View source for NHRL Event Rules

Norwalk Havoc seeks to hold fun and exciting Robot Combat Events. Our goal is to continue to foster and grow this amazing community of hobbyists and elevate the sport of Robot Combat. All of our events are live streamed on the internet and we seek to deliver production values on par with a live sporting event. Over the long term our goal is build an online following that will generate revenue to allow us to host more events and expand the sport. 
== Event Overview ==
Our events are grouped into annual seasons. Seasons last 1 year. Each season will consist of 6 to 4 open tournaments, and the top 4 winners of each of the tournaments will be invited back to fight in the finals event held in December of the calendar year. The tournaments are double elimination style ensuring all competitors who enter to fight get to fight at least 2 matches. 
=== Weight Classes ===
* [[3lb Weight Class|3lb]] - 6 Tournaments and a Final
* [[12lb Weight Class|12lb]] - 6 Tournaments and a Final
* [[12lb Sportsman Weight Class|12lb Sportsman]] - 6 Matches and no finals
* [[30lb Weight Class|30lb]] - 4 Tournaments and a Final
=== Registration Fees and Prizes ===
* Registration is '''free'''
:- If you register it is very important you let us know in advance if you are unable to attend so we can correctly plan for the right number of competitors. 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Prizes
! Weight Class !! Tournament Winner !! Tournament Runner Up !! Finals Winner !! Finals Runner Up
|-
| 3lb || $1,000 USD || $400 USD || $10,000 USD || $4,000 USD
|-
| 12lb || $1,000 USD || $400 USD || $12,000 USD || $4,000 USD
|-
| 12lb Sportsman || A Handshake || A Pat on the Back || - || -
|-
| 30lb || $1,000 USD || $400 USD || $15,000 USD || $5,000 USD
|}

=== Safety ===
Robot Combat has a stellar safety record. In order to grow the sport it is important we keep that safety record perfect. Fighting Robots are inherently dangerous. Safety is paramount. We require that all competitors abide by all the safety rules for their weight class. This is not just for your safety but everyone else's as well. Safety violations can occur for: 

* Improper or non-use of weapon lock 
* Unsafe weapon tests with box open
* Unsafe touching of the bot (grabbing an unlocked weapon)
* Improper load-in procedure 
* Pit safety issues such as open test box testing, driving in pits, weapon test on table, etc

We will use an escalating system of consequences: These reset each event. 

* 🟨 1st issue: Yellow Card: Warning
* 🟧 2nd issue: Orange Card: Match forfeit
* 🟥 3rd issue: Red Card: Event forfeit
* ⬛️ 4th issue: Black Card: Year forfeit

Each of these levels comes with a chat about what happened and how to improve safety.  We 100% understand that accidents happen, especially under stress.  If you get a card, please don't panic.  It's not a sleight on you personally.  We will do everything that we possibly can to make sure that we work together to correct the safety issues in question.  As a competitor myself, the absolute last thing I want to do is tell a competitor they can't compete.  However, if said competitor is putting themself or others in danger, we need to make sure those issues are corrected.  

=== Spirit of the event and the rules ===
'''More important than winning or any prize is that the events are fun and enjoyable for all.''' Short of the weight rule, the rules exist to set the sprit more than a specific worded law. AKA Don't be a lawyer about it. We have a bias to fight robots that show up. If you build something new that you think plays to the edge of rules, show up and tell us why it should be allowed. Odd's are we will let you fight, we love new creative ideas. 

== Day Of Schedule ==
We look to start early so we can end early. As a rule no NHRL will go past Midnight EST.
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 80%; height: 16em; "
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| 07:00 || Doors Open for Competitors.
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| 9:30 || All teams must be present.
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| 9:45 || All competing robots must have been photographed, passed safety, and weighed in.
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| 10:00 || Stream begins and first fights occur.
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| ~13:30  || All robots will have fought at least once and there is a 1 hour lunch break.
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| 18:00  || Last fight of the day + Winners ceremony.
|}

=== Fight Order ===


== House Rules / Specs ==
Rules at 50 Day are similar to NERC with a few slight changes. Judges reserve the right to grant exceptions to any rule. Our goal is to provide fun, exciting fights and a fair playing field. The sprit of the rules is what is more important than fighting to get to the letter of the law. Good sportsmanship is always required.  
=== Arena ===
[[File:Brett in the Arena.jpg|thumb|NHRL 3lb Arena with house bot [[Brett the Brick]]]]

==== 3lb ====
* 8'x 8' Double Walled Polycarbonate
* Wooden arena floor painted with [[:File:Rustoleum Chalky Smooth.jpg|Rust-oleum]]
* Wooden trim backed by steel and wooden roof
* 2000 CFM Negative pressure system (Fire is okay and encouraged. Matches do '''not''' automatically stop if there is a lipo fire)
* [[Brett the Brick]] 60lb Steel Brick with HD Camera inside. 

