Hi5er Presents: The Sui Generis Wars - Signups (closed)

[Hi5er]

Hi5er presents: The Sui Generis Wars



Forward:

Hello everyone, I am a longstanding GTM member. I have been here on and off since 2010 and after a long hiatus I have spent the last few months being as active as possible throughout the forums having really rekindled my love for this game and robot combat in general.

I recently read an article by Mr. AS regarding his views on the state of GTM and the fact that forum activity as a whole seems to be “reclining”. https://gametechmods.com/forums/index.php?topic=19235.msg707371#msg707371

I think part of that reason is the way the game has evolved in that we all know which designs work better than others. In stock for example, we often see a slew of pop-ups and horizontal spinners enter (and win) tournaments because they are the most efficient designs.

I think the community would be more driven if we all experimented a little more, hence the creation of this tournament. “Sui Generis” is Latin for “Unique” or literally translated “of its own kind” which I hope will engage people to experiment a little bit with Stock and create some truly different and one of a kind battles.

Rules:

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 1st SEPTEMBER 2016

Stock HW 1.4
Pop-ups BANNED.
Sit n Spinners BANNED.
Crawlers BANNED.
Horizontal Spinners LIMITED*.
AI Components ALLOWED.
Rule of 7 Break ALLOWED.
BFE, Hax Mode, AAM, Component Freedom BANNED.
Cheatbot2 Components BANNED.
- Except for: Flamethrower, .
Robots must show controlled movement through 2 or more powered wheels.

Your bot may be updated as many times as you wish before the cutoff date, but when I return from holiday I will take note of your most recent design sent through and take that as your entry. After the 1st September, no further entries or updates will be accepted.

Ring Arena
3 minute matches
Please take the time to AI your own entries. You have 2 weeks, I will put an omni on your design if you can’t AI, but I take no responsibility for poor performance.

Format:

This will be a table based points tournament like so:
| X | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 1 | X | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 | X | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | X | 0 |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X |

An X denotes, no game, a 0 denotes a match.

Matches will be 2 rounds and a bot is awarded points as follows:
Total Destruction/Counted out/OOTA: 3 points
Points/Timeout: 2 points
Loss: 0 points

That’s a total of 6 points, per match available for each game.

The bot with the highest points at the end of all 6 games is crowned the victor. In the event of a tie, a final BO3 match will be played between the 2 top bots to decide the winner.

My entry:

I am away from the 21st – 31st August on holiday, so recording will take place after that. As such, the cut off for entries will be 1st September 2016 so that everyone has a good 2 weeks to get their designs finalised. Depending on the interest I would initially be limiting this to 8 entries (1 bot per person, including my own), but may extend this if interest picks up.

Entrants:
1.   Hi5er
2.   Badger
3.   Silverfish
4.   Redace
5.   R01
6.   Geice
7.   Fracture
8.   090901

Black: Received
Green: received, AI'd and accepted.
Red: Issue

Waiting List:
1.   
2.   
3.   
4.   

Have I missed anything?

*HS Rules:

You may have no more than 2 powered HSs on your robot. In addition, you may not attach more than 2 weapons per attachment point if using a single HS and no more than 1 weapon per attachment point if using a double HS setup. For example, a Tribar has 3 attachment points, so you can EITHER: Have 2 Tribars mounted on a separate motor, each with a single weapon on each attachment point, OR, have a single Tribar mounted on one motor with a MAXIMUM of 2 weapons stacked per attachment point (A total of 6 weapons in either case).

A Disc extender would work in the same fashion, except due to the inside attachment points I am simplifying the rule to a MAXIMUM of 8 weapons per HS mounted disc with a maximum limit of 2 HS mounted discs per robot.

I reserve the right to reject any robot who tries to be clever and get around this rule, or I feel is simply not embracing the spirit of this tournament, however, I must stress that VS, Drums, HS/VS Hybrids, Gut rippers, jugglers etc, are absolutely fine to submit, providing they comply with the above.

[yugitom]

Please do not reserve spots. All tournaments should be first-come first-served.

[Hi5er]

Please do not reserve spots. All tournaments should be first-come first-served.

No worries, post amended.

Actually yugi, (I'll leave it how it is for the moment), but my thinking behind reserved spots was this: It is still first come first served, only rather than rush to submit a bot, you rush to say "I want to enter" or whatever. My reasoning was that people would then spend more time actually building their bot, rather than rushing an entry just to get a place... I think reserved spots would work better in this case. What are your thoughts?

I don't really want people penalized for taking their time...

[Badger]

I thought the minimum number of entrants was 8? Not that it matters. I'll be entering!

