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Board » Sailonline Yacht Club » timed races - ghost for the leading boat

Posted by
NZL_Scotsman


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2008-10-04 07:59:40
2012-04-15 08:32:46 - timed races - ghost for the leading boat
A suggestion for the timed race: I'd like to be able to chase the best finisher to date. This could be a "ghost" that moves at the same time. This would be similar to some car driving games I've played on xbox and ps.
Posted by
NZL_PaulR


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2008-07-22 12:21:30
2012-04-15 08:57:26 - Re: timed races - ghost for the leading boat
Great Idea. Perhaps the "Fastest 9 or 10" depending upon number of colours??

Perhaps a Fleet drop down option to show "ALL BOATS" or "TOP 10 ONLY". That way one could still check on the fleet.


Only problem is how to get all the dust out of my eyes . . . LOL!!!
If it breaks, it's not strong enough!
Posted by
captjack1942


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2008-01-18 03:24:03
2012-04-17 03:14:13 - Re: timed races - ghost for the leading boat
Not sure what you're asking for Scot? Unless you have a boat list and select "only show this list", and the leader is not on your list, the track of the leader is on the screen.
Also, unless you are within a few minutes of leaving at the same time on timed races, your best course may very well be different because of changing wind patterns. So just following someone else's course could very well be a disadvantage.
Posted by
NZL_PaulR


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2012-04-17 05:43:05 - Re: timed races - ghost for the leading boat
Yes I agree, but equally NOT sailing that previous course and doing something different may well be a winning strategy.

Hence my suggestion to show the top 9 or 10 so that different "best" strategies can be compared and still allow one to do something totally different.

The only reason for 9 or 10 is to fit the number of trail colours that can be seen on the screen. I stick to M$oft's 16 basic colours.

What male knows what "mauve" looks like???
It is hard enough remembering that "Cyan" is really BLUE!!
--- Last Edited by NZL_PaulR at 2012-04-17 05:43:28 ---

--- Last Edited by NZL_PaulR at 2012-04-17 05:45:38 ---
If it breaks, it's not strong enough!
Posted by
NZL_Scotsman


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2012-04-17 07:55:43 - Re: timed races - ghost for the leading boat
The concept of a ghost is that the boat that is leader "departs" at the same time as you. The lead boat progresses along its track at the speed when it sailed. So you can easily see how you are doing against the leading boat. This is very obvious in fleet races as everyone started at the same time, but very unclear with timed races.

Of course the wx changes and so the course and speed changes. But I'd like to see where gains and losses are being made. Otherwise I feel I'm sailing alone when doing a timed race, and I like the company when on the water.
Posted by
AGage


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2008-12-27 10:31:57
2012-04-17 08:56:08 - Re: timed races - ghost for the leading boat
I understand exactly what you mean Scotsman...
Problem is it would require the server to save timestamp information with each boat's track point (because who knows who is going to end up #1 or for how long) - and then send that out to the client.

And probably many more track points, otherwise you would only see the ghost boat move to each point (which is a change of direction usually) - so no good for long stretches on the same heading - although possibly the client could interpolate between... Would not be an easy feature to implement, and with the number of timed races run each year, development time is probably better spent elsewhere ??

But is a good idea, and we will keep it in mind for when some server-side development starts up :-)
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__
Posted by
AGage


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2012-04-17 09:01:25 - Re: timed races - ghost for the leading boat
TBH - the concept of timed races is quite a lonely one....
And possibly part of the attraction for some SOLers

Probably what could be another idea (and easier to make happen) is a count-down clock starting at the current #1 time ??
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__
Posted by
NZL_Scotsman


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2012-04-17 10:21:03 - Re: timed races - ghost for the leading boat
I like the countdown idea. I end up looking up the results page to see how I'm doing mid race. The countdown would make that easier.

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