After binge watching so much Battlebots one of the things I lament of the current era is the consolidation of the metagame. You can really see over time how unique designs start becoming more homogenized to be like the others.
For example, when they started, Lockjaw and Biteforce were originally grapplers.
I didn’t know that when I first watched the show and always thought it was weird that these bots with biting names were vertical disc spinners. Turns out they adapted.
And to be fair, adapting worked. I think the only reason why Biteforce never came back was because a 4th Giant Nut would’ve been too greedy.
(The real reason is because the creators could not own the name and image rights to their own creation but I’m trying to be funny here)
But compact boxy 4-wheeled vertical spinners sort of became the name of the game. And you can see it in some of the top bots in the game; Hypershock, Witch Doctor, Endgame, Ribbot(sometimes, it’s modular), Tantrum, they’re all from that same general design concept.
And again, it works which is sad because there are so many other possibilities.
But since we’re on it, Grapplers are such an interesting archetype. They make great shows. Basically you have a robot with gripper arms or hook of some sort. The name of the game is control: they drive their opponent around the box, slam them against hazards, and sometimes suplex them if they’re strong enough.
The problem of course is that it’s not really an “active” weapon so when you’re touching your opponent you’re not actively damaging them. And of course you have to run around trying to get the right angle on the enemy so you can actually grip them with your grippers. Because you don’t want to engage with the opponent’s active weapon. Trying to grab them risks you taking damage or your grippers taking damage.
It requires speed, technique, timing, patience. But with 3 minutes in the battle box timing and patience are at a premium and you’re getting a blade to the face while you’re trying to find the perfect moment.
It’s sad really, Grapplers basically have a limited range of opponents they’re effective against but they’re so cool when they get to do the thing.
