Forum topic: Research level

#329 by James Ford
I thought that perhaps this may be dealt with by 'rule changes' between one season and the next. When the rules for a part change dramatically then developing a brand new part would give better results that evolving the old...

This is already implemented. If the rules are loosened up, then your brand new parts have the potential to go higher than before.

#329 by James Ford
Or even disallowing evolved parts for the next season if they're not legal due to rule changes...

This is planned to be introduced very soon.

#340 by James Ford
Curious to see how the new change relating to part degradation will work, I have my concerns...

Why? Yesterday you literally wrote "Well, via a succession of evolutions from the original part over the last couple of seasons. No point 'developing new' when evolving the old part keeps the higher potential...". The change prevents you from doing that.

I'm in complete agreement that something needed to be done. I'm a little concerned that parts will soon even out to the max research level and it may take teams a little longer to be able to get the design team to raise that...

Will see how it goes though!

EDIT: Also, seeing the cars get gradually slower is going to be bit strange. Will this push all teams closer together in pace?

This is already implemented. If the rules are loosened up, then your brand new parts have the potential to go higher than before.

Great, I really like that. Is it implemented for a tightening up of the rules as well? I see it as an opportunity for new ingenious designs to try to get around stricter rules - although the part may still be slower overall...

@James: The intended rule changes when research was implemented was bring the levels of development back down to levels of that of your head designer. So now that Frank has implemented the degradation of the parts & designs this should remove the overly high rate parts from the game.

So everyone will see drops some more then others and yes it will take time to build back up over seasons but will reflect a realistic change as Head designer shouldn't step in for a season or 2 and have success right away increase your design team. This takes take in real life and now is reflected here.

@Dan: You mentioned that your designer is all superb; How do you know this to be true? Mine reports all superb but I know he is very good (which is reflected in my max research levels) This blows away my thoughts of the max research level being Good!! LOL!!

@Frank: Thank you for the changes and this does answer all of the question that we had but as you know will create new ones!!! But Great Changes if they work as intended!!

@Frank: Maybe this will clear somethings up for other managers and myself: Head Designers plus junior staff build up over time to create a Max Research level or Design Level?

Example: Head Designer ( All Superb), Junior (All Good) & Junior (all Good) just placed together means a more likely Good rating rather then a rating some where in between?

Or is the breakdown like 50% of head designer skill + 25% junior + 25% junior = 100% rating

Meaning if you don't have junior staff you effectively cut your head designers skills in half?

Great work Frank - only prob is i have been planning on the basis of the current rules so don't quite have the budget for constant development over the course of the season to keep the high levels of development (i expect to achieve soon). oh well back to the drawing board!

I wouldn't expect constant development to be required Dan. Frank said that parts and designs would probably drop a max of 2 levels over the course of a season so a Superb part would finish the season as a Very Good part. Each part is only likely to need developing a few times per season and its not too expensive compared to other things, hopefully you can renegotiate the crazy wages of your staff.

@Daniel: Sadly it's the same for most of us!! Since Now I need to build up my research just to have a decent car for next season but this is the way it should have been from the start so life moves on and time to find other ways of doing things

Staff Wages will recalculate by season 6 for most staff members so I wouldn't be completely worried about your high staff wages plus I am actually making money this season by simply finishing races rather then winning or podium finishing. So Staff wages are correct atm even if we don't like paying as much as we are for the buggers!!

Even with the new changes, we are going to see a perfect car that can't be improved at some point I would guess? (although it will take some development to keep it there...)

I guess so James but it would take a lot of resources to get to that level of a car. Like a Level 5 HQ with ability to design & produce a full car almost every week plus staff to be able to do so!! All Superb Head designer & 2 All Superb junior designers.

So I am not sure if anyone is going to be able to afford to create an perfect car when Excellent (or Good Enough) will do!!