BattleBots: Finale
July 27, 2015 6:21 AM - Season 1, Episode 6 - Subscribe
Which of the final four bots will take home the trophy?
Some redditors think Bite Force broke the "every bot needs an active weapon" rule on the way to the finals.
Bah. It was a liftbot. It just didn't use it for shit in that final, which kinda surprised me considering how many chances it had to just flip Tombstone's shit.
posted by Etrigan at 5:39 AM on July 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Bah. It was a liftbot. It just didn't use it for shit in that final, which kinda surprised me considering how many chances it had to just flip Tombstone's shit.
posted by Etrigan at 5:39 AM on July 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
They bolted that wedge across the front, so I don't think they could lift anything anymore. Is a wedge not an active weapon? You can drive into things with it and flip them over.
I enjoyed the season overall, I hope they get renewed. Once they limited puns to the ring announcer it was a lot better. They should cover it more like Punkin Chunkin, more geek less sport.
posted by InfidelZombie at 9:49 AM on July 28, 2015
I enjoyed the season overall, I hope they get renewed. Once they limited puns to the ring announcer it was a lot better. They should cover it more like Punkin Chunkin, more geek less sport.
posted by InfidelZombie at 9:49 AM on July 28, 2015
They bolted that wedge across the front, so I don't think they could lift anything anymore.
Oh, good point. But they didn't even use the arm on top to hold Tombstone down when they had it pinned.
Is a wedge not an active weapon? You can drive into things with it and flip them over.
There has been some controversy over whether wedgebots take the fun out of BattleBots. Did that lead to a rule change?
posted by Etrigan at 10:16 AM on July 28, 2015
Oh, good point. But they didn't even use the arm on top to hold Tombstone down when they had it pinned.
Is a wedge not an active weapon? You can drive into things with it and flip them over.
There has been some controversy over whether wedgebots take the fun out of BattleBots. Did that lead to a rule change?
posted by Etrigan at 10:16 AM on July 28, 2015
I kinda feel like ultra-heavy duty spinners like Tombstone take some of the fun out of it. Seems like it's almost impossible to beat, though I guess the end result does show that to be not quite true. But I like it when the matchups are fairly equal, and when there's a super-dominant bot it's not as interesting.
I also wish they weren't allowed to make functional modifications during the series. On the one hand, the modular thing is cool. But I'd rather see true versatility in a single design.
posted by primethyme at 12:40 PM on July 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
I also wish they weren't allowed to make functional modifications during the series. On the one hand, the modular thing is cool. But I'd rather see true versatility in a single design.
posted by primethyme at 12:40 PM on July 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
I also wish they weren't allowed to make functional modifications during the series. On the one hand, the modular thing is cool. But I'd rather see true versatility in a single design.
Perhaps they should have two separate tournaments, one where the rule is "This is your design and oh by the way you get one replacement part of each thing (maybe not counting batteries)" and one where it's just "Fuck it, do whatever you want."
In the first case, bots like Tombstone that inflict maximum carnage on both their opponent and themselves (didn't it look like, if that semifinal had gone on a little longer, Tombstone was near death too?) aren't quite so overpowering.
posted by Etrigan at 12:48 PM on July 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Perhaps they should have two separate tournaments, one where the rule is "This is your design and oh by the way you get one replacement part of each thing (maybe not counting batteries)" and one where it's just "Fuck it, do whatever you want."
In the first case, bots like Tombstone that inflict maximum carnage on both their opponent and themselves (didn't it look like, if that semifinal had gone on a little longer, Tombstone was near death too?) aren't quite so overpowering.
posted by Etrigan at 12:48 PM on July 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
But then, I guess what I'm asking for is a return to the old Comedy Central days, when there were weight classes and carefully recalibrated rules each season to balance out over-dominant forms (not to mention 20-plus episodes in a season).
posted by Etrigan at 1:04 PM on July 28, 2015
posted by Etrigan at 1:04 PM on July 28, 2015
I think it's hard to balance the need for making it good television with the desires of geeks like us (or at least me) wanting really fair fights, detailed technical info about the robots, etc. While I do have quibbles about this season, I'm really happy it's on TV, and I think they did a great job for a first season on network TV. I hope they get to have a second.
posted by primethyme at 4:54 PM on July 28, 2015
posted by primethyme at 4:54 PM on July 28, 2015
didn't it look like, if that semifinal had gone on a little longer, Tombstone was near death too?
