Clean Multiplayer Racing

[Mr. Math]

I have been trying to drive in multiplayer races because racing with AI is not much fun.

Can anyone give me some tips on how to drive better? Let me give some specific examples...

@Talledega i was at the tail end of the lead lap, and RPK-74, the leader, was coming around. I knew he needed to get by, so i tried to move out of his way. He instead moved down and gave me a push, and because i was slowed down, it nearly knocked him out of the lead. Im not sure what else I could have done.

Restarts are also tough, I cannot seem to start in the outside lane and do anything, unless I am in second place for it. I am decent in the inside lane, but any advice for the outside?

I am sorry for all of you who have had to deal with me in your races(Omnia, RPK, Symphony, jbnascar, etc) I hope yall can give me some advice, so I can be somewhat competitive.

[kimchoc]

let the leaders by on the inside. Move up to the top lane well before they come to pass you.
All racing games have only one fast line around the track. Thats the way it is built into the games. Some guys may THINK the can run on the outside but sorry, they are dreaming. The game physics has only ONE line. That is where the most grip is. Not like real life. Sure, you can edit the track files in some games to move the grip line around, but there is still only ONE. I've been editing these lines since late '90s, its just a fact.
So when you are on the outside line of a racing game, you better get down to the inside, until the leaders come.
Competative? well, you better get hold of someones setup. Then either one of two things. Either you have natural ability to go fast or you practice hours and hours. Like 1000 hours.
In the end it is a game with limitations, NOT like real racing.
You can also improve with a better wheel/pedal. Although, youre looking at $200 minimum.
Keyboard? forget it. Just give it up now and go play Battlefield.

When you learn to drive with the AI, you'll have the most fun. 43 car fields, not 5. It takes time because you have to know what they are doing. They react predictably. There is strategy. You have to set their speed acording to your speed to make it competative. And you can race anytime, not just when the wives let them.

[Mr. Math]

Thanks for responding!

Yeah well, i have been racing ais for awhile now, their predictibility has led to my boredom. I do online because drivers arent predictible.

For controls i have a logitech f310 ccontroller, it has worked fine for me. Keyboard is definitly not in the question.

About setups, i have heard rickybobby setups are good, should i try those or no?
I can practice for hours if needed, i have a good amount of time. I just need good setups to shave seconds off my time.

Again, i appreciate your help.

[kimchoc]

Getting other players setups are a shortcut really. Learn to adjust your own
F310? No. You'll never get anywhere with that. Does your car steer by a controller? Ever seen any race car steer with a controller? Good lord, you can't feel anything with that. You dont know whether your car is loose or tight. Get a FFB stering wheel pedal setup. I picked up a momo from ebay the other day for $60.00. The deals are out there.
I wouldnt waste another minute working on a setup with a controller. They're not designed for racing. Sry. LOL.

BTW, good online drivers ARE predictable. Its the ♥♥♥♥♥♥ ones that are unpredictable. Or, with no offense intended-just being honest, the ones driving with keyboards and controllers. WE can spot you in a second. You're all over the track, no consistency whatsoever due to the lack of range in a controller. Wheel/pedals have probably 6 times the range that you do. That enables us to drive and steer much smoother=go faster

[Murph]

Hey man if you are not able to compete i suggest using setups that suit your style (tight, loose) Also clean is definitely not something we see in the late night server often especially on restarts. I have been blamed for causing cautions when the driver in front brake checks and I try to avoid it and hit someone or someone dive bombs the turn and hits me So. If you want clean racing I have been finding specific drivers I would like to race with In order to have clean races. Also if you are interested in custom schemes check out my collection under screenshots on my profile. That is pretty much what I do for the majority of time on this game. Hope some of that helped,
Murph

[Mr. Math]

@kimchoc I will get a wheel when possible, right now it isnt. Thanks for the help though.


@N.Murphy28 Yeah i kinda figured that much out about restarts. Last night racing at Watkins Glen, a driver behind me did not break into turn 1, costing us both the race. Lol.

Other times drivers will drive me up the track into the wall, and when i hit the wall and come back into their car, they act like the have no idea about physics. Not sure what to do there either.

I like your schemes that you make, do you charge for them?


PS> I am not nessesarily a clean racer, so dont think Im perfect lol.

[kimchoc]

sounds like you're driving the typical punk racers. Heard these stories a million times. Try and find a good group of guys on the net. They'll give you a try out.

And wheel pedals can be had for $30.00 too, just to get you started. Like anything, the more you pay, the better equip you will get.
But you're wasting your time with that controller except for just having fun. Dont go to the good racers with that and no knowledge of setups. I'd crank up the ai until you are mid pack, Learn to race with them. Drive hundreds of laps and learn tire strategy, fuel strategy. Nothing more satisfying than knowing you're slower than the AI, but you beat them with 2 tire stops, and the right amount of fuel to finish.
Have you driven behind them at Daytona for 50 laps saving enough fuel to win? are you changing tire pressure every stop to tweak in your setup? then remembering what adjustments you made, then putting them to your race setup, after the race? How about setting track bar and wedge for short runs? Thats what the AI does for you. Start from the back every race and find out who is agressive and who is passive. Start back there until you find you just can win on the last couple laps by passing the leader. Triple the fuel usage and tire usage, practice getting into the pits. Then the better you get, increase the AI. Make it a goal to beat the leader on the last few laps...
On average I'll drive 500-800 laps per week, per track. Working on setups/fuel usage/strategy the whole time. All the while learning the AI.
Also, buy other racing games, rfactor, F1 games.

