On the subject of Blue Flags

[Doorman]

I'd like to clear up or define our (dMr's) attitude to blue flags. I will state what I feel is right and you can kick the stuff out of me if you think I'm wrong.
The first thing I'd like to get out of the way is that we are not F1. There is no 'Three blue flags and you're out' rule.
As far as I can ascertain most governing bodies of competition motoring (certainly the RAC) see a blue flag as INFORMATION not INSTRUCTION. That is to say "watch out, there's a faster car coming up behind you" so you now know to be aware of this other driver. LFS does this very well by plastering a socking great notice across the screen. There is then, in my opinion, absolutely no call for spamming 'blue flag n00b' etc. It is bad mannered and not becoming dMr. (can't see anyone disagreeing with that eh Doors? :g:)
 
There are two sets of responsibilities at work here. One; Which I am very familiar with, is that of the driver being lapped. My method is as follows:
1: I get blue flagged
2: I check mirror and minimap to see how long I have before he is up my pipe!
3: I will continue on my own sweet way until such time as I know I'm about to impede his progress
4: IF I'm not in the middle of a bend or series of corners I will move over, off the racing line and maybe lift off. If he can't take advantage of that then he's probably not that fast and he'll have to wait for another go.
5: Assuming he gets by I say 'Git!' under my breath and he gives me a smiley.
The thing to remember is that I'm racing too and I might be trying like hell to catch the guy in front or trying like hell to stay out of the clutches of the guy behind me.

The second responsibility is that of the lapper.
It is the responsibility of the lapping driver to choose a time and a place to pass safely. Too often we see fast 'erbert overtake bang in the middle of a corner or chicane. More often than not this causes the overtaken driver to make a 'mistake' trying to avoid the rear of 'erbert's car as he sweeps majestically by. It comes down to this really; A blue flag is not a God given right to drive as though the other guy is an insignificant piece of track debris.
Many of the fast guys haven't have much experience of being lapped, at least not for a long time. All I ask is for CONSIDERATION. That goes for lappers and lapees.

Carry on, I'm ready for the kicking

[OldBloke]

Excellent post whose content should not come as any great surprise to dMr members.

[vobler]

It needs to be in this post ASAP
http://www.deadmen.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=168173&postcount=1

[Doorman]

It needs to be in this post ASAP
http://www.deadmen.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=168173&postcount=1

Good suggestion. Done.

[Aquilifer]

Yes, agree.

About that blue flag shouting...certainly if the lapped doesn't see the "BLUE FLAG" text middle of the screen he cannot see the small text shouting "blue flag - stay out of way noob" any better. Besides it is hell of annoying to see such a text many miles before he is even in my mirrors :angry:

Actually we should have a language filter to auto-kick all them out or at least give 30 sec penalty each time :norty:

[Romus]

I give thumbs up for what Doorman is writing.

If a racer has managed to get into a position to lap another driver, it usually means they can have at least 2 seconds difference in their average lap times. With that speed difference the faster driver will find a corner where he can get better speed out of the corner and overtake on the following straight. With my relatively short experience that will happen rather soon, and if not, I have only had my skills to blame to not have been able to use the opportunity.

One thing that comes to my mind when thinking about problems lapping a slower driver is that isn't it something you should expect to happen sometime? If you don't expect that to happen at the level we do our racing, then it's time to awake. If we were driving a league and counting points seriously and racing against drivers of similar strength, then I think we should have strict flag rules. In that scenario a driver being lapped has done a mistake, to drop so far behind, and lost his chance to fight for the podium or even points and thus should not be a hinder for a driver with success in his race that far.

[Doorman]

In that scenario a driver being lapped has done a mistake, to drop so far behind, and lost his chance to fight for the podium or even points and thus should not be a hinder for a driver with success in his race that far.

There are two scenarios where 'normal' blue flagging as I've outline above would be suspended and then on the behalf of the lapped driver. 1: As you've described and 2: Where a driver joins partway through a race. He really ought to step aside with no interference to the lapper. This is common sense and common courtesy. It still behoves the lapper to act sensibly as well.

Paavo, if you want to get rid of the huge text go to lfs\data\language and replace this:
3g_yellcaps YELLOW FLAG
3g_bluecaps BLUE FLAG
With this:
3g_yellcaps ^0|^3||||
3g_bluecaps ^0|^4||||
Save as Suomi_lippua and choose that as the language in LFS Much less 'in yer face'

Love your responses chaps.

[DogMeat]

I've usually disconnected and gone to play CS:S before I get lapped...
:byebye:

[Aquilifer]

Paavo, if you want to get rid of the huge text go to lfs\data\language and replace this:
...

I have no problems with the large blue flag text. I just don't like a driver spamming 'blue flag', just like you.

[Doorman]

I've usually disconnected and gone to play CS:S before I get lapped...
:byebye:

You need to be a stayer

[Lameduck]

With this:
3g_yellcaps ^0|^3||||
3g_bluecaps ^0|^4||||

Love your responses chaps.

Thanks for that update Doors, file modified. I think I lost that following the last patch.
Concur with all you have written RE Blue Flags and would only add that if a 'smiley' is received from the 'lapper' if you HAVE moved over, it dont cost much time.

[spoong]

Agree with that last; as a dMr newbie it's reassuring to be thanked for getting out of people's way; it confirms that you did the right thing and that you didn't get in anyone's way.  Much better than the "omfg noob!" type of chat you get on other servers.