Since the R&D system is remaining unchanged for 2016 I propose this idea for 2017:
- The current problem -
It's well documented on this forum that the main problem the 2016 career mode has is the limitation in how much R&D we can do. Many of us can complete and fully develop a team within two seasons which leads to the car we've brought up inevitably falling back down the order to where it started. Eventually, we get season 1 results after all R&D is completed removing any need to continue with that career. However, simply giving us new upgrades each season would eventually lead to all the cars setting lap times that are unrealistically quick in the later seasons due to the performance gain each upgrade provides.
- Solutions -
I've thought up a two solutions for this going forward. (Solutions I'm sure many others have thought up as well but I thought I'd highlight them with this topic and hopefully it reaches CM).
Solution 1: Give us a fresh set of 25 (or however many) upgrades each season and reduce the impact of each upgrade. If each upgrade has less impact it will take longer for a team to move forward (as it is for real) which would hugely reduce the likelihood of Manor being a top team within two seasons. This would also mean that season 10 laptimes won't be so unrealistic. Finer balancing would be required so certain AI teams don't upgrade too much in one go (I saw STR bang out four upgrades in my last race which jumped them from 7th to 3rd quickest). New upgrades each season would also mean players would have to think about which upgrades to develop as we wouldn't get all 25 each season.
Solution 2: Combine the current R&D system and the 2011/2012 tier system. I'm suggesting this as it would remove any chance of cars getting too quick while keeping the unpredictable changes. Right now, Ferrari start season 1 as the third fastest car and lets say they're setting 1.34's at the opening race (Probably all wrong but this is just an example for the point). Lets say Mclaren end season 1 as the third fastest car after the R&D. This solution would mean that the Mclaren's are now setting 1.34's in the opening race and effectively start the season as the previous seasons Ferrari. Naturally, we would get a full set of upgrades back and it all starts again and say Renault have climbed to the third fastest car at the end of season 2, then they would start season 3 setting 1.34's in the opening race. Obviously, driver balancing would have something of an effect: Vettel would be setting the 1.34's in season 1, Alonso would match that in season 2 but Palmer might be half a second off that despite having the third best car which would bring a bit more variation in results.
Either of these I would be happy with going forward and if they were to add other elements such as winter testing, it would be great to see if you finish a season as fifth fastest car for example but develop enough over the winter testing then you could actually end up starting the following season second, or if it goes badly, lower than where you finished the season.
If no winter testing, then allow us to spend upgrade points during the final race weekend so we can start the season with purchased upgrades rather than jumping forward suddenly between round 1 and 2.
- The current problem -
It's well documented on this forum that the main problem the 2016 career mode has is the limitation in how much R&D we can do. Many of us can complete and fully develop a team within two seasons which leads to the car we've brought up inevitably falling back down the order to where it started. Eventually, we get season 1 results after all R&D is completed removing any need to continue with that career. However, simply giving us new upgrades each season would eventually lead to all the cars setting lap times that are unrealistically quick in the later seasons due to the performance gain each upgrade provides.
- Solutions -
I've thought up a two solutions for this going forward. (Solutions I'm sure many others have thought up as well but I thought I'd highlight them with this topic and hopefully it reaches CM).
Solution 1: Give us a fresh set of 25 (or however many) upgrades each season and reduce the impact of each upgrade. If each upgrade has less impact it will take longer for a team to move forward (as it is for real) which would hugely reduce the likelihood of Manor being a top team within two seasons. This would also mean that season 10 laptimes won't be so unrealistic. Finer balancing would be required so certain AI teams don't upgrade too much in one go (I saw STR bang out four upgrades in my last race which jumped them from 7th to 3rd quickest). New upgrades each season would also mean players would have to think about which upgrades to develop as we wouldn't get all 25 each season.
Solution 2: Combine the current R&D system and the 2011/2012 tier system. I'm suggesting this as it would remove any chance of cars getting too quick while keeping the unpredictable changes. Right now, Ferrari start season 1 as the third fastest car and lets say they're setting 1.34's at the opening race (Probably all wrong but this is just an example for the point). Lets say Mclaren end season 1 as the third fastest car after the R&D. This solution would mean that the Mclaren's are now setting 1.34's in the opening race and effectively start the season as the previous seasons Ferrari. Naturally, we would get a full set of upgrades back and it all starts again and say Renault have climbed to the third fastest car at the end of season 2, then they would start season 3 setting 1.34's in the opening race. Obviously, driver balancing would have something of an effect: Vettel would be setting the 1.34's in season 1, Alonso would match that in season 2 but Palmer might be half a second off that despite having the third best car which would bring a bit more variation in results.
Either of these I would be happy with going forward and if they were to add other elements such as winter testing, it would be great to see if you finish a season as fifth fastest car for example but develop enough over the winter testing then you could actually end up starting the following season second, or if it goes badly, lower than where you finished the season.
If no winter testing, then allow us to spend upgrade points during the final race weekend so we can start the season with purchased upgrades rather than jumping forward suddenly between round 1 and 2.