[Hi5er]

I thought the minimum number of entrants was 8? Not that it matters. I'll be entering!

Glad to hear it!

Updated the OP to allow flamethrower. Any other cheatbot component people would want to use? (Lets not be silly).

[R01]

Tournament by Hi5er? Of course I'm entering(I just need to finally fix the AI problem with my bot that's been in the AI section for weeks)
I've wanted to talk to you about unique bots and a few other things(including the "GTM is going down" since I don't seem to have the same view as most members), might as well do that once we try out that multiplayer.

While I can see why reserved spots weren't allowed in the past(it would give everyone the chance to enter, not always the same people) I think that they wouldn't be a problem now, since if anything, tournaments have problems of getting people, and allowing the ones that are interested to enter(like I mentioned in Badger's the People's Choice Tournament, by showing progress updates of your bot at least once a week or so to keep the reserved spot) is better than just having quick rushed entries and not giving the people that are interested time just ends up in them saying "eh **** it, won't bother with tournaments".

Nice to see that this is Robot Wars like, every bot fighting every and in two rounds to make it even more fair. Only issue I see is that there will be a lot of wedge bots but the one I plan on entering can surprisingly deal with them.


As for Cheatbot components, never really seen the magnets in use so I can't say how they are, Cannon does seem to glitch after a few uses but dunno if it would be gamebreaking.
Edit: I think it's best to not allow Magnets and Cannons for now. I've quickly done some tests and surprisingly got both working this time(Cannon worked until the end, think putting it on servos glitched it last time, and magnets need the same control as Flamethrowers) but I think more tests would be required to see how effective and gamebreaking they can be.

[DeadGenocide]

So It's basically swiss format

[Hi5er]

Tournament by Hi5er? Of course I'm entering(I just need to finally fix the AI problem with my bot that's been in the AI section for weeks)
I've wanted to talk to you about unique bots and a few other things(including the "GTM is going down" since I don't seem to have the same view as most members), might as well do that once we try out that multiplayer.

Definitely, I keep meaning to reply to your pm, but when I clear the prompt, I keep forgetting its there 

While I can see why reserved spots weren't allowed in the past(it would give everyone the chance to enter, not always the same people) I think that they wouldn't be a problem now, since if anything, tournaments have problems of getting people, and allowing the ones that are interested to enter(like I mentioned in Badger's the People's Choice Tournament, by showing progress updates of your bot at least once a week or so to keep the reserved spot) is better than just having quick rushed entries and not giving the people that are interested time just ends up in them saying "eh **** it, won't bother with tournaments".

My thoughts as well. I want people to take their time building, rather than someone spend ages making something and then missing out...

Nice to see that this is Robot Wars like, every bot fighting every and in two rounds to make it even more fair. Only issue I see is that there will be a lot of wedge bots but the one I plan on entering can surprisingly deal with them.

I thought this way would be best. As hopefully everyone enters something new, it gives everyone a chance to fight everyone and see their bot in action more, points based rather than knockout also gives everyone a better chance of wining.

As for Cheatbot components, never really seen the magnets in use so I can't say how they are, Cannon does seem to glitch after a few uses but dunno if it would be gamebreaking.
Edit: I think it's best to not allow Magnets and Cannons for now. I've quickly done some tests and surprisingly got both working this time(Cannon worked until the end, think putting it on servos glitched it last time, and magnets need the same control as Flamethrowers) but I think more tests would be required to see how effective and gamebreaking they can be.

Speaking of which... I need to download the flamethrower if anyone plans on using it, as I don't have it yet 

So It's basically swiss format

  Whats that?

[RedAce]

So It's basically swiss format

  Whats that?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss-system_tournament

But yeah.  I'll enter.  I probably have something lying my Robot Designs folder around that I can enter.

[R01]

So It's basically swiss format

  Whats that?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss-system_tournament

But yeah.  I'll enter.  I probably have something lying my Robot Designs folder around that I can enter.

Wait, I thought that was called round robin?


Also something I wanted to mention, "A HS may not have a total of more than 2 weapons stacked per attachment point." The lines after this make it obvious but you might want to rewrite it that a bot can either have 1 HS tribar with 6 weapons or 2 HS tribars with one weapon each. As for Discs, I'd have the same rule as tribars, sure you get two more weapons but discs have a way bigger hitbox and are much more fragile because of it.

You don't have the flamethrower yet? If you have 1.4 then you definitely do have it.

[playzooki]

So It's basically swiss format

  Whats that?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss-system_tournament

But yeah.  I'll enter.  I probably have something lying my Robot Designs folder around that I can enter.

