[GTAO Racing] To Pit or Not To Pit, That is the Dirty Question

[Nutduster]

 

I do it if it actually helps me - if it has a high chance of improving my position in the race with a very low probability of costing me anything. e.g. I'm in second place, with an easy pit maneuver on 1st and no one else near us.

Absolutely the worst of all offences, taking out first place by pitting them is extremely un-sportsman like (it will also ensure that the first place driver will end up at the back of the pack and not even get podium), take your loss and accept that the better man won or better still use slipstream (that is invariably turned on in contact races) and beat them fair and square.

If I can pass them clean and win, I will. Mainly if I'm certain they won't (or can't) pit me as I pass!

 

But here's the thing: you can complain about sportsmanship all you like, but the game is what it is and the physics are what they are. There is little downside and major upside to pitting in the situation I described, which is why a lot of people do it. And if you don't like that fact, you have three valid choices that will actually accomplish something: 1. Join a race crew where sportsmanship is expected and enforced; 2. Stop racing in GTA against randoms; or 3. Play some other game.

 

Every game defines itself, and through arcadey physics and ultra-durable cars combined with race scoring that doesn't penalize you at all for collisions, you get what racing is in this game. Asking randoms to be "better sports" by observing imaginary social conventions that are observed by few and actively hurt their chances of winning... well, how well do YOU think that'll work? Your better bet is just to admit to yourself that GTA racing isn't really racing as you'd like it to be, and get over it. Or find a workaround that isn't yelling into the uncaring void.

 

Me, on the rare occasion I race and everyone is playing smash-up derby to the point that it frustrates me, I just stop racing. The game is the game and it's not going to bend to your will or mine. (And these aren't exploits either - every sign shows that Rockstar means it to be this way.)

 

This all reminds me of my friends who complain about getting intentionally bumped in Rocket League in ways that knock them out of the play. The developers of that game could find ways to penalize bumping, but they don't, so people are going to do it when it helps them win; it's part of the strategy like everything else. All's fair in love and war... and Rocket League and GTA racing, I guess.

Edited April 9, 2018 by Nutduster

[Stackhat]

Good drivers don't need to pit.

[Nutduster]

Good drivers don't need to pit.

A driver of any skill level could improve his record at least slightly by pitting judiciously, in certain spots. That's a simple fact. Maybe you don't think the gain is worth the cost of coming off as an asshole, but there is still a gain there to be had if you deploy the tactic smartly. Especially, again, in situations where spots 1 and 2 are well ahead of the field. A clean pass opens up the possibility that the guy you passed will pass you back, or pit you; a clean pit ensures you will win and he loses any chance of catching you. You don't have to endorse the tactic but please don't pretend that there's not, at least occasionally, a very good reason to do it.

 

This is similar to people who argue that overuse of explosives is a weakness and people who are good at PvP should be able to get kills only with regular bullets. You may believe that but ultimately, if you have two skilled players and one uses explosives while the other does not, the explosives guy should win that fight. Same thing with almost every tactic regarded by some as dirty or overpowered or what have you.

[DominusTaranis]

If you pit me, I pit you.
If I see you pit someone, I pit you.
If you attempt any of the above and fail, and I can pit you without sacrificing my positioning, I pit you.

If possible, I will replace pitting with throwing you off the track.

[HonorableMan]

It's a dick move. I don't do it if I can avoid it. Sometimes, though, you can't really. For example: I was doing a Hotring circuit, I think the Sandy Shores one (the one where you can fall off both sides of the track the whole way), and there were only four people in the race after the first lap. I was in first place, and the guy in second pitted me. Wasn't too bad, recovered easily, overtook him very quickly. And he did it again! Took me a bit longer to recover then, but so it goes. Fast forward to lap five, I'm in third, that guy was in second, another person was in first- and he pitted the guy in first, then stopped, waited for me to pass him, caught up and pitted me.

 

Why? What possible reason?

 

Long story short, he got to within sight of the finish line, I caught up with him, pitted him, he went flying off the track, and he deserved it.

 

So.... I disapprove. Only in extremis.

[CrysisAverted]

I generally avoid dirty tricks unless its the same f*cker doing it non-stop to me

[Malibu Club]

Only time I see pitting as acceptable is when it's in self-defense. If some moron comes up and keeps trying to pit you, pitting the dude back to try and get him away from you is perfectly okay.

[0wn996]

GTA racing is basically mariokart, so anything goes to get you the win.

