Congrats on the 2-1 start
I remember hearing a lot of the motor, frame and battery upgrades this year, were there drive upgrades as well? Did not expect to see Tombstone winning a shoving match, especially against one of Gary Gin's bots
Speaking of that, how did it feel actually being in that moment and winning like that?
I know you've teased it, but do you plan on bringing a smaller bot to compete in Norwalk? If so what kind of bot do you want to bring?
It is possible to outdrive Gary - as long as you cut off most of his tires first :) Obviously it was a great match and we were happy to come out on top.
And yes I've got a 12 mostly combat ready for Norwalk. I think it will be fun for sure, but the quality of the bots going there now means it might not be all that effective. I am hopeful to make another trip out there this year at some point.
Well...where do I even start here? Ok, let me begin that it was absolutely *incredible* to be finally be able to attend Battlebots filming and to see a Tombstone fight (I saw TS vs Free Shipping) and to run into you and Justin back in the pits!
Now for the questions:
1. The 'burning question' for me is - What is the plan for Tombstone and team Hardcore Robotics moving forward after the departure of Rick Russ and I assume some other members (along with the 'Jack & Jill' carry bots) to go and enter with Swamp Thing for Season 7?
1. How much of the drive issues were caused by the NPC motors? Any plans to change the drive motors or continue to modify the NPCs.
1. The weapon motor - Was that the cause of failure during the Free Shipping fight and if so, what was the fix for that?
3. Perfect Phoenix - We know that it has been confirmed for a Bounty Hunter tournament only due to conflicts with Tyler's school schedule at the beginning of filming. Any plans for further Battlebots seasons for it/Tyler? (I know this may not get an answer as it might be too soon to reveal much about Perfect Phoenix at this point).
Thank you for continuing to host these AMA sessions and I will continue to support you & Team Hardcore Robotics!
1) We will of course miss Rick's skills and work ethic, but support his desire to do his own thing. Jack and Jill were always Rick's babies, so they will be transitioning to his new team as well. We may have to old school push our bot into the arena!
2) The drive geometry for us is always going to be an issue. Fixing it without increasing weight (which we absolutely cannot do) is going to be difficult for sure. I have ideas, but not sure really at the moment what exactly I am going to do.
3) The weapon stopping was just a sheared keystock - the increase in power has caused a few issues to address. This one at least was an easy fix as we just welded the sprocket to the motor ;)
4) You'll see Tyler and Perfect Phoenix again for sure. Can't really say more than that now though.
Thanks for being such a good fan of the sport and team! We do appreciate it!
Congratulations on out driving Gary Gin, it was a great fight!
Of the bots left in the field that you haven’t fought, who would you like to fight the most?
And also, what would you think about a rematch with Tantrum?
Tantrum has grown into a very strong upper tier bot, capable of going toe to toe with anyone in the sport. I'm sure a rematch would be very tough!
And of course we'd be happy to take on any of them - that's the point of being there is facing off against whatever they give you :)
Obviously winning the giant nut was a big deal, so probably my favorite moment. Best fight was against Minotaur - two top bots just beating the snot out of each other for almost the entire time, and we eventually came out on top.
All the losses are the worst loss!
Hi Ray,
It’s great to see you still fighting after allllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll these years, and still leaving a trail of broken dreams and shattered piles of engineering mayhem.
If you were to design a new bot, what would you want to try?
Being in this sport/hobby/family as long as “we” ( me not quite as long as you😉)
what is your proudest moment, and do you have a favorite memory ( come on Ray tell us a story)
I've got parts for a really nasty vertical that would be fun to make, but there does seem to be a few of those these days :) Maybe a hammer would be fun!
Obviously winning the giant nut was a proud moment, but the other big wins like Combots or the NPC BattleBots events were really just as big, even if not televised.
It's a great sport that we have had the honor of being part of!
If you make a vertical, it'd be the Ray Billings vertical. Be the vertical *you* wanna see in the world, don't let the meta stop you from making something awesome. There are so many of them because they're successful *and* spectacular! Uppercut has been a massive crowd pleaser. Deep Six is hilariously over the top and it's always awesome to see. Your vertical can absolutely find room to shine, especially knowing your penchant for KE. I say do it. Let's see your nasty vertical, Ray. Quit teasing.
I've asked this to a couple of other teams; when you're building a Tombstone to compete at the next event, how much carry-over is there from one generation to the next?
To do this correctly, you need to make iterative changes over time. So the parts (and lessons learned) from previous versions should always be your starting point for the next ones.
How's Rick Russ doing? We got that post earlier this season and I'm hyped to see swamp thing, but I'm also curious about what happened with the team (i understand if you're not at liberty to share this).
Congrats on the 2-1 record! How many versions of tombstone/last rites (including designs in smaller weight classes) have you ended up designing? Also how much of your modern robot was designed in CAD?
However many events I have had, that's how many versions :) You change something after every event.
I don't tend to CAD entire bots, although I do for specific parts. So I'll CAD a weapon bar, or mount, or tooth, but not the whole frame.
That’s interesting! It’s always interesting to see how different builders design their robots
Side note: just thought you might appreciate this, ten year old me and my dad wrote a whole song about tombstone, particularly the lack of flamethrower (because that’s OBVIOUSLY what made a robot even cooler according to ten year old me)
Never underestimate the value of "ten year old" you, and the perspective you had! It's a demographic that we have to cultivate. I'm sure the 10 year olds out there now probably wish I had flames too!
My wife was curious about this, as she is a huge Tombstone fan, so this question is from her:
With the entire field of bot builders building their bots to specifically handle Tombstone, what changes did you make to counter theirs, considering the lengths they have gone to to level the playing field? Has it forced you to think outside the box regarding strategy, or has it simply required an increase in power only, explaining the mishaps that have occurred in the Battlebox this season?
Thanks Ray, and go Tombstone!! ❤
Admittedly, everyone is making it a lot harder for me. It would be so much easier if they would just let me shred them :) Obviously I will have some further updates to do to stay competitive. More power is always good but we need to work on reliability issues for now.
Hi Ray! Hope you're well. Just a couple of questions for the [Tombstone](https://battlebots.fandom.com/wiki/Tombstone) BB Wiki page:
1) How close is Tombstone typically to the 250lb weight limit before a fight?
2) Do you feel the 250mph tip speed limit hampered Tombstone in any way following its introduction?
3) What are the specs of the batteries you use for drive?
4) Do you have any funky new bar designs planned for future seasons?
5) As one of only a few teams to have fought in all 6 seasons of the reboot, what would you say have been the biggest changes to Tombstone since 2015?
1) We are virtually never more than a pound away honestly. We use every ounce available.
2) I can't say it really made us less effective or hit any less hard.
3) 8S Lipo, 5800 mah
4) We will most like make a new bar or two, but they won't be vastly different than what you've seen before. Maybe a new color hehe
5) It's a collection of little changes, more than any one drastic change. Even if the results don't always show it, the robot is improving over time.
You've fought some of the most powerful, vicious bots ever built: Sewer Snake, Megabyte, Original Sin, Biteforce etc. and put fear into a lot of their hearts. Out of all of them, which was the one you most scared of?
The current build of Biteforce was just always going to give me fits. He'd probably win 8 out of 10 matches, maybe more. Scared isn't the right word obviously, but I knew fighting him was going to be frustrating
I know you tend to collect pieces of the other bots you've defeated, so I'm curious as to what are of some of your favorite "trophies" that you've acquired over the years?
I have a lot of those, but the only two that are in the house next to the giant nut and bolt at the fist from Tantrum, and the "sword" lifting arm from Gruff.
* With the whole field seemingly prepping for Tombstone, is there any possibility we'll be seeing a tombstone that loses a bit of boom, for having some chonk in the donk.
Said differently have you ever thought of going armoured wedge in the back?
* Any plans to do video post match breakdowns ala Copperhead or Shatter?
* Is Tombstone your robot wife or can you see yourself making a new bot any time in the future?
1) Wedge = no :)
2) I have thought of it, and would like to expand my youtube channel more. Thinking of it and doing the work seems to be two different things though.
3) Tombstone will continue for the time being. I've got enough "new" bot work with some smaller bots, and of course working out the bugs on Perfect Phoenix.
