Interesting approach to scenario writing for Steam Workshop

[OldProf]

First of all, isn't it about time to open up a new filing cabinet for TS2016?

Commercial break over: here's the real OP: A recent Steam Workshop scenario bears the title, "Rio Grande Snowplow Extra", and its creator, "Railworks Helpdesk", has come up with a clever way to beat the system. Here's what he's done. Only official DLC rolling stock can be used in a Steam Workshop scenario, but R.H. wanted to include a snowplow and no such critter exists among the acceptable equipment. At this point I cannot do better than to quote the pertinent part of his instructions:

Special Instructions: I couldn't publish this route with the plow in the consist because Railworks didnt recognize the blue prints. So you will have to download the Snowplow, Then edit my scenerio through the scenerio editor and manually add the plow to the front of the locomotive.

Okay, so he earns a C- for spelling and punctuation, but that's beside the point right now. He also provides a link to the plow he used. Yes, run-around requires a bit of work on the part of anyone who wants to drive the scenario, but it's still a great example of initiative and something to build on in the future. For example, someone wanting to use an otherwise unacceptable engine or repaint in a Workshop scenario could provide a download link and instructions for placement. Freight or passenger cars would be a bit trickier because they might have to be assigned numbers that match those of the originals, but it would still be possible.

Heartiest congratulations to R.H.! ! !

Now let's wait and see whether Steam comes up with a way of thwarting thith fellow'th thbrilliance. Stay tuned!

By the way, the scenario is not in itself a piece of brilliance, but deserves a lot of credit nevertheless.

Here's a screen shot of the scenario in action:



The cubist nature of the snow effect is interesting if not realistic.

[Chacal]

clever girl

But I'll bet someone will complain about it.

[FHRob]

I downloaded this scenario, and was able to add the plow, using RW Tools to first convert the workshop scenario to a standard scenario.

Am I correct in saying workshop scenarios can't be edited, at least when using the editor within TS2016?

Can RW Tools be mentioned on Steam, as the author doesn't specifically detail how to modify the scenario?

Thanks,

Rob

[JohnTrainHead]

I've incorporated a few repaints into one of my scenarios.
Well over half the ratings are negative because people are too bad at everything to install repaints.
Yes, I provided links and even a few words on how to install them.

[OldProf]

I downloaded this scenario, and was able to add the plow, using RW Tools to first convert the workshop scenario to a standard scenario.

Am I correct in saying workshop scenarios can't be edited, at least when using the editor within TS2016?

Can RW Tools be mentioned on Steam, as the author doesn't specifically detail how to modify the scenario?

Thanks,

Rob

Yes, you're wrong . . . at least in my experience. For example, with this scenario: I simply found it in the route's list of scenarios, pulled it into the editor, and added the plow. And as far as I know, this isn't new with TS2016: I'd done it before in TS2015. The difference, at least as well as I remember, is that in 2015 the scenario had to be opened once from the Workshop tab before it could be edited. Of course, using a bit of caution by editing a clone could be a clever move.

[FHRob]

I downloaded this scenario, and was able to add the plow, using RW Tools to first convert the workshop scenario to a standard scenario.

Am I correct in saying workshop scenarios can't be edited, at least when using the editor within TS2016?

Can RW Tools be mentioned on Steam, as the author doesn't specifically detail how to modify the scenario?

Thanks,

Rob

Yes, you're wrong . . . at least in my experience. For example, with this scenario: I simply found it in the route's list of scenarios, pulled it into the editor, and added the plow. And as far as I know, this isn't new with TS2016: I'd done it before in TS2015. The difference, at least as well as I remember, is that in 2015 the scenario had to be opened once from the Workshop tab before it could be edited. Of course, using a bit of caution by editing a clone could be a clever move.

Interesting. When I go into editor, the workshop scenarios don't have the edit scenario button available. That's why I use RW Tools, and convert the workshop scenarios to standard scenarios.

BTW, are we talking about the same thing here? I've been clicking on Build at the main menu, clicking on the Route in the Editor, and then selecting the Scenario.

Rob

[OldProf]

BTW, are we talking about the same thing here? I've been clicking on Build at the main menu, clicking on the Route in the Editor, and then selecting the Scenario.

Rob

Why go through the route editor to get to the scenario editor? I know that some folks do this, but I've never understood why.

Rather, on the Build page, select the Scenario tab, find the route in the list, click on that, then select the scenario to be edited.

In my previous post, I should have noted that a workshop scenario sometimes does not become available in the editor until it has been opened for play. Some are available immediately, but others not: another of those little quirks we all love so much.

[FHRob]

BTW, are we talking about the same thing here? I've been clicking on Build at the main menu, clicking on the Route in the Editor, and then selecting the Scenario.

Rob

Why go through the route editor to get to the scenario editor? I know that some folks do this, but I've never understood why.

Rather, on the Build page, select the Scenario tab, find the route in the list, click on that, then select the scenario to be edited.

In my previous post, I should have noted that a workshop scenario sometimes does not become available in the editor until it has been opened for play. Some are available immediately, but others not: another of those little quirks we all love so much.

Tom:

I have to note you left out an important point here. When you download a scenario where you don't own all the content used in the scenario, there's no way to ever "open" the scenario. I'm defining "opening" here as being able to play the scenario, not just get an error message saying content is missing.

Rob

[OldProf]

Tom:

I have to note you left out an important point here. When you download a scenario where you don't own all the content used in the scenario, there's no way to ever "open" the scenario. I'm defining "opening" here as being able to play the scenario, not just get an error message saying content is missing.

Rob

I've never tried doing that. Workshop scenario authors do sometimes "forget" to mention some piece of DLC and sometimes I just miss seeing one and select the scenario anyway. When it comes up missing something in the Workshop tab, I either let it rest against future use or delete it. Which brings up another matter: when TS "downloads" a workshop scenario, where does it go and can it be accessed, say, with RW_Tools? I remain puzzled by why supposedly downloaded workshop scenarios or routes have to be reacquired every time the workshop tab is accessed; for example, after completing or quitting a workshop scenario and returning to the workshop tab, it's necessary to wait for the supposedly downloaded materials to re-download. Why is that, I wonder?

[Chacal]

Workshop scenarios get downloaded to a temporary folder (can't remember which one) and only get unpacked and installed in their route folder when they are ran the first time. This should explain the behavior you are observing.
I used to unpack them with 7zip and copy them manually when I wanted to swap items in order to be able to run them.
I don't know if this still works.

[FHRob]

Workshop scenarios get downloaded to a temporary folder (can't remember which one) and only get unpacked and installed in their route folder when they are ran the first time. This should explain the behavior you are observing.
I used to unpack them with 7zip and copy them manually when I wanted to swap items in order to be able to run them.
I don't know if this still works.

I just downloaded a scenario for Hamburg to Hanover. The folder for the scenario seems to go unpacked into the appropriate route folder. When I go into the build function, the edit button can't be clicked.

It seems, at least for me, the only way to edit a workshop scenario is to open it in RW Tools, then save under a new name.

Rob

[Chacal]

That's right, I can't find any trace of temporary downloads of workshop scenarios now.
I guess this has been changed.

[OldProf]

I'm running the full version of TS2016. Here's what happens when I decide to edit a downloaded Steam Workshop scenario that I have never opened before:

Step 1: after starting TS2015, select the Build Tab and then the Scenario tab:


Step 2: find Weardale and Teesdale in the list of routes, select "Run Around Bishop Aukland" scenario, then click Edit button:


Step 3: scenario opens for editing:


I can't begin to guess why others are having so many problems and errors, but this method works for me every time. I repeat that I had never opened this scenario before for any reason.