Time for some ED racing

[Mav359]

This marker bouy is already an asset in the game in CQC. Isnt it about time to bring more parts of the assests that already exist int CQC into the main game? for me i'd like to see that deployed in racing scenarios

The bouy is already a working asset but we would need more of them, we would need a size to accomdate each size ship. In my mind FDEV could essentially create tracks then and lay out a series of bouys with a start and Finish marker and some basic lane guidance light markers. Even if they are only fixed markers created in the game for us to use, we can time ourseleves each other in our groups there doesnt need to be a scenario to join a race or in game timers (to start with) just simply design a track layout plonk it somewhere and let us use it, like a park gym its just there for us to go play with.

Theres so much variations as well

Theres orbital based tracks with Large Medium & Small markers laid out but they could also be Low flight tracks 200m of the ground, High-G 50m above ground, Canyon runs & a arch variant on the ground to allow us to race SRVs

Again no game play mechanic needs to be developed we can do that ourseleves just need a variation of an asset that already exists and a simple light marker created to lay out a track. As time goes by game world mechanics can be created, races to enter and win, time trials and maybe a 'SPORTS' solar system we could visit to find such places. Ships like the Viper & Mamba would have additional puropse, racing modules and engineer blueprints come down the road. New racing ships, SRVs and even racing SLF can be brought to the game along with even simple crowd based planetary settlements to race through

Again initially just plonk a fixed game assest in position and we'll manage ourseleves but i think theres a lot of potential and a good competition based element to rival combat

I've been exploring a lot so the minds been wandering

Just a thought

 

[Bottom Hat]

Are you aware of the buckeyball guys? They arrange racing events. If you're interested, I think @Alec Turner is someone to speak with

 

[Deleted member 121570]

There's also Elite Racers, discord here and there's a race this weekend
Markers would definitely be useful, but we usually manage ok with terrain / station / installation features tbh. Much of what you're thinking of is already in use, in game, and has been for ages. Here's a track from a couple years back as an example.

The CQC gate thing though would be a disaster. Imagine a close race with a few ships jostling for position?
Maybe if they made them a bit wider/bigger, but then you're just following a pre-defined line rather than choosing your own or finding the optimal. Either way, dumbs it down a bit imo anyway.

 

[Alec Turner]

Did somebody say racing?

@Mav359 ... you're not alone in wanting fdev to allow use of the cqc and training scenario gates as race markers. No real hint from FD that this might happen but the good news is that there's plenty of race action even without the gates (the game provides all sorts of things to act as markers or waypoints). For a bunch of standing time trial races check out buckyballracing.org.uk, and come and join our Discord (invite on that page) if you want to know more. There's also the Elite Racers who run some excellent live races, I can dig out a discord invite for them too for anyone that's interested.

Edit: oh cool, ninja'd by sanderling on the Elite Racers front!

 

[Deleted member 121570]

Did somebody say racing?

@Mav359 ... you're not alone in wanting fdev to allow use of the cqc and training scenario gates as race markers. No real hint from FD that this might happen but the good news is that there's plenty of race action even without the gates (the game provides all sorts of things to act as markers or waypoints). For a bunch of standing time trial races check out buckyballracing.org.uk, and come and join our Discord (invite on that page) if you want to know more. There's also the Elite Racers who run some excellent live races, I can dig out a discord invite for them too for anyone that's interested.

Ninja'd Alec. Fast

 

[Phoenix13]

Join r/eliteracers

 

[Mav359]

Did somebody say racing?

@Mav359 ... you're not alone in wanting fdev to allow use of the cqc and training scenario gates as race markers. No real hint from FD that this might happen but the good news is that there's plenty of race action even without the gates (the game provides all sorts of things to act as markers or waypoints). For a bunch of standing time trial races check out buckyballracing.org.uk, and come and join our Discord (invite on that page) if you want to know more. There's also the Elite Racers who run some excellent live races, I can dig out a discord invite for them too for anyone that's interested.

Edit: oh cool, ninja'd by sanderling on the Elite Racers front!

I'll have a look

 

[Marklar_]

Hmm, this might be a good excuse to dust off my Adder.

I'd like to see this be supported by the game too, with special paint jobs or whatever for winning events etc. Sure, it can be done now, but it would be so much better as an actual part of the game.

