Caveat: I freely admit that I haven't had the time to think this through thoroughly. It's just an idea that sprung to mind following a conversation I had recently with danowat on another thread, so sorry if it's been suggested/tried before.
I thought I'd just throw it in for people to talk about and to flame or suggest ideas for, as the mood takes them.
Becky and Sam, I apologise ahead of time if you feel that this is not for the CTRA. We all know and appreciate that the CTRA belongs to you guys and that it's you guys who do all the hard work. So, please feel free to close, nuke or otherwise influence this thread as you see fit. It really is, just an idea.
OK. Here we go.
As the thread title suggests, how about a CTRA Bootcamp Server?
What prompted this?
Numerous discussions on the CTRA forums about inexperienced and/or inconsiderate drivers causing problems on the servers (a perennial problem, I think) and most recently addressed in Becky's 'Single Seater' thread.
Why such a server?
Because a prospective (note the word, prospective) CTRA licence holder would be given the opportunity to demonstrate a level of maturity and racecraft in preparation for joining the main servers.
It would hopefully provide a filtering process to differentiate between those who are merely inexperienced but keen to learn and those who are just plain inconsiderate. It would also mean that only one CTRA server has to suffer the sometimes painful indoctrinations of some newcomers, rather than two (i.e. the current Race 1 and SS 1 servers).
The effort required in taking part in Bootcamp would hopefully dissuade casual, fly-by wreckers from continuing further.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, to provide 'genuine' new and/or inexperienced drivers a place to race where the emphasis is on learning racecraft rather than pursuing points.
How would it work?
Suggestions welcome here, but one or two concepts/ideas just for starters:
So, please remember that this is not a detailed proposal. I haven't come prepared with all the arguments and answers, only the concept, and like I said earlier, I really do appreciate that such things are far more easily said than done.
Please excuse me now, while I run for cover. :hide:
I thought I'd just throw it in for people to talk about and to flame or suggest ideas for, as the mood takes them.
Becky and Sam, I apologise ahead of time if you feel that this is not for the CTRA. We all know and appreciate that the CTRA belongs to you guys and that it's you guys who do all the hard work. So, please feel free to close, nuke or otherwise influence this thread as you see fit. It really is, just an idea.
OK. Here we go.
As the thread title suggests, how about a CTRA Bootcamp Server?
What prompted this?
Numerous discussions on the CTRA forums about inexperienced and/or inconsiderate drivers causing problems on the servers (a perennial problem, I think
) and most recently addressed in Becky's 'Single Seater' thread.Why such a server?
Because a prospective (note the word, prospective) CTRA licence holder would be given the opportunity to demonstrate a level of maturity and racecraft in preparation for joining the main servers.
It would hopefully provide a filtering process to differentiate between those who are merely inexperienced but keen to learn and those who are just plain inconsiderate. It would also mean that only one CTRA server has to suffer the sometimes painful indoctrinations of some newcomers, rather than two (i.e. the current Race 1 and SS 1 servers).
The effort required in taking part in Bootcamp would hopefully dissuade casual, fly-by wreckers from continuing further.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, to provide 'genuine' new and/or inexperienced drivers a place to race where the emphasis is on learning racecraft rather than pursuing points.
How would it work?
Suggestions welcome here, but one or two concepts/ideas just for starters:
- The need to complete a requisit number of 'clean' races.
- Learning how best to deal with T1's
- More experienced drivers (e.g. golds, platinums, titaniums) would be very welcome on the server, however their role would really need to be more one of mentor rather than competitor, so that new drivers could learn how to race safely with much faster drivers present. For example, short tracks with lots of laps might help with learning about dealing with blue flag situations.
- Quick lap times, while obviously desirable, would not be the be-all and end-all. Decent behaviour and race craft would be the point of focus. Not everyone can be fast, but everyone can learn what needs to be done on the race track when faced with any given situation (e.g. there's a blue flag and a fast driver behind me; what to I do now? A slow driver who has practiced what to do under these circumstances need not cause a problem in this situation.)
- The 'performance' requirements may not necessarily need to be very stringent. Simply being on the server for a predetermined period of time among the 'right kind' of people might help instill a certain 'mind set' if you will. A kind of, "Hmm, Bootcamp. OK these people clearly mean business and I need to behave accordingly." It sends out a message that racing on the CTRA servers is something to be valued.
So, please remember that this is not a detailed proposal. I haven't come prepared with all the arguments and answers, only the concept, and like I said earlier, I really do appreciate that such things are far more easily said than done.
Please excuse me now, while I run for cover. :hide:
