Creating Wedges In Robot Arena 2: A Step-By-Step Guide

Robot Arena 2: Design and Destroy is a robot combat video game developed by Gabriel Entertainment and published by Infogrames. It is the sequel to Robot Arena and has many new features, such as the Havok physics engine and fully 3-D environments. Players can completely design their own robot, including chassis design, weapon placement, mechanics, and paint. Weapons are highly customizable, including the ability to mount weapons on various attachments such as poles, disks, and tribars. The game offers a wide range of weight classes, from UK Fleaweight (75 grams) to Super Heavyweight (340 pounds). When choosing a design, it is recommended to combine multiple weapons into one bot, such as a wedge and a spinner, and ensure that the bot is either invertible, able to self-right, or difficult to flip.

Choosing a design

When it comes to choosing a design for your robot in Robot Arena 2, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, decide on the weight range of your bot. The game features 12 weight classes, ranging from 75 grams (UK Fleaweight) to 390 pounds (Mechwars-only). For beginners, the antweight and beetleweight divisions are recommended as they are cheaper and easier to build.

Next, choose the type of weapon your bot will have. Common options include pushy bots, horizontal spinners, vertical spinners, full-body spinners, flippers/lifters, hammers, and crushers. Combining multiple weapons is a good strategy, such as pairing a wedge with a spinner. Additionally, ensure your bot is invertible, able to self-right, or difficult to flip to counter opponents with flippers.

Keep your design simple and practical. Avoid overly complex mechanics that may be challenging to implement, especially if you are a beginner. Consider your driving abilities and mechanical skills when choosing a design, and always follow the K.I.S.S. principle: Keep It Simple, Stupid!

Finally, draw plans of what your robot will look like, how it will work, and how the parts will be arranged inside. This will help you determine the size and weight of your bot before purchasing parts. Remember to choose a design that is suitable for your skill level and budget.

Building the bot

Draw plans of what your robot will look like, how it will work, and how parts will be arranged inside. You don't need exact measurements yet, but you should have a general idea of the size and weight of your bot before you buy the parts.

Every robot needs the following components: power, motors, a transmitter and receiver, speed controllers, and building materials. For beginners, aluminium is a great material due to its light weight, decent strength, workability, and low cost.

Once you have all the major internal parts of your robot, lay them out on a flat surface so you can determine the size of your baseplate. The baseplate should be rigid—you don't want the weight of the stuff on it to make it sag. Mount the batteries, receiver, and speed controllers to the baseplate. Now you should know exactly how big your frame is going to be. Once you have all the pieces cut to the right length, you need to connect them somehow. This can be done by welding or by screws/rivets.

If your bot ends up overweight, your course of action depends on by how much. If it is over the weight limit by any more than 20% of your allotted weight, I would recommend fighting it in the heavier weight class. If your bot is not overweight by much, there are several things you can do to put it on a diet, such as drilling holes in your frame/armor or finding lighter parts.

Weapons and attachments

Weapons in Robot Arena 2 are almost completely customisable, from their type to their placement on the robot. Players can choose from a variety of weapons, including flamethrowers, cannons, magnets, and hovercraft engines. These weapons can be mounted on various attachments, such as poles, disks, and tribars, allowing for a range of offensive capabilities.

Additionally, players can also utilise wedges as a weapon design element. Wedges can be either a full-sized body shape or a smaller attachment, and they are effective at breaching an opponent's ground clearance and can be used to turn them over or push them towards hazards. Wedges are easy to design and build, often costing only as much as the robot's chassis, and they can be combined with other weapons like flippers, crushers, or vertical spinners to create a more versatile machine.

For those seeking an extra challenge, cheat codes can be used to unlock additional weapons. By entering "cheatbot2" as a bot name, players can unlock new weapons such as the flamethrower, cannon, electromagnet, and hovercraft engine. However, this code does require the latest patch to function, and it cannot be used in multiplayer mode.

The customisation options in Robot Arena 2 allow for a diverse range of robot designs, and players are encouraged to experiment with different weapon and attachment combinations to find the most effective setups for their combat strategy.

Weight classes

In Robot Arena 2, there are several weight classes, including lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight. The default robots in the game include lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight variants. For example, the lightweight Scout has no real-life counterpart, while the heavyweight Sentinel is based on Vlad the Impaler.