 

[Gwyther]

I've always thought it would be cool to have an actual racing circuit on a moon or planet somewhere in the bubble.
FDev could easily do it. We can then race around it, time ourselves, etc...

 

[Deleted member 121570]

It is a part of the game now though. FDev have awarded community paint packs as rewards for races.
There are actual racing circuits on planets, stations, etc. Groups of racers race on them frequently...
You can even make your own
I don't quite understand.

 

[Bottom Hat]

It is a part of the game now though. FDev have awarded community paint packs as rewards for races.
There are actual racing circuits on planets, stations, etc. Groups of racers race on them frequently...
You can even make your own
I don't quite understand.

Apologies btw for forgetting to link you guys when I posted mate

 

[Mav359]

Ive been having a look on you tube and the buckyball team do a good job i just think i'd like to see racing talked about in terms of Combat, Mining, Racing, Exploration

some tracks, sports systems dedicated vehicles. The sand box that is Elite is great and it allows us to do as the BB team do i just thinks sport in this case racing is a good next step to go big.

Deffo gonna check out the buckyball crowd more though

I feel a galactic sports news channel coming on

 

[Disemboweled Ego]

I think I'd be into this since I've played a lot of driving games, but this kind of stuff sounds easy to make until you think of all the quality-of-life stuff that should reasonably go with it - high scores, ghosts/replays, custom tracks, different types of tracks/game modes (circuit, point-to-point, time trial, race, deathrace with weapons, flying low/close to objects for points, speed trap, hit checkpoints in any order and more). Also all the UI stuff for discovering/hosting races.

I don't think you can just use the CQC gates either and have it work because of size and usability reasons - to make good tracks you should have clear indicators for the next gate too because going off track and getting lost isn't fun unless it's explicitly a longer navigation challenge.

There's a lot more than racing that could be done with just letting players put down persistent markers in the world though - mapped mining, treasure hunts, puzzles.

 

[Crank Larson]

with special paint jobs or whatever for winning events etc.

This already happens. FD do provide decals and paintjobs for some events.

As others have said, it would be awesome to have more tools in-game for racing. But we do have enough external tools now that we can set up and run races anywhere.

 

[Marklar_]

It is a part of the game now though. FDev have awarded community paint packs as rewards for races.
There are actual racing circuits on planets, stations, etc. Groups of racers race on them frequently...
You can even make your own
I don't quite understand.

Sure, but that's community-based DiY style, not really integrated into the game much. I mean like tracks you can go to anytime, beat a time trial within a certain time to win prizes/credits, maybe even race NPCs, etc. Like a profession in the game, with rankings and regular tournaments as an actual part of the game instead of a community activity.

 

[AkenBosch]

Oh, looks like others got here sooner than me. Not really different from most of the races then.

 

[Deleted member 121570]

Sure, but that's community-based DiY style, not really integrated into the game much. I mean like tracks you can go to anytime, beat a time trial within a certain time to win prizes/credits, maybe even race NPCs, etc. Like a profession in the game, with rankings and regular tournaments as an actual part of the game instead of a community activity.

Don't really see the need for an in-game 'profession' tho tbh. There are tracks you can go to right now, there are time trials you can do right now, with leaderboards, rankings within the race community itself etc. We have lists of tracks, maps, flythru vids and there are tournaments too

NPCs suck at everything, so why would racing em be any different?

Community activities are arguably the best bit of ED. This weekend there's a live race at 1800 UTC at the linked time trial course mentioned, with coordination/tracking in the ERF discord previously mentioned, which has 300+ people on it.

I just don't get this 'integrated into the game' thing. It's there, and to dismiss it cos it's "community" run is just weird.
I mean...FDev staff even get involved with ERF racing and throw in prizes sometimes too. They don't need to do much to put it into the game, because it's already in game. Up to you though whether you're interested in taking part, or not, as the case may be.

There's nothing that'll challenge your raw piloting skills and ship control as much as racing.

 

[Alec Turner]

Wanted to just drop this here too to showcase the kind of race events that are already happening in Elite: Dangerous.

This is the highlights from heat 6 of the Elite Racers Scarab Mastery Championship which took place last weekend at Deciat.

Also - tomorrow night's official Frontier Thursday livestream will be coming from Delkar where BlackMaze (the championship's organiser) will be guiding the CM's around some of the events slated for the next heat.