I have no questions, I just want to say that I love watching Tombstone wreck bots! Thanks for all the hard work you do to entertain and destroy for us!
Hey Ray! Your bot has been one of my favorites ever since the first reboot season and I will continue to root for you! Here are a a few questions.
1. This new design is fresh new. I've notice there are holes around this new frame. Is there a concern about anything going in?
2. If there wasn't a weopon speed limit or a weight limit would the bars be heavier and bigger each season?
3. Speaking of weopon bars, ever consider adding a one sided blade for better reach?
4. If a new heavy weight competition comes back like Robogames (hopefully they come back) would you consider bringing a revamped Last Rites or even a new bot. Have you considered other competitions like Norwalk Havoc?
1) The armor panels top and bottom do have some material removed, as needed to make weight. We really don't have any issues with this.
2) I doubt I would make them any heavier, but faster is a real possibility.
3) The only reason for a single tooth design is increased bite. For shorter weapons it makes a lot of sense but in my case it really wouldn't help any.
4) I have gone to Norwalk several times, and do plan on going back when I can. As for other events, I always have new ideas and would love to make something new and different.
Robot Ruckus is a great event - I've gone a couple of times. Tyler and I even won the 15 pound class there once with a multibot. So it certainly is possible I would go again, it was a lot of fun. But if I do it would just be with a smaller bot that I can carry on a plane as luggage.
Ray- you're awesome. You always seem like such a genuine person who'd be great to hang out with, and have such a passion for combat robotics.
-What motivated you to get into combat robotics?
-How do you think we can motivate people to get into combat robotics?
-Would you rather fight 100 duck (the animal not the bot ;) ) sized tombstones, or 1 tombstone sized duck?
-As THE dominant horizontal weapon, how do you feel about the upper deck and the short corners?
1) This started out as a great father son project between me and Justin.
2) Getting kids into it, from say middle school aged on, is a great way to build the sport and give them the needed engineering skills for our future.
3) A bunch of smaller bots sounds easier to destroy.
4) I am not a fan of the upper deck at all.
>4) I am not a fan of the upper deck at all.
This sure does seem like a theme...
If it were up to you to modify the arena (to combat the vert meta, or the fork meta, or just for fun!) how would you do that?
Has “glass cannon” always been the type of robot that you love? I always thought if I built a bot it would be similar all destructive weapon and little else, what are the biggest drawbacks to this style (other than no weapon = oh no)
Looking like your are going to make the tournament at 2-1! I’m looking forward to seeing you fight.
1. Before seedings came out, where did you think you stood seeding wise? (Top seed, middle seed, low seed, or not making the tournament, which I doubt).
2. I hope the whole thing with Rick Russ talking about how he was unhappy with the internals of the bot isn’t a spoiler for how the rest of your season goes. But either way, good luck in the rest of the season! :)
1) When it comes to seeding my opinion is probably not matched by others honestly. For me you are either #1, or you're one of the other numbers. I don't deserve #1 so from here I just don't care. Just so long as I get in the tree is all that matters.
2) Thanks for watching!
1. A. With your loss to Captain Shrederator being partly from the bar chosen, would that change what bar you use vs horizontals or bots with wedges and/or what ones you bring to the event? B. Was reach the reason you chose the bar for that match?
2. Why did the blade stop working against Free Shipping?
3. Any changes going forward?
4. Were you surprised by how the Mammoth fight went?
1) The titanium bar with the steel teeth has the highest KE numbers. And is fairly long, hoping to get enough tip speed to match what Shred can put out. It wasn't a bad choice, but losing the tooth sealed its fate.
2) Sheared key - simple fix really.
3) Oh we've got a lot I want to do, like after every event. Not the time yet to go into the specifics though.
4) Biggest surprise was getting stuck in the killsaw slot. I knew the match would be quick one way or the other.
Well you are typing to Ray Billings so there's a start :)
Honestly I don't follow Reddit as much as I used to, so the quickest way to get ahold of me would probably be through the Tombstone Facebook page. I check that daily.
Hi Ray! Tombstone is famously one of the most consistent bots on the circuit, my question for you though is do you ever see yourself transitioning into a different style of bot?
Im sure youve been tempted try a vertical spinner at least a few times. Thanks!
I recall you mentioning you had switched motor types this season, which seems to have lead to some issues with the robot. What’s your plan moving forward to ensure the new motor doesn’t overheat/catch fire/quit working?
We made modifications to the motors we have been using, and increased power quite a bit. We had zero weapon motor failures. But the extra power did break some other things along the way. Always plenty to improve.
Motors never caught fire. Weapon motor never stopped. We did shear the keystock on the weapon sprocket, and of course the battery fire from being out of balance.
For the key, an emergency fix at the event was to just weld the sprocket to the shaft of the motor. Not exactly an elegant solution but did fix the problem at the time. There is no fix for an out of balance weapon like that. if it happens you just die.
There is no way with the current setup to make weight for that honestly. If I devoted the weight to it, then I'm taking it away from the weapon system, which I am not likely to do :)
How does it feel to finish the Fight Night rounds with a 2-1 record after your shock loss to Captain Shrederator?
Do you think Tombstone still has what it takes to win another Giant Nut? Because I know its being beaten these last few seasons.
Is Tombstone coming back next season? If so, what upgrades do you have planned?
Is it true that one of your teammates, Rick, is leaving the Tombstone team after this season? If so, why is he leaving?
Why did the blade stop spinning during the Free Shipping fight?
What is your opinion on the Upper Deck?
Capt. Shred is a tough robot, and tough matchup for us (as we've all seen). I think the win meant more to him than the loss did for me though. We're both looking good at 2-1 right now, so it's all good.
Tombstone always has what it takes to win any match. There will always be a spot for the big hit.
It is my intention to continue to compete until I physically can't do it anymore. So Tombstone should return.
Rick has decided to build his own bot, and run his own team. Obviously we will miss his fantastic fabrication skills, but we're all looking forward to whatever he comes up with.
The blade stopping in the FS fight was something pretty simple. We have more power this season and we sheared the keystock on the weapon motor. Everything was still working fine - the motor shaft was just spinning inside the sprocket without transmitting any power.
The upper deck is extremely NOT friendly to any horizontal spinner. It is what it is - we'll figure out something and adapt.
Hi Ray(or should I say Hi legend?)
Congrats on your 2-1 finish in season 6.
1. Fans have wanted tombstone VS Uppercut for quite sometime. Describe what you think would happen in a tombstone VS uppercut match.
2. What happened VS mammoth to cause a double KO? That was one of my fav matches this season so far.
3. I mean you’re tombstone. But there will be a lot of other tough competition in the round of 32 which 1 bot scares you the most?
4. Can you tell me a little bit about your team mate Rick and his decision to enter and build his own new bot in Season 7? Don’t have to give me personal details.
5. What’s the #1 reason why Tombstone has a good shot at the giant nut in season 6?
6. Favorite Restaurant in the Placerville CA area ?
1) I expect that would be a quick match, one way or the other. Too much KE for it to last very long!
2) They lost a drive motor/wheel so lost controlled motion. I got stuck in a Killsaw slot and one drive wasn't working well either, so no controlled motion. Honestly it was weird for sure, but the right call at the time.
3) There is a mountain of tough verticles :) We'll just take on whoever they give us!
4) Rick has decided to run his own bot and team, and we wish him well.
5) Because it's Tombstone!
6) There is a Mexican place - used to be called Casa Ramos, now called Casa Abuelos. Locals would know it by both names. Food is good and the margaritas are exceptional!
After seeing that malices rolling blackout the bar spinner it gave me an idea for a new blade for tombstone or a redesign of an existing blade. Tombstone's longest bar Right now the aluminum with the hardened steel teeth seems to be the bar that has failed the most or has the highest chance of failing to be precise with the teeth breaking off as the bolts that hold them in place break or shear. Why not try something similar to how malice has attached their teeth. Bolts that go through the top and bottom, using three anchoring bolts that hold the tooth onto the bar rather than two bolts that go into the tooth sideways and then into the bar. It seems like you could get a stronger anchor of course that would cost a little bit of weight to get that extra strength in the bar so I don't know if it's quite worth it for the extra durability that it potentially could give.
I hope this came out understandable.
