Bolts, Steel, Code, and Joysticks: A Competitive Robotics Quest

Dominic's head whirled rapidly. The sweeping laser light show that he was dimly aware of felt lackluster in comparison to his thoughts on the new game.

Go for auton bonus or better object positioning? - may lose more points by ceding dominance in goal - objects look pretty easy to intake - need to have arm reach forward and up to get to those goals faster - prioritize arm over base? new game looks more offensive than usual, may need faster speed - prototype using spare parts/disassemble current robot for more complicated -

Rebecca's iron grip on his shoulder interrupted his thoughts.

"No, Dominic. No taking apart the robot before Eliminations; we still have a World Championship to win."

"But Ace can totally handle missing a few motors, right?"

"You know I'm good, but not that good, buddy. Listen to your girlfriend, both of us know she's the brains between the two of you."

"I'm right here."

"Fine, fine, whatever you say, Ace."

"Wait a sec, guys, aren't we missing something?"

The members of 1A looked at each other, and then rapidly blanched.

They had forgotten their flag capes!

-o-

Team 1A finished the qualifiers with a perfect score, placing as number one seed for alliance selections. The alliance they formed, of powerhouses 26W and 6528W, was considered the overwhelming favorites for Division Champions, if not the whole World Championship outright.

The Juggernauts were astonishing; they had reached a level of perfection that many other teams thought was only theoretical. Their autonomous made other programmers stay up at night tearing out their hair to try figuring out how they did it; their sleek execution of a three stage pneumatic transmission between their base and arm made other builders alternately salivate and cry themselves to sleep; their driver dominated the skills list, breaking the robot skills records by ten whole points. Everybody kept waiting for something or another to break down, and something did. Only to be fixed in no time flat by Dominic, or compensated for by Rebecca and/or Ace.

This team, American flags securely tied to their backs, did not disappoint, winning their Eliminations bracket undefeated. Their Round Robin matches are closer, but in the end, the tournament comes down to the Juggernauts versus the SHOCKS.

-o-

Red flags flapped in the wind as their metallic steeds raced across the field, desperately attempting to break the mettle of the stalwart blue, who for their part moved to block the red's attempts with practiced ease. Arms creaked from exertion, steel hammering on steel, all for the chance to earn one more point. The two robots pushed back and forth, highlighting the brilliance of their designs - team 1A being stronger and faster at will, team 3990Y deftly sliding around 1A - and the deficiencies of their artistic taste.

Seriously, red and black was so overused.

"Team Juggernaut is just running all over team thirty nine ninety Y's attempts at scoring, but clever maneuvering from their alliance partner nine sixty four C breaks the stranglehold of twenty six W and lets the Shocks help their teammate in need! One minute left in the match, it's looking like a close one! Red alliance has more scoring objects in their scoring zone, but Blue alliance looks like they're playing keep-away and saving their energy for one decisive moment!"

Your knee is vibrating, feet tapping out a staccato on the floor. This is a match between champions, and you are...
[]Scribbling notes on designs. (Starting bonus to Hardware)
[]Watching the flow of the game. (Starting bonus to Wetware)
[]Figuring out the algorithms behind their movements. (May only be taken by Drifting Coder, or Top Dog. Starting Bonus to Software)
[]Writein (note: good enough justification will grant you bonus, insufficient justification will grant lesser or no bonus)

You want to be there, you want to be taking that big World Champions trophy like Team 1A Juggernauts are right now. You know it's a long road ahead from where you stand, but you're going to be World Champion, or you're going to graduate trying!

...

That sounded better in your head, you reluctantly admit.

Character Creation!
[] The Unfettered Genius (Hardware++, Software+, Wetware -, Social -, High Growth Potential, No Mentor, No Revenue, 2 Free Time)
You are a virtuoso with your hands and mind, but your driving leaves something to be desired, and something about you has always rubbed people the wrong way. It's not your fault that nobody else can take a little honest criticism! Nevertheless, such little obstacles like a bad rep and no money to speak of won't stop you from becoming World Champion.

[] The Eager Middle Schooler (Hardware -, Software -, Wetware -, Social +, Medium Growth Potential, Good Mentor, 1 Revenue, 2 Free Time, 1 Extra Year)
You're a wide, starry eyed, middle schooler and robots are soooo coool! Oh wow this metal is so shiny and cool! What's a "nut"? Can you make peanut butter with that? Uh, yeah, obviously you know what a nut is. It's that thing right? Anyway, you wanna be World Champion because that is soo cool!

[] The Large Clubber (Hardware, Software, Wetware, Social, Medium Growth Potential, Excellent Mentor, Expenses Waived, 1 Free Time, No Sponsorships Available)
You've been in your junior league for long enough; now it's time to join the big boys! You know your way around a screwdriver, box wrench, and computer to not embarrass yourself too badly, but at the same time you're not at the same level the older guys are at. Doesn't matter though, you'll show them all when you become World Champion!

[] The Good Friend (Hardware -, Software -, Wetware -, Social ++, Medium Growth Potential, Good Mentor, Expenses Waived, 0 Free Time, Guaranteed Teammate)
You're just in this for your friend, honestly. You aren't good with the fiddly nuts and bolts, so to speak, but people like you, and you like people. You also couldn't say no to your friend's puppy dog eyes. This was the one time that your friend asked for anything, of course you were going to give it your all. Heck, that World Champion trophy won't go amiss, either...

[] The Drifting Coder (Hardware -, Software ++, Wetware -, Social, Medium Growth Potential, Good Mentor, 1 Revenue, 0 Free Time)
You are, in your own humble opinion, one of the best coders in your school. You consider AP Computer Science a free period, and are in serious need of a challenge. Lucky for you, your teacher recommended this thing called "robotics" instead of something like "just go do techie things in theater". You figure that World Champion would be a nice addition to your resume.

[] The Power Gamer (Hardware -, Software +, Wetware ++, Social -, Medium Growth Potential, Poor Mentor, 0 Revenue, 1 Free Time)
You're not entirely sure how your parents roped you into this, but now you have to get some qualifications through robotics, since "gaming isn't a real job, go do something with your life!" You're still a little resentful of it, and was once tempted to blow the whole thing off before some kid challenged you and won. One thing led to another, and now you're in it to go all the way to World Champion.

[] The Top Dog (Hardware +++, Software +++, Wetware +++, Social +, Low Growth Potential, No Mentor, 2 Revenue, 1 Free Time, 2 Less Years)
You are the best in state. Across the board, you do better than all your competition, and consistently churn out superior robots in all aspects to your competition. You consistently win at a State Level, but at the Worlds Level you get tossed around like so much spare fodder, and you just can't seem to get better. Nevertheless, you're going to be World Champion.

[] Write In (Hardware, Software, Wetware, Social, Growth Potential, Mentor Quality, Revenue, Free Time, Special Conditions if applicable) is how the format goes. I will veto or make them into somebody in your region if too overpowered.
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