 

For proper racing there's stuff like AC, PCars, RBR, Dirt Rally, iRacing, etc.

Any one of those games is a million times better than GTA when it comes to racing.

[Mrnrfan182]

Like most everyone here I think pitting is total sh*t. I blame the players but I also blame the game. The car physics just aren't meant for racing and the cars lack weight. I'm down for an arcade racer with bumping and pushing but what separates the good games from the bad games is how the cars react to that. Pushing me out of position is one thing, tapping me lightly as my car suddenly does a 720 spin for no f*cking reason at all and suddenly ends up on its roof, that's where it gets real frustrating.

I generally race clean but if you've pit me a couple of times and that's the way you want to race I'm down for staying right behind you in second place until that final corner...then f*ck you.

[HamwithCheese]

The most shameful dirty racers, in my opinion, are the ones that are actually fast. I've seen them. They have thousands of wins under their belt, and their best lap time is a couple tenths quicker than mine, but when they catch up to me heading towards the finish, they f*cking punt me off the map and I get 5th or something.

 

That wasnt f*cking necessary, I would've let you go. Those are the guys I just can't stand.

[varulven]

 

 

I do it if it actually helps me - if it has a high chance of improving my position in the race with a very low probability of costing me anything. e.g. I'm in second place, with an easy pit maneuver on 1st and no one else near us.

Absolutely the worst of all offences, taking out first place by pitting them is extremely un-sportsman like (it will also ensure that the first place driver will end up at the back of the pack and not even get podium), take your loss and accept that the better man won or better still use slipstream (that is invariably turned on in contact races) and beat them fair and square.

If I can pass them clean and win, I will. Mainly if I'm certain they won't (or can't) pit me as I pass!

 

But here's the thing: you can complain about sportsmanship all you like, but the game is what it is and the physics are what they are. There is little downside and major upside to pitting in the situation I described, which is why a lot of people do it. And if you don't like that fact, you have three valid choices that will actually accomplish something: 1. Join a race crew where sportsmanship is expected and enforced; 2. Stop racing in GTA against randoms; or 3. Play some other game.

 

Every game defines itself, and through arcadey physics and ultra-durable cars combined with race scoring that doesn't penalize you at all for collisions, you get what racing is in this game. Asking randoms to be "better sports" by observing imaginary social conventions that are observed by few and actively hurt their chances of winning... well, how well do YOU think that'll work? Your better bet is just to admit to yourself that GTA racing isn't really racing as you'd like it to be, and get over it. Or find a workaround that isn't yelling into the uncaring void.

 

Me, on the rare occasion I race and everyone is playing smash-up derby to the point that it frustrates me, I just stop racing. The game is the game and it's not going to bend to your will or mine. (And these aren't exploits either - every sign shows that Rockstar means it to be this way.)

 

This all reminds me of my friends who complain about getting intentionally bumped in Rocket League in ways that knock them out of the play. The developers of that game could find ways to penalize bumping, but they don't, so people are going to do it when it helps them win; it's part of the strategy like everything else. All's fair in love and war... and Rocket League and GTA racing, I guess.

 

I was in many race crews, Red Rum, Apex Stalkers and lastly GTARC (who mainly run non con anyway) Most of these crews barely hold race meets anymore and have moved on to other games (P Cars in particular, which I hate). Leaving me with no other option but to join quick jobs if I want to race, which I did on the rare 2x$ weeks, that being said, I've recently give up any racing now (as mentioned elsewhere in this thread, if you'd bothered to look), purely because of people taking cheap shots at me because I had a race crew tag and a high rank (usually getting smashed off the track at the grid). Still my opinion on dirty racers holds true with me.

 

Edit* Just to add, if there was an option to join a non-con race through quick job, I'd be back racing like a shot. But there isn't, I have to take my chances and constantly quit out of races, most of which I don't even know what the host has set them up as until I'm on the grid. ( 9 out of 10 times, it's contact with CU/SS on).

Edited April 9, 2018 by varulven

[varulven]

GTA racing is basically mariokart, so anything goes to get you the win.

 

For proper racing there's stuff like AC, PCars, RBR, Dirt Rally, iRacing, etc.

Any one of those games is a million times better than GTA when it comes to racing.

The problem with these games is the inevitable drudgery of doing an everlasting 'career mode' to get vehicle upgrades etc, GTA is so much better, in that I can do a number of activities to earn $$$, then upgrade my vehicles how I see fit.