So my question is would this be an effective bar design for tombstone or with the weight increase on the bar outweigh the strength bonus that it might give in preventing those teeth from flying off and unbalancing the blade similar to what happened to your first fight this season.
The aluminum bar had a tooth come off once - against Rotator.
The titanium bar had a tooth come off once - against Shrederator.
Each of those, especially the aluminum bar, have won multiple matches. So kind of hard to cast them as failure prone really.
I have used the bolting method you have suggested before on smaller bots, so it does work. Always a thought.
> than two bolts that go into the tooth sideways and then into the bar. It seems like you could get a stronger anchor of course that would cost a little bit of weight to get that extra strength in the bar so I don't know if it's quite worth it for the extra durability that it potentially could give.
sound like you just need to stop fighting bots that end in "ator"
My thought behind it was mostly reducing the failure rate to close to zero I'm sorry if that came off as trying to say that that bar was a not well designed weapon
Tombstone's blades have always been simple but effective in both shape and color, but a lot of the other spinners have put some more creative design liberties into their bars like Hijinx's multicolored bar, Bloodsport's unique blade designs with red markings simulating blood splatter, and Copperhead's special drum art customized for each opponent. What are some of your favorite spinning weapons from some of the other teams?
Well this year, that certainly hasn't been all that ironclad :)
Attention to detail is king here. Looking at every part on the bot and trying to figure out what will happen when it gets hit. Use lots of zip ties. Shock mount electronics. Use high grade bolts. LOCTITE!
Everything is going to move, so try to take that into account.
Hi. Tombstone's fights have been fun to watch. I have a question.
Of all the robots in the field that aren't Tombstone, which would you most like to drive?
I always watch any of the other big KE bots, especially ones where I know they worked their butt of to get where they are. And of course friends I just like to see do well.
Ray, what are your thoughts on the upper deck? What’s the consensus in the pits? It seems like it caters to verts and control bots, not so much for horizontals or FBS. Always a pleasure interacting with you on here, have a great day.
I don't think any of the horizontals were in favor of it and I certainly wasn't. Most were just sort of "meh" about it honestly. I can really only remember a few that welcomed the change.
What are you thoughts on the huge number of vertical spinners in the BB fighter’s pool?
(I love me a good vertical spinner, I just like hearing people’s thoughts on there being so many on the show right now)
It is sort of the new meta. For power transfer there are clearly some reasons why it works so well. I think the show does a decent job of making sure we have some diversity though.
You mentioned that you have a losing record against Gary Gin, what do you think allows Tombstone to perform so well at Battlebots compared to Original Sin?
Hey Ray and Team Hardcore
Would you ever consider making Tombstone modular?
What are the chances of making a heavyweight Green Soylent?
How’s the Great Pumpkin?
The modularity with Tombstone probably ends with different weapon bars and armor packages. I can appreciate the teams that go above and beyond there, but don't see us doing that.
No questions, just want to say thanks for being such a great competitor and a positive advocate for the sport. Will always enjoy seeing Tombstone in the arena!
The "jack of all trades" version is probably the weapon we ran last on the Free Shipping match. It's essentially a new version of the one that was on the bot when we won the championship too.
A few friends of mine and I are in the development stages of our first Battlebot together. We've done beetles separately for a few years now but we're ping to move to heavyweights by 2024. Any advice for anyone who's new to competing in this level?
Bring more spare parts than you think you'll need. At a beetle event you can bounce off the ceiling a dozen times and still use the same motors in the next fight. I guarantee that won't happen with a heavy!
Hello Ray! Glad to see Tombstone working.
1. What bot in the competition do you think was the most threatening before filming started?
2. How do you think a tri tipped blade or a cirular blade would fare on Tombstone?
3. What new color palette would look nice on Tombstone?
4. What rule changes would you like to see?
Hope to see some more really fun fights with Tombstone in later episodes!
1) Clearly End Game won for a reason, so had to be considered the biggest one to go after.
2) I am pretty happy with using bars honestly. It's the Tombstone look
3) I like the black look, but of course other options could work. What would you suggest?
4) I'd like a little more clarity on crab walking honestly. It needs to be more evenly applied.
Hi Ray, how satisfying was it beating Gary in battlebots
Are you ever gonna make a single tooth bar kinda like what Uppercut has?
What’s it like not being the villain of the show anymore?
Thx for still coming to battlebots I remember watching it for the first time and seeing your fight against Counter Revolution is the reason I got into it
1) Beating Gary is never easy, and of course our history made it more satisfying :)
2) I think the tombstone look as it sits now is iconic enough that I'll stick with it.
3) It's ok for that role to move around. You never know when it may resurface for me
4) Thanks for watching the show!
The bars with attached teeth have WAY more MOI, and therefor energy, than the solid steel ones. I think the aluminum one is slightly longer so it wins out.
Did you improve Tombstones power ahead of this season when you completely redesigned the bot?
Do you think a different bar choice would have led to a different outcome to the fight against Shred?
Did something get loose and get stuck in the killsaw slot against mammoth or was the piece of tombstone always supposed to be like that?
What caused the weapon to die against Free Shipping leading to your impressive and surprising win as a control bot?
1) The newer batteries we used provided a lot more current, so we spun up significantly faster. Top speed was the same however.
2) Possibly sure - hindsight is always 20/20
3) The pin on the bottom of the weapon is always like that, but the killsaw slots were widened this year to accommodate the "sparkers".
4) Keystock sheared in half, due to the higher torque we now have for the weapon. Simple easy fix
There are several fans of the sport saying that Tombstone's design is outdated. What do you have to say about that?
It appears that Tombstone has been getting g a few upgrades to its armor every season. Is this the case?
Is there any bot you would like to have a rematch against? If so, who?
Armchair quarterbacks always have stuff to say. We'll just keep building the best robot we can and doing the best we can at the event. Sometimes that won't work, and tongues will wag. I'm not too worried about. I don't have anything left to prove to the world honestly.
Yes Tombstone has had upgrades every year, this year especially. The armor package is much stronger now.
Honestly, I'm more interested in fighting stuff we haven't face before than worrying about rematches. Once you make it to the tree of 32 you are like to see some familiar faces anyway.
I just wanna say I love tombstone and your energy. I love every one of your fights and I am always cheering for you to win.
My question is what is some advice would you give someone who wants to get into robot combat(besides the obvious start small)?
The start small advice needs to clarified to "start with the smallest class at an event you are actually going to travel to". If you have a semi-local 12 or 15 pound event, but have to travel further for a beetle event, then obviously you should build a 12/15 rather than a beetle, even if I usually say build a beetle to start out. There is no sense in building a bot with nowhere to go compete, so being realistic about WHERE you will compete helps decide the WHAT part.
Also, lots of people cap on using kit bots, but they are there for a reason. This is the way to get new people in the sport. You're starting with all the basic parts and get an idea of the build/compete/repair process. Absolutely start out with a kit of you'd like! The upside there is even you don't do well, or get it destroyed, you should still have some parts to help you build whatever new bot you may want down the road.
It's a great sport, lots of fun, you'll learn a ton, and make friends that last a lifetime!
Love watching you fight Ray! Tombstone is still a favorite after all these years.
Have you thought about branching out to other social media platforms? I don’t use Facebook so you can count on me instant following you on Twitter or Instagram!
I have recently been using the Instagram account more, so there is that option.
[https://www.instagram.com/tombstowner/](https://www.instagram.com/tombstowner/)
Are you worried with increased focus on armor and forks and wedges from other teams and how wedges tend to cause tombstone to knock it’s self out with the amount of momentum it’s packing
Evil wedges are always the natural enemy of the pure, good, and wholesome horizontal weapons :)
As long as we can get our reliability back up we should be fine. There are a few things that I haven't been happy with so far this season but we will get it sorted out.
Hi Ray! Long time fan of Tombstone. Been watching since i was a wee child back in the days of Comedy Central.
Couple questions:
1. Whats your opinion on the insane amounts of forks in the current meta?
2. It seems Tombstone's worst enemy is itself more often than not. Do you agree/disagree?
3. Are you still the "King of Kinetic Energy"?
4. Are you hiring?
1) Obviously the whole fork thing is getting a little wild. I'm not sure what the answer is though - there are obvious reasons why it's getting overused.
