Reviewing DLC pack scenarios?

[OldProf]

Some time ago, submitting a / vote on scenarios run from the Drive>Workshop tab became mandatory. Wouldn't it be interesting if the same were true for scenarios included in DLC packs?

The source of inspiration for this idea came, most recently, from running the 6V05 Round Oak to Margam T.C. scenario included with the South Wales Coastal: Swansea to Bristol route, for which my vote would be a big .

Why?
1: The scenario's opening message does not describe its content correctly.
2: Several of the AI trains that appear late in the scenario are standing still in the middle of nowhere when the player/driver passes them; however, they begin to move after being passed. This is a prime example of poor placement and planning as well as failure to fully test-drive the scenario before including it in the package.

The overall route package also deserves a rating, since it includes a very old version of the Class 70 Diesel Locomotive rather than one of the more recent (and more complex) models of the same engine, and all of the freight wagons had already appeared in previous route packages. This is especially true of the HAA Bogie Coal Hopper: one of the earliest freight wagons made for this simulator.

More from yours truly.

[ET44C4]

I did notice on a few scenarios included with the Cajon Pass route that were very unrealistic. One of the freight trains included a GE ES44AC with about twenty freight cars and a caboose. The AI traffic seemed odd with an odd variety of freight cars and a caboose. The older scenarios that came with older DLC are, in my opinion, unrealistic. I think they have gotten better at making more realistic scenarios for the more newer routes though.

[OldProf]

I did notice on a few scenarios included with the Cajon Pass route that were very unrealistic. One of the freight trains included a GE ES44AC with about twenty freight cars and a caboose. The AI traffic seemed odd with an odd variety of freight cars and a caboose. The older scenarios that came with older DLC are, in my opinion, unrealistic. I think they have gotten better at making more realistic scenarios for the more newer routes though.

I'm not concerned about realism -- which can mean many different things -- as I am about basic scenario making techniques, such as those I mentioned in my original post. And please note that the scenario I critiqued does come from a very recently released route.

[hertsbob]

I've just run the scenario OldProf mentions, as I'm concerned about the comments made, and shall address the points in turn -

1: The scenario's opening message does not describe its content correctly.

OpeningMessage.jpg

What's wrong with that? It's afternoon, you're driving a Class 70 on 6V05 made up of empty coal hoppers. The scenario starts at Llanwern, ends at Cardiff, it's snowing throughout and there's no reason why you can't depart straight away.

2: Several of the AI trains that appear late in the scenario are standing still in the middle of nowhere when the player/driver passes them; however, they begin to move after being passed.
I agree there's one in the middle of the scenario that needs to get moving earlier and this should have been noted, but I pulled into Cardiff at around 14:29:30 as an HST was departing and as I arrived at the final stop there were two services heading into the station either side of me. Didn't see "several AI trains standing still in the middle of nowhere", and I was looking for them.

Which version of the Class 70 are you expecting to see? This is the most recent version as far as I know.

The coal hoppers have already appeared elsewhere because they're the wagons that run on the route. Besides which these have updated sounds and some physics changes in them - the originals would have had stretchy couplers and these don't, for starters.

Anyway, if you let me know the reference you received when you sent your report in to DTG support I'll be sure to chase it up on Monday (it's currently Friday night). Or were you expecting someone from DTG to randomly stumble upon your thread while they were having a relaxing beer at the end of a heavy week?

Cheers

Bob

[OldProf]

Bob,

You're right on both counts and I'm not sure now why I thought otherwise. I do have a possible clue about the locomotive: I was probably thinking about other Freightliner locos. Other than that, I have no excuse.

However, I do maintain that being able to review scenarios