Heat the Ninth ditches the traditional battle format, and instead sends us into the realms of sport. With the virus cancelling everything, we need any opportunity to play the beautiful game, so here we go as we send 8 robots into the Robotic Soccer tournament. Head-to-head matches where the winner is the one which scores the most goals. In case of a draw, the judges will award the win to whichever robot was the more aggressive attacker, not the best defender. After all, this is Robot Wars... Get ready to hear Martin Tyler shouting "AGG-RO-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTT". Robots will not be allowed to add anything not used in Series 4 to help guide the football to the robot.
Vote for whichever robot you think will score the most goals. Please finish your vote with a score after 5 minutes. This doesn't really matter, but is just a bit of fun to emphasise the difference of this format.
The first thing I need to say about this heat is that it is the only one with "chosen" robots in it. When I did the first randomisation, any robot drawn into the other two trial heats (Sumo Basho and Pinball) which actually did those trials in Series 4 were taken out and put in this heat. So all these robots were originally drawn in trial heats anyway, we just get to judge them rather than just say seen it. With that out the way, Bigger Brother's big wide wedge at the front will probably be really good at pushing and guiding the football around, and Bigger Brother is fast and nippy enough that it could out-drive Razer enough times to score an extra goal over Razer. Razer's crusher either open or closed will not be ideal to bat the ball around, which I think will make it tough to have enough control on the ball to score enough times. 2-1 to Bigger Brother. Jimlaad43(talk) 07:57, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
I do get the logic behind Jimlaad's decision to move some robots out of the Pinball and into the Soccers and it probably was the right call. One slightly unfortunate aspect is that Razer would have been a 100% guaranteed elimination if it remained in the Pinball with its original score, although to be fair you could also argue that Razer would try harder in the main competition and not go after Sir Killalot. Here, I think Razer and Bigger Brother are quite evenly matched, much moreso than the Series 5 encounter. I also think that Razer with its modified hooks from Series 2 would dominate the heat and win this easily, but with a fair no-modifications policy, Razer loses this for me. The entire wedge is too slippery, and Bigger Brother isn't too much better, but it at least has the advantage in width. Razer won't necessarily fall at this stage, but I suspect it's on the horizon! 2-1 (Bigger Brother). TOAST 10:41, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
Votes for Razer
Who's to say Razer won't add another attachment to its crusher like it did in Series 2? It could potentially be close, but I think Razer will pull away with a slight lead...I wanna say 3-2. CrashBash (talk) 08:01, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
OK, I just now noticed Jim's comment, and fair enough, maybe it can't use the attachment, but I still think Razer should take it - it's a very well controlled machine after all.
Despite me reading that paragraph several times over, I didn't see it either!. Adster1005 08:32, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
I agree completely with Crash, who just beat me to typing that up. I also think Razer is a bit more controlled, even without the bar. 3-2, same as Crash.Adster1005 08:04, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
Yeah, we've seen how well Razer was able to play the "robotic soccar" when against multiple opponents and whilst it had an attachment, this attachment was nothing more than a flimsy bit of wiring, Razer used its wedge more than the actual attachment so there's that. Razer to overwhelmly beat Bigger Brother through control, speed and even design, 3-1Diotoir the son of nemesis (talk) 08:45, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
The ball won't be the only thing key here. A good portion of Robotic Soccer - especially in one vs. ones was the machines 'tackling' each other. Razer is driven superbly, and even if it is not always in possession, I'd bet on it to intercept a lot of Bigger Brother's attempted attacks. Bigger Brother should score at some stage, but Razer to pace itself the best. Bigger Brother 1-2 Razer. NJGW (talk) 14:11, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
Scorpion could potentially do quite well here, it has a great shaped front to hold the ball in between the protruding saws which it can use to keep the ball. Destruct-A-Bubble has size on its side, but that's about it. Scorpion may struggle to score past what's effectively a Sumo wrester in goal - large but not the most athletic if it has to move quickly to a side - but it will find a way past eventually. Scorpion to eventually monster this 0-3. Jimlaad43(talk) 07:57, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
I'm gonna say 2-0 in favour of Scorpion. Both are ponderous to the point that goal-scoring will be difficult, but Scorpion's design makes it well suited for this. CrashBash (talk) 08:02, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