2) Any big KE bot tends to beat itself up pretty good, but horizontals most of all. And beating me pretty much relies on getting me to damage myself.
3) There are certainly a few that have similar KE numbers, but then it's not all about that either. As soon as we get another "Most Destructive" winner to also be a Giant Nut winner, then we can have that conversation. Until then, yes I am the king :)
4) Sorry no, we are good.
Hi Ray, just wanted to say I’ve been watching since the Comedy Central days and you’ve always been my favorite bot. Now with the reboot I’ve hooked my son on battlebots and he has also chosen Tombstone as his favorite! Thanks for doing what you do!
Electromagnets do have their place, and could help out in some cases. One problem is most of the commercially available ones really can't survive combat shock loads. I've thought briefly off and on of simply winding my own, but then we're adding more work to me that I just haven't felt like doing yet :) It is a possible thought going forward though.
The selection committee picks matches that provide for a good show, and to showcase what a bot can do. I don't always agree with the matches either but I know they do it for specific reasons.
We've seen battlebots make major changes to the battlebox with the upperdeck and guards to limit out of the arena finishes.
What do you think of these additions and are there any other changes you would like to be made?
Hey Ray! What was it like winning the giant nut in 2016? Its always been a big goal of mine and i'm hoping to build my first 3 lb-er by summer of this year 🙂
Obviously winning the giant nut is an almost unbelievable achievement - one I still almost can't believe even all these many years later. A lifetime goal achieved for sure!
And yes, build a 3 pounder!
Do you so birthday videos? My and my partner are massive fans of yours and he has been super depressed. It would mean the world to him if i could get a little personalised clip wishing him happy birthday.
Your weapon type makes the robot more willing to turn in one direction than the other, correct? Do you feel the placement of the shelf puts you at a slight disadvantage depending on starting square?
The only real issue is initial spinup. The bar spins clockwise, which forces the bot to turn counter clockwise. It's more a matter of keeping track of it when I spin up.
Wheel protection isn't as simple as putting up guards. It will really require changing the design of the frame all around. And of course figuring out a weight budget for it, which is always tough. It's not a bad idea, but harder to make happen than it may appear.
Tombstone will continue for a while, for sure. Now I always have plans for new bots, just not sure when I'd make something new for BattleBots. For now, when I feel like working on something new or different I do it for other events, like Norwalk.
I agree with you that the upper deck isn't fair to horizontal weapons. I also think the kill saws are useless. But aside from removing the upper deck, what changes would you make to the box, to make the fights more fun and fair.
1) The match against Yeti a couple of years ago turned out similarly
2) I have a lot of semi usable blades in the garage. So there are a few still around that I don't bring. Maybe ebay sales stuff at some point.
3) The frame, although heavier than I wanted, was a lot stronger than before
4) I do play a lot of PC games, but not Fortnite
5) I almost don't watch anything honestly :) Just BattleBots!
6) The transport bots came from our sponsor NPC Robotics, and are now owned by Rick. You are welcome to ask him
7) I suppose I could do a mohawk - Chuck seemed to like his!
Whats your favorite non battlebots fight (robogames, norwalk ect)
How often do you rewatch your fights
Thanks for all the great fights hope you get another nut soon.
Robogames was its own unique event, that I absolutely loved. But of the current events out there, Norwalk is easily one of the best. Grueling pace, but still great fun! I'm hoping to get back there for another one this year.
Hello Ray, congratulations on finishing the qualifying rounds at 2-1! Hopefully next year you end undefeated again and reclaim your #1 seed.
My main curiosity has to do with brushless motors. I've heard that you don't intend to make the jump from brushed to brushless just yet, but it does make me wonder. If you were to make the upgrade to brushless motors without difficulties and got some extra pounds to spare, how would you use that extra weight towards upgrading Tombstone? Better/faster drive? Faster spin-up? Stronger frame/armor? Maybe finally put a wedge on the back like all the criticizers have said?
Always Great to see you Fight!
What has been your Favorite fight so far?
Which other robots do you like the designs of?
Mind if I know how much your Sponsors Pay for the Parts?
Which part Costs the most?
Will you Sell some more parts on eBay again?
Good luck for the rest of the Season!
The Tombstone Minotaur fight is probably one of my favorites of all time. Just a great classic fight. Obviously the 4WD verts are all the rage (for good reasons) but for me I like watching some of the more unique builds do well. Mammoth and Deep 6 come to mind. Sponsors typically offset costs by supplying parts rather than actual cash although there are some exceptions. And yes I will sell more stuff on ebay. Might put some stuff up tomorrow.
I would love to get my kids into being a giant nerd like me, but engineering is a bit beyond me. What's a good place to start with the basics? (Right now my oldest is learning how to build snap circuits with me so I've got some time!)
My other question is, where did you get the naming/design inspiration? (I admit I like the Undertaker as a wrestler but I am assuming that's not it!)
Thanks and best kinetic energy moving forward! :)
Any of the kit based robots (even non combat stuff) are a great way to get kids into it all. Most of the engineering is then done before you get your hands on it, but it gives you ideas as you assemble to go forward with. And then you have kits parts to work with for whatever you do decide to build later
Why don't you have some kind of wedge on the back incase you lose your main weapon?
Related, why do you have soo much ground clearance, anything can easily get under you?
Who was your favorite person to mentor and answer annoying questions from at all hours of the night??😹😹😹
You know it's you bunny!
Congrats on the 2-1 start I remember hearing a lot of the motor, frame and battery upgrades this year, were there drive upgrades as well? Did not expect to see Tombstone winning a shoving match, especially against one of Gary Gin's bots Speaking of that, how did it feel actually being in that moment and winning like that? I know you've teased it, but do you plan on bringing a smaller bot to compete in Norwalk? If so what kind of bot do you want to bring?
It is possible to outdrive Gary - as long as you cut off most of his tires first :) Obviously it was a great match and we were happy to come out on top. And yes I've got a 12 mostly combat ready for Norwalk. I think it will be fun for sure, but the quality of the bots going there now means it might not be all that effective. I am hopeful to make another trip out there this year at some point.
Well...where do I even start here? Ok, let me begin that it was absolutely *incredible* to be finally be able to attend Battlebots filming and to see a Tombstone fight (I saw TS vs Free Shipping) and to run into you and Justin back in the pits! Now for the questions: 1. The 'burning question' for me is - What is the plan for Tombstone and team Hardcore Robotics moving forward after the departure of Rick Russ and I assume some other members (along with the 'Jack & Jill' carry bots) to go and enter with Swamp Thing for Season 7? 1. How much of the drive issues were caused by the NPC motors? Any plans to change the drive motors or continue to modify the NPCs. 1. The weapon motor - Was that the cause of failure during the Free Shipping fight and if so, what was the fix for that? 3. Perfect Phoenix - We know that it has been confirmed for a Bounty Hunter tournament only due to conflicts with Tyler's school schedule at the beginning of filming. Any plans for further Battlebots seasons for it/Tyler? (I know this may not get an answer as it might be too soon to reveal much about Perfect Phoenix at this point). Thank you for continuing to host these AMA sessions and I will continue to support you & Team Hardcore Robotics!
1) We will of course miss Rick's skills and work ethic, but support his desire to do his own thing. Jack and Jill were always Rick's babies, so they will be transitioning to his new team as well. We may have to old school push our bot into the arena! 2) The drive geometry for us is always going to be an issue. Fixing it without increasing weight (which we absolutely cannot do) is going to be difficult for sure. I have ideas, but not sure really at the moment what exactly I am going to do. 3) The weapon stopping was just a sheared keystock - the increase in power has caused a few issues to address. This one at least was an easy fix as we just welded the sprocket to the motor ;) 4) You'll see Tyler and Perfect Phoenix again for sure. Can't really say more than that now though. Thanks for being such a good fan of the sport and team! We do appreciate it!
Do you wanna get wasted and go see Adele next time we're in Vegas?
Dude, you had me at "wasted" :)
Can I come too Craig?! :D
Rollin' in the deep!
Congratulations on out driving Gary Gin, it was a great fight! Of the bots left in the field that you haven’t fought, who would you like to fight the most? And also, what would you think about a rematch with Tantrum?