[Action_Andy]

Clean, but I know how to defend myself, which in nearly all cases is enough to put a rammer into his place. I'm always disappointed when someone succesfully pit me and I'm pursuing him, closing in, ready to strike (wether be it a clean overtake or a dirty maneuver), only to see him crash into the next guy or into a wall and all I can do is to simply drive on and gain the positions without effort.

And sometimes I wonder how on earth did that sperm win the race to the egg cell. E.g. Catchup off, but slip is on. First place is a couple of seconds away, I (3rd place, Nero) overtake 2nd (X80) clean, offer him my slip and stay on the right side giving him room to overtake me again. A clear message "Let's work together to catch up to first place". Instead, he choose to try to ram me . Pro tip: Never try to ram a Nero when you are sitting in a X80. Never.

[Nutduster]

 

 

 

I do it if it actually helps me - if it has a high chance of improving my position in the race with a very low probability of costing me anything. e.g. I'm in second place, with an easy pit maneuver on 1st and no one else near us.

Absolutely the worst of all offences, taking out first place by pitting them is extremely un-sportsman like (it will also ensure that the first place driver will end up at the back of the pack and not even get podium), take your loss and accept that the better man won or better still use slipstream (that is invariably turned on in contact races) and beat them fair and square.

If I can pass them clean and win, I will. Mainly if I'm certain they won't (or can't) pit me as I pass!

 

But here's the thing: you can complain about sportsmanship all you like, but the game is what it is and the physics are what they are. There is little downside and major upside to pitting in the situation I described, which is why a lot of people do it. And if you don't like that fact, you have three valid choices that will actually accomplish something: 1. Join a race crew where sportsmanship is expected and enforced; 2. Stop racing in GTA against randoms; or 3. Play some other game.

 

Every game defines itself, and through arcadey physics and ultra-durable cars combined with race scoring that doesn't penalize you at all for collisions, you get what racing is in this game. Asking randoms to be "better sports" by observing imaginary social conventions that are observed by few and actively hurt their chances of winning... well, how well do YOU think that'll work? Your better bet is just to admit to yourself that GTA racing isn't really racing as you'd like it to be, and get over it. Or find a workaround that isn't yelling into the uncaring void.

 

Me, on the rare occasion I race and everyone is playing smash-up derby to the point that it frustrates me, I just stop racing. The game is the game and it's not going to bend to your will or mine. (And these aren't exploits either - every sign shows that Rockstar means it to be this way.)

 

This all reminds me of my friends who complain about getting intentionally bumped in Rocket League in ways that knock them out of the play. The developers of that game could find ways to penalize bumping, but they don't, so people are going to do it when it helps them win; it's part of the strategy like everything else. All's fair in love and war... and Rocket League and GTA racing, I guess.

 

I was in many race crews, Red Rum, Apex Stalkers and lastly GTARC (who mainly run non con anyway) Most of these crews barely hold race meets anymore and have moved on to other games (P Cars in particular, which I hate). Leaving me with no other option but to join quick jobs if I want to race, which I did on the rare 2x$ weeks, that being said, I've recently give up any racing now (as mentioned elsewhere in this thread, if you'd bothered to look), purely because of people taking cheap shots at me because I had a race crew tag and a high rank (usually getting smashed off the track at the grid). Still my opinion on dirty racers holds true with me.

 

I didn't bother to look because I was speaking generally, not just in reply to you. That's just my advice for anyone who gets angry about the dirty racing in this game. Basically, either get into it, get over it, or stop racing altogether.

 

By the way, I doubt that too many randoms are taking shots at you just because you have a race tag and a high rank. Some, maybe. But most of the dirtiest racers do that sh*t to anyone and everyone who is close enough to hit; they have no idea who they are hitting the majority of the time. And they have terrible race records because they are always involved in massive pile-ups and throw themselves off the track. That's why I race clean most of the time; intentional collisions are only clearly beneficial in isolated circumstances.

Edited April 9, 2018 by Nutduster

[Guest]

*GPAO - Grand Pay Auto Online*

 

I'd like to point out to everyone the word "pitting" is a made up word to express grief. Being as GPAO Race is a video game I can confirm "Pitting" does not exist in this game.

 

Diving backwards, blocking choke points and pushing players off the track is a feature of GPAO race. If it had none of those things it would not be GPAO Race.

[Nutduster]

*GPAO - Grand Pay Auto Online*

 

I'd like to point out to everyone the word "pitting" is a made up word to express grief. Being as GPAO Race is a video game I can confirm "Pitting" does not exist in this game.