Scorpion to win 2-1, two goals of it's own accord, and then one which has bounced off DaB to take it. Adster1005 08:08, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
Damn, DaB never gets a break in this arena competitions, it's round and not really suited to control the ball whereas Scorpion has an ideal shape. 3-0Diotoir the son of nemesis (talk) 08:47, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
Now then, I certainly agree that Scorpion's shape is quite conducive to the soccer ball, and it is the more likely to score a goal. However with scoring a goal still requiring a fair amount of control, and the flames of Sgt. Bash running amok, I think it will ultimately fail to score after being set ablaze. Naturally, I certainly don't think Destruct-A-Bubble will be scoring either. After a dull match made entertaining only by Sgt. Bash, the judges award Scorpion the win after earning more touches in the goalless encounter. Scorpion (0-0). TOAST 10:42, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
I think Scorpion's shape should allow it to eventually deflect an attempt into the back of the net, but I can't see it dominating this. Scorpion just doesn't accelerate in straight lines fast enough to keep the ball under control. This will be a lot of bumping and barging by both machines, with Scorpion either winning by one goal, or through most possession. Destruct-A-Bubble 0-1 Scorpion. NJGW (talk) 14:14, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
S.M.I.D.S.Y. will push the ball and Henry 2 away with ease here, using its twin scoops to create some sort of L shape with the top one to splat the ball away from Henry and keep scoring. 0-4. Jimlaad43(talk) 07:57, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
Henry is just very hard to access given how quickly it died, but given S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s quick speed, it should take a nice healthy lead. I wanna say 3-1. CrashBash (talk) 08:03, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
S.M.I.D.S.Y. is well controlled, and will do very well here. 0-4 like Jim. Adster1005 08:09, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
Truly an unusual heat where S.M.I.D.S.Y. has a distinct edge over the likes of Razer and Bigger Brother, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. is a real-world Football champion thanks to Techno Games. Yes, that hasn't happened yet, and also yes, it was teamed up with Tornado in its championship campaign. But the evidence of potential is staring us in the face and S.M.I.D.S.Y. has to progress. I do, however, think that Henry 2 is one of the better footballers in this heat too with a good shape and pace. After a genuine bit of defence and midfielding from the two machines actively trying to stop the other from scoring, we finish with three goals total, a lot lower than it would be if either one of these machines were facing something like Destruct-A-Bubble. 2-1 (S.M.I.D.S.Y.)TOAST 10:42, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
I'm gonna reverse Jim's vote and say 101 wins 2-1. Its flatter front and slightly better control makes it much more well suited for the actual footballing stuff. CrashBash (talk) 08:04, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
I'm going to say 101, for the same reasons as Crash, but with a score of 3-1, with both being aggressive, but I see Killerhurtz making one or two drives that then deflect off of 101, and giving the goal to 101. Whatever happens here, we're going to end up with three or four "good" semi-finalists. Adster1005 08:12, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
Killerhurtz is speedy and aggressive, but poorly controlled. 101 is ideally controlled and much smoother in movement speed and therefore will get the ball in more times.3-2. Diotoir the son of nemesis (talk) 08:53, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
This really just comes down to a flat front vs a pointed one, which is going to make dribbling the ball a lot easier. 101's tracks also allow it to pivot much easier than Killerhurtz, who, as seen in battles with Chaos 2 and Cerberus, has a wider turning circle. Wouldn't put it past the machines to just get a single goal between them - 1-0. Toon Ganondorf(tc) 09:32, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
Votes for Killerhurtz
This match is actually really close. I'd say Killerhurtz is going to be quicker to attack and defend, but its car steering and pointed front means it'll not have as much control of the ball as 101 would. I can see both robots getting on the scoreboard, but a well timed slam on the ball by Killerhurtz will see the ball ping past 101 near the end and it'll take a close victory. 1-2. Jimlaad43(talk) 07:57, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
In the current votes, Killerhurtz's speed is something that has been taken into consideration when it comes to offence. For me, however, the capability of the defence has been overlooked - a common problem among football fans. With such a speed advantage over 101 and a competent driver in John Reid, Killerhurtz is extremely capable of preventing 101's shots from happening. I completely agree that Killerhurtz's angled front is a hindrance to it scoring goals, but it's going to make 101's life hell. A single goal decides this one when John Reid finally sinks it. Killerhurtz (1-0). TOAST 10:43, May 19, 2020 (UTC)
