Crappy AI in Event Lab puts a huge dampener on my enthusiasm for 2.0

[CascadeHush]

I'm looking forward to the new Event Lab 2.0 and I have a heap of ideas but the thing that has always discouraged me from creating my own courses is the absolutely abysmal AI in user created maps. I usually end up just sticking with the pre-made courses for my custom events because then I can reliably have a good race, but I'm getting a bit bored of the same courses and I'd like to create a heap of my own, especially with the new tools.

I'm fairly new to FH5 and it's my first game in the series. From what I can gather this used to be better in FH4.

Does anybody have any tips on how I can help the AI or design courses that are AI friendly? Or is this just a lost cause and I should resign myself to time trials. Web search didn't help much but that's been pretty typical for several months now with the web just being flooded with garbage copycat linkbait websites. Seems AI can generate garbage content faster than the other AI can filter it out, which only makes sense, really.

[TheHuskyGT]

Without taking all the new options in consideration, yes, FH4 A.I on custom tracks was FAR superior.

The problem with FH5 is that the A.I will follow your racing line exactly how you set it, unlike in FH4 where they A.I figured the best racing line automatically.

However, it is possible to make a good A.I friendly track in this game as well. The key is making the best racing line possible when creating the route itself. Avoid harsh left or right jerk movements (if you don't have a wheel, use a controller analog stick to steer as smooth and gradually as possible) and make sure that if you're doing a circuit, that you connect your line exactly where it begins at the finish/start line.

This might take a few tries, but it is possible to make the A.I very competitive in a custom track. It's far from perfect, but it can be decent. I've made a few tracks where we're always neck-to-neck.

Also, A.I on custom tracks ALWAYS needs to be set to Unbeatable. That's the only way they will give you a challenge.

[CascadeHush]

Thanks so much for your comprehensive answer. It's good to know at least it is possible because it's not just my own tracks that seemed to bamboozle the AI. I can't wait to try out the new tools.

I take it that the start/finish thing will bypass the erroneous 'you missed a checkpoint' thing that happens on some creations.

And as far as creating the best racing line, I take it that speed doesn't really matter, but also that I need to make it realistic. Also, I assume that checkpoints are mostly irrelevant to the AI. At first I assumed the AI would use the checkpoints but if anything too many checkpoints seems to confuse the AI even more.

[CascadeHush]

Much better. Now I'm racing against my own racing line, which is interesting. At least it's a proper race now.

[TheHuskyGT]

To answer your question in the previous response, speed doesn't matter when setting your racing line. You can be doing 10 mp/h and it will not impact the A.I. I actually go around coasting in neutral most of the time when setting up my line, and it makes it much more accurate.

As for the start/finish line comment, the reason why you have to make sure to connect it as accurate as possible is because the A.I for some reason tries to align itself to the original starting point, and if it's off the slightest, it will slam on the brakes in a desperate attempt to do so, even on a straight.

Hope it helps.