 

Diving backwards, blocking choke points and pushing players off the track is a feature of GPAO race. If it had none of those things it would not be GPAO Race.

What are you on about? PIT maneuver is a real thing that police do in chases. The terminology was introduced to GTA via the driving school in San Andreas. There is plenty of it in many races in this game; it's a quick way to get by someone while also turning them around in the wrong direction.

 

The driving backwards stuff I would consider a bug and not a feature, but as usual with Rockstar they seem to be either unaware of how widespread it is, or don't care enough to implement some obvious fixes.

Edited April 9, 2018 by Nutduster

[mareepx]

Played about 4000 races

 

Pitting isn't totally unforgiveable, like after all this is GTA and not Gran Turismo - combat driving is a skill of its own and as long as you're still trying to win it is understandable. Whereas driving backwards and deliberately blocking roadways is always scummy. I'm less mad if I'm battling it out for a position and get taken out than if someone who's not even trying to race or win blocks a jump.

 

I don't make intentional contact with anyone unless they have either tried to ram me out of the way or off the track, or if I've observed them taking out someone else. Even then, if the opportunity to outright pass them is there, that is the option I'll normally take seeing as it is quicker. So my main motivations for making intentional contact are revenge, if there's simply no other way to pass and it's like the last couple of corners, or if catchup is on because I find myself sitting at the front being made deliberately slower for long portions of the race and it's not a fair race anyway with that setting on.

 

Nevertheless, if it isn't coming towards the end of the race and no-one has given me a tap, it's normally much faster to drive in a way that is clean and avoids coming togethers with other racers.

[Gridl0k]

Ultimately, racing is racing, but if we're 10th and 11th and you make a suicidal ramming move on me then that's just highlighting your IQ tbh.

 

If I play Contact On then I generally kick anyone who's being a egregious dipsh*t.

Edited April 9, 2018 by Gridl0k

[varulven]

(Nutduster) By the way, I doubt that too many randoms are taking shots at you just because you have a race tag and a high rank. Some, maybe. But most of the dirtiest racers do that sh*t to anyone and everyone who is close enough to hit; they have no idea who they are hitting the majority of the time. And they have terrible race records because they are always involved in massive pile-ups and throw themselves off the track. That's why I race clean most of the time; intentional collisions are only clearly beneficial in isolated circumstances.

 

 

 

Maybe I'm a little paranoid but I did test this theory of mine out and had significantly less grid smash ups when not using the RACE tag. And yes, you are quite right in saying that the majority are just plain stupid and don't know what the hell they are hitting anyway. I really do wish we had quick race option for non-con, then we wouldn't even need to discuss this in the first place. Sadly R* dropped the ball on that one (again)

Edited April 9, 2018 by varulven

[bigraj]

I do what I can to avoid contact, though accidents happen. I've been in enough races that I think I'm pretty good at discerning accidental and incidental contact from dirty racing. I almost always go after someone that has tried pitting or running me off the track, if there's enough time. Sometimes, I've already been beaten to my rightful vengeance by someone else who was likely getting their own revenge, and other times I have a opening where I can pass and win without making contact, which is even sweeter.

 

If I see a race troll doing his usual trolling to other drivers ahead of me, I'll pit that bastard to keep him out of the lead pack for a good bit.

[Blasterman4EVER]

What I don't get it when you do it accidentally, and the guy at risk of getting pitted won't just pull away to save both of you!

Its like --- whoops, accident, then they think you're doing it on purpose so they hit back, then when even trying to be evasive... too late.

Just the work I have to go to to avoid pitting and being pitted makes me wonder if there is any hope.

[Anasterian]

I try my best to race clean. Up to a certain point. And that certain point is when someone else touches my car. You so much as breathe too hard on the paintwork, I'll assume you're a goddamn dickhead like 1500% of the game's population and promptly do my best to wreck you before you wreck me.

 

Either that or just quit the race, because seriously I'm not having any fun either.

 

If someone PITs me, there's 3 options:

 

1) I leave the race - the "f*ck this sh*t" option.

 

2) I see I still have a chance at winning - taking 1st - and get back to the race while making sure to keep that piece of sh*t's name in my mind for all future encounters so I know who to use dirty tactics against.