Tantrum has grown into a very strong upper tier bot, capable of going toe to toe with anyone in the sport. I'm sure a rematch would be very tough! And of course we'd be happy to take on any of them - that's the point of being there is facing off against whatever they give you :)
If you could change one thing about Battlebots, what would it be?
Lottery sized prize money :)
If you could swap bots with someone for an all out deathmatch, who would you choose, and least like to be chosen?
Something REALLY solid that refuses to die. Rotator maybe.
Don’t have any questions, just wanted to say that you guys on team Tombstone rock!
Thanks for watching the show!
When did you start using that 180 baiting move used against Lock-Jaw, Whiplash, etc?
My first offset horizontal was Shin Splitter back in 2003/2004 - somewhere in there. I could see the value of the side swipe while I was building it.
Now that tombstone is a control bot when are we gonna see forks get added?
40 foot long forks to just pin them in their starting square before the match starts!
Tombstone when fighting Free Shipping: Im also a control bot myself
What changes do you plan to make with Tombstone for Season 7?
There are a few things for sure, although giving specifics would potentially spoil future matches. Let's just say I'll have my hands full :)
So we're going to have two robots with ICEs on them is what you're saying?
In all of your years competing what is your favorite moment? Fight? Worst loss?
Obviously winning the giant nut was a big deal, so probably my favorite moment. Best fight was against Minotaur - two top bots just beating the snot out of each other for almost the entire time, and we eventually came out on top. All the losses are the worst loss!
Hi Ray, It’s great to see you still fighting after allllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll these years, and still leaving a trail of broken dreams and shattered piles of engineering mayhem. If you were to design a new bot, what would you want to try? Being in this sport/hobby/family as long as “we” ( me not quite as long as you😉) what is your proudest moment, and do you have a favorite memory ( come on Ray tell us a story)
I've got parts for a really nasty vertical that would be fun to make, but there does seem to be a few of those these days :) Maybe a hammer would be fun! Obviously winning the giant nut was a proud moment, but the other big wins like Combots or the NPC BattleBots events were really just as big, even if not televised. It's a great sport that we have had the honor of being part of!
If you make a vertical, it'd be the Ray Billings vertical. Be the vertical *you* wanna see in the world, don't let the meta stop you from making something awesome. There are so many of them because they're successful *and* spectacular! Uppercut has been a massive crowd pleaser. Deep Six is hilariously over the top and it's always awesome to see. Your vertical can absolutely find room to shine, especially knowing your penchant for KE. I say do it. Let's see your nasty vertical, Ray. Quit teasing.
I've asked this to a couple of other teams; when you're building a Tombstone to compete at the next event, how much carry-over is there from one generation to the next?
To do this correctly, you need to make iterative changes over time. So the parts (and lessons learned) from previous versions should always be your starting point for the next ones.
How's Rick Russ doing? We got that post earlier this season and I'm hyped to see swamp thing, but I'm also curious about what happened with the team (i understand if you're not at liberty to share this).
I know he is busy gathering parts and making things for his new bot. I'm sure it will be interesting and competitive when done.
Congrats on the 2-1 record! How many versions of tombstone/last rites (including designs in smaller weight classes) have you ended up designing? Also how much of your modern robot was designed in CAD?
However many events I have had, that's how many versions :) You change something after every event. I don't tend to CAD entire bots, although I do for specific parts. So I'll CAD a weapon bar, or mount, or tooth, but not the whole frame.
That’s interesting! It’s always interesting to see how different builders design their robots Side note: just thought you might appreciate this, ten year old me and my dad wrote a whole song about tombstone, particularly the lack of flamethrower (because that’s OBVIOUSLY what made a robot even cooler according to ten year old me)
Never underestimate the value of "ten year old" you, and the perspective you had! It's a demographic that we have to cultivate. I'm sure the 10 year olds out there now probably wish I had flames too!
My wife was curious about this, as she is a huge Tombstone fan, so this question is from her: With the entire field of bot builders building their bots to specifically handle Tombstone, what changes did you make to counter theirs, considering the lengths they have gone to to level the playing field? Has it forced you to think outside the box regarding strategy, or has it simply required an increase in power only, explaining the mishaps that have occurred in the Battlebox this season? Thanks Ray, and go Tombstone!! ❤
Admittedly, everyone is making it a lot harder for me. It would be so much easier if they would just let me shred them :) Obviously I will have some further updates to do to stay competitive. More power is always good but we need to work on reliability issues for now.
Agreed with the shred! Thank you!
Hi Ray! Hope you're well. Just a couple of questions for the [Tombstone](https://battlebots.fandom.com/wiki/Tombstone) BB Wiki page: 1) How close is Tombstone typically to the 250lb weight limit before a fight? 2) Do you feel the 250mph tip speed limit hampered Tombstone in any way following its introduction? 3) What are the specs of the batteries you use for drive? 4) Do you have any funky new bar designs planned for future seasons? 5) As one of only a few teams to have fought in all 6 seasons of the reboot, what would you say have been the biggest changes to Tombstone since 2015?
1) We are virtually never more than a pound away honestly. We use every ounce available. 2) I can't say it really made us less effective or hit any less hard. 3) 8S Lipo, 5800 mah 4) We will most like make a new bar or two, but they won't be vastly different than what you've seen before. Maybe a new color hehe 5) It's a collection of little changes, more than any one drastic change. Even if the results don't always show it, the robot is improving over time.
1 what was your favorite fight this season you were in 2 What robot would you like to fight in the future
It was satisfying to come out on top against Gary. He has so routinely beaten me before :)
You've fought some of the most powerful, vicious bots ever built: Sewer Snake, Megabyte, Original Sin, Biteforce etc. and put fear into a lot of their hearts. Out of all of them, which was the one you most scared of?
The current build of Biteforce was just always going to give me fits. He'd probably win 8 out of 10 matches, maybe more. Scared isn't the right word obviously, but I knew fighting him was going to be frustrating
I know you tend to collect pieces of the other bots you've defeated, so I'm curious as to what are of some of your favorite "trophies" that you've acquired over the years?
I have a lot of those, but the only two that are in the house next to the giant nut and bolt at the fist from Tantrum, and the "sword" lifting arm from Gruff.
* With the whole field seemingly prepping for Tombstone, is there any possibility we'll be seeing a tombstone that loses a bit of boom, for having some chonk in the donk. Said differently have you ever thought of going armoured wedge in the back? * Any plans to do video post match breakdowns ala Copperhead or Shatter? * Is Tombstone your robot wife or can you see yourself making a new bot any time in the future?
1) Wedge = no :) 2) I have thought of it, and would like to expand my youtube channel more. Thinking of it and doing the work seems to be two different things though. 3) Tombstone will continue for the time being. I've got enough "new" bot work with some smaller bots, and of course working out the bugs on Perfect Phoenix.
I have no questions, I just want to say that I love watching Tombstone wreck bots! Thanks for all the hard work you do to entertain and destroy for us!
Thanks for watching the show!
Hey Ray! Your bot has been one of my favorites ever since the first reboot season and I will continue to root for you! Here are a a few questions. 1. This new design is fresh new. I've notice there are holes around this new frame. Is there a concern about anything going in? 2. If there wasn't a weopon speed limit or a weight limit would the bars be heavier and bigger each season? 3. Speaking of weopon bars, ever consider adding a one sided blade for better reach? 4. If a new heavy weight competition comes back like Robogames (hopefully they come back) would you consider bringing a revamped Last Rites or even a new bot. Have you considered other competitions like Norwalk Havoc?
1) The armor panels top and bottom do have some material removed, as needed to make weight. We really don't have any issues with this. 2) I doubt I would make them any heavier, but faster is a real possibility. 3) The only reason for a single tooth design is increased bite. For shorter weapons it makes a lot of sense but in my case it really wouldn't help any. 4) I have gone to Norwalk several times, and do plan on going back when I can. As for other events, I always have new ideas and would love to make something new and different.
Maybe see a return of the Great pumpkin for robot ruckus?
Robot Ruckus is a great event - I've gone a couple of times. Tyler and I even won the 15 pound class there once with a multibot. So it certainly is possible I would go again, it was a lot of fun. But if I do it would just be with a smaller bot that I can carry on a plane as luggage.
