Hi there.

Been with LFS from 2003, just upgraded to patch Z (S2) and got involved with the CTRA servers. Joined the CTRA UF-BR servers to drive the restricted minis. Nice place for a beginner to try his hand me thinks.

Only its not much fun. Nearly everyone there is in a team, racing about .02 off the WR pace. I raced two nights ago, and was either punted up the back, or barged off line in the corners by very aggressive "racers". I felt like I was being dismissed for not being in a team, and the amount of paint swapping was amazing.

To make the last little bit of fun ebb away, I regualry got NIL points. I tried dropping to the back of the field to ensure I did not get into any incidents, got no points. Tried mixing it a bit, still no points. I nearly alwats finished on the leaders lap, and only really got into yellow incidents as a result of someone else wanting to barge into me. Sometimes I would get 3 points, but generally it was a lot of hard work for nothing.

Where do newbies go to learn and feel welcomed? Which server should I be on? If not this server, in restricted low powered cars, then where? Why are there so many fast and untalented drivers online? Is paint swapping considered normal, and if so, what constitutes something worthy of a report?

Just feeling it is a bit of a waste of time. I was going to report the rear end into T1 on the first lap, but did not see the point. Some will argue I braked too early and caught them out. You hit anyone from behind YOU are ALWAYS in the wrong. I was being careful, and it seemed the only one doing so.

So far I have amassed 92 points. It is ok when you are doing your best to stay clean and get up to speed to earn less points that the WR worriers, but when you have 5 races with no points, and being barged about too, its just not fun.

Sorry for the whinge, but I like the idea of a race authority, but I wonder if the ideals and the practice are too far apart. I know it is pick up racing, but there must be somewhere to race with decent drivers.

Regards

Hippo

Quote from Hippo :

Where do newbies go to learn and feel welcomed? Which server should I be on? If not this server, in restricted low powered cars, then where? Why are there so many fast and untelented drivers online? Is paint swapping considered normal, and if so, what constitutes something worthy of a report?

Normally, UF-BR isn't an entry level server, but it is atm for the UF-BR cup.

Ask some of the frontrunners for a setup, most are more than willing to give you one, and if not its usually cos its their team set. Before you jump in, watch the leaders for a couple of laps - look for their braking points, their turn in points, e.t.c.

Also, look for CTRA Race 1 on the server list - thats the proper entry server.

Quote from Hippo :

Just feeling it is a bit of a waste of time. I was going to report the rear end into T1 on the first lap, but did not see the point. Some will argue I braked too early and caught them out. You hit anyone from behind YOU are ALWAYS in the wrong. I was being careful, and it seemed the only one doing so.

That's not your fault - its what brake lights are for

If you report someone, and they're in the wrong, then they'll get a punishment, which makes the servers cleaner for everyone else.

Even if your report is dismissed, it shows the reportee that someone else thought their driving standards were below par, and they might do better next time

Chin up mate, sounds like you aren't doing anything wrong.

The CTRA 'newbie' servers are Race 1 and Single Seater 1, the UFBR server has only recently been opened up to all racers, and there is also a league at the moment using that car, so people are putting a lot of practice in (this is most likely the teams you mentioned).

The UFBR, while not being that fast, is a pretty hard car to be fast in. A lot of it is about carrying momentum, and the fighting for position is always close between a few cars. A little swapping of paint is to be expected really, but this still is no excuse for blatant ramming etc.

You should report anything you feel wronged by that is in breach of the rules, the CTRA lot always say they can't do anything if they don't know about it, and they are right.

If you just want fun racing without the licensing, there are always other servers.
Dead Men Racing usually has a good bunch on, and there are plenty more

Quote from Bean0 :

The CTRA 'newbie' servers are Race 1 and Single Seater 1, the UFBR server has only recently been opened up to all racers, and there is also a league at the moment using that car, so people are putting a lot of practice in (this is most likely the teams you mentioned).

OK, thanks for that information. I do realise that to go fast in these it is about line and tecnique, kind of what I was looking for. But Race 1 is always in the XFG?

Quote from Bean0 :

Dead Men Racing usually has a good bunch on, and there are plenty more

I will look out for that and give it a go. thanks!

I like the idea of the licence system, part of my point was that I will never get anywhere unless there is a chance to score points. But only one week in, plenty of time to "figure it out".

Hippo

Bah.. I can't resist the temptation.. must.. chime..... innnn.....

The CTRA points that you earn *should* be hard to come by. CTRA isn't a rite of passage, and until you're good (fast and clean) enough to earn decent points, without meaning to sound mean, you're not entitled to them.

The reasoning is many-fold, but in essence it this way for two basic reasons: to keep the higher CTRA servers clean and; to ensure that when you DO have a good point score, your licence is a badge you can wear with pride.

I can say with a great deal of confidence that the points you've earned, you damn well deserved, and you'll deserve all the ones you get in future too!

Sorry to hear your CTRA experience wasn't a good one,but don't let that put you off. There is great ,clean, respectful racing to be had on the CTRA servers (the higher the server, the cleaner the racing...generally speaking)

I doubt that the fact you're not in a team had anything to do with you're experience.

If you are constantly getting badly hit then please do take the time to file a report. The only way to clean up servers is to use the report feature. It benefits everyone in the long run if bad driving is reported.


Scoring points is about finishing in a high position and with a decent laptime. They don't give away points just for participating Licenses have to be earned.

