Right, where to start...lol.
Got the same problem
at the start of ss1, and i did make sure my firewall was aware of the RSCenter update. Joined for ss2 after RSC restart and it was fine, i suppose i should have joined on-line rally before the event.
My thoughts about realistic damage.
1 hour before the start of the rally, i tested both cars on ss1, 2 passes in each. And had very similar thoughts to Warren, not much difference as i went ( lightly ) into some barriers, the damage received was only slightly more then it would had been with reduced.
On ss2 i didn't hit anything, ss3 still enjoying myself i hit this little tree on right hand bend, 80% down the stage. It wasn't very hard at all, but the engine was dead. Ok, i thought, this is realistic damage and i can't expect to get away with broken radiator or gearbox. A bit hash imo, but i could accept that. ss4 started very well and i was still enjoying myself, but with this cloud over my head, i NEED to stay clean. 90% over and i went into a tight right out of shape and hit a post with 5!!! km\h on my clock, engine dead
. Thats not what i was expecting at all. Very unrealistic. ss5 comes and the fun is totally gone, replaced with caution. I still push and get the car to roll, when it comes back to track after CFH i expect a wreck. Another surprise, no major damage
. The car feels very lose and on edge but drivable, i think i would have got worse ( or at least similar ) damage with reduced. I continue and got head on with a post near the end, not hard but not very light either. And guess what, i only got radiator damaged and could finish the stage.
ss6- light hit small tree at the very beginning, engine dead
ss7 - i,m thinking of quitting, very 1st time in my RBR carrier, but continue, no fun
ss8 - 50% down, tree again, engine dead
Out of 7 stages i run, i didnt finished 4. This hasn't happened to me in a long time. I didn't pushed to hard or was over aggressive with the car, in contrary, i really calmed down and understand how to drive in this game lately. Almost all my rallies were 100% finishes in the last few months. I think there is a problem with the realistic damage, IT IS NOT REALISTIC AT ALL TIMES, only sometimes. Its like a lottery to me.
I would recommend not to use it in the club rallies, its suppose to be fun, and realistic kills it imo. As for the championship, well, it would definitely put it on another level. Just to finish with cumulative realistic damage you would either need; a lot of practice or a very very cautious drive. Not fun. If we were ever to use realistic it would have to be only for the top class, as an extra challenge. But i still wouldn't like to see it.
Summary.
The realistic damage is to inconsistent imo, if you are a very clean driver you may get away with it for some time, until that little tree or post will reminds you of it. Its only for those who know the stages by heart, not for the casual player. I,m sure the red ink will back up my words.
http://www.speedyshare.com/files/28146284/R_ss5.rpl
This is my replay from ss5, with the big roll and head on post later, i shouldn't finished this stage at all if you could see how lightly i damaged the car in the stages i didn't finish ( no replay from those obviously ). Have a look Warren, you will see what i mean by saying this is UNREALISTIC ( inconsistent ).
Big GL to those still to run lol.
