The cost limit is destroying the game...

[pepsi50]

..in its current state!
I have played all the previous games and was actually quite happy with the game. But now I'm wondering what this is all about. I founded a new team and reached the COST LIMIT before the race in Spa and the game basically ended there, even though I still had 15 million in my account and the board was happy with me. I couldn't understand why I reached the cost limit, as "?"s were constantly displayed, sponsor payments were not offset and a minus of 192 million was displayed at the start of the session. I can perhaps understand that my two crash pilots threw away the cars several times and I had to produce so many chassis, but not that I can only screw parts onto the cars in an emergency purchase - what is this nonsense? That would punish me even more and is not at all provided for in the F1 regulations; it is a very bad game decision by the developers. My game is over and I am very annoyed. In the two predecessors the cost limit was never a problem but with the current bugs... :-(

[TyCobb]

Maybe when playing a Manager, one should manage their finances.

[Filokwarq]

Yes, the limit is trange. I understood it is a yearly limit, and I got fined as well before the end of the season, but did not understand why, well, I think I understand now, cause its a monthly limit as well?

However, I think it is a good mechanic, but by now being forced to produce parts and they go against the limit, it seems to be unbalanced by how many parts you need due to crashes and decay.

On the other side, It could work quite well, but I still have the feeling the other people are cheating :D

After understanding the mechanic a bit, I think it could work for my next season, but as well all know, you cant play a second season, so it doesnt matter at the moment.

But I needed around 4 to 5 attempts to understand the things to the level I think I can handle them. Unfortunately, ingame-help is outdated and there is no real tutorial, cause it shows you outdated infos, at least in my language.

However, I googled the limits today and at least accroding the rules from a few years ago its implemented right (dont know about the top salaries), and you have to adjust your style of play, it can work, but I agree it needs balance with parts and especially the cost of development at the beginning if the season

[Dreagon]

It just seems like a thing you have to manage a little better. It's true that a created team, even one that goes for the cheapest facilities and staff in the 70's, spends quite a bit more on car part development at the start of the game than established teams. The projected costs for that team are about 20 million higher than the projected costs of Red Bull. This is definitely something that should be fixed but if you keep it in mind it can be worked around. In my Alpine save I ended up something like 4.7 million under the cost cap but I can definitely think of ways I could've saved about 15 million. Although admittedly Ocon and Gasly had a very clean season and besides the odd lightly damaged part never really totalled a car and power unit. If I had to buy new power unit components saving the money would've been more difficult.

[AoD_lexandro]

Only upgrade one of each part. You cannot afford to make more.
Don't buy emergency parts EVER, you cannot afford it no matter the reason.
Use worn power train parts and older versions of parts instead and take the performance hit or a DNF.
Use the maximum engagement for your sponsors with the most cash rewards.
Do not make parts lighter in the first season as they break faster which means higher costs for replacement parts.
Upgrade the helipad & tour center asap as they make bank.
If a car gets damaged and slows, retire it and save the power train for another race.
Sign free agents for staff in the 70-80 stat range, any better requires more money than you can afford.
Fire your scouts. You never really need them unless you are actively changing staff or drivers.

Doing the above you will finish the season with a healthy bank balance. The team will be garbage but it will be cost effective. Then use improved funds in the second and third years to upgrade and advance.

[Filokwarq]

I had to buy new Parts, Motor etc, I thought they are outside of the cost limit. Is my infor here wrong or outdated, or is this a bug?

You have to take the punishment in the race, I thought that is enough punishment :D

Does someone know?

[pepsi50]

Originally posted by Filokwarq:

I had to buy new Parts, Motor etc, I thought they are outside of the cost limit. Is my infor here wrong or outdated, or is this a bug?

You have to take the punishment in the race, I thought that is enough punishment :D

Does someone know?

No, they are very expensive and within the cost limit - my crash drivers ruined their cars twice and it was so expensive.

[pepsi50]

Originally posted by TyCobb:

Maybe when playing a Manager, one should manage their finances.

