Wright State University
8th Annual Trebuchet Competition

Captains

for the year 2009

Rules or comments that have changed or been added since last year are highlighted like this. Really important things are highlighted like this.

You are in command of an team. Making and implementing a strategy is of paramount importance to your role. However, observance of the rules is even more important. The rules that pertain to your individual actions are as follows:

1. You may NOT enter the playing field.
2. You may not throw projectiles. You may roll them.
3. You may take the role of the assistant, should it be necessary. In that case, you may NOT act as the captain once you have entered the playing field.
4. You are responsible for placement of your "castle" at the beginning of the match. You may position it anywhere on the battlefield on your side of the neutral zone.
5. You may change the roles of team members as desired before each match. You may chose different operators for each match, and you may desire to rotate out the assistants as needed. However only one assistant may be on the playing field at a time.
6. Your team's objective is to destroy the enemy "castle". However, if all opposing team trebuchets are destroyed, your team is victorious by default.
7. It is the responsibility of the captain to assure that the eye protection rules are followed. If a second warning is given to your team, they will be disqualified from the tournament.
8. It is the responsibility of the captain to stay in the staging area at all times when not participating in a match, or until the team is disqualified. If you are not ready for an assigned match, you will forfeit. We don't have time to chase you around the Nutter Center.
9. The director and assistant directors know the rules. The director wrote them with the assistant director of rules. If we say a rule is in here, it is. We will not debate you, and we will not look up rules for you. Learning the rules is your problem, we don't have time to tutor you.
10. Note that this is our tournament and we can change the rules any time we see fit. This won't be done without good cause. However, that means if the director says something, it is the rule because he said it. You are a guest. Please respect that your invitation, and that of your school, can be temporarily or permanently revoked.
11. There is no higher authority for the tournament than the director. There is no recourse if you disagree with the director at the tournament.

Strategy (some suggestions)

1. Pick targets based on strategic value and opportunity, and direct your team appropriately.
2. Be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the members of your team. Proper use of their talents is essential.
3. Listen to your team. They may have insight about their capabilities that you lack.
4. Concentrate fire on targets of immediate concern. If the opposing team has one long range trebuchet, it may be prudent to concentrate on it instead of the opposing team's "castle". If an opposing team's trebuchet is getting close to hitting your "castle", take it out.
5. Moving your trebuchets will require them to re-acquire their targets. Moving may be inadvisable under those circumstances.