Wait, I thought that was called round robin?

This tournament is round robin. The swiss system is completely different, and involves a set number of rounds where each competitor is matched up with another competitor who has the same amount of points, or if this is not possible, a similar amount of points.

[Hi5er]

glad that's all straightened out 

[Silverfish]

Guess I'll try something (coming from a popup lover XD). Dunno how well I'll do, but I'll try.

[yugitom]

If you think people will rush bad entries for first-come first-served, then increase the entry limit (which you need to do, btw, as the entry minimum is 8.)

It's much better than 4 really sh** builders reserving a spot because they happen to be online before the rest.

[R01]

glad that's all straightened out 

Did open up the wiki entry to see why it's called like that and quickly saw that it was different than round robin, but yeah this system definitely makes it nice for tournaments as you can still score points even if your bot has trouble against some designs.

I guess we are allowed to update our entries until the tournament gets recorded, right? And a bot getting counted out still gives 3 points?(I think it should, during testing I ran into situations where the other bot couldn't move but mine could've easily finished it off)

Also what about the tribar/disc part I mentioned?

Also something I wanted to mention, "A HS may not have a total of more than 2 weapons stacked per attachment point." The lines after this make it obvious but you might want to rewrite it that a bot can either have 1 HS tribar with 6 weapons or 2 HS tribars with one weapon each. As for Discs, I'd have the same rule as tribars, sure you get two more weapons but discs have a way bigger hitbox and are much more fragile because of it.

You don't have the flamethrower yet? If you have 1.4 then you definitely do have it.

[Hi5er]

Updated op.

- 8 spots added
- Clarified counting down points
- Clarified updating your design

If you think people will rush bad entries for first-come first-served, then increase the entry limit (which you need to do, btw, as the entry minimum is 8.)

It's much better than 4 really sh** builders reserving a spot because they happen to be online before the rest.

Meh... I've just upped the capacity. I was just conscious that this is my first tournament hosting experience and I didn't want to bite off more than I could chew...

I still think as I'm going to be away during the main build time it would be better for spots to be reserved... Is it explicitly against the rules?

glad that's all straightened out 

Did open up the wiki entry to see why it's called like that and quickly saw that it was different than round robin, but yeah this system definitely makes it nice for tournaments as you can still score points even if your bot has trouble against some designs.

I guess we are allowed to update our entries until the tournament gets recorded, right? And a bot getting counted out still gives 3 points?(I think it should, during testing I ran into situations where the other bot couldn't move but mine could've easily finished it off)

Also what about the tribar/disc part I mentioned?

Also something I wanted to mention, "A HS may not have a total of more than 2 weapons stacked per attachment point." The lines after this make it obvious but you might want to rewrite it that a bot can either have 1 HS tribar with 6 weapons or 2 HS tribars with one weapon each. As for Discs, I'd have the same rule as tribars, sure you get two more weapons but discs have a way bigger hitbox and are much more fragile because of it.

You don't have the flamethrower yet? If you have 1.4 then you definitely do have it.

Hopefully clarified everything off you mentioned buddy. I missed on the counting out thing and you're quite right, it should be 3 points, as is OOTA, which I'll also add.

I think my description of HS is clear enough, what do you think?

Feel free to update as many times as you like, I wont be in the country so I'll just take whichever entry you explicitly say is your "final" entry unless I haven't heard from someone by the 1st September, then I'll just take the most recent submitted design. Once the tournie begins, no changes.

As a final note... I must not have 1.4 though... Oops

[yugitom]

Meh... I've just upped the capacity. I was just conscious that this is my first tournament hosting experience and I didn't want to bite off more than I could chew...

I still think as I'm going to be away during the main build time it would be better for spots to be reserved... Is it explicitly against the rules?

It's more case law from what I've seen GK and/or Craaig enforce before and I am keeping it that way.

Reserving spots does not ensure quality. Cherry picking entries can. In other words, if you state that you have the right to reject any robot for any reason (usually to get around loopholes), you can keep some quality control.

[Mecha]

Count me in.

[botomatic1000]

I may as well enter.

[Hi5er]

Good lads! 

No joke entries Boto, I wanna see your physical heart poured into this.

Also something I wanted to mention, "A HS may not have a total of more than 2 weapons stacked per attachment point." The lines after this make it obvious but you might want to rewrite it that a bot can either have 1 HS tribar with 6 weapons or 2 HS tribars with one weapon each. As for Discs, I'd have the same rule as tribars, sure you get two more weapons but discs have a way bigger hitbox and are much more fragile because of it.

Also edited the wording slightly to make the HS rule more clear!