B Spec tips....

[anniesdad]

Maybe it's me but I can't really see the point of this!

Had a quick tinker about with this and simply set the command to hard driving(?) and overtake and watched all the other cars drive off into the distance!!

So what's the point or am I missing something?

[tim2100]

Don't use push hard (Level 5) they will simply drive off the track from pushing to hard.

use level 3 or 4 and the overtake button. it will then drive quickly but not out drive itself.

[plfrench]

The way I think of B-Spec is that you have an imaginary driver working for you... The more races you enter him into the better he gets (hence the Driver skill section in the stats parts in "home". As he gets better he'll be able to push harder for longer without making mistakes...

To begin with he is hopeless on level 4 or 5 and keeps overcooking it and spinning off, but with practise he gets better.

Paul.

[pastor brian]

Man, just set it to push and overtake, then make it go 3x speed, go grab some food and come back to another race won.

[anniesdad]

Is there any point to it though? ie. do you have to go thru B-spec races to unlock cars/tracks etc? I'm assuming you do, but I can't honestly see me deriving any pleasure out of watching cars go round without me taking part!

That 3x thing sounds good though, how do you do that then?

[plfrench]

When in B-spec press R1 to swap from live cam to the stats screen. Once in here, hold down L1 and press right twice. This puts you in 3x speed.

It just seems to be another area of the game to have a go at, as I said earlier there are learning elements to the computers performance when it is driving for you, it is quite useful when you need to get some money in and don't have the time to play...

Paul.

[pastor brian]

I just use b-spec for those races I know I will win but dont feel like racing all 10 of the series.

[ocean1]

plfrench said:

When in B-spec press R1 to swap from live cam to the stats screen. Once in here, hold down L1 and press right twice. This puts you in 3x speed. It just seems to be another area of the game to have a go at, as I said earlier there are learning elements to the computers performance when it is driving for you, it is quite useful when you need to get some money in and don't have the time to play... Paul.

Wow the 3x speed thing will be usefull! Will try it tonight. B spec is just usefull to earn money/cars/tracks. Im only interested in free run improving on my times.

[anniesdad]

Had a fiddle with B-spec last night and it's dawned on me what it's for....to get mucho credits in as short a time as possible and to avoid having to take part in some of the more "tedious" races.

Thanks for the tips guys!

S

[anniesdad]

Also handy if you can't actually get in the top 3 in a particular race......

[barma16]

I was only going to use B-Spec for Endurance races that I wouldn't be able to do alone - I've heard talk of a 24hr Nordschleife race, but I haven't completed enough of the game yet to get there. If my "co-driver" needs training first, I'd better wheel him out a little more often!

[rj_vaughan]

There are plenty of LONG LONG endurance races where x3 speed up will be very useful.

More than one 24hr race, that is still 8hrs at x3

[barma16]

[redacted]

[s2gonzo]

barma16 said:

Oooooh Please tell me there's a 24h du Mans on the pre-chicane circuit so I can relive 1988 (once I've earned 3.5million credits!)

Ok, there's a 24h du Mans on the pre-chicane circuit. and one at the post chicane circuit too.

I must say I have used B-spec often (usually in the middle of a 5 race championship.

Main tip is dont use the Push hard option until he has a bit of experience* or some warm tyres. He will throw it off a few times. To get past the pack at the start dont just switch the overtake on and forget about it. He will just act like a numpty and keep ramming the guy in front. Pick the moment when you would overtake and hit the button, you will find he does a nice out brake into the bend etc. Leave the button down until you are clear of the car you passed and he will actually defend his position/line.

Once clearly in the lead I usually down the pace slightly and go to x3 mode.

*After using my B-spec driver a bit he can now go "push hard" from the start without the numpty spins or ramming the rear of the other AI, he will also overtake on his own when in Push hard mode.
Quite cool watching him outbrake another AI car into first place into a corner without me even pressing the overtake button.

[tim2100]

rj_vaughan said:

There are plenty of LONG LONG endurance races where x3 speed up will be very useful. More than one 24hr race, that is still 8hrs at x3

With the x3 speed it will only stay on that until a pitstop where it will go back into normal!!

[s2gonzo]

tim2100 said:

rj_vaughan said: There are plenty of LONG LONG endurance races where x3 speed up will be very useful. More than one 24hr race, that is still 8hrs at x3 With the x3 speed it will only stay on that until a pitstop where it will go back into normal!!

true, you need to monitor it every 11mins or so to flick it back to x3 mode.

[crazydave]

Trained my driver up and used him in the 1000 mile nurburgring race. I did the first two stints of about half an hour each until I was a good few minutes in the lead then just let him drive at a regular pace at x3. Easy.

[barma16]

So roughly how many B-Spec points do you need before your AI driver becomes competent enough to be left alone to get on with it for a while?

[crazydave]

I think mine has about 4000. They seem to need to get to know the car and the track. Not too sure though - the manual never gives enough information.

[barma16]

Christ, I haven't got that many A-Spec points yet! Still, I've got a long way to go before I unlock the endurance races too, so I guess there's time to catch up. Thanks!

While we're talking points, and without wishing to stray too far O/T, what good do A-Spec points do? Are they just there as a yardstick for how difficult the races are, or does accumulating them bring you some benefit? Didn't read every word in the manual I admit, but I didn't see anything on this...