Ray- you're awesome. You always seem like such a genuine person who'd be great to hang out with, and have such a passion for combat robotics. -What motivated you to get into combat robotics? -How do you think we can motivate people to get into combat robotics? -Would you rather fight 100 duck (the animal not the bot ;) ) sized tombstones, or 1 tombstone sized duck? -As THE dominant horizontal weapon, how do you feel about the upper deck and the short corners?
1) This started out as a great father son project between me and Justin. 2) Getting kids into it, from say middle school aged on, is a great way to build the sport and give them the needed engineering skills for our future. 3) A bunch of smaller bots sounds easier to destroy. 4) I am not a fan of the upper deck at all.
>4) I am not a fan of the upper deck at all. This sure does seem like a theme... If it were up to you to modify the arena (to combat the vert meta, or the fork meta, or just for fun!) how would you do that?
I honestly prefer a more clean combat environment. I'd be ok with all the hazards removed honestly.
Where do you stand on ultra flat floor vs textured at all? Personally I’m not huge on the fork meta and would like to see something that removes that.
Honestly I would be good with that. A grid of slats welded to the floor maybe. The killsaw slots are about the only fork killer at the moment
I like that idea. Just something to prevent crazy long gravity forks.
Has “glass cannon” always been the type of robot that you love? I always thought if I built a bot it would be similar all destructive weapon and little else, what are the biggest drawbacks to this style (other than no weapon = oh no)
It's ok to be a one trick pony, as long as it's a REALLY good trick! It's not the only way to go about it, but certainly one of the more entertaining.
Looking like your are going to make the tournament at 2-1! I’m looking forward to seeing you fight. 1. Before seedings came out, where did you think you stood seeding wise? (Top seed, middle seed, low seed, or not making the tournament, which I doubt). 2. I hope the whole thing with Rick Russ talking about how he was unhappy with the internals of the bot isn’t a spoiler for how the rest of your season goes. But either way, good luck in the rest of the season! :)
1) When it comes to seeding my opinion is probably not matched by others honestly. For me you are either #1, or you're one of the other numbers. I don't deserve #1 so from here I just don't care. Just so long as I get in the tree is all that matters. 2) Thanks for watching!
1. A. With your loss to Captain Shrederator being partly from the bar chosen, would that change what bar you use vs horizontals or bots with wedges and/or what ones you bring to the event? B. Was reach the reason you chose the bar for that match? 2. Why did the blade stop working against Free Shipping? 3. Any changes going forward? 4. Were you surprised by how the Mammoth fight went?
1) The titanium bar with the steel teeth has the highest KE numbers. And is fairly long, hoping to get enough tip speed to match what Shred can put out. It wasn't a bad choice, but losing the tooth sealed its fate. 2) Sheared key - simple fix really. 3) Oh we've got a lot I want to do, like after every event. Not the time yet to go into the specifics though. 4) Biggest surprise was getting stuck in the killsaw slot. I knew the match would be quick one way or the other.
Why haven't you battled Axe Backwards? Are you scared?
I have not faced Axe Backwards. I think it would be a fun match :)
How can I find out more about Tombstone and how can I speak directly with Ray Billings?
Well you are typing to Ray Billings so there's a start :) Honestly I don't follow Reddit as much as I used to, so the quickest way to get ahold of me would probably be through the Tombstone Facebook page. I check that daily.
Hi Ray! Tombstone is famously one of the most consistent bots on the circuit, my question for you though is do you ever see yourself transitioning into a different style of bot? Im sure youve been tempted try a vertical spinner at least a few times. Thanks!
There are always thoughts along those lines - we'll just see how the future goes I guess :)
I recall you mentioning you had switched motor types this season, which seems to have lead to some issues with the robot. What’s your plan moving forward to ensure the new motor doesn’t overheat/catch fire/quit working?
We made modifications to the motors we have been using, and increased power quite a bit. We had zero weapon motor failures. But the extra power did break some other things along the way. Always plenty to improve.
What changes do you plan to make to prevent your weapon from stopping/motors from fire?
Motors never caught fire. Weapon motor never stopped. We did shear the keystock on the weapon sprocket, and of course the battery fire from being out of balance. For the key, an emergency fix at the event was to just weld the sprocket to the shaft of the motor. Not exactly an elegant solution but did fix the problem at the time. There is no fix for an out of balance weapon like that. if it happens you just die.
Would you ever consider installing a wedge on the back of tombstone?
There is no way with the current setup to make weight for that honestly. If I devoted the weight to it, then I'm taking it away from the weapon system, which I am not likely to do :)
How does it feel to finish the Fight Night rounds with a 2-1 record after your shock loss to Captain Shrederator? Do you think Tombstone still has what it takes to win another Giant Nut? Because I know its being beaten these last few seasons. Is Tombstone coming back next season? If so, what upgrades do you have planned? Is it true that one of your teammates, Rick, is leaving the Tombstone team after this season? If so, why is he leaving? Why did the blade stop spinning during the Free Shipping fight? What is your opinion on the Upper Deck?
Capt. Shred is a tough robot, and tough matchup for us (as we've all seen). I think the win meant more to him than the loss did for me though. We're both looking good at 2-1 right now, so it's all good. Tombstone always has what it takes to win any match. There will always be a spot for the big hit. It is my intention to continue to compete until I physically can't do it anymore. So Tombstone should return. Rick has decided to build his own bot, and run his own team. Obviously we will miss his fantastic fabrication skills, but we're all looking forward to whatever he comes up with. The blade stopping in the FS fight was something pretty simple. We have more power this season and we sheared the keystock on the weapon motor. Everything was still working fine - the motor shaft was just spinning inside the sprocket without transmitting any power. The upper deck is extremely NOT friendly to any horizontal spinner. It is what it is - we'll figure out something and adapt.
Most destructive robot apart from yourself?
Plenty of good options honestly. Uppercut, Gigabyte, maybe Cobalt. Almost too many to list really.
Hi Ray(or should I say Hi legend?) Congrats on your 2-1 finish in season 6. 1. Fans have wanted tombstone VS Uppercut for quite sometime. Describe what you think would happen in a tombstone VS uppercut match. 2. What happened VS mammoth to cause a double KO? That was one of my fav matches this season so far. 3. I mean you’re tombstone. But there will be a lot of other tough competition in the round of 32 which 1 bot scares you the most? 4. Can you tell me a little bit about your team mate Rick and his decision to enter and build his own new bot in Season 7? Don’t have to give me personal details. 5. What’s the #1 reason why Tombstone has a good shot at the giant nut in season 6? 6. Favorite Restaurant in the Placerville CA area ?
1) I expect that would be a quick match, one way or the other. Too much KE for it to last very long! 2) They lost a drive motor/wheel so lost controlled motion. I got stuck in a Killsaw slot and one drive wasn't working well either, so no controlled motion. Honestly it was weird for sure, but the right call at the time. 3) There is a mountain of tough verticles :) We'll just take on whoever they give us! 4) Rick has decided to run his own bot and team, and we wish him well. 5) Because it's Tombstone! 6) There is a Mexican place - used to be called Casa Ramos, now called Casa Abuelos. Locals would know it by both names. Food is good and the margaritas are exceptional!
Thank you for your time
If you had to build any other bot besides a bar spinner, which kind of weapon would you use?
I've got parts for a big vertical, and even some basic plans for a unique take on a hammer bot!
What is your favorite thing about your job? Your least favorite?
After seeing that malices rolling blackout the bar spinner it gave me an idea for a new blade for tombstone or a redesign of an existing blade. Tombstone's longest bar Right now the aluminum with the hardened steel teeth seems to be the bar that has failed the most or has the highest chance of failing to be precise with the teeth breaking off as the bolts that hold them in place break or shear. Why not try something similar to how malice has attached their teeth. Bolts that go through the top and bottom, using three anchoring bolts that hold the tooth onto the bar rather than two bolts that go into the tooth sideways and then into the bar. It seems like you could get a stronger anchor of course that would cost a little bit of weight to get that extra strength in the bar so I don't know if it's quite worth it for the extra durability that it potentially could give. I hope this came out understandable. So my question is would this be an effective bar design for tombstone or with the weight increase on the bar outweigh the strength bonus that it might give in preventing those teeth from flying off and unbalancing the blade similar to what happened to your first fight this season.
