Can Someone Help a BeamNG Noobie Get Started?

I just purchased BeamNG today from Steam and it's been a very frustrating experience so far.

First, here's my controller configuration:

TS PC-Racer
Fanatec Clubsport v3 Pedals (I use only the throttle and brake pedals, not the clutch).

First, I finally got the bindings configured properly (I think!), but I can't feel any FFB in the wheel at all. (and Yes - it's enabled) The steering also requires a bit more input than is normal. (It's set at 540 degrees in the TS Properties) So, could someone with the same or similar controller configuration share their settings?

Second, How do I choose a specific car to drive? Different cars are loaded for each different "FreeRoam" scenario. (I've only tried "FreeRoam" so far.) Some cars react (sluggishly) to my paddle shifter inputs while others do not. Can someon explain why that is?

Finally, what car/scenarion would you suggest as a "first drive", assuming that I get things sorted out?

All I want to do (for now) is hop in a car and drive it, and feel the FFB/phsics that BeamNG is supposedly known for. If someone could help me with just that, I would really appreciate it. For now I can hold off on all of the other many options in this sim.

I've used up almost the entire 2 hours Steam allows to try out a game - just in struggling to set up my controllers. I'd like to be able to actually truly drive a car before deciding whether to get a refund!

Thanks!
Bert

 

1) You should check https://wiki.beamng.com/Steering_wheel_setup
I have a T300RS with these settings
My Thrustmaster control panel settings are:
Rotation: 1080
Overall forces: 70%
Constant: 100
Periodic: 100
Spring: 0
Damper: 0
Auto center: By the game
Also, if you're playing without a clutch pedal, make sure to have auto clutch enabled in the game settings.

2) Press Esc and the menu should appear on the left, then press the car icon and chose whichever car you like
Manual cars shift slower than cars with sequential gearboxes.

Hope it helps.

 

Thanks for the response! I'll give those settings a try. (Working thru that Steering Wheel Set-Up info page would more than use my 2 hour Steam "Tryout period: though. So your settings could be a big help to me.)

WRT to the shifting question - How can I quickly discern which cars have a sequential, as opposed to a manual gearbox?

Also - I'd rather not change my Thrustmaster control panel settings, since that would affect all of my other sims. So - assuming I keep the TM steering angle where it is (at 540), what angle should I set it at within BeamNG to maximize steering response? (ie - more than 540? or less than 540? At 540, it's a bit sluggish.)

Thanks again!
Bert

 

I'm not sure how you're getting different cars in freeroam without selecting it, it should always spawn whatever is set to your default, or a blue D15 if nothing is set to default. As stated in the above comment, you pick cars from the vehicle selector menu. Note that you can also change parts in the parts menu, which is immediately below the vehicle menu when you hit esc. Note that you can bring these up with hotkeys. I'm not sure what their default hotkey is, but you can change it in settings.

As for the shifting.... Which configs are you experiencing this with? Obviously the 70 year old '53 Special will shift slower than the brand new Cherrier Vivace hot hatch, for example. As stated in the above comment, most cars have several different transmission options, and the modern ones have computer assistants, so what you're experiencing may be inherent to whatever config you are using. You should also take a look in your game settings... Look at clutch assist, realistic/arcade transmission, etc... and make sure it's all how you want it to be set up.

As for gameplay options... Currently career mode is early WIP and not in the public build, so that's out of the question. You can just aimlessly drive around on any map (with traffic) in freeroam (or drag race), drive bus routes (many people find it boring), hot lap around various courses (including procedurally generated tracks and some crazier options using track builder/light runner). There's a couple of campaigns, which are basically collections of scenarios. And you could always download mods for racing, demo derbies, etc...

If you like hotlapping, just hotlap around a racetrack. If you are into the ETS sorta stuff, try bus routes. If you want something more destructive, I recommend using a ram plow truck with traffic. If you just want to drive aimlessly, you can't go wrong taking a casual drive around Italy.

If you run out of that 2hr timer and still want a refund I suggest contacting BeamNG support, explain the situation, and see if they are willing to do anything.

