"Showroom Stock" option for multiplayer races?

[Wolfe2x7]

Now, I know people like to tweak and tune their cars, and I know a lot of people are going to be like, "WTF?" when they see this thread, but hear me out.

I'm getting kinda tired of falling behind the rest of the pack simply because their cars are geared better, and I'm really getting tired of it when I gain a substantial amount of ground on them in the corners, yet still fall behind. (I used to have a problem with the same thing happening with suspension tuning, but I've been using the RACE_S and RACE_1 sets lately and they pretty much solve that part of the problem. :thumb:)

Not everyone enjoys spending the time to make 50+ different sets that have correct gearing for each track and variation, so why not have a "Showroom Stock" option for multiplayer races, where players are forced to use the "Hard Track" default set, perhaps allowing them to make small adjustments to the suspension?

Or, maybe the RACE_S and RACE_1 sets could be customized out-of-the-box to suit each track?

[Cue-Ball]

Forced setups have been suggested many times. If the devs ever implement such a thing, it would take care of what you're suggesting.

I think that if the cars were limited to more realistic levels it would also make a big difference. For instance, the "road cars" shouldn't have infinitely adjustable gears, shocks, ride height, etc. In the real world there are limitations on how adjustable these items are. The more limited the number of adjustments, the less effect setup would have on races. Obviously, the "race cars" would be more adjustable (but again, probably not infinitely so like the transmission gearing is now).

[Hankstar]

+1 CueBall :up:

[R3DMAN]

i htink the only real adjustments that you should beable to make in (Showroom Mode) is

Tyre Type (off road on road etc)
Tyre Pressure
Ride Height
Ride Stiffness

if i wanted to take my car for a drive, they are the only thing that i could alter.

[Bob Smith]

Ride Height
Ride Stiffness
I wouldn't include those myself. Replacing the springs is hard a stock procedure, and would usually involve changing the dampers as well.

[R3DMAN]

well all i have done is replaced them with coilovers took about 30 mins do to the front two..

[tristancliffe]

Yeah, but it's HUGELY likely that your dampers don't match your spring rates and anti-roll rates, and your suspension geometry (assuming the car has been lowered) will now be all messed up. Whilst you may have more ultimate grip, the handling will, unless you're extremely lucky, be all messed up.

[Cue-Ball]

Coilovers are generally sold as a matched set. The spring and shock are a single package and are designed to work together properly. If you buy any decent set of coilovers (or matching shocks and springs, for that matter) there's no reason at all for handling to be worse than stock.

[tristancliffe]

But as soon as you change the weight of the car, or the weight of the wheels, the springing and damping go right out of the window, and I think most people who lower their cars put on bling wheels and tyres. Car Manufacturers (and race car manufacturers before people bring compromise into the equation) don't spend millions of pounds and countless hours choosing the 'optimum' setup only for it to be beaten in a £400 coilover pack from Halfords.

[Cue-Ball]

I think we're talking about two entirely different things here.

I'm suggesting that, in addition to forced setups (everyone must use Race_S for example), the road cars have less adjustment available. I think ride height and damper stiffness should be allowed because those things can be changed relatively cheaply, and because most people who club race or who take their street car on track days would be willing to upgrade those pieces. But, even though these things should be adjustable, they shouldn't be adjustable to the limit that they are now. Something more like 5 height settings would be more appropriate and would more closely resemble a street car with an off the shelf aftermarket suspension. The same thing applies to damper stiffness and rebound, ARB stiffness, etc. Most street cars (even ones with a big aftermarket) only have a few options in this regard. Right now every car basically has a completely one-off suspension, transmission, rear end (final drive), braking system, etc.

I'm not suggesting that a set of Tein coilovers will be as adjustable or handle as well as a fully adjustable race suspension. I'm simply suggesting that it would be an improvement over stock, if for no other reason than the fact that it's a bit stiffer and lowers CG.

To summarize: Forcing Race_S (or some other "stock" setup) would take care of the "showroom stock" request of the OP. Lessening the available setup options would make the road cars more like road cars and less like infinitely adjustable race cars but would still allow for some tuning, similar to what a person taking their Miata to a weekend track day would do (upgraded tires, lowered springs, stiffer shocks, stiffer ARBs, better brake pads, etc). Nothing too fancy, just off the shelf parts.

[Munza]

Forced setups would be a good idea, but i think they should only be inforced for lower car classes, i.e XRT etc.

When you get upto the racing class's you should be able to have any setup you want

[KurtG85]

I totally agree it would be awesome to have the option for everyone to have the same setup. Obviously, it would make for a better test of actual driving skill instead of car setup knowledge.

[al heeley]

On a different but related issue, I'd also like a 2-level setup implemented like EA's F1 games where for the top level of garage interface you can broadly adjust gearing, suspension and downforce to suit the track, then if you need/want to get into much more detail you can go to a deeper interface level and tweak everything we have access to now. It would make life much simpler to just get a reasonable setup simply straight away.