As Bean0 suggested ,try the Race 1 server. (I've been spending a bit of time on there in the last few days and it's been good clean fun most of the time)

Grab setups from the fast guys, see what times the fast guys are running and practice offline a bit untill you're up to some sort of respectable pace, and (i'll say it again ) REPORT over agressive and poor driving, whoever may be doing it.

There are plenty of good, clean, respectful racers on CTRA, most of them on the higher servers. Beginner servers are always going to have more incidents and bad drivers due to the nature of them being for the new guys, but thats still no excuse for blatently poor driving standards.

Stick at it! It's worth it when you get to race on the higher servers

Quote from Hippo :

But Race 1 is always in the XFG?

..and the XRG (a far superior, and more fun to drive car )

I've been doing this only since about March and like you I usually find points hard to come by. I'm on Race 1, Single Seater 1 or UFBR, depending mainly on the track they're on and also whether I can actually get on the server when I'm on-line. If I do get a decent result it's a bonus but I don't worry about them too much as, more often than not, I'm scrapping for something like 10th place. Points are usually easier to find in the single seaters as that server is not usually as busy as the saloon cars. The only thing with the team racers is that they are unlikely to share their setups with you.

For me the fun is finding someone I *can* race with - I've got a mental list of folk I've had good tussles with before, so I look to see if any of them are racing. Look at the results at the end of each race, you can easily set yourself a target for each race (the top "team" racers are usually a couple of seconds ahead or more on lap time, but mid-table there are usually a few guys who are posting similar fastest laps to you, set yourself a goal of beating them, and just leave the other guys to hare off into the distance). Trying to stay on the lead lap is another good thing to aim for (easier on some circuits of course).

Another goal I set myself is trying to keep out of everyone else's accidents (not always possible!), but you really can make up a lot of spots as a result of others' over-optimistic driving. For aggressive drivers trying to muscle past you - just let them past, they will either be too fast for you or they will be parked in the hedge round the next corner. Also be aware of yellow flags, lift off a bit and choose a safe route through any carnage ahead - remember racers caught up in crashes may now have damaged cars so that means you can often hold off someone who would normally leave you for dead.

At the end of the day you can find your own fun in the races simply by setting yourself an achievable goal for each one.

Quote from modelmotorracing :

I The only thing with the team racers is that they are unlikely to share their setups with you.

Really?

When i started 95% of top guys always shared their sets with me, in fact not getting a setup from someone is definitely the exception rather than the rule in my experience.

I will always share sets unless it's a set that has been specifically designed for an upcoming league race, and i'll share it after that race has taken place.
I can only remember not sharing a set when asked once in the last year or so.

I think most teams that race on CTRA are more than happy to share sets. That has always been my experience anyway.

Seen a fair few "can I share?" "Sorry it's a team set" chat messages recently. Doesn't bother me particularly as I like to try and tweak my own settings, otherwise it seems to me too much like getting a cheat code for a MMORPG game to give you access to weapons and riches you wouldn't otherwise have. But it's nice sometimes to at least start your tweaking from a set-up that you have just seen deliver a decent time on the exact circuit you are trying to master.

Quote :

You hit anyone from behind YOU are ALWAYS in the wrong.

You may find this of use: http://www.lfsforum.net/showthread.php?t=45729

I disagree with your perspective on T1, and in the linked post I explain why and give tips on avoiding that sort of thing. It's not so much a case of "who's fault" as "only yourself to blame"

Quote from Becky Rose :

You may find this of use: http://www.lfsforum.net/showthread.php?t=45729

I disagree with your perspective on T1, and in the linked post I explain why and give tips on avoiding that sort of thing. It's not so much a case of "who's fault" as "only yourself to blame"

I read your link. Maybe our points of view are different, did you see the replay? I have been in many races, and was not at 100% or braking excessively hard at the last possible moment. I was 2 off the back, cruising, and one of the following two forgot to brake. He was in a team. Should have been better. Best guide in the world wont fix that.

But thanks for the link, a bit of common sense is never wasted.

Quote from Hippo :

did you see the replay? ... I was 2 off the back, cruising, and one of the following two forgot to brake. He was in a team. Should have been better. Best guide in the world wont fix that.

But thanks for the link, a bit of common sense is never wasted.

We're talking one incident here? - in which case I dont want to get involved.

If you are having a general problem with navigating T1 - I dont suffer the same problem.

I think teams in LFS dont really mean that much outside of leagues. I dont really care what colours a car is painted in.

I was just on UF-BR and had some bozo telling me to go play offline... Not very happy.

I'm not a bad driver... so what if i missed one turn and nicked a wall.

edit: and so what if i got rammed twice from behind and went off track... i just wish people would be a little more forgiving.

double edit: what's even funnier, this TYS guy calls me a noob and stuff, and he takes a wrong turn in T1. missing a turn vs turning the wrong way altogether... hmmm?

Quote from bunder9999 :

I was just on UF-BR and had some bozo telling me to go play offline... Not very happy.

I'm not a bad driver... so what if i missed one turn and nicked a wall.

Not going to comment on this incident as i didn't see it, but the fact that you haven't managed to finish a single race in 11 and have a 92% yellow flag rating can't all be down to other racers can it?

Quote from The Moose :

Not going to comment on this incident as i didn't see it, but the fact that you haven't managed to finish a single race in 11 and have a 92% yellow flag rating can't all be down to other racers can it?

i tend to roll-over in the UF-BR one of these days i'll get around to fixing that.