As with many FLL Robot Game challenges, a Nature's Fury match starts with some missions in a scoring condition.  If nothing happens on the field, then these conditions are marked on the scoresheet at the end of the match, and the team receives points based on the condition of the field (Rule 39).

 

Yes, the setup condition of the field is with the Child in the Red scoring region (Safety mission), the runway clear (Runway mission) and no Game Penalties assessed.

 

Speaking as a referee, it's more important and encouraging to me to see a team trying, and possibly reducing their final score, than to see them intentionally not running their robot.  I understand that, on a really bad performance day, it's sometimes the best strategy in Round 3 just to wait and take the points, but not for the whole event.  It actually happened to my son's team many years ago that the morning of the tournament their robot's memory was erased and they didn't have any backups with them.  They did not get a lot of benefit from standing next to the table for 2.5 minutes....

 

Steve Scherr

VA/DC FLL Referee Advisor