I started a new game and my cost limit was immediately at 50 million even though I had over 70 million in income. The limit is actually 120 million. And the screen with the cost limit - especially this circle with the remaining money - sometimes shows a number and sometimes not. Also, buildings don't count in full, but you get a bonus if you're a small team - but somehow I didn't notice that. Please don't get me wrong - this is a super important function that's fun, but it also has to be understandable.

[pepsi50]

Originally posted by Filokwarq:

Yes, the limit is trange. I understood it is a yearly limit, and I got fined as well before the end of the season, but did not understand why, well, I think I understand now, cause its a monthly limit as well?

However, I think it is a good mechanic, but by now being forced to produce parts and they go against the limit, it seems to be unbalanced by how many parts you need due to crashes and decay.

On the other side, It could work quite well, but I still have the feeling the other people are cheating :D

After understanding the mechanic a bit, I think it could work for my next season, but as well all know, you cant play a second season, so it doesnt matter at the moment.

But I needed around 4 to 5 attempts to understand the things to the level I think I can handle them. Unfortunately, ingame-help is outdated and there is no real tutorial, cause it shows you outdated infos, at least in my language.

However, I googled the limits today and at least accroding the rules from a few years ago its implemented right (dont know about the top salaries), and you have to adjust your style of play, it can work, but I agree it needs balance with parts and especially the cost of development at the beginning if the season

Wait - no second season?? Why??

[Filokwarq]

Originally posted by pepsi50:

Wait - no second season?? Why??

Didnt you see all the complaints here that they cant start a second season cause its broken?

Havent tried it yet, will do so in a few mins.

[Filokwarq]

Ok, will not try it :D I have money, but no budget. No Problem, but I cant make parts, so I cant replace em, but I cant withdraw my Car unless its in the race. So simply give up in training doesnt work, so I cant play the season to an end, even if I would have a car. Very strange. I could pay the fines :D Enough Money to finish the season with fines.

This is odd, I doubt that this would happen in a real season, they would have to pay the fine and race, the show is more important.

I would consider this buged.

[Robique]

Step 1: Start game and run 4 intense design projects constantly.
Step 2: Take the design centre upgrade event for 2 extra design slots.
Step 3: Run 6 intense design projects at the same time.
Step 4: Complain on forums about the cost cap "destroying the game".

[BadassRockett]

Originally posted by Filokwarq:

Originally posted by pepsi50:

Wait - no second season?? Why??

Didnt you see all the complaints here that they cant start a second season cause its broken?

Havent tried it yet, will do so in a few mins.

I'm in my 2nd season now with about 7 races remaining

[Filokwarq]

Originally posted by Robique:

Step 1: Start game and run 4 intense design projects constantly.
Step 2: Take the design centre upgrade event for 2 extra design slots.
Step 3: Run 6 intense design projects at the same time.
Step 4: Complain on forums about the cost cap "destroying the game".

That worked in the first game :D

[The Met4l God]

Originally posted by pepsi50:

..in its current state!
I have played all the previous games and was actually quite happy with the game. But now I'm wondering what this is all about. I founded a new team and reached the COST LIMIT before the race in Spa and the game basically ended there, even though I still had 15 million in my account and the board was happy with me. I couldn't understand why I reached the cost limit, as "?"s were constantly displayed, sponsor payments were not offset and a minus of 192 million was displayed at the start of the session. I can perhaps understand that my two crash pilots threw away the cars several times and I had to produce so many chassis, but not that I can only screw parts onto the cars in an emergency purchase - what is this nonsense? That would punish me even more and is not at all provided for in the F1 regulations; it is a very bad game decision by the developers. My game is over and I am very annoyed. In the two predecessors the cost limit was never a problem but with the current bugs... :-(

The cost cap, according to the tutorial, is a season-long pool of funding your team is allowed to spend on things such as salaries and car development.

[Sly_Boots]

Cost cap issues ease considerably from the second season onwards. In my second season heading into the Dutch GP and still have around £60m available in the cost cap allowance, having designed and built 2 upgrades for all 6 slots and done a first round of research (4 slots) for next season.