Stratochase course description · 6:29pm May 26th, 2012
I just finished my first draft of the course description, and I'm glad I made a rough sketch of it earlier (a really rough sketch). I've posted it below to get your feedback (don't worry, there's no spoilers). It doesn't match the image precisely, (again, because the image I posted is a rough one), but I'm pretty sure it does the job. I deliberately chose the undefined unit "trot" so that the reader can decide how big it is.
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The course began with a 50-trot straightaway before pulling into a 100-trot vertical ascent. At once this ascent ended, there was a sharp, 180-degree hairpin turn into a 150-trot vertical descent. This extremely fast transition from the course’s highest elevation to its lowest was one of the oldest features of the race, and more than a few of the illustrations Twilight had come across were of this particular section.
Once on the “ground level” (a rather ironic name, considering that it was nearly 100 trots above the actual ground), the course leveled out into another straightaway, this one 75 trots long, before making a 90-degree turn to the right. 50 trots after the turn, there was an inside loop approximately 50 trots in diameter, followed by another 50-trot straightaway, which, after a sharp 180-degree turn, led into the section that [REDACTED].
This section consisted of three flat, 120-trot straightaway, laid out parallel to each other and connected by hairpin turns even sharper than the one after the loop. Naturally, [REDACTED].
This was [followed by] a long, helical section, with a spiral approximately 60 trots in diameter that went around three times before ending at a height near the starting altitude. This was followed by a 100-trot straightaway that turned left into a climb which, after 160 trots, ended at an altitude 50 trots higher than the starting line. Another left turn led into the infamous inversion zone. On illustrations of the course, it looked like a simple, sloping descent that went on for 300 trots before ending at the course’s starting point, which also served as its finish line. However, this was where teams that had been lagging behind could do rolls to reduce their official time, with ten seconds being removed for each inversion, and, in theory at least, allowing the race’s excitement to last until the official winner was announced.
too bad they can't DO A BARREL ROLL instead... oh well
136721
I so wish I could respond to your comment without spoiling anything.
136729 Then don't, I'm perfectly willing to pre-read
Good, although I still think having a diagram is much more effective. As much as this describes the course, I personally find it really hard to picture such a complex course in my head without visual aid.
136721
They can always TRY A SOMERSAULT.
136745 I think he was still planning on putting a link in for those of you who don't know the course... Quite honestly as much as I'd love to do highspeed manuvers in a jet aircraft I'm not sure I'd want to do this course... it's freaking INTENSE
136721
136729
It's too late, Kwakerjak.
They know.
I don't know how they know, but they know.
Yes. I can confirm.
There are flying foxes competing in the race against our heroes.
Flying Starfoxes.
The description itself is relatively comprehensible. However the unit of "trot" does not really sit well with me, especially since its a Pegasus race... In the sky. A trot would seem like unit that could be measured on the ground, such as a pace. I feel that your should use a better unit of measurement than "trot" (Meters isn't a bad option)
This part is just more technical look into your race course because I happen to be a cross country runner so courses and distances intrigue me.
So I went ahead and calculated how long the course would be, and assuming (1 trot ~ 1 meter) the course would be roughly around 2.5Km. Which brings my question to mind, is this supposed to be a fast race or an endurance race? Heres where things get a bit theoretical. Lets say Pegassus average racing speed is 100Km/h (27.77 m/s) on a course of 2.5Km that would take around 90 seconds (not accounting for slowing down or speeding up do to turning) That would be the equivalent of a 600M race on a track. Which is almost classified as middle distance running. So if you keep the course how it is it will be somewhere between a sprint and a stride. Adding a second lap would make it more of a middle distance race-- it would also make it have more of a race-course feel and provide and interesting mechanic and strategy for doing rolls. These are just some things that I noticed.
And finally I notice an inconsistency you stated "This section consisted of three flat, 120-trot straightaway, laid out parallel to each other and connected by hairpin turns even sharper than the one after the loop" The picture that you drew had FOUR flat straightaways.
136859
The fourth one is actually in one of the sections I redacted. I chose "trot" as the vague unit of measurement (the vagueness is important here, so "meters" is out of the question) because this entire description is from Twilight's point of view. I'm actually assuming it's based on Princess Celestia's gait, rather than that of a normal pony, so it's probably longer than one meter.
And as for how fast... well, it actually is intended to be analogous to middle distance running, but it's also supposed to be like thoroughbred horse races (such as the Kentucky Derby) combined with a roller coaster, so it's just one lap.