¦ Clawdius Decimus Murderous vs GeForce 4.0

Those were the awards boys and girls€¦ those who won one€¦ CONGRATS! Those who didn€™t€¦ well€¦ you still did one hell of a job!

Next up, THE FINALS!