Here is just a quick rundown for what is needed for the currently best experience to run Assetto Corsa at highest possibly graphics settings and day / night lighting + weather:
1) Full Licensed Version of
Content Manager
https://assettocorsa.club/content-manager.html
2) access to the latest development version of the
Dynamic Lights Shader Patch from Ilja (maker of Content Manager) through his Discord channel (the patch is currently in development at a neck breaking pace, so he decided to make it exclusively available through his Disqord where he is very active with user feedback, troubleshooting and regular updates and new features)
https://discordapp.com/channels/453595061788344330/453615474710675537
3) Peter Boese
Good and Bad Weather Suite here on Racedepartment
This is by FAR the very best weather, PP Filter mod for Assetto Corsa of any - a few different other ones are out there with varying quality but in terms of image quality, realism, weather choices, features and FULL integration into Content Manager all others are put to shame.
It is so good that you can simply hit the real weather button when preparing a session in Content Manager and CM will choose:
- the correct time of day
- correct weather
- wind speeds
- clouds will move according to the real weather at the track (linked to windspeed)
- track grip levels (including rain effects when rainy)
- PP filter to resemble visibility realistically
- expansion from limited Kunos daytime to FULL 24h cycle to choose a time from (hence the possibility to race during night time)
It also comes with standard Kunos texture and PP filter replacements that fully work in online racing without any issues.
https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/good-and-bad-weather-suite.19484/
4) track config files from Iljas discord channel
These define dynamic light sources around the track so you will have real, proper lights at racetracks where they should be
https://discordapp.com/channels/453595061788344330/465820035760390145
5) Vertex Ambient Occlusion track patch files (
VAO Patches) from Iljas discord channel
These add more realistic AO shading textures to racetracks and help to achieve photorealism with the look of these tracks.
https://discordapp.com/channels/453595061788344330/479455851837521920
6) BLM lights app here on Racedepartment
This app allows to control light levels, use of vao-patches in user mode and on top of that in full extended mode provide a tool to actually build track config and vao-patch files yourself if you are inclined to modding.
https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/blm-lights.22463/
Bonus: install the true wet track texture replacement mod from an Italian modder to actually have true wet track textures with reflecting surfaces and puddles when running at wet tracks (for select tracks only). The link and instructions how to install can be found in the very detailed Good Bad Weather mod from Peter Boese.
Extra Bonus: Have a try and install the latest preview app to actually have WORKING WIND SCREEN WIPERS AND RAIN TEXTURES in Assetto Corsa from Iljas discord channel (currently only two cars have this feature enabled: Mercedes AMG GT3 and Abarth Fiat 500) - this is only a preview of what is about to come in the near future to Assetto Corsa.
With all of this there are a lot of interesting features we have now in Assetto Corsa we never thought possible:
- dynamic headlights, brake lights
- illumination of track and other cars from backfire flames (try the Gr.5 cars with their proper flame throwers and you are in heaven !)
- visually flexible tires (best seen with vintage formula cars)
- fully working mirrors (independently adjustable AND rendering your own car as they would in real life)
- proper PP filter application in rear view mirrors (so they actually look like real mirrors and not like crystal clear magic displays no matter the lighting conditions)
- better, more realistic glowing brake disks on cars they concern
- more realistic looking head lights, even with emitting lights that illuminates track objects in the proper color of their lenses (look at those vintage cars with their warm glow vs modern LMP1 cars with their blue-ish, cold LED lights or those yellow lensed LM GT cars, …)
- proper cockpit instrument illumination
and more …
The entire process to get it all running from never having done it before is VERY daunting!
Go it step by step, make sure to have a clean, problem free installation first.
It is necessary that you will use Content Manager as your Kunos starter replacement full time (EVERYONE I know who has started to use Content Manager would never, ever go back to the Kunos starter).
It comes with a steep learning curve though, so go one step at a time.
The most critical is to install the dynamic lights shader patch THROUGH Content Manager - NOT using JSGE 123 app (CM has a special function to install the mod):
- With CM open - go to Content Manager / CONTENT / MODS
- drag and drop the zip file of the dynamic lights shader patch anywhere into the CM window
- the installation icon (top right corner, looking like three horizontal bars similar to a paper stack) will light up green
- click on the installation icon and click on INSTALL
- check in Content Manager / CONTENT / MODS that the dynamic lights shader patch is ENABLED (on the right side of the screen
Another SUPER important installation procedure is for the GBW Suite from Peter Boese.
He includes a very detailed PDF installation manual with his mod.
FOLLOW THE MANUAL STEP BY STEP T O T H E L E T T E R !!!
If you make the smallest mistake during this installation you likely start all over again as it involves manual installation by copying files and folders into particular places AND then enabling different features in Content Manager after successful installation.
This GBW installation can induce hair pulling moments as it really is easy to screw things up, so do it slow and easy.
Get on the TeamSpeak in one of the upcoming US Club races and I'll be able to help with any issues should you have any.
Once you have this up and running you wish you knew about this earlier - it is THAT GOOD ;-)