 

That's a direct drive wheel, isn't it? I can't remember if the issue got solved, but I remember the last time someone tried a DD wheel in BeamNG, the force feedback was the main issue... You would need to contact someone maybe like @Diamondback & see if he can help you

 

The config names end in (M) for manual, (DCT) for DCT, (A) for auto, (CVT) for CVT, and (Sequential) for Sequential. IIRC the five electric car configs we have (SBR has 3, Vivace has 2) do not have any parenthesis at the end, and one or two configs in game don't have anything when they are supposed to.

 

Actually, no - it's actually a belt-driven wheel. No matter though, since I've got the FFB and steering sorted out. I'll still need to tweak it though.

Thanks.
--- Post updated ---
Very helpful responses, guy! Thank You.

I'm making progress in configuring the controls, but I just have a few quick questions though (for now):

1. Where exactly do I bind "Look left" and "Look right"? There's so much customizability that I can't find this anywhere!
2. I still can't get my paddle shifters to work, even though the binding is set. Where do I choose transmission type? Or maybe I'm choosing the wrong cars? All seem quite sluggish to me. Maybe that's because I'm used to racing sims. Any suggestion of a specific car/track to try?
3. As Manfred E3 guessed, I enjoy hotlapping. Is there a quick way of recovering the car after accumulating too much damage?

Thanks for all of the help!

 

1. Not sure about that one. Tried to find it myself, but either I'm blind or it's not an option (@Diamondback ? (sorry for another ping))
2. I think you may be in Arcade transmission mode. Press Q on your keyboard & that should switch you into Realistic (you can change the default gearbox mode in the Gameplay settings). As for choosing transmission, you either look for the (A), (M), (DCT) etc. in the cars' name, or you can change it yourself in the Parts menu (Ctrl + W) under the Engine tab. As for a car/track suggestion, maybe try the Vivace Hillclimb config on Pikes Peak (mod map)?
3. You can reset the car to its spawning position by pressing the Home button on your keyboard, or reset it just a bit by pressing &/or holding the Insert key on the keyboard

 

For the "Look left" and "Look right", I found it under Camera drop-down in the Controls menu. I think they came originally bound to numpad 4 and numpad 6. You can also right click and drag to move the camera. Also, I agree with Sithhy about being in the Arcade transmission. I think your paddles probably aren't working since you cant manually shift in Arcade mode but once you change to Realistic I bet they will work fine.

 

OK - Now we're making progress to the point that BeamNG is a keeper! Just a few remaining questions and I'll have enough to keep me busy this weekend:

1. As I said, I got FFB working now - but when the car is stopped, the steering wheel oscillates. What setting do I need to play with to prevent this from happening? and,
2. Is there a way to view a quick replay of my most recent drive? I see a replay folder for previously saved replays, but what if I just want to take a quick look at what just happened?

Thanks for all the help guys!

Bert

 

I believe there is a setting when configuring foece feedback called "reduce strengh at speeds". A guide for setting up here: https://wiki.beamng.com/Steering_wheel_setup#BeamnNG.drive:_Force_feedback_configuration

Also, for replays, there is a UI app for that. You can access UI Apps to add with one of the menu buttons on the sidebar ingame. It's a simple press once to record, again so stop and go into replay mode, once more to exit the replay. In a replay, you can freely control camera and UI settings (UI settings are those for freeroam). If you want to hide the UI completely, Alt+U.

Hope this helps.

 

The "reduce strength at low speed" checkbox solved my wheel problem - Thanks!

However, I can't find where to activate that replay app that you discussed. Can you be more specific as to exactly where to find it and what it's called? - Thanks again!

 

OK - I managed to find and install the replay app.

I figured out how to record and playback a replay, but I can only view the view that I recorded from (ie - cockpit). Is there any way to rotate thru external views after recording in cockpit view?

Thanks!

 

Normally you should be capable of switching cameras freely in replays. Did you try the "C" key?

 

press 'Insert' key to reset.

 

you could use "c" on your keyboard or assign a keybind for the camera on your wheel setup