==== 12lb Sportsman ====
* 8'x 8' Double walled 1/4" Polycarbonate
* Wooden arena floor painted with [[:File:Rustoleum Chalky Smooth.jpg|Rust-oleum]]
* Wooden trim backed by steel and wooden roof
* 2000 CFM Negative pressure system (Fire is okay and encouraged. Matches do '''not''' automatically stop if there is a lipo fire)
* [[Brett the Brick]] 60lb Steel Brick with HD Camera inside.  
* [[The Friendly Fire]] Robot triggered corner mounted propane flame thrower 

==== 12lb ====
* 16'x 16' Double walled, shock mounted 1/2" Polycarbonate
* Wooden arena floor painted with [[:File:Rustoleum Chalky Smooth.jpg|Rust-oleum]]
* Wooden trim backed by steel and wooden roof
* 12000 CFM Negative pressure system (Fire is okay and encouraged. Matches do '''not''' automatically stop if there is a lipo fire)
* [[Fluffy]] Large house robot with HD cameras

==== 30lb ====
* 16'x 16' Double walled, shock mounted 1/2" Polycarbonate
* Wooden arena floor painted with [[:File:Rustoleum Chalky Smooth.jpg|Rust-oleum]]
* Wooden trim backed by steel and wooden roof
* 12000 CFM Negative pressure system (Fire is okay and encouraged. Matches do '''not''' automatically stop if there is a lipo fire)
* [[Fluffy]] Large house robot with HD cameras
=== [[Pits]] ===
Competitors will be assigned a pit location. Pits are where you can store your gear, test and assemble your robot, and charge your batteries. Each team gets:
* 6ft Folding table
* One chair (bring more if you need them)
* 120V Powerstrip
* Each robot will get a minimum of 20 minutes of pit time between matches. Robots not ready to fight after 20 minutes may have to forfeit their matches. 
Competitors will also have access to full machine shop for last minute tweaks and fixes. We also have lots of spare parts on hand should you need them. Please be aware though that during event day [[NHRL 2021 Staff|NHRL Staff]] Will be very busy and may not have time to spend helping everyone.

Pits areas will have several communal test boxes for safely testing robot functionality.

=== Judging ===
All fights are judged by a team of 3 judges. Judges may be remote and watching via zoom. There is open deliberation between judges after the fight and they will announce their final decisions. Judges are typically ex-competitors and previous bot builders. As the events have grown in scale and scope we continue to work to professionalize the judging. There may be official scores in future matches. Judges primarily are looking for aggression and control of the match. Judges may request a replay of certain sections of a match to assist in judging. Judges decisions are final at this time. We may add the ability for competitors to ask for a re-review of a match in the future but that is not the case now.

=== Fight Rules ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 95%; height: 16em "
|-
| Duration || 3 Minutes or 3.5 minutes if an encore is called for by the judges.
|-
| Knock Out || Any robot unable to show controlled motion after 10 seconds is considered disabled and will be considered a knock out. 
|- 
| Tap Out || Any competitor can forfeit the match for any reason by loudly banging on the arena wall. This is considered a tap out, and counted as a loss. The other competitor must stop attacking immediately; continuing to attack after tap out will be viewed as unsportsmanlike.
|-
| Encore || If a match is particularly exciting the judges may poll the audience in the final minute and decide to add an Encore extending the match by 30 seconds. Only one Encore can happen in any single match. Encores only occur in the winners bracket
|-
| Hazard || If the judges deem a robot to be a hazard to the crowd or a robot is doing sustained damage to the arena, the judges may prematurely end the match at any time. Purposefully destroying the arena may result in a forced forfeit of the match. 
|- 
| Safety || Organizers reserve the right to disqualify any competitor for failing to follow basic safety. All robots with a kintetic weapon should have a weapon lock. The lock should not be removed until both bots are in the arena and the doors are about to close.
|- 
| Sportsmanship || Judges reserve the right to KO or Disqualify any bot or team for unsportmanship like conduct.
|-
| Judges Decisions are Final || All judges decisions are final and not subject to review.
|-
|'''Be Ready'''
|Only 20 minutes of pit time is guaranteed between matches. This usually only comes into play when there are few robots remaining in the bracket. Early on time between matches can be an hour or more.
|}

== Tips and Tricks ==
* '''Arrive with a working robot that is ready to fight.'''
* Arrive before 9AM to secure a good pit location, get your robot through safety checks early.
* Bring extra batteries and be ready to swap them quickly.
* When your robot is ready to fight head to arena area rather than waiting at your pit.
* Fix your robot before chatting with other competitors.