I didn't see this in the thread so I thought I'd post the "stock" newcomers message here. This is the message from last year but most of the plan is likely the same. I don't speak for NERC but I figured a general outline was better than nothing for those newcomers.
Here's a little photo set I made to help people find the actual venue and get in and out with their stuff:
https://picasaweb.google.com/107279152885550274671/MotoramaRobotConflictForCompetitors#6117349959814415698Fairies and Ants will fight on Friday, everyone else is URGED to arrive on this day at some point to check in, safety, and prep their bots.
9AM: Start arriving
10AM: Safety Inspections for Fairies/Ants
1PM: Fairies/Ants Tournament begins
7PMish?: Fairies/Ants Tournament is done.
At some point that day we will announce when inspections begin for Beetles and up, once the main arena is assembled. Help out with arena assembly! By helping you can get your bot safetied sooner! Safety will run all day (as volunteers permit) until about an hour after the Ant and Fairy competition is done, depending on who is staying around. We will be kicking people out when we are leaving.
Saturday
8AM-9:30AM: Safety Inspections.
At this point if you are not through safety, you will not compete. We have to fit everything in to insure we are done at a reasonable time on Sunday.
10:00AM: Driver's Meeting. Attendance is MANDATORY. You must be present so that you understand the rules clearly (we will go over unsticks, immobilized bots, etc), and this is your time to ask any questions about the rules that you are unsure of.
11:00 AM-ish: First fights of the day. We'll announce the first 8 fights and go from there. Be sure to have your bots ready to go. We will have the 8' box still up for testing and pre-fight checks.
At some point during the day we will take a break or 2, depending on how many fights we need to get done on saturday.
By about 8PM or so, fighting will cease for the day.
Sunday
10AM: First fights of the day will commence, arrive anytime before then, make sure you are ready to go if you are still in the tournament.
There will be breaks again, 1 or 2 depending on time. *insert Ms. Moto pageant comments..*
By 5PM fights should be all finished. We will have signups for grudge matches/rumbles and the "Official" rumbles. Come up with some themed or interesting grudge matches! Anything to entertain the crowd between fights where we might need more than a minute of break.
Almost immediately after the last match, we will do the awards ceremony.
Please stick around and help break down the arena!
Times are subject to change.
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Pete's Tips
First timer advice for Moto......even if you are not competing in ants get to the venue on the friday afternoon/evening and then you can drive up to the entrance of the small arena (someone will no doubt post a map) and get you stuff dropped off. On Saturday you won't be allowed to do this and its a long drag (with stairs?) etc otherwise. Plus you can get through safety and maybe even give your bot a test or two.
Bring a comfortable fold up seat.
I've never had anything stolen overnight so its probably OK to leave most stuff in boxes under the table......just don't tempt an idiot.
Get back in plenty of time in the morning, one day they will start on time!
If you have laptop with wifi you can use it to track whos on next etc. don't make them come hunting you when you should be ready!
don't stand in front of the audience unless you are driving or videoing your team (and if videoing kneel down)
Its usually sweatshirt temp inside and artic temps outside and outside weather can vary dramatically in one day. Its a long walk back across the car park when its 15 degrees and blowing a gale
Food etc is all fine....not fancy but hot and nearby
Restrooms OK likewise. (The restrooms are hot? - Ed)
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Ed's comments (I love that poor Jim has done all the reg work and then I just get to come yell at people. So much easier for me.
Thanks Jim! )
Please, please, please don't make us have to hunt you down. If you know you have a fight coming up, at least pay attention. If your team wants to wander (there is tons to see,) post a person at your pit table who can track you down if need be. Schedules change. Just because you thought you had an hour -- doesn't mean you do.
Lunch/dinner breaks are optional. We will try to accommodate them, but they are not guaranteed. If you're hungry, and you know you have a match coming up, send someone you don't need for the fight.
Ditto for bathroom breaks. If you have a fight coming up, send someone else. (Heh. OK, just try to be ready to fight.)
"I just need to put the lid back on" should not take 27 minutes. We all know you are trying to get your batteries topped off. 20 minutes between fights means 20 minutes.
If we just had a half hour lunch break, a postponement request first fight back will not be looked at kindly by the judges/EO's. Ditto first fights of the second day.
Apparently, I suck at mailing out prizes/trophies. I gave the last batch to Al in the hopes he could sort it out. Please, please, please -- wait around if you win something. If you can't, you might end up responsible for claiming your prizes. Trophies will be mailed if needed, but no loot.
Really, the arena is a lot of work. Brian loads the thing and schleps it down here, the least you could do is help put it up and take it down. I see the same 12 people doing it every year. You just put together a robot. Surely an arena can't be too hard. (Although, apparently, paperwork might be.
) (The one year I was in charge of arena setup, we had the nations only hourglass shaped arena. - Ed)
We all have real jobs.
Thank an officer or two. It's all the pay we get.
If you ask Beth to see brackets -nicely- she'll probably let you see the paper ones -- once they are up to date.
Postponements. Really? One per day. Don't cheat.
The judging staff will be somewhat knowledgeable, somewhat impartial, and somewhat flexible. If you don't want to risk them having to make a decision, make sure your opponent is somewhat dead.
Unsticks from bots stuck together are pretty much the rule. Unsticks from the arena are at the judges/EO's whim. Don't count on them.
One person in the arena at a time. If the door wrangler isn't there for some reason, common sense prevails.
We get charged for any chairs that go missing. At the end of each day, all chairs will need to be returned to the pallet they stack on. If your chairs aren't there, you'll get charged $10/chair. If you have concerns, bring your own chairs. No sofas, please.
Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer. If you're standing around doing nothing and theres things that need to be done, be careful, or you may get pressed into the chain gang. If you volunteer, you can often pick a task.
Judges have really good seats.
Don't yell at the judges. They are right, and their word is final. See above re: somewhat dead.