The weight class of a robot determines its overall weight and influences the types of weapons it can use. For instance, the lightweight class tends to feature fewer weapons, while the heavyweight class allows for more destructive weapons.

In addition to the standard weight classes, there are also modified classes, such as the "Antweight" class, which is a custom class created by a member of the Robot Arena 2 community. This class has a weight limit of 1 pound and is a good starting point for beginners as it allows for designs that are mostly 3D printed or made with cheap materials.

The weight class of a robot also determines the type of motors and components that can be used. For example, the Hobbyweight class, which is the smallest non-insect bot class, allows for more creative designs and the use of off-the-shelf components. On the other hand, the Beetleweight class, which has a weight limit of 3 pounds, features brushless motors that provide insane power-to-weight ratios.

The weight class also impacts the cost of building and maintaining a robot. Generally, the cost of building a robot increases exponentially between weight classes, with heavier bots requiring more expensive materials and complex designs.

Overall, weight classes play a crucial role in robot combat competitions, including Robot Arena 2, by ensuring fair competition, encouraging creativity, and promoting safety.

Game modes

Robot Arena 2: Design and Destroy offers a range of game modes for players to engage in robot battles and test their robot designs. Here is an overview of the different game modes available:

Online Tournaments

The game offers several online tournament modes where players can compete against each other. These tournaments are organised by different communities and websites, with the official Robot Arena 2 website hosting the first tournament. Here is a breakdown of some notable tournaments:

• Official Robot Arena 2 Tournaments (RA2T#1 and RA2T#2): These were the first official tournaments organised by Jimxorb on the Robot Arena 2 message board. They featured Middle Weight categories, and the winning robot in both tournaments was Death Port, designed by Jimxorb and Be0t, known for its powerful spike weapon.
• AceUplink Onslaught: AceUplink, a popular site for Robot Arena 2 fans, hosted several successful tournaments. Their tournaments featured different weight classes, including a custom "Antweight" class. The fifth tournament, "The Onslaught," introduced a custom arena, which became a trend for future tournaments.
• DSL Mod Tournaments: This tournament included unique arenas, such as a soccer arena where robots tried to push a ball into goals. It discouraged attacking and focused on strategic manoeuvring.

Default Robots and Example Robots

The game provides a selection of default robots and example robots for players to experiment with. Here is a breakdown of the different categories:

• Default Robots: These robots are the standard opponents in the game, and many of them have real-life counterparts from BattleBots. They include lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight categories, each with unique designs and weapons.
• Example Robots: Players can also test their skills against example robots when starting the game. There are six of these robots, including C.R.U.S.H. (middleweight), Sting Ray (lightweight), and BOT-CHOY (middleweight).
• Secret Example Bots: Additionally, there are three "secret" example bots that can only be accessed through the "Import Robot" command. These include heavyweight bots like BarberShop Chop and middleweight bots like Spin Bonker.

Mods and Customisations

Robot Arena 2 allows for extensive modifications and customisations, which has led to the creation of active modding communities. Here are some notable mods and customisations:

• AI Packs: Modders have created AI packs that introduce new robots with complex designs and challenging AI. These packs enhance the variety of opponents and increase the difficulty for players.
• DSL Total Conversion Mod: This mod introduces new components, arenas, AI enemy robots, and other enhancements to the game. It is considered one of the most advanced mods available.
• RA2: Backlash: A standalone mod created by JoeBlo that increases damage, speed, and power while reducing health points, making battles more intense and destructive.
• Robot Wars Mod: This mod incorporates elements of the DSL mod and introduces robots and weapons from the TV show "Robot Wars."

Community Features

The game fostered a dedicated community that shared mods, tips, and designs. Here are some notable community features:

• Online Communities: Websites like GameTechMods became the central hub for players to share mods, exchange tips, and arrange online battles. These communities kept the game alive even after the official forums closed in 2008.
• Custom Components and AI Opponents: Players could create custom components, weapons, motors, and chassis, as well as program custom AI opponents, adding new dimensions to the game.
• Tournaments: Online communities organised tournaments, allowing players to compete and showcase their robot designs. These tournaments helped keep the game popular even after its release.

Frequently asked questions