User blog:RA2/Robot Wars Rankdown: Series 3

With the sad news about Robot Wars, now seems like a good time for something reflective and fun. I'm opening signups for Robot Wars Rankdown: Series 3. For those who don't know, this is a game where all the robots of Series 3 get ranked. Players take turns placing robots, starting at the bottom, and finishing at the top.

Format
We will be using a new format this time around. Previously we were using the “Follow the Leader” format, this time, we’ll be using the “Pick-n-Mix” format. In this game, rather than one player nominating a pool and the rest cutting from it, players will instead fill the pool one by one.

In round 1, you may cut any robot in the entire population. You will then nominate one other robot, whom you believe should get cut ASAP, to go into the pool. You can’t cut or nom a robot that’s already been cut or nommed. In round 2 and beyond, players will cut a robot in the pool, then add another. Here’s an example of the flow. The example has 5 players, our game will have more:

Round 1:
 * Player 1: Cuts any one robot and explains why, nominates one other robot for the pool (no explanation needed for the nomination).
 * Player 2: Same, with any robots not cut or nominated yet
 * Player 3: Same, with any robots not cut or nominated yet
 * Player 4: Same, with any robots not cut or nominated yet
 * Player 5: Same, with any robots not cut or nominated yet. Lists out all the nominated robots for the benefit of the next player (note: Player order does not rotate, if you're player 5, you will always be player 5.  All players have equal levels of involvement, so don't worry about that.)

Round 2 and beyond'
 * Player 1: Cuts one of the 5 robots in the pool (cannot cut one of their own nominees), and explains why. Nominates one other robot for the pool (no explanation needed).  Lists out all the nominated robots for the benefit of the next player.
 * Players 2-5: Same

This will continue for 12 rounds. After that, players will rank the surviving robots, and the averages will determine final rankings.

I'll be pretty open about the criteria you use to make your cuts, just a few rule & guidelines:
 * Try to insulate it to the series in question - we're strictly ranking the Series 2 incarnations of robots
 * No discussing how it was received by the fandom - you can call a robot overrated or underrated, complain about fanboys, etc, as long as that is not your only reason for cutting
 * No troll-moves. Everyone's entitled to their opinions, but if I see a move that's clearly intended to get a rise out of people or an individual, you will be booted.  Slots are very limited, do not take one unless you plan on taking this seriously.
 * No gaming the system. I don't know how the system could be gamed in this format, but if you find a way, don't. I don't mind if people make backroom deals, but it's not my problem if someone reneges on a deal.  The rule of thumb is that all cuts & nominations must be for robots that deserve to be cut at the time.  Again, I'll allow everyone to have opinions, but don't tell me for instance that you sincerely believe a finalist should get cut in Round 1.
 * You must have watched & be familiar with all episodes of the series in question, even the obscure ones - it won't do to have a bad robot slip under the radar because people forget to nominate it. The series is on YouTube if you need to refresh your memory, and I will post a spreadsheet in Google Docs, listing all robots in the game, and their status in the rankdown.
 * Please be punctual and check in often. The game only works if each person takes their turn in good order.
 * This will now be enforced, in order to keep the game moving. If a player does not take their turn within 24 hours of the last player, the player will receive a strike, and the turn may be taken by anyone not participating in the rankdown.  If a player gets 3 strikes, a replacement will be sought.  I'm sorry to have to do this, but it is not fair to the other players to keep them waiting an indeterminate amount of time.  If you don't have time to write out a summary, I'll accept just the robots names, and you can post the writeups later.
 * Most importantly, have fun, and don't take it personally if a robot you like gets cut sooner than you want it to.

The Doom Dial
To make things more interesting, I’m introducing the Doom Dial, your choice of a special power. Each player may press the Doom Dial once to access one of the following effects:


 * Pit: Negate the most recent cut and remove the robot in question from the pool. The robot gets immunity for one full cycle (ie cannot be nominated until after the player you interrupted finishes his/her next turn).  It’s on you to play this in time to catch the robot you want, if it’s not the most recent, it can’t be Pitted.


 * Rogue House Robot: on your turn, you may cut a robot that’s not in the pool. You will not nominate on the round you use this. You may not cut any robot that has immunity.  This cut cannot be negated by the Pit.


 * Fog Of War: On your turn, instead of cutting/nominating, replace the entire pool with a new set. You may not pick any robot that has immunity.  In subsequent rounds, you can cut robots that you brought in with Fog of War.

The Doom Dial will be available from Rounds 2-11. You are not obligated to use the Doom Dial. To reiterate, you each get one button press, NOT one of each power.

Players usages

 * RA2: Not used yet

Signups & size
There will be 10 people in all, that's 9 slots plus myself. Since this is a new format, I'm giving myself slot #1 so I can give a demonstration.

1) RA2

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

7)

8)

9)

10)

Robots to be included/excluded
Included: All Series 3 main competitiors, and World Championship competitors

Excluded:
 * Non-Heavyweights
 * Soccer & Pinball-only competitors
 * Walkers
 * Mauler
 * Max Damage for not moving
 * Vector for not moving
 * Terror Australias proper (However, the yellow-painted Nemesis will be ranked)