[danowat]

Been said hundreds of times before, cars like the XFG/XRG shouldnt have infinately adjustable suspension and gearing settings, I for one would like to see a "showroom" option for the road cars, failing that at least some realistically limited setup options.

Dan,

[Racer X NZ]

I agree, in a class such as the Aussi ( & NZ ) V8's you have a choice of 3 diff's, certain gear ratios etc. I'd like to see major changes limited to 3 or 4 choices for gearing, spring rates etc and unlimited ARB & dampening changes, as anyone is able to revalve a damper if required.

A more standard set of changes would give increased realism and closer racing as with the unlimited adjustment currently availible you can lose people with setup.

Yes, I agree anyone can download Inferno sets ( or the like ) but cetainly for the more road car based classes a more controlled setup option would improve the simulation in my opinion.

[DEVIL 007]

+1 for option of locked setup on server.Server could also upload a SET to all the players on the server(as a option).

Lets see who is better driver:)

[Shinomori]

Why would you limit the base adjustablility of the cars?

All you're doing there is creating a situation where you will jump in a car and think it will be perfect with just a tweak of the spring rate. Oh wait springs are not adjustable sorry.

I never want options taken away.

You could argue that in the base cars you shouldn't be able to swap diffs, but sometimes I like to put an open diff in the XR because my street car has an open diff and I want to play around w/ a car similar to mine.

What if the server admin could lock certain settings to the defaults(say a check box next to each slider). On logging into the server you would see a message telling you which settings are locked w/ a button to go to the pits to adjust things. Then any setup with those settings changed wouldn't be allowed and that racer would be force to use the default set.

That would give the function I think everyone here is looking for without taking away the options some people like.

[duke_toaster]

Forced setups would be a great idea. For god's sake, it's a big job to ajust the gear ratios of a mini.

Infact, I have a grat idea for a league that would be best with fixed setups.

[Bob Smith]

On a different but related issue, I'd also like a 2-level setup implemented like EA's F1 games where for the top level of garage interface you can broadly adjust gearing, suspension and downforce to suit the track, then if you need/want to get into much more detail you can go to a deeper interface level and tweak everything we have access to now. It would make life much simpler to just get a reasonable setup simply straight away.
I think that would be very useful for beginners, but would take some care in order that it changes things sensibly.

[Chris_Kerry]

+1 for "Showroom" Setups.

[tristancliffe]

+1 for 'showroom setups'

+100000000001 for limiting the setups of the cars further still as a matter of course (e.g. fixed diff designs for cars, limited gear ratios etc).

I'd also like to see a 'Live Ride Height' value in the garage next to live camber, as although I'm not used to the ride height reduction, I'd prefer a more 'useable' value. Obviously everything from fuel load to tyre pressures would affect it, but it'd still be nice. :D

[Becky Rose]

and I'm really getting tired of it when I gain a substantial amount of ground on them in the corners, yet still fall behind
The funny thing about that is you said it to imply you where a better driver but your car setup wasn't good enough - but I interpretted it to mean your running more downforce in order to stay on the road ;) ... hehe, just thought i'd share that.

Anyway +1 for server selected setups (as this opens up a few more interesting possibilities like setting up the MRT5 with a single gear and making it more kart like...)

and :)

+1 for reducing unrealistic setup options where cars dont have certain features but the game lets you set all options for all cars.

[Ball Bearing Turbo]

I REALLY really like the showroom stock only option for the road cars.

Personally I think they should be like BOB's roadgoing setups, this way the option is to force people to race true street cars in the street car class. (server option of course) That would be superb.

Also very great idea for incremental realistic customizing of certain car traits. (IE Trans / Diff ratios) etc. I firmly beleive this would make closer racing for sure.

+1 & +1.

[wheel4hummer]

The LFS cars probaly would have coilovers in real life. The reason is because none of the LFS cars are really BONE stock. They all have minor mods. Just look at the steering wheel!

[R3DMAN]

just for the record, my coilovers are kw varient 2 coilovers at over £400 'per' corner. :)

but yea, back on topic i really think when you host a game you have the option to click Locked Setup button.

either the standard setup that comes with LFS from the devs, ie RACE_1.

i think that it will just mean that it is the drivers who are winning the races, not the setups :)

[Vendetta]

forced setups option would be a great option..shame its not implented (yet (hopefully)) :D

[ajp71]

No need for forced sets but the number of adjustable settings on the road cars should be just a small fraction of what we currently have.

[wheel4hummer]

I think that the locked setup idea is great. Maybe there should be server options to just change certain values. For example, the server admin could force people to use R3 tires. The server admins should also be able to adjust min and max values. The current suspension stiffness settings can go from reallly stiff to really soft. Perhaps the server administrator should be allowed to say that the minimum is 40, and the maximum is 60. Or whatever values they please.

[sgt.flippy]

I'm behind the idea of locked setups, I always wanted to know how good I really am... (or bad) but it's not possible if everyone has different setups.

so, +1 here!