[Mr. Math]

I'll just be having fun then, I will practice with AI, I have won on 100% difficulty before, do you suggest that or something different?

[Murph]

Yo @TheMathmatician why did you unfriend me? I was going to invite you to a league with Clean racers I know and give you a free scheme because for a guy just starting out with a nice looking ride can gain respect. But I guess you don't appreciate kindness. So I'll find someone else who appreciates it

[Mr. Math]

@N.Murphy28 1. i am not a very clean racer. 2. I have done this game for over 200 hours, not just starting out. 3. i told you i didnt have email, so i just didnt want to waste any more of your time.

take your kindness to someone else, they will enjoy it. :)

[Murph]

ok then i apologize for that miscommunication i just saw the 50% and assumed you were new. i just thought you freaked out because you thought i was going to send you a virus. trust me i wont. i have a bunch of people i have sent schemes to and they seem to enjoy them. still confused about the unfriend, but it is your opinion and it doesn't matter to me

[kimchoc]

Yeah math. There's still plenty to learn racing the AI. Spend your time on each track that the real guys run each week. It will be hard for you to feel, with a controller, but work on adjustments to your setup. And you should be driving sim mode, not arcade, all flag rules. Practice your short pit, change two tires, one can fuel. See how that affects your setup and how you change a few things to compensate for onlt two tires.
That's about all I can suggest until you get wheel pedal and find some guys to run with.
Again, no offense, but there are so many controller crossovers that racing is not what it used to be. There's a huge difference in the last 5 years or so. game companies are trying to capture both markets. The latest game, Heat, is nothing more than a port over from an Xbox or something. Doesn't even use a mouse, very poor money grab. If they keep going that way, wheel pedal drivers will be a thing of the past. Maybe you won't even have to buy one. Lol.
Main thing is to enjoy the game, however you end up doing it. DO try more than one game title...... And crank the AI up until you can't win, start in the back, watch them drive, try to win on the last couple laps. It won't be boring.

[Murph]

Easier to run than keyboard. I'll tell you that.

[Mr. Math]

If i short pit and change 2 tires, i cannot drive the car after 5 laps depending on the tire wear setting, it is so bad.

I am driving on 100% all the time now, it has been fun, however, starting last all the time is really getting to be a challenge, like i can run with the leaders if i get up there, but trying to drive past 42 other cars seems impossible so far.

I run all flags rules too btw.

Question though, what is difference between "sim" and "arcade?" Do you mean like having all damage on/all flags etc or something different.

my typical race is like 20% of real race, 100% difficulty, x2 tire wear and x2 fuel use.
all damage on, and all flags enabled. Should i change something there?

thanks again


EDIT: scratch that, i was running in 43rd at Michigan, on my final pitstop i took 2 tires and fuel, a caution came out, i restart 14th, i was able to somewhat hold my own and get 17th.

[Murph]

arcade is the definition of heat evolution. what it means is it does not have realistic physics and practically turns on all assists for you. and it also means it has a more casual style while simulation is more realistic (not by much on heat) and gives a tougher challenge and more realistic racing

[kimchoc]

I take damage off. not really much, FUN, limping around, but thats just a personal preference. I have tire wear at 4, fuel, 4. Run around 40-50 laps, whatever that setting gives you. No qual, quick race.
Actually pitting is practice, thats all really. Plus it does give you ability to make up some spots like you did. Thats the strategy.

Youre on the right track, so to speak. Depends on what track youre at for how much the tires count. It puts the driving of the car in your hands. Better driver, manage the tires.
So now youre getting it. If your tires are giving up and the AI beat the crap out of you, lower the AI.
All this I'm telling you is just what you can do with the game anytime you want. Like we said, you have to make it fun. You cant race online all the time, not enough guys. Build your skills with the AI, it will show up wen you do get to race with real guys Except, you'll find that real guys on pick up races, usually suck, as you have described.

No problem man. We're just trying to get the most out of the game. Yes, like Murph said, turn all assists off.
Just wait until you scrape up $30.00 for the wheel. It will change your fun factor massively. So much delicate control you'll have over braking and steering. You'll feel the adjustments when you take out 1/2lb of air in one tire.
Starting last IS a challenge. Right on man, LOL. WE have to do what we got to do, right?

Hey, let me add. Cautions really suck due to the developer not making them right. Seems to me that I always end up back at 43rd. But,,, usually, I, am the reason for the caution. Stuck my nose in somewhere it shouldnt have been, tried to block on a restart when I shouldnt have. I remember having to excercise alot of patience on restarts and let them all go by, just to keep from getting a caution. That was tough. So that taught me to really not take chances, give the AI alot of room. If I'm patient, I work my way through the pack, and use strategy, to pass them.
I dont know if the game gives the AI a tip on if I change two or not, i felt like it did.. I could hardly beat them out even if I changed two. So I wait until I'm in the auto pit thing and then wait until almost my pit, before I do the tire thing. Change wedge, tire pressures, track bar, tape, all first, then at the last minute, change only two. Not SURE if the AI get tipped off, but it seemed like they would do the same if I changed 2. I could be completly wrong. see what you think.
and hey, sry. SIM/arcade mode isnt in this game. I got my games confused. Been driving NR2003 alot as of late. Just dont use assists.