I'm starting a historic track project and noticed a track detail that many might consider impractical for sim racing. Knowing that forum posters are opinionated (heh-heh), which way do you lean: be true to real life or make it more friendly for sim racers? For this particular detail, the wide track runs along the edge of a lake and has no guardrail. No runoff room. No fence. No wall. Miss the turns and you would have ended up making a splash with the hydroplane racers. Should there be a version with a guardrail so the "no damage" server users can avoid having to exit a race?
IMO go for no barrier. That is the allure of historic tracks, just like rain, it forces you to slow down or race is over.
I would always personally stick with the realistic version, as the track is/was. I find part of the excitement and skill is driving in the tricky conditions. However i do see your point, could you not release a second "layout" that has the extra barriers etc so then it's up to people to decide if they want them or not. So for example: Layout 1 - True Historic Layout 2 - Historic (With extra safety) From the building point of view, it should not be much more difficult as you could just export the true historic version out of max without the extra guardrails etc.
Who hasn't hit a house at historic Spa? First time I did that in GPL I realized, wow, that really was a different era. I also started driving much more carefully (because I don't get a thrill from crashing, even spectacularly, on purpose).
If there is a consideration to do, make it just thinking about online racing. I mean, avoid the "falling from the world" effect that some RF1 track had, and make sure that nothing that can happen could disrupt fun.
Make the water a resistant surface (for impact), with a clear world wall underground limiting how far the car can go off, and ground properties similar to gravel boxes. That way there will be damage to the car but the person won't fall off and although they'll be able to rejoin, they'll need some time to drive on the gravel to rejoin.
Oh, Gui, you've given me an idea! I've always liked how the rF1 Vanport modeled the ponds at PIR: a translucent layer for the water surface and a driveable layer for the bottom. Add a transparent wall limiting travel and some exit signs with a short LOD so they're only seen when you're underwater and the splashers can be guided to rejoin the race.
If you don't want to make two versions (both identical except for sticking the wall in on the 2nd version), then I would just make the "proper" version.
Realistic all the way and that would mean no driving once you hit the bottom of the lake (unless your in a sub lol)
The guardrail would be there for safety, which is not applicable to sim-racing. If it did not exist historically, I wouldn't even consider adding it.
