This is a simple one, but I still want to run it by you guys to make sure I haven't missed anything obvious. Topic is a weight ballast system for performance balancing of cars/players, particularly in MP but also for single player stuff as well. Here's what I've got:
Manual Adjustments (Balance of Performance)Ballast can be added to balance the performance of cars when setting up an event/championship for single and multiplayer modes by the event creator. Ballast weight can be added up to a maximum defined for each vehicle in 1kg steps.
Balance of Performance options will be given a dedicated screen in race setup with controls for ballast, allowed tire selection and air restrictor diameter adjustments. This will be added as a sub-menu from the screen where allowed vehicles are selected.
Balance of Performance weight ballast will apply to all players using a given car.
Automatic Adjustments (Success Ballast)Additional weight will be added to a player’s vehicle, up to a pre-defined maximum, based on previous race results in a series/championship/group of races in either single or multiplayer mode. This weight penalty would not have an effect outside of the specific series where Success Ballast is set to be active.
Success ballast is added or removed based on finishing position according to the following table. (numbers subject to change after testing)
1st place: +20% max ballast
Finish in top 13%: +15% max ballast
Finish in top 24%: +10% max ballast
Finish in top 38%: +5% max ballast
Finish in top 50%: no change to ballast
Finish in top 68%: -10% max ballast
Finish in top 80%: -20% max ballast
Last place: -30% ballast
Success ballast is cumulative up to 100% of the maximum ballast value for a given car, is calculated individually for each player in the series/championship, and is on top of any Balance of Performance ballast added by the championship creator. The total of success ballast + BoP ballast cannot exceed the maximum ballast value for a car.
Success ballast will be added as a true/false switch grouped with other realism options such as allowed driving aids, flag rules, fuel/tire wear multipliers, etc. The amount applied to each player should be displayed in the results screen.