FAQ about Assists - 02/11/08

[Serial]

This thread is meant to cover the frequently asked questions about unassisted driving in FM2.

What are Assists ?
FM2 offers several assists to aid drivers - Automatic Transmission (AT), Stability Management (STM), Traction Control System (TCS), and Antilock Braking System (ABS) are assists which can be fitted to any car in the game. 
To aid the driver in learning a track, there is also a suggested line and a braking line available.

Do Assists make you faster or slower ?
Well, both actually.  This is a difficult answer which requires some understanding of what each assist does first.

What is AT and how does it help or hurt ?
AT is an Automatic Transmission.  When turned on, the computer automatically determines when your car should shift gears and does it for you.  It can be helpful to a new driver because it is one less thing to think about while driving. However, it does not allow as much flexibility in certain situations, such as passing or disaster recovery.

What is STM and how does it help or hurt ?
STM is the Stability Management system which can used in game.  STM is used to keep a car from sliding too far sideways or spinning altogether.  This one seems to slow down a fast driver the most, but can also greatly aid a new driver in keeping the car pointed in the right direction.

What is TCS and how does it help or hurt ?
TCS is Traction Control System.  This system has the ability to reduce power to the drive wheels on your car if they begin to lose traction.  This one requires the most tuning adjustment when turned off.  It can greatly aid a new driver, and will even aid a fast driver by keeping them more consistent over the course of a race.

What is ABS and how does it help or hurt ?
ABS is an Antilock Braking System.  The effect of this system is nearly identical to 'pumping the brakes'.  When the wheels begin to lock because of excessive pressure, ABS will release and then reapply brake pressure very rapidly.  This allows a driver to go from not braking to full brakes without worrying about locking them up.  This one seems to be very difficult for even some seasoned drivers to run without, requiring a large change in braking style for some.  It helps new and seasoned drivers alike with braking consistency during a race.

What are the Suggested Line and Braking Line ?
These are the most unrealistic of all of the assists. Both lines change in shades from green to red to indicate how much brake pressure needs to be applied.  The Braking Line only appears in braking zones, while the suggested line is a dynamic race line which is overlayed over the entire track.

[bimmerlovere39]

First of all, I'd like to preface this with the statement that I drive assistless (or "Chuck Norris style", whichever you perfer  ).  Also, having the assists on (with the exception of the lines and AT) won't affect your driving unless you cause them to activate.  When they activate, the icons light up on the HUD.

I think that its interesting to look at how the different assists work.  From what I can figure out, the FM2 functions see to work realistically - they don't just make the car handle better.  The stability control seems to work (similarly to RL) by applying individual brakes to reduce understeer and oversteer.  While this has the obvious advantage of keeping you on-line, you are, in the end, having your brakes applied, and that will slow you down.  The TCS seems to work purely as a throttle-intervention system. You hit X% traction (it should be over 100% of the available), and the throttle is cut back.

[tangent]I've been in my mom's Mercedes when its ESP (Electronic Stability Program) had a hissyfit, and it felt quite disconcerting from the passenger seat; you could feel the individual brakes activate, and it caused some... interesting body motions.  Also relatively noisy.  Cool, but freaky.[/tangent]

The assists in FM2 also seem pretty primitive.  The STM features no throttle-intervention function, an integral second layer in many street systems for when the individual brakes alone can't do it.  The TCS seems a little harsh at times (it'll kill a Peugeot 908 at launch - as if that thing's massive turbo lag wasn't enough!).  And the ABS, well just look at the skidmarks it leaves.  I think some modern ABS systems essentially threshold brake for you.

It might be interesting to actually disect the assists as modeled in game...

maybe when I have more free time...

[Drift2XL]

Here's something freaky. Since turning off ABS, the only assist I ever used, my consistancy has been better. When I was using ABS sometimes it would take longer, sometimes shorter. Now its spot on everytime.