I joined the race server yesterday to see how the mod was doing, and discovered that the weapons were completely disabled — even removed on some maps. Not only that, but the players could run through each other. In other words, the player interaction had been completely removed from the game. For me, that completely removes the point of online gaming. If the players can't interact, then there's no point in playing online. Also, merely running around in circles is (imho) boring.

But I like the idea of a race mod. Here's how I would like to see it done:

1. Make it a team game. With weapons that work.

2. Each team has to complete a given number of laps of the map in order to win. Say, 50 (less for large maps). It doesn't matter which of the players run around the track, just like it doesn't matter which players cap the flag in CTF.
This will allow some players to race around the track and complete laps while the rest interfere with the other team's runners.

3. A lap is a full circuit from finish line to finish line. You can't start in the middle, even if you spawn there. If you get fragged halfways through, you have to start the lap over. You have to do the control points in the right order.

4. Optional "for fun" rule: When a player completes his or her fourth lap in a row (without being fragged, that is), an icon appears above the player's head and stays there until the fifth lap is completed. If that player completes the fifth sequential lap, his or her team gets awarded *two* laps, not one. Ditto for a player's ninth, fourteenth, etc lap.
The icon above the player's head is there to tell the other team that they really need to stop that particular player.

Clueless Newbie wrote:Not only that, but the players could run through each other. In other words, the player interaction had been completely removed from the game.

It seems you played on qualifying mode only... When all the players ready up (F4) it switches to race mode, with the fastest players in qualifying starting first.

1. Make it a team game. With weapons that work.

Done. g_race_teams something, can't remember.

2. Each team has to complete a given number of laps of the map in order to win. Say, 50 (less for large maps). It doesn't matter which of the players run around the track, just like it doesn't matter which players cap the flag in CTF.
This will allow some players to race around the track and complete laps while the rest interfere with the other team's runners.

Done, though the interference is made harder with the anticamping system. It is still possible to focus on interference while racing, when teammates focus on racing.

3. A lap is a full circuit from finish line to finish line. You can't start in the middle, even if you spawn there. If you get fragged halfways through, you have to start the lap over. You have to do the control points in the right order.

Almost done. In qualifying mode you respawn at the finish line, in racing mode you respawn before the last checkpoint. (that's sort of the purpose of a checkpoint, isn't it?)

4. Optional "for fun" rule: When a player completes his or her fourth lap in a row (without being fragged, that is), an icon appears above the player's head and stays there until the fifth lap is completed. If that player completes the fifth sequential lap, his or her team gets awarded *two* laps, not one. Ditto for a player's ninth, fourteenth, etc lap.
The icon above the player's head is there to tell the other team that they really need to stop that particular player.

Could be appreciated by some players... I don't care, personally.

There are four modes in the race game mode:

1. Qualifying. Completely independent players race for the best time.
2. Race. All start at once, and the first one to complete N laps wins. Full interference between players works.
3. Team Race. All start at once, and the team first to complete N laps (added up) wins.
4. Race session. Qualifying, then Race - and before the race, people start in the right order.

My server runs in "Race session" mode.

BTW, it oriignally just had the "Race" mode, and people complained all the time about being able to shoot others.

divVerent wrote:There are four modes in the race game mode:
1. Qualifying. Completely independent players race for the best time.

i would call it "Time Trial"

Sure, Qualifying-only is a time trial... but it was meant to be used not alone, but before the real race.

divVerent wrote:Sure, Qualifying-only is a time trial... but it was meant to be used not alone, but before the real race.

Still not sure what that qualifying thing is for, but; I stumbled into the race server (my level was on — how could I resist? ) just now, and everybody was yelling at everybody to press f4 so the race could begin. Needless to say, there was at least one player who did not press f4.

The need for everybody to press f4 has to go. There will always be a player who will not press f4, either because he doesn't get it or because he's a jerk. Always.
Instead, why not let there be a ten second "preparation time" at the beginning of each game where the players can run around without being able to affect each other.

Not that I see the point of a qualifying time trial.

"vcall allready"