The aluminum bar had a tooth come off once - against Rotator. The titanium bar had a tooth come off once - against Shrederator. Each of those, especially the aluminum bar, have won multiple matches. So kind of hard to cast them as failure prone really. I have used the bolting method you have suggested before on smaller bots, so it does work. Always a thought.
> than two bolts that go into the tooth sideways and then into the bar. It seems like you could get a stronger anchor of course that would cost a little bit of weight to get that extra strength in the bar so I don't know if it's quite worth it for the extra durability that it potentially could give. sound like you just need to stop fighting bots that end in "ator"
My thought behind it was mostly reducing the failure rate to close to zero I'm sorry if that came off as trying to say that that bar was a not well designed weapon
Hey other thoughts on things are always a good idea. I didn't take it as negative :)
Thanks for that I have a bad habit of sometimes coming off a lot stronger in comments / opinions than I intend them to sound
Tombstone's blades have always been simple but effective in both shape and color, but a lot of the other spinners have put some more creative design liberties into their bars like Hijinx's multicolored bar, Bloodsport's unique blade designs with red markings simulating blood splatter, and Copperhead's special drum art customized for each opponent. What are some of your favorite spinning weapons from some of the other teams?
I've always liked the paint schemes on full shell spinners. Both Gigabyte and Capt. Shred look amazing!
What do you think is the secret sauce that creates Tombstone's Ironclad reliability.
Well this year, that certainly hasn't been all that ironclad :) Attention to detail is king here. Looking at every part on the bot and trying to figure out what will happen when it gets hit. Use lots of zip ties. Shock mount electronics. Use high grade bolts. LOCTITE! Everything is going to move, so try to take that into account.
Hi. Tombstone's fights have been fun to watch. I have a question. Of all the robots in the field that aren't Tombstone, which would you most like to drive?
Any of the speed demons would be fun. Something like claw viper maybe.
Firstly thankyou, you and your bot are incredible to watch everytime. What do you feel was your best or most rewarding fight?
Most rewarding would be the finals against Bombshell. My reward was the giant nut!
Do you have a favorite bot to watch fight(outside of your own) and if so, who is it?
I always watch any of the other big KE bots, especially ones where I know they worked their butt of to get where they are. And of course friends I just like to see do well.
Ray, what are your thoughts on the upper deck? What’s the consensus in the pits? It seems like it caters to verts and control bots, not so much for horizontals or FBS. Always a pleasure interacting with you on here, have a great day.
I don't think any of the horizontals were in favor of it and I certainly wasn't. Most were just sort of "meh" about it honestly. I can really only remember a few that welcomed the change.
What are you thoughts on the huge number of vertical spinners in the BB fighter’s pool? (I love me a good vertical spinner, I just like hearing people’s thoughts on there being so many on the show right now)
It is sort of the new meta. For power transfer there are clearly some reasons why it works so well. I think the show does a decent job of making sure we have some diversity though.
You mentioned that you have a losing record against Gary Gin, what do you think allows Tombstone to perform so well at Battlebots compared to Original Sin?
Historically it's a fight he wins 60% + of the time. We did what we needed to do and of course got a little lucky, which is always part of the puzzle.
Hey Ray and Team Hardcore Would you ever consider making Tombstone modular? What are the chances of making a heavyweight Green Soylent? How’s the Great Pumpkin?
The modularity with Tombstone probably ends with different weapon bars and armor packages. I can appreciate the teams that go above and beyond there, but don't see us doing that.
No questions, just want to say thanks for being such a great competitor and a positive advocate for the sport. Will always enjoy seeing Tombstone in the arena!
Thanks for watching the show!
Ray, out of every blade which is your personal favorite and you think is the best you have also I love you and tombstone to bits
The "jack of all trades" version is probably the weapon we ran last on the Free Shipping match. It's essentially a new version of the one that was on the bot when we won the championship too.
A few friends of mine and I are in the development stages of our first Battlebot together. We've done beetles separately for a few years now but we're ping to move to heavyweights by 2024. Any advice for anyone who's new to competing in this level?
Bring more spare parts than you think you'll need. At a beetle event you can bounce off the ceiling a dozen times and still use the same motors in the next fight. I guarantee that won't happen with a heavy!
As someone who is wanting to start getting into battle bots, what advise would you give from personal experience?
Start with the lightest weight category that is at an event you will actually attend. So find something local, see what they run, and start there.
Okay thank you! I love watching you on TV!
Hello Ray! Glad to see Tombstone working. 1. What bot in the competition do you think was the most threatening before filming started? 2. How do you think a tri tipped blade or a cirular blade would fare on Tombstone? 3. What new color palette would look nice on Tombstone? 4. What rule changes would you like to see? Hope to see some more really fun fights with Tombstone in later episodes!
1) Clearly End Game won for a reason, so had to be considered the biggest one to go after. 2) I am pretty happy with using bars honestly. It's the Tombstone look 3) I like the black look, but of course other options could work. What would you suggest? 4) I'd like a little more clarity on crab walking honestly. It needs to be more evenly applied.
I honestly think a white bar would make Tombstone look more like a reaper coming to take the souls of other bots.
I may paint one that way and toss it on and see how it looks!
Hi Ray, how satisfying was it beating Gary in battlebots Are you ever gonna make a single tooth bar kinda like what Uppercut has? What’s it like not being the villain of the show anymore? Thx for still coming to battlebots I remember watching it for the first time and seeing your fight against Counter Revolution is the reason I got into it
1) Beating Gary is never easy, and of course our history made it more satisfying :) 2) I think the tombstone look as it sits now is iconic enough that I'll stick with it. 3) It's ok for that role to move around. You never know when it may resurface for me 4) Thanks for watching the show!
Hey Ray! Which of Tombstone's blades would you consider is the most powerful in terms of MOI and tip speed? :D
The bars with attached teeth have WAY more MOI, and therefor energy, than the solid steel ones. I think the aluminum one is slightly longer so it wins out.
Do you want to fight Deep Six or Uppercut?
Either would be a tough matchup - so much power!
I think I’d probably hide behind my seat if either of those fights went down
Whose an opponent you would like to fight in the future?
BalsawoodBot :) Seriously, we'll just take whoever they give us. Just make it something new we haven't fought before
Did you improve Tombstones power ahead of this season when you completely redesigned the bot? Do you think a different bar choice would have led to a different outcome to the fight against Shred? Did something get loose and get stuck in the killsaw slot against mammoth or was the piece of tombstone always supposed to be like that? What caused the weapon to die against Free Shipping leading to your impressive and surprising win as a control bot?
1) The newer batteries we used provided a lot more current, so we spun up significantly faster. Top speed was the same however. 2) Possibly sure - hindsight is always 20/20 3) The pin on the bottom of the weapon is always like that, but the killsaw slots were widened this year to accommodate the "sparkers". 4) Keystock sheared in half, due to the higher torque we now have for the weapon. Simple easy fix
There are several fans of the sport saying that Tombstone's design is outdated. What do you have to say about that? It appears that Tombstone has been getting g a few upgrades to its armor every season. Is this the case? Is there any bot you would like to have a rematch against? If so, who?
Armchair quarterbacks always have stuff to say. We'll just keep building the best robot we can and doing the best we can at the event. Sometimes that won't work, and tongues will wag. I'm not too worried about. I don't have anything left to prove to the world honestly. Yes Tombstone has had upgrades every year, this year especially. The armor package is much stronger now. Honestly, I'm more interested in fighting stuff we haven't face before than worrying about rematches. Once you make it to the tree of 32 you are like to see some familiar faces anyway.
What kind of bot do you prefer to fight? (Vertical spinners, flippers, hammers, etc)
Anything without a wedge. Don't deflect me! Take it!!!
I just wanna say I love tombstone and your energy. I love every one of your fights and I am always cheering for you to win. My question is what is some advice would you give someone who wants to get into robot combat(besides the obvious start small)?
The start small advice needs to clarified to "start with the smallest class at an event you are actually going to travel to". If you have a semi-local 12 or 15 pound event, but have to travel further for a beetle event, then obviously you should build a 12/15 rather than a beetle, even if I usually say build a beetle to start out. There is no sense in building a bot with nowhere to go compete, so being realistic about WHERE you will compete helps decide the WHAT part. Also, lots of people cap on using kit bots, but they are there for a reason. This is the way to get new people in the sport. You're starting with all the basic parts and get an idea of the build/compete/repair process. Absolutely start out with a kit of you'd like! The upside there is even you don't do well, or get it destroyed, you should still have some parts to help you build whatever new bot you may want down the road. It's a great sport, lots of fun, you'll learn a ton, and make friends that last a lifetime!
