Frequently Asked Questions!
Can We Build a Bot as A Group?
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YEAH! The Application form is for the "team", when it asks for names, please put everyone in the team and then for the other bits use your captain's details!
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the captain is merely my point of contact and does not necessarily have to be the driver... also clusterbots are allowed (see the rules for how they work!)
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What Is the Accessibility Like?
There is one small step to get into the venue, the toilet is reasonably large and gender neutral. Reasonable lighting with no strobing, the workshop should be fairly quiet however tournaments may get loud with cheering and robot noises, however we intend on making the fighting visible from a distance so it could be watched from outside or the back of the room.
As for Robots although building does require a level of dexterity from at least one team member, robots can be set up with accessible controllers / control schemes. If there are any reasonable adjustments I can make in terms of accessibility, then please contact me and I will do so.
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Financial accessibility is mentioned further in this FAQ.
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Will There Be Food and Drink?
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YES! Black Cat Café will have staff there and will be open! (They may be running on a reduced menu but they will have something!
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(Black Cat is vegan and I'm not / Can I bring my own food)
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Black Cat kindly allows us to use their venue for free, in exchange they are keeping all of the profit off of their food to keep the lights on/pay their staff etc. Therefore we want to support them as much as we can, so no outside food! Their menu will be burgers and chip type stuff so you should find something relatively familiar (vegan chips for example are..... just chips) this being said I'm not going to stop you from nipping out, just please bear in mind that theyre supporting the league and it would be nice to spend a bit of money with them to support an indie queer buisiness back!
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Can Kids Attend?
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Yes BUT, this is an adult event, Black Cat may be selling beer, People will probably swear, and although I hold a DBS, I cannot speak for other staff members. as a result:
- A responsible member of staff must be present at all times,
- Kids can be on a robot team, but the captain must be over 18. (I don’t want children’s email address or on the discord)
- This is a Queer event, if you aren’t comfy with your children being around the gays, then this isn’t the event for you!
- Competitors are not expected to go easy on you because you are a child. this is an adult league, and the adults are welcome to try and win!
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Can I Loan Parts to Another Team?
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ABSOLUTELY YOU CAN! If you are willing to donate parts then you are absolutely welcome to! you will only fall foul of the loaned bot rules if the entire bot is a loaner! parts like motors, batteries ESCs and switches are entirely fair game!
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What’s The Deal with the 3D Printer Ban?
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I want this league to be accessible to people who would not otherwise do something like this. 3D printers are simply too good for making robots! if you don’t own one and cannot afford a print on demand service (not to mention CAD software and skills) then you are at a huge disadvantage! - this levels the playing field in a way that doesn’t exclude anyone!
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Do I Have to Pay for A Robot?
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This is a really difficult one, because it really fucking sucks to not be able to participate due to a price tag...
I want this league to be as accessible as possible, and that does mean keeping the price low... we aren’t charging for the workshop or tournaments but that means that everything is currently coming out of my own pocket.
Black Cat have been amazingly generous to us for letting us use their space, and ACW Motorsport have very kindly given us a discount on the arena's polycarbonate (and will be properly thanked when the arena is publicly revealed!)
other than this it has all been coming out of my own pocket and has not been cheap! I want to make it explicitly clear that I do not begrudge this, the league is something I believe could be awesome and I am doing everything I can!
As a result, we are not able to just provide free robots as a league. That being said some very kind people have donated money towards robot kits. these will be given out, no questions asked to people who would like to attend but otherwise cannot! if you would like to claim one of these or donate then please reach out to me on Instagram (@theQRFL)
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Does The 3D Printing Ban Mean I Cannot Buy 3D Printed Parts?
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The purpose of the ban is to level the playing field between those who have printers and those who don’t, therefore:
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if you are buying the part as a commercially available product, and it happens to be 3D printed, then it is allowed. (this includes things like the BBB Motor mounts and wheels!)
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buying an .STL and printing it falls under the same ruling as designing and making it yourself, which is not allowed!
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I Don't Identify as Queer, Can I Still Join In?
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Yes, however: This is a queer event. and a supportive, friendly space for the queer community - the expectation is that you respect the vibe!
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it is not a place it "debate" people, and we have no space for ANY ___phobia or anti- LGBTQIA+ Rhetoric. if there is any of this you will be asked to leave.
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If I Don’t Come to The Workshop, Can I Still Come to The Tournament?
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ABSOLUTELY YES! signups for the tournament will be opened at the workshop to allow them to have priority, that being said, there will be many more available spaces in the tournament than the workshop so even if everyone in the workshop signs up (and the workshop sells out) then there will still be slots for outside builders!
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Just make sure you read OUR rules as they differ from other leagues! - it would REALLY suck to pour a load of effort into a robot that was not allowed to compete!
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I Just Want to Watch... Is That Okay?
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YEAH! We need a cheering crowd! (that being said I think it is a LOT more fun to build and take part but......)
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I'm an experienced/pro builder - can I attend?
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Yes! But, this is a beginner league. there is no pride in coming along as a pro and obliterating a bunch of newbies! So maybe heres the time to build your first walker! or a glass cannon build youve always wanted to try! Keep it weird, keep it fun!
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Can I use a 3D Pen? Is that the same as 3D printing?
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Yes you can! The ban is on computer controlled processes, so go for it!
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What am I allowed to use metal for?
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this is a hard line to define, but the rule of thumb is that if it could be defined as "hardware" then it is allowed, this inclused electronics, nuts, bolts, screws, springs, axels, bearings, hinges and more. The no metal weapons rule does come into play to prevent things like metal screws sticking out of spinner blades for extra damage etc.
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