Good points.
It can seem daunting compared to the simplicity of say a console title with all assists on.
I am pretty new to R Factor with just short of 2 years experience incl RF1.
Under my list of discussion points for the introductory/driver development series is a list of resources. Such as
-Track guide done on Youtube
-Reading list of some existing stuff eg Ramon Van Rijns setup guide for Race 07, Racer Alex's Advanced F1 setup guide.
A guide to RF2 is an interesting challenge in terms of where to start and where to stop. There is so much to know. For example I am unable to skin a car, don't even know why we have mods to race online but play with setup quite a lot and have learnt much from recent VWEC.
I did write an advanced drivers guide to F1 2011 that maybe I could adapt as long as I clearly defined the scope to the stuff I know.
The other thing is that many people these days will watch a tutorial on Youtube for 20 mins but cant read for more than 5 mins.Maybe a multimedia approach is needed.
Written, -Drivers Guide to RF2 (technique, tactics, nuances of certain cars) then
Base developed Setups- for ISI cars to download here on RD
Youtube-other.
Yes for sure its crying out for an intoductory guide to the tricky stuff.
The idea of the base setups is brilliant! I actually feel that the default setups are lacking a bit in rF2 as compared to say GSC. This is an excellent way for the community to step in i think. If baseline defaults that work well and safe can be supplied to the new racers, with explanations of what is changed from stock and why, it would both open the eyes of them to setting up the cars and at the same time giving a good foundation to practice with...
For instance, the classic and retro f1 setups of GSC2013, supplied stock with the som is far safer and simpler to race than say classic F1 or modern formulas in rF2. Not necessarily faster, but simpler setups to get to grips with and do laps from the get go.
I actually observed this first hand, when i introduced an old friend recently to sim racing. He has no sim racing background, not even on consoles.
In the classic F1 and stock cars of gsc2013 he was comfortable, not fast, but comfortable, on the stock setups and started learning the tracks.
In rF2 he tried the skippy, classic F2 and C6 and was uncomfortable on the defaults. He kept spinning out, got frustrated and eventually gave up, without looking at the tracks or learning the lines at them.
With better defaults from the community, and explanations of how to achieve the effects he would probably have liked it more.
I gave him one of my sets for the skippy and he then thought it was a blast...
Now, to keep something on topic, i must say i have now swayed from the civic back to the classic F2. Took it for a spin earlier and got reminded how great it really is. Just the right amount of power and very clear feeling of what it is up to. That and the Brabhams are probably the best sim cars driveable right now.