I'm aware there is a topic for garage drafting already, but since I'm advocating a completely different system, I suggest its implemented as an alternative, in order to retain the original designer's system, and not upset them. Despite Heat being a fantastic game in most respects, I believe this is its main flaw. Nonetheless to retain authenticity to the original game is also important, and making it an option is more respectful.
As no doubt has been previously pointed out, the current draft system is not particularly fair (taking into account no system can be completely so). Mainly because it goes against logic to give a drafting advantage to the last (and perhaps second last) player since they are very probably in the best position from the start. This is because of the catchup advantages. Nominally they're two spaces behind the leader, but this is made in effect only one space due to the optional space given by the adrenaline bonus for last (and sometimes 2nd last) place. In addition, a combination of being behind everyone, but not very far, and having an optional extra space, means the chance of getting slipstream is considerably higher than for all the other players. Last, but not least, they have a cooldown, which might be usable with the right starting cards. None of this qualifies the last or second last places for having the significant advantage of picking upgrades first in two out of three drafting rounds.
However it is quite hard to establish which position deserves this privilege the most, if any. The leader arguably might do, since he or she is the only player with no chance of slipstreaming. Certainly the leader doesn't deserve to be automatically disadvantaged! Still there could potentially be some advantage in going first on some maps where reaching the corner is possible, or if the pack of cars is tight bunched. The middle positions have no catchup, but do have decent chances of slipstreaming. So any system favouring a particular starting place is not especially convincing.
Bearing this in mind, I suggest the following alternative system, which has been tried and tested in other games like Blood Rage and It's a Wonderful World. That is all players are dealt the requisite number of garage cards each; they select one and then pass the rest to the player next in turn order (or the front player in the case of the back player). This occurs until all three cards are drafted. This allows each player the first pick from a section of cards. Of course its not guaranteed that each player will get an equal selection of good cards, but in principle everyone has the same chance to pick a good card. And by the last draft, everyone is more likely to be picking inferior cards.
The only problem could come with using the Basic Garage exclusively, as there wouldn't be enough cards for a full selection for everyone with a player count of 5 or 6. There's only 34 Basic cards, and 40 or 54 cards respectively would be required to fulfill each player's starting draft of 5/6 plus 3. This could be solved either by removing this option for Basic Garage or reducing the number of cards in these cases.
As I said, no system will be perfect, but I have a feeling, if implemented, this system could end up being favoured over the original, as much fairer. Certainly I would prefer it to the sinking feeling I get when I realise that I'm starting in first place in a game with the garage!
As no doubt has been previously pointed out, the current draft system is not particularly fair (taking into account no system can be completely so). Mainly because it goes against logic to give a drafting advantage to the last (and perhaps second last) player since they are very probably in the best position from the start. This is because of the catchup advantages. Nominally they're two spaces behind the leader, but this is made in effect only one space due to the optional space given by the adrenaline bonus for last (and sometimes 2nd last) place. In addition, a combination of being behind everyone, but not very far, and having an optional extra space, means the chance of getting slipstream is considerably higher than for all the other players. Last, but not least, they have a cooldown, which might be usable with the right starting cards. None of this qualifies the last or second last places for having the significant advantage of picking upgrades first in two out of three drafting rounds.
However it is quite hard to establish which position deserves this privilege the most, if any. The leader arguably might do, since he or she is the only player with no chance of slipstreaming. Certainly the leader doesn't deserve to be automatically disadvantaged! Still there could potentially be some advantage in going first on some maps where reaching the corner is possible, or if the pack of cars is tight bunched. The middle positions have no catchup, but do have decent chances of slipstreaming. So any system favouring a particular starting place is not especially convincing.
Bearing this in mind, I suggest the following alternative system, which has been tried and tested in other games like Blood Rage and It's a Wonderful World. That is all players are dealt the requisite number of garage cards each; they select one and then pass the rest to the player next in turn order (or the front player in the case of the back player). This occurs until all three cards are drafted. This allows each player the first pick from a section of cards. Of course its not guaranteed that each player will get an equal selection of good cards, but in principle everyone has the same chance to pick a good card. And by the last draft, everyone is more likely to be picking inferior cards.
The only problem could come with using the Basic Garage exclusively, as there wouldn't be enough cards for a full selection for everyone with a player count of 5 or 6. There's only 34 Basic cards, and 40 or 54 cards respectively would be required to fulfill each player's starting draft of 5/6 plus 3. This could be solved either by removing this option for Basic Garage or reducing the number of cards in these cases.
As I said, no system will be perfect, but I have a feeling, if implemented, this system could end up being favoured over the original, as much fairer. Certainly I would prefer it to the sinking feeling I get when I realise that I'm starting in first place in a game with the garage!