 

3) I see I have no chances of winning this race anymore. In this case I just go after the piece of sh*t for the remainder of this race and any following races the piece of sh*t decides to stay in. I don't care about winning the race anymore, at this point victory is achieved only if the piece of sh*t leaves the lobby. When they do, I always take it as the piece of sh*t admitting they couldn't deal with my ramming and so they ragequit.

 

 

Which is why I avoid racing as much as possible because it's just a source of frustration. Good races are too rare to make it worth the risk.

[fw3]

*GPAO - Grand Pay Auto Online*

 

I'd like to point out to everyone the word "pitting" is a made up word to express grief. Being as GPAO Race is a video game I can confirm "Pitting" does not exist in this game.

 

Diving backwards, blocking choke points and pushing players off the track is a feature of GPAO race. If it had none of those things it would not be GPAO Race.

No offense intended, but this is kind of a whacked reply.

 

From the "GPAO" thing to your "confirmation" that the pit maneuver doesn't exist, to the idea that cheating players are actually enjoying a "feature" of the game.

 

I understand there's an element of the game that is somewhat renegade, but most players who like to race enjoy it when people don't employ those "features" you mentioned.

 

And as for pitting, well, Nutduster already covered it, but here's more on Pit Maneuvering from the internet, and the internet never lies, sometimes.

[Skeve613]

I've gotten fairly good at spotting when people will try to PIT, and running with the camera zoomed out to max in 3rd person helps a bit too, so I will often deliberately steer into the other person first to guarantee they crash, regardless of whether I can actually recover my own car or not. I often choose this option if the offending player has already PIT'd several people, or if I am protecting a friend holding 1st place down.

 

If I'm really ambitious, I sometimes will hard brake and sacrifice some of my own time so they veer off course / crash into a wall, or lightly brake to try to make them end up in front of me where I can PIT them 20 seconds later thanks to slipstream/catchup. Of course, this can completely fail if the braking is improperly timed or the other person actually manages to transition out of the maneuver quick enough, so it's a gamble.

[Arrows to Athens]

 

 

The comments section is absolutely hilarious. Most of the viewers are people who aren't familiar with Broughy and proper racing and kerb boosting, etc.

 

Follow up video:

 

 

Edited April 12, 2018 by Arrows to Athens

[PwnageSoldier]

I only pit someone if they look like a cancerous-type of player (Tryhard, griefer, etc.) and act like a d*ck to everyone else (including me). Then I usually get on mic, annoy the sh*t out of them, and be a general c*nt to them until they leave the race.

 

Otherwise, I'm clean officer.

[Blasterman4EVER]

GTA racing is basically mariokart, so anything goes to get you the win.

 

For proper racing there's stuff like AC, PCars, RBR, Dirt Rally, iRacing, etc.

Any one of those games is a million times better than GTA when it comes to racing.

"iRacing"?!?!?!?!?! Wow. You obviously have an EXTREME bias towards GTAO racing to think you can get away with saying this without anyone raising their eyebrows.

Edited April 12, 2018 by Blasterman4EVER

[scaldy78]

I love my NASCAR and Im addicted to Hotring Sabre racing, but the luckif winning these races is about like the luck if winning the Daytona 500. No matter what strategy I use, Im lucky to win 1/20 races. Im good, so Im generally running up front. Ive tried the strategy of laying back and keep the lead pack within view, but I keep getting taken out even if Im racing clean. I try not to attract attention with dirty racing early for a target on my head, but occasionally taking the lead gets a target on my car anyways. Even if I wait for the last lap to get aggressive, Im always taken out. I try to show Ill race for the win clean, still get taken out. My new host settings are Ketchup On (Usually hate it, but EVERYONE gets pitted and you want a chance to get back in the race) Stock cars only, Standard racing, and Destroy last every 60 seconds (Gets rid of the poor sports who start driving backwards, but reduces purses when they quit) Im nearly at 1000 wins. I use to have 200 more wins than losses, but the Hotribg ruthless racing is killing my still positive win percentage. Even when I try to lay back and slipstream last second for the finish, 3rd or 4th take me out. I love it and I hate it. Im not naturally a dirty racer but Ive been forced to get evil and it still doesnt pay off in those races. I created a great Hitring race with real NASCAR track features mixed with road course technical parts to pull away from randoms, but Rockstar will likely never see it andIll never get verified. NOSCAR Grand Tour on PS4 btw. If anyone is running some clean stock car races, hit me up. Tired of clean or dirty not getting the wins Im use to racking up.

Brake check those mfs. It works when theyre trying dirty tactics from behind in Hotring.