Yes. and I wonder Tombstone going in for that last crowd-pleasing hit in the semi-final, cracking open its own casing on the rebound and spilling out it's batteries like insect eggs, contributed to the smoking-batteries-loss-of-weapon-power in the final.
There was a lot of "heavy spinner damages/flips itself on the rebound from a big hit" in the matches in the last two episodes.
Also, good driving in the final match: Bite Force looked very vulnerable on the sides -- those flimsy-looking tracks -- but managed to almost always take hits only on its front armor.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 1:06 PM on July 29, 2015
Yes. and I wonder Tombstone going in for that last crowd-pleasing hit in the semi-final, cracking open its own casing on the rebound and spilling out it's batteries like insect eggs, contributed to the smoking-batteries-loss-of-weapon-power in the final.
There was a lot of "heavy spinner damages/flips itself on the rebound from a big hit" in the matches in the last two episodes.
Also, good driving in the final match: Bite Force looked very vulnerable on the sides -- those flimsy-looking tracks -- but managed to almost always take hits only on its front armor.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 1:06 PM on July 29, 2015
Yes. and I wonder Tombstone going in for that last crowd-pleasing hit in the semi-final, cracking open its own casing on the rebound and spilling out it's batteries like insect eggs, contributed to the smoking-batteries-loss-of-weapon-power in the final.
I may be wrong on this, but it looked to me like Tombstone didn't initiate that last hit -- it was just hanging out nearby to make sure it could attack immediately if the ref stopped the count, Bronco was still bouncing with its flipper, and it bounced into Tombstone's spinner.
posted by Etrigan at 1:12 PM on July 29, 2015
I may be wrong on this, but it looked to me like Tombstone didn't initiate that last hit -- it was just hanging out nearby to make sure it could attack immediately if the ref stopped the count, Bronco was still bouncing with its flipper, and it bounced into Tombstone's spinner.
posted by Etrigan at 1:12 PM on July 29, 2015
Some good analysis here, and it looks like I'm alone in thinking that Bronco hurled itself into Tombstone on that last hit. But also, production notes:
Given that 3 days of filming led to 6 weeks of TV, I can’t imagine ABC not bringing them back for Season 2. This whole season was shot with 8-10 weeks notice for the competitors, so I imagine the quality of bots and bouts will improve next year.posted by Etrigan at 12:42 PM on July 30, 2015 [3 favorites]
TOMBSTONE v. BRONCO
Tombstone has the new blade, good driving, and a lot of power. Bronco is shifting weapons again. I think big T takes it - that blade has too much power, and if it connects they go flying.
Tombstone wins by KO! That last hit was a big risk, it's got so much KE that it tears itself apart!
BITE FORCE v. GHOST RAPTOR
Not even a contest. Bite Force dominated the entire time.
I'm surprised at Nightmare's success - I thought vertical spinners were deprecated.
FINAL
TOMBSTONE v. BITE FORCE
Tombstone in KO is my prediction. They have good enough driving to make the blade a serious threat, and destroy Bite Force's wheels and maneuverability.
Interesting he mentions the "more underground" competitions. I wonder where those are?
Another tight decision! Bite Force with a great rush and keeping the pressure on, leading to a pin. Tombstone hits hard, but shows a vulnerability with the weapons power. The pin will be crucial for the decision.
And it is! Bite Force for champion!
posted by the man of twists and turns at 12:45 AM on August 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Tombstone has the new blade, good driving, and a lot of power. Bronco is shifting weapons again. I think big T takes it - that blade has too much power, and if it connects they go flying.
Tombstone wins by KO! That last hit was a big risk, it's got so much KE that it tears itself apart!
BITE FORCE v. GHOST RAPTOR
Not even a contest. Bite Force dominated the entire time.
I'm surprised at Nightmare's success - I thought vertical spinners were deprecated.
FINAL
TOMBSTONE v. BITE FORCE
Tombstone in KO is my prediction. They have good enough driving to make the blade a serious threat, and destroy Bite Force's wheels and maneuverability.
Interesting he mentions the "more underground" competitions. I wonder where those are?
Another tight decision! Bite Force with a great rush and keeping the pressure on, leading to a pin. Tombstone hits hard, but shows a vulnerability with the weapons power. The pin will be crucial for the decision.
And it is! Bite Force for champion!
posted by the man of twists and turns at 12:45 AM on August 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by drezdn at 8:37 AM on July 27, 2015