What is it?

The RFL National Championship Series gathers the finest fighting robots in the world in a coast-to-coast series of head-to-head no-holds-barred combat events, culminating with climatic mega-event that brings the winners of each series event together to battle for the national title.

When and Where is the Championship Tournament?

The date and location for the next Tournament have not been determined. 

Are there Prizes?

Still to be determined.  The Prizes page will have the details once they are known.

What weight classes are included?

All RFL standard weight classes (150g - 340 lb) are eligible to be included. 

  • For a class to compete at the Finals, at least 4 entrants must register and appear to compete.

How do I qualify?

Robots qualify by winning a slot at a qualifying event.

The 2006 Nationals First  and Second Place winners automatically qualify for the next Championship event.

Competitors qualify for the nationals by winning a slot at a qualifying event.  There will be from 1 to 3 slots available for a given class, depending on how many robots compete in that class (see below). 

Qualified robots are accumulated from the date of he last championship until the next Championship event is held (subject to a cut-off date to allow competitors to make travel plans)..

To be a qualifier the event must be presented by a current member organization of the Robot Fighting League and conducted under the Standard Extensible Rule Set.   Member organizations must notify the league webmaster that they want their event to be a qualifier for the National Championship no less than 10 business days before the event.  The cut-off date for qualifying events is JULY 23, 2006.  Events after the cutoff date may be qualifiers for the 2007 nationals.  

  • If 4 or 5 bots compete in a class, that class will receive 1 slot.
  • if 6 to 8 bots compete in a class, that class will receive 2 slots.
  • if 9 or more bots compete in a class, that class will receive 3 slots.

Combatants qualify for a slot by winning FIRST  (SECOND or THIRD) place in a weight class with the required minimum number of entrants competing at an RFL Qualifying Event.  If the first (second or third) place winner is ALREADY qualified, the qualifier slots move down the tree to the next finishing position with a combatant that has not already qualified.

In double-elimination contests the 4th/5th, 6th/7th etc. finisher is determined by counting the number of winner's bracket wins, with the larger number of winner's bracket wins determining the higher (numerically lower) finish.  In the event of a tie,  a coin flip will determine the higher finish.

If I qualify, what bot can I bring?

The bot competing at the national event must be substantially the same as the bot that qualified.  "Substantially the same" means:

  • same weight class
  • same weapon type (e.g. shell spinner, rammer, wedge, lifter, flipper, etc
  • similar drive train (changing the number of driven wheels is allowed)
  • similar outward appearance

Upgrades to armor, drive train, weapon etc. are fine as long as they don't violate any of the forgoing restrictions.   In response to requests from builders, conversion from electric weapon power to ICE weapon power is allowed.

The addition of flame weapons is allowed (this may change depending on the venue, please check back often).  Consult the event rules for the specifics of allowable flame weapons.

For example, if the bot that qualified was a 60-lb, wheeled, pneumatic flip-bot, the bot that competes at the Nationals must be a 60-lb, wheeled, pneumatic flip bot.   The competing bot could have more armor, a more powerful flipper, stronger or faster drive train, etc.

Competitors with bot subject to image and/or name rights restrictions will need to bring a robot not subject to those restrictions or obtain a release from the owner or licensee of the name and/or image rights.  Note that the Championship event organizer may obtain a blanket waiver for some or all of these robots - check with the event organizer.

I sold my qualifying robot.  Do I still keep my slot?

Yes.   Selling  your robot does not affect  your qualification.  You may bring any robot in the same weight class as the qualifying robot that meets the "substantially the same" test described above.

I can't attend - can I send someone in my place?

Yes.  Anyone on your team can compete in your place.

I believe I won a slot at a Qualifying event, but I am not listed.  Why Not?

Contact your event organizer.  Official results must be provided to the RFL Webmaster by the event organizer for each qualifying event.  If the event has not yet provided the results, the winners will not be listed here.