RocketPunch

I also like racing every week. Just use the per race pairing from previous races result. So People will know who they will be paired with for the next race right after the race. I like your ideas Mirf, but I would streamline it a little to make it easier to understand (I know you are still working it out).

If we can work some kind of teamwork element in the races either in points or just by pairing for mutual exchange of ideas, then it would be a great start!

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Slow is Smooth. Smooth is Fast!

Mirfee

I welcome streamlining. Begging for it actually.

In fact, I want to stress how much I'd like the League development to be collaborative. While I initiated things, and am generally organizing the goings on, I don't want to dictate. I'd like to have some veto power and the means to keep some direction and focus going but in the end, the League is for us. I want it to be a living, breathing part of TG.

So if anyone has some ideas to streamline with, fire away.

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Wulfyn

I really dislike the idea of pairing changing during the season or managed in that artificial manner like fastest-slowest. I'd rather they were picked from a hat than this. People should race individually (ie not merging times etc), the teamwork should be about set-ups and tactics.

Sorry to be awkward.

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Turbo

What about just sharing setups before the race? I really dont have much time during the week to race much. Just a few laps here and their so I probably wouldn't be a good teammate.

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Mirfee

That's a fair opinion, Wulfyn. No prob.

I've been thinking about the team pairing as well. While I still like the idea of team effort and shared results vs purely individual results, I find there's a logistical hurdle that would be tough to manage.

Namely, whether we pair up fast-slow each week, or every few weeks, the team is then dependant on both players prepping and attending the actual race. Being paired up with a driver who can only race occasionally, or is uncertain about committing to a race til shortly before the event poses the problem of hindering their team mate. I'm not suggesting laziness, or any sort of poor attitude or effort, but it is a potential problem.

Obviously, this same problem could be found in all manner of teams. But especially, the pairings assigned to players can result in unbalanced teamwork... they might have incompatible schedules which either forces one player to commit more than they can or will, or for the other to depend on their team mate less. The artificial pairing, while attractive in its potential for bolstering a slower driver (though by no means a less eager one) does force interdependance beyond what I think could be fair. I think that assigned pairing would best be reserved for 'driver school' type events where the focus is on bringing less experienced drivers up to faster skill levels so they can become more competitive (if that's their interest). Making it a season structure seems less appealing to me than it first did.

I'm sure there's ways to make it work, but I anticipate more and more complexity in rules and such. I already feel things starting to bloat in that department, and I'd like to keep regulations as simple and efficient as possible.

Just my own 'straight-out-of-bed-with-no-caffeine' rambling.

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xTYBALTx

Just tossing my $.02 into the ring, but I rather like the idea of solo racing.

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A policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy. -F.A. Hayek

USN_Squid

I will go with the flow, but my own preference is to stay solo as well. I'm all for sharing setups, open practices, etc. I don't have enough time to make more scheduled events in the week and I'd hate to "no show" more than I already do for those kinds of things. If we had more than a handful of people racing I think it would be a great idea. Maybe we should see how season 2 develops with interest?

Along with the discussion of points and teams, what about vehicles and tracks? I'd really like to see some of the more interesting add ons used like Monaco, Laguna Seca, Road America, Nurburgring (the mother), Cadwell, among others.

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Turbo

Ya I would like to use some of the US tracks. Then maybe season 3 use European tracks.

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Mirfee

I hear your cries, o people.

Season 2 will be on American soil... Mid-Ohio, Watkins Glen, Laguna Seca, Sears Point... so many to choose from!

Season 3 will be on the monster tracks of legend... Spa, LeMans, the biggest Nurburgring I can find... and others?

How's dem sound?

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xTYBALTx

Imola!

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A policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy. -F.A. Hayek

Mirfee

Imola, of course!

I think series 2 and 3 are going to have to be more events than the 4 of series 1 we're about to finish. So many good tracks.

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Mirfee

Following the registration of our League at the GPCOS stat site, I started to put into place some new structure details. These ideas are moving forward, but can be adjusted if there's substantial concern or opposition.

Revised - Qualifying Point Structure:
- Will not have a cap per season per driver. Instead, points earned are just for the top 3 qualifiers, and on a fixed and much smaller scale than before.

• First = 3pts
• Second = 2pts
• Third = 1 pt

Revised - Feature Race Point Structure:
- Now uses a fixed point system, rather than a dynamic one based on roster size (upped to a maximum of 20 positions... the anticipated limit the server/connection can host).

• First = 20pts
• Second = 16pts
• Third = 12pts
• Fourth through Tenth = 10pts
• Eleventh through Twentieth = 5pts

• The following incremental breakdown is shown to describe the cumulative value that position finishes result in. The point values cover a larger spread to provide more increments between positions, while still having substantial value for podium finishes.
  • Finish race: 5pts
  • Finish in Top Ten: +5pts
  • Finish Third: +2pts
  • Finish Second: +6pts
  • Finish First: +10pts

NEW - Feature Race Bonus Points:
- These bonus categories are provided in the GPCOS tracking system. As such, I opted to utilize it. I have set the point values per my judgment.

• Fastest Laptime: +1 bonus pt
• Lead a Lap: +1 bonus pt
• Most Lead Laps: +1 bonus pt

NEW - Teams:
- GPCOS requires team structures within each league. Each driver must choose a team before participating.
- For the time being, I have set up two teams for drivers to roster with.

• TG Alpha (TGA)
• TG Bravo (TGB)

- For the purpose of the next race series, these will be the only teams registered in TGRL. I've decided on this course simply as a means of development for the League and its use of GPCOS. As we go along, more flexibility can and will be allowed pending evaluation of this current setup.
- Think of these 2 teams more as sub-leagues within TGRL... kinda like American League and National League in baseball. Proper teams (like 2 drivers per) can be established farther down the line when we get the League more ironed out.
- I want teams to be generally balanced for now, so I will suggest the rosters based on results from series one which will be complete with this last race.


I'll post more as I think of it. Please reply with your thoughts, concerns, suggestions, whatever.

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RocketPunch

^^^ Man! Nicely done!

The Race Bonus Points might even be a bigger factor in future races if at some point TGRL implements a mandatory pit stop system. The pieces are coming to together nicely, thanks for your work Mirf.

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Slow is Smooth. Smooth is Fast!

Mirfee

How about adding a rule stating that you have to race with the same fuel load as you qualify with? This is common in some real world racing series.

Also, what about mandatory pitstops? How do people feel about adding this? Just for point leaders to keep the field closer? I don't want to cripple any drivers, so perhaps it's not fair to penalize the most talented ones. The racing does tend to divide into groups of skill level, so the internal challenges tend to fit the drivers involved in them. Hmmm... Thoughts please.

I'm also looking into making rolling starts possible (rather than the standing starts) - this will mean a warmup lap before the green flag. Tires and such should be in better performance range so perhaps first lap spins and the like can be reduced. We'll see.

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Turbo

All sounds like good ideas to me Mirfee, I am willing to try anything you have in mind. Is it possible to invert the field after qualifying?

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