The online racing simulator
Endurance+restarts
What's the point of endurance racing when the racers who crash out can restart the race with just a couple of laps left? Just happened twice in a row on UFBR. Sorry for moaning but can something be done about this?
Nigel.
#2 - SamH
Racers who crash and go to spectate can't vote for a restart because they are spectating. However, if they rejoin they become midrace joiners. As we all know, midrace joiners are not allowed to affect the outcome of the current race in progress. This includes voting to destroy the current race.

Sounds like you have a report to raise!

[edit] I should add that they can reasonably appeal to the drivers in the race to restart, but that is the limit. They can't involve themselves in the race, including voting to end it.
Maybe you can block midracejoiners from voting via insim.
(Player sends shift+r, insim recognises, sends another shift+r to cancel the vote)
Thanks for the reply Sam. If I come across the same thing again I will raise a report. I do believe that even if there's only one racer who's kept their car on the tarmac they have the right to finish their race. This is the first time I've come across this problem while racing on CTRA servers and wasn't sure what your policy was.
Nigel.
#5 - Joris
Quote from Stefani24 :Maybe you can block midracejoiners from voting via insim.
(Player sends shift+r, insim recognises, sends another shift+r to cancel the vote)

+1 (although I do not know if this is technically feasible)
#6 - Dru
Quote from NigelY :Thanks for the reply Sam. If I come across the same thing again I will raise a report. I do believe that even if there's only one racer who's kept their car on the tarmac they have the right to finish their race. This is the first time I've come across this problem while racing on CTRA servers and wasn't sure what your policy was.
Nigel.

The policy - is if you report it - and we see people doing it - we will deal with it with the vengance and fury of...... oh wait... we will deal with it in our unique way :nod:
#7 - SamH
Looking at the possibility with ISP_VTN and TINY_VTC, but I do see problems with it that mean it can't work unless I write code to completely manage restarts, and keep LFS completely out of the process (which I REALLY don't want to do). Sometimes there's a good reason to restart the race, and it's not a decision that the X-System can reliably make. I can't cancel individual votes, only ALL votes, which means I can't disregard a midrace joiner's vote without disregarding ALL votes (unless I code an alternative to the LFS restart system) - ergo, no go. :shrug:
Yeah remember I did the whole disabling of mid-race voting before back in the STCC days and it caused no end of problems under loads of situations I hadnt predicted, the server must in all circumstances be restartable somehow (my system didnt allow for it in some circumstances and it back fired).

X-System handling the voting for it might be the best way. With X-League on its way this might be an idea worth spending the time on, it's not actually that major provided there is always a way to bring about a restart.

Send a message when somebody tries to vote telling them to use the $r option or some such, and cancel all LFS restart votes.

$r[edflag] menu allows players in race to toggle a yes/no button selection with a simple - bottom of screen - interface that doesnt interfere too much with whats onscreen.

Optional $marshall menu shows players in race, who's vote counts, who's doesnt, and vote summary of how much more is needed to achieve a restart.

Perhaps scoring players based on race contribution to achieve a restart, 5pts for leader, 4pts for podium, 3pts for lead lap, 1pt for in race at start but retired.

The system should disable itself and allow LFS to handle restarting if there are less than 4 people (who started the race) driving on the server - thus during times of low operational density the LFS system kicks in, preventing all many of odd circumstances.

FGED GREDG RDFGDR GSFDG