Get Ready, Firestone, It's Time For Our Turning Point.
What do you call a game that combines previous VEX games such as Skyrise, Nothing But Net, Starstruck, and In The Zone? That's right, folks, it's time for our new VEX game...
Welcome to the 2018 - 2019 Official VEX Game, Turning Point.
How Will This Game be Played?
The 2018 - 2019 Turning Point robotics game will be played on a 12' x 12' field with two sets of alliances; the red team, and the blue team. Each alliance will be composed of two teams and they will compete in matches consisting of a fifteen ( 15 ) second autonomous period, then followed by a one minute and forty-five ( 1:45 ) Driver period.
There are multiple scoring options in this game, such as low scoring caps, high scoring caps, low scoring flags, high scoring flags, alliance parking, center parking, or through the autonomous bonus. The winner of the match will be judged by the alliance that has the highest score by the end of the match. Beware though, no scored elements are safe!
What Are The Game Elements?
There are forty-six ( 46 ) total game elements, eight ( 8 ) Caps, six ( 6 ) Posts, nine ( 9 ) Flags, twenty ( 20 ) Balls, two ( 2 ) Alliance Platforms, and one ( 1 ) Center Platform. Each game elements has a unique form of scoring that can be used by either team to gain points, though they are all capable of being descored, (With the exception of the opposing team's alliance platform.)
Caps
Caps are a game element that can be scored and descored by either team. The winner of the points are given by whose color-coded core is not touching the field or the post by the end of the game.
There are two possible ways to score caps, the Low Scored position and the High Scored position.
How do caps start at the beginning of the match?
Two ( 2 ) will begin in a blue Low Scored position
Two ( 2 ) will begin in a red Low Scored position
Four ( 4 ) will begin on Balls in a non-Scored position
How big are the caps?
According to the official VEX Manual, the caps have a, " -flat-to-flat diameter of roughly 9.25” (234.95mm), an “edge-to-edge” diameter of roughly 9.70” (246.38mm), an overall height of roughly 4.6” (116.8mm), and a mass of roughly 335g (0.74 lb)."
How many caps can be held at one time?
A robot may possess only one cap at a time.
Can caps leave the field?
No. Intentionally removing any element from the field will result in warnings and possible disqualification. However, if one accidentally leaves the field, it will be placed back in the field for the opposing team of the robot that removed it.
Posts
Posts are a game element that are used for high scoring caps. There are six ( 6 ) posts throughout the walls of the fields, the four ( 4 ) farthest from the flags being roughly 23" (584.2 mm) tall, and the two ( 2 ) closest to the flags are about 34" (863.6 mm) tall.
How many caps can be stacked on a post?
Only one cap may be stacked on a post at a time.
Can caps stacked here be descored?
Yes. As stated previously, nearly all elements on the field can be descored.
Flags
Flags are a game element that can be toggled between three positions, red scoring, detented, or blue scoring. The team that will gain the points for the flag depends on which zone the pointer is in.
There are two types of flags, low flags, and high flags. The low flags is the bottom row of flags, these can be toggled by the contact with the robot or using balls. High flags are the top two rows of flags and can only be toggled by balls.
What happens if the pointer is in the middle?
If the pointer is in the middle, then the flag will not be scored for either team.
How large are the flags?
Flags are 7.2" wide and 6.0" tall.
Could we hold a ball and drive our robot up to the flag and use the ball to push the flag?
No. The ball used to toggle the flag must not be contacting a robot. In addition to this, you cannot extend past a 18" height near the flags.
Balls
Balls are a game element that can be used to toggle flags. Balls are 3" in diameter and weigh about .12Ibs.
Are they soft like in Nothing But Net?
No. These balls are made of a tough and durable, (But lightweight,) plastic.
Can they be removed from the field?
Intentionally; no. Accidental loss of this game piece will result in the piece staying removed from the field. However, it is unlikely that this piece can be accidentally removed due to the net behind the field. Repeated offenses will result in warnings and/or disqualification.
Alliance Platforms
Alliance platforms are a game element that can be used for parking by either team. There are two different platforms, one for red, and one for blue.
How big are they?
The flat tops of the alliance platforms are 21.5" in depth and 20.5" in width.
Does it still count of a tire is not on the platform?
It depends. If the tire is not touching the field, then it will count. If it is though, then it does not count. The robot must be fully parked on the section.
Can you push other teams off the alliance platform?
You are not permitted to remove teams from their own alliance platforms.
Can you park on the other team's platform?
No. This is against the rules.
Can multiple teams park on one alliance platform?
Yes.
Center Platform
The center platform is a game element that can be parked on by any team.
How big is the center platform?
The flat top of the center platform is 21.5" in depth and 21.5" in width.
Does it still count of a tire is not on the platform?
Again, it depends. If the tire is not touching the field or another platform, then it will count. If it is though, then it does not count. The robot must be fully parked on the section.
Can you push other teams off the alliance platform?
Yes. The center platform will be an area where teams battle for the points aggressively.
Can multiple teams park on the center platform?
Yes. Theoretically, if you had all four teams that were all parked on the center platform with no tires touching the other platforms or field, it would count for all teams.
Can we fight for the center platform aggressively?
This area is debatable. Some claim that you must abide by the rule of no destruction of other robots, but others claim that due to the waive of your protection when battling for the center platform, that it is completely allowed. A good rule of thumb that all teams should abide by is know when to stop.
How Does Scoring Work?
Low flags score one ( 1 ) point, high flags score two ( 2 ) points, low caps score one ( 1 ) point, high caps score two ( 2 ) points, alliance parking scores three ( 3 ) points, center parking scores six ( 6 ) points, and the autonomous bonus scores four ( 4 ) points.
Let's Draw Our Conclusions...
Firstly, most of club has one thing in agreement, there will be a lot of teams that specialize in different areas this game. Most teams will probably focus on certain areas, such as the caps, the flags, or the parking.
Many also agree that the autonomous points will have a stronger impact for this game due to it being a low scoring game. Therefore, we have come to a general agreement that the programming aspect of robotics should have a stronger priority than it has been receiving for the last few years.
Now that we have all discussed the mechanics and functions of the game, our club will be selecting teams soon and preparing for the incoming season. So as a final word from your new media officer, good luck everyone!
~ Aine Bolton
Media Officer
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