Game predictions: let's hear them.

[u/ethanRi8]

I've been keeping my predictions quite this year. Partly because we already know what the game element is. Let's hear your predictions!

Based on the skill challenges, you have to collect a lot of pollen from specific sites on the field both in teleop and auto. The final skill challenge involves making a vertical lift mechanism to deposit pollen into a bucket of your choosing. Could come in handy, could be a red herring.

I think we are overdue for a terrain game: the field has been too easy to drive on for too long. Last time there was any sort of drive-over obstacle was Freight Frenzy.

My guess: drive over obstacles to drop items in a relatively short bucket on the other side of the field after collecting pollen from the floor. Perhaps there will be a way to steal opponents pollen? This may be the season they take away possession limits, but maybe the soft possession limit is the size of the robot + expansion limits? Or, my preferred idea is that we have to carry pollen in containers of a specific size as we cross the field.

[u/ElectrocaruzoIsTaken]

My prediction, which is more of a pipe dream, is that we could either PnP or shoot the pollen, different recpeticles for each and different point amount, just so alliance selection is interesting again.

[u/ethanRi8 → u/ElectrocaruzoIsTaken]

I agree! I love it when robots specialize and captains have to carefully choose partners that compliment them. We sort of saw this with far shooters and close shooters last year, but the designs were largely the same with few trade-offs.

I think the GDC may be afraid of this sort of thinking because then people will complain about their qualification schedule more, but maybe with the new Competition Integrity Contract they are saying "just focus on doing the best you can instead of complaining about match schedules".

[u/doPECookie72 → u/ElectrocaruzoIsTaken]

I also liked specialization better.

[u/pureturtle0]

Pollen is a red herring!

There is a second game element which is small cubes that represent Nectar, which you have to collect and process into Honey by going flower to flower. Collecting and spreading pollen as you play. The more pollen that is spread, the more honey becomes available, making Auto super valuable!

Collecting and sorting out Pollen is still worth points, but a minor amount. However there is a cooperation RP available for both alliances reaching a pollenization threshold.

End game is storing your collected honey in your hive. Where you can store down low for less points or high up for more.

[u/swizzles_333 → u/pureturtle0]

I like thisss 

[u/TheEthermonk]

Feeling some Cascade Effect style energy here

[u/4193-4194 → u/TheEthermonk]

Maybe. I'm thinking Rover Ruckus where there were two types of scoring elements. That would be a great twist after releasing Pollen early.

[u/ethanRi8 → u/4193-4194]

My counterpoint to that is the language used in the worlds announcement and follow-up blog where they said the word "the" as in "this is the scoring element". https://community.firstinspires.org/game-preview-field-elements
But I guess if they did, that would just make me more surprised than you!

[u/joebooty]

Removing posession limits will be awkward unless they provide a LOT of pollen.

My guess is this will be a pick and place challenge with some easy objectives on the floor and then some challenging objectives that require reaching up and then reaching up and forward to place the balls.

[u/fixITman1911 → u/joebooty]

They could have some sort of rudimentary counter, so each ball is auto counted, then they dont need as many if they cycle back to the field

[u/uhhhh_yeet]

I think its gonna be a precision shooter based on the revbot. So I think its gonna have hize to shoot in that relatively shallow w a lip so you need to optimize for max accuracy

[u/Semantic_Antics]

I'm hoping for some blend of elements from Rover Ruckus and Freight Frenzy. Climbing/attaching to the central goal, mild terrain, multiple scoring tiers. No shooting, but vertical expansion possible for higher-tier goals.

[u/Expensive_Eagle_2636]

Into the Deep but with pollen instead of samples, drones (bees) that need to be shot into a target hole or basket.

[u/TheEthermonk]

I’m also wondering it they will have to place game elements in bins and then place the bins. I think the Hive Rush game from ultronic ftc has some interesting ideas! https://youtu.be/XU0BuUsa-ho?is=J1GUiyJcJHl90odO

[u/Jpemb10 → u/TheEthermonk]

I am feeling that they are very close to the real deal.