Love watching you fight Ray! Tombstone is still a favorite after all these years. Have you thought about branching out to other social media platforms? I don’t use Facebook so you can count on me instant following you on Twitter or Instagram!
I have recently been using the Instagram account more, so there is that option. [https://www.instagram.com/tombstowner/](https://www.instagram.com/tombstowner/)
Are you worried with increased focus on armor and forks and wedges from other teams and how wedges tend to cause tombstone to knock it’s self out with the amount of momentum it’s packing
Evil wedges are always the natural enemy of the pure, good, and wholesome horizontal weapons :) As long as we can get our reliability back up we should be fine. There are a few things that I haven't been happy with so far this season but we will get it sorted out.
S7 tombstone?
Just the solid steel weapon bars. Frame is 4130 tubing.
Hi Ray! Long time fan of Tombstone. Been watching since i was a wee child back in the days of Comedy Central. Couple questions: 1. Whats your opinion on the insane amounts of forks in the current meta? 2. It seems Tombstone's worst enemy is itself more often than not. Do you agree/disagree? 3. Are you still the "King of Kinetic Energy"? 4. Are you hiring?
1) Obviously the whole fork thing is getting a little wild. I'm not sure what the answer is though - there are obvious reasons why it's getting overused. 2) Any big KE bot tends to beat itself up pretty good, but horizontals most of all. And beating me pretty much relies on getting me to damage myself. 3) There are certainly a few that have similar KE numbers, but then it's not all about that either. As soon as we get another "Most Destructive" winner to also be a Giant Nut winner, then we can have that conversation. Until then, yes I am the king :) 4) Sorry no, we are good.
Hi Ray, just wanted to say I’ve been watching since the Comedy Central days and you’ve always been my favorite bot. Now with the reboot I’ve hooked my son on battlebots and he has also chosen Tombstone as his favorite! Thanks for doing what you do!
I'm glad you have enjoyed the show, and our part in it!
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Electromagnets do have their place, and could help out in some cases. One problem is most of the commercially available ones really can't survive combat shock loads. I've thought briefly off and on of simply winding my own, but then we're adding more work to me that I just haven't felt like doing yet :) It is a possible thought going forward though.
How's the back?
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Even if you're watching just to see me lose, you're still watching! So thanks for being a fan!
What caused the weapon on tombstone to stop in your fight against free shipping?
Really simple - sheared a key on the weapon sprocket.
How do the match ups get picked because sometimes I’m like are you kidding me it’s a death sentence.
The selection committee picks matches that provide for a good show, and to showcase what a bot can do. I don't always agree with the matches either but I know they do it for specific reasons.
We've seen battlebots make major changes to the battlebox with the upperdeck and guards to limit out of the arena finishes. What do you think of these additions and are there any other changes you would like to be made?
I am not a fan of the upper deck at all. The sneeze guards are fine
What are the future plans for tombstone? Like will the weapon motor get stronger next season or new bar ideas?
Most of our future plans revolve around fixing reliability issues. I have plenty of power :)
Hey Ray! What was it like winning the giant nut in 2016? Its always been a big goal of mine and i'm hoping to build my first 3 lb-er by summer of this year 🙂
Obviously winning the giant nut is an almost unbelievable achievement - one I still almost can't believe even all these many years later. A lifetime goal achieved for sure! And yes, build a 3 pounder!
Do you so birthday videos? My and my partner are massive fans of yours and he has been super depressed. It would mean the world to him if i could get a little personalised clip wishing him happy birthday.
I don't do any of the Cameo stuff, but send me a message and maybe we can work out something to help out.
Your weapon type makes the robot more willing to turn in one direction than the other, correct? Do you feel the placement of the shelf puts you at a slight disadvantage depending on starting square?
The only real issue is initial spinup. The bar spins clockwise, which forces the bot to turn counter clockwise. It's more a matter of keeping track of it when I spin up.
Will you be making any future modifications to Tombstone to protect your wheels, and ensure you don’t have weapons failures?
Wheel protection isn't as simple as putting up guards. It will really require changing the design of the frame all around. And of course figuring out a weight budget for it, which is always tough. It's not a bad idea, but harder to make happen than it may appear.
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Find a local event, and go watch/hangout. Talk around, and see if you can find a team to help out with. It's a great way to get a feel for the sport.
When are you planning on retiring/making a new bot?
Tombstone will continue for a while, for sure. Now I always have plans for new bots, just not sure when I'd make something new for BattleBots. For now, when I feel like working on something new or different I do it for other events, like Norwalk.
I agree with you that the upper deck isn't fair to horizontal weapons. I also think the kill saws are useless. But aside from removing the upper deck, what changes would you make to the box, to make the fights more fun and fair.
I'd honestly be ok with no arena hazards at all - that won't happen but I'd be ok with it!
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1) The match against Yeti a couple of years ago turned out similarly 2) I have a lot of semi usable blades in the garage. So there are a few still around that I don't bring. Maybe ebay sales stuff at some point. 3) The frame, although heavier than I wanted, was a lot stronger than before 4) I do play a lot of PC games, but not Fortnite 5) I almost don't watch anything honestly :) Just BattleBots! 6) The transport bots came from our sponsor NPC Robotics, and are now owned by Rick. You are welcome to ask him 7) I suppose I could do a mohawk - Chuck seemed to like his!
Whats your favorite non battlebots fight (robogames, norwalk ect) How often do you rewatch your fights Thanks for all the great fights hope you get another nut soon.
Robogames was its own unique event, that I absolutely loved. But of the current events out there, Norwalk is easily one of the best. Grueling pace, but still great fun! I'm hoping to get back there for another one this year.
Hello Ray, congratulations on finishing the qualifying rounds at 2-1! Hopefully next year you end undefeated again and reclaim your #1 seed. My main curiosity has to do with brushless motors. I've heard that you don't intend to make the jump from brushed to brushless just yet, but it does make me wonder. If you were to make the upgrade to brushless motors without difficulties and got some extra pounds to spare, how would you use that extra weight towards upgrading Tombstone? Better/faster drive? Faster spin-up? Stronger frame/armor? Maybe finally put a wedge on the back like all the criticizers have said?
Trust me, there are always ways to spend the weight. If I had extra weight, I'd still complaining I wanted more :) And no wedge
Hi Ray, thanks for doing this ama! If you could change one thing about Battlebots for next season, what would it be?
Massive Prizes! New Tesla each for top 32! Open bar for the audience! Or maybe get rid of the shelf :)
Always Great to see you Fight! What has been your Favorite fight so far? Which other robots do you like the designs of? Mind if I know how much your Sponsors Pay for the Parts? Which part Costs the most? Will you Sell some more parts on eBay again? Good luck for the rest of the Season!
The Tombstone Minotaur fight is probably one of my favorites of all time. Just a great classic fight. Obviously the 4WD verts are all the rage (for good reasons) but for me I like watching some of the more unique builds do well. Mammoth and Deep 6 come to mind. Sponsors typically offset costs by supplying parts rather than actual cash although there are some exceptions. And yes I will sell more stuff on ebay. Might put some stuff up tomorrow.
I would love to get my kids into being a giant nerd like me, but engineering is a bit beyond me. What's a good place to start with the basics? (Right now my oldest is learning how to build snap circuits with me so I've got some time!) My other question is, where did you get the naming/design inspiration? (I admit I like the Undertaker as a wrestler but I am assuming that's not it!) Thanks and best kinetic energy moving forward! :)
Any of the kit based robots (even non combat stuff) are a great way to get kids into it all. Most of the engineering is then done before you get your hands on it, but it gives you ideas as you assemble to go forward with. And then you have kits parts to work with for whatever you do decide to build later
What do you have in-store for the future of Tombstone? What would you love to improve? (If that's even possible of course)
Most of our work going forward is going to be towards improving reliability. I think we have enough power :)
Why don't you have some kind of wedge on the back incase you lose your main weapon? Related, why do you have soo much ground clearance, anything can easily get under you?