2016: STRONGHOLD

Stronghold was the name for the 2016 FRC competition.  Here is a brief overview of of the challenge:

The 2016 FRC challenge is called FIRST STRONGHOLD.  FIRST STRONGHOLD is played by two alliances of three teams each.  Alliances compete against each other to breach their opponents’ defenses, known as outer works, and capture their tower.  They score points by crossing elements of their opponents’ outer works, scoring boulders in their opponents’ tower goals, and surrounding and scaling their opponents’ tower itself.

The match is played on a 27 ft. by 54 ft. field.  Each alliance commands one tower, five defenses, and a ‘secret passage’ which allows their robots to restock on ammunition, called boulders.  One defense in each alliance’s set of five, the low bar, is a permanent part of the field.  Three defenses are selected strategically by the alliance prior to the start of their match.  The final defense changes periodically by audience selection.
Alliances are ranked by a combination of their Win-Loss-Tie record, breach success, and tower capture success.  A win is determined by comparing total match points between alliances at the end of the match and earns an alliance two ranking points.  Ties earn an alliance one ranking point.  Capturing an opponents’ tower at the end of the match earns each team on the alliance one ranking point.  Breaching an opponents’ outer works by crossing four of the five defenses twice earns an additional ranking point.  Ranking points are the primary way teams are ranked during qualification rounds, so are very important.  Note that while only one alliance can win a match, either, both, or none may capture a tower or breach outer works.

The password to access the encrypted game manual is: @Ahead)Together!FRC^2016