B2O GT3 League Testing - AI to fill the grid

[Kenadian]

Hello all,

We're now deep in testing revival of Band of Others GT3 Sprint League; this time around including AI Drivers ensuring a full grid every race.

As prior, we're loosely emulating the real world Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe now with World Challenge Europe Drivers/Liveries, race against Teams such as WRT, Akkodis ASP, Iron Lynx and more.

League invites sent to @Anson Bennette, @Fromthenavy, @Deb, @Kinger, @Skid_Marc_, @Nejtun, and @Noodleguitar.

Should you wish to join in the fun, go to Leagues/Find a League and type Band of Others or 9396 (our League ID) and apply.

Some changes of note:

1. One Session consisting of
   • 50 minute Practice
   • 10 minute Open Qualify
   • 60 minute Race
2. Fixed Vehicle Setups
3. Pit for Tires and Fuel
4. Three fast repairs

Currently we're running two sessions weekly, every Friday night at 6 PM and 8 PM EST, with week 13 being a drop week.

Drivers should all be in Discord during the event. Not only is it good for race comms but also part of the fun of being in a Community Racing League.

Hope to see you on track!

 

[Skid_Marc_]

I love Thursday's, personally.

The biggest thing is just learning how the AI races you, and figuring out their quirks; understanding they're slow in the corners and fast on the straights, and learn how to try and anticipate their actions. It was a blast being back and racing with a group again!

 

[Kenadian]

I love Thursday's, personally.

The biggest thing is just learning how the AI races you, and figuring out their quirks; understanding they're slow in the corners and fast on the straights, and learn how to try and anticipate their actions. It was a blast being back and racing with a group again!

Yeah, it was a complete blast, I really didn't realize how much I missed doing this.

Also, I may have found a way around the corner speed issue. Apparently it's as you thought initially, the AI is likely a bit quicker on the straights to balance their speed in cornering. Cornering is tied to AI skill which is set either in my roster.json and/or the skill slider when setting up the session.

Given most of the AI is too slow in corners and too fast on straights it may be feasible to set all AI skill to 100% (giving them best cornering speed) and set their engine power output to values ranging from say 95% - 100%.

 

[Skid_Marc_]

I've added custom iRacing Baseline setups for (almost) all iRacing GT3 cars to the Discord (I realized as I was typing "all" that I didn't save the BMW Z4 GT3). They're in a Discord channel #league_fixed_setups. It may be set up as "mod-only", I'm not really sure when it comes to Discord channel settings. Regardless, you should be able to see it @Kenadian !

 

[Kenadian]

Awesome, thanks Marc.

 

[Ogami Itto]

I'm so looking forward to trying this! Thanks for going to the effort of research and setting it up. Let me know what I can do to help.

 

[Kenadian]

I'm so looking forward to trying this! Thanks for going to the effort of research and setting it up. Let me know what I can do to help.

Showing up and giving feedback of any kind is super helpful.

In short order I'll post the grid in the forums as a reference so we can start reporting AI Drivers. It may be useful to ask participants to save a clipped replay of the event so we can assess AI behavior and tweak settings to make them better Drivers.

For tonight's race we'll be running a heavily modified grid where AI Drivers between 90% - 100% skill with modified engine power values.

This high skill setting means some cars might be a bit slower in corners but should no longer park like they do currently. It also should allow for passing opportunities in corners as well as on straights.

Hopefully this addresses the cornering speed issue immediately.

If it doesn't work I can easily revert to our previous grid as the current grid is being retained.

 

[Deb]

What time does testing start and what track?

 

[Kenadian]

What time does testing start and what track?

I'm not sure as it's due to Mikes work schedule.

I'll probably be in Discord around 5 PM EST today just monkeying around, likely streaming at the same time.

 

[Skid_Marc_]

Kinger posted in Discord that he'll be on any time after 5PM PDT, but I can start earlier. 5PM EDT works fine for me if we want to do a couple more. Pretty sure @Kenadian said we're running Sonoma today, @Deb!

 

[Kenadian]

Kinger posted in Discord that he'll be on any time after 5PM PDT, but I can start earlier. 5PM EDT works fine for me if we want to do a couple more. Pretty sure @Kenadian said we're running Sonoma today, @Deb!

lol Sonoma isn't an AI ready track so it won't be that.

I was thinking Hockenheimring, Nürburgring Circuit, or re-trying Suzuka.

 

[Deb]

I don't have Hockenheim, although no problem buying it, but I'll suck (more than usual) since it will be new. I probably can't be on to drive until around 7 central.

 

[Skid_Marc_]

Of those three, I'd recommend Suzuka just to see if it's a bug, or something we need to contact iRacing about. Hockenheim is a better GP circuit than Nurburgring, unless we're doing the full 'ring, but I feel like a 14-mile race track would make "AI Tuning" a little difficult. "What'd they do?" "I'm not sure, lets try to get back to that spot 8 minutes from now and see if they do it again..."

 

[Skid_Marc_]

Here is a full list of AI Enabled tracks on iRacing

77 Unique Tracks
39 Road Courses + 4 Rovals
~94 Layouts Suitable for League

I've opened up the link to commentators, so maybe comment by the tracks that you own (if that's how it works? I'm not sure...)? Green tracks are free, Gray tracks are Ovals, Blue Tracks are what I would consider staples (community favorites?).

Also, note that the only AI-enabled versions of the Nordschleife include the Nurburgring GP circuit, so you would need to own BOTH the 'Ring and the GP circuits to run one of those layouts.

 

[Jes_971]

@Kenadian @Skid_Marc_ Are you guys running this week?

 

[Kenadian]

@Kenadian @Skid_Marc_ Are you guys running this week?

Every Thursday bro

Sessions begin 5 PM EST.

 

[Deb]

Just FYI, we're running Road America this week

Are you doing two sessions, 5 PM est is too early for me? I thought last week it started around 7:30 est.

 

[Kenadian]

Just FYI, we're running Road America this week

Are you doing two sessions, 5 PM est is too early for me? I thought last week it started around 7:30 est.

We'll be running two sessions as we've been doing since the beginning of League testing, 5 PM EST being the earliest Race.

 

[Jes_971]

We'll be running two sessions as we've been doing since the beginning of League testing, 5 PM EST being the earliest Race.

The 5pm slot is perfect for me. I'm in bed by 7pm EST and up at 3am EST through the week.

 

[Deb]

The 5pm slot is perfect for me. I'm in bed by 7pm EST and up at 3am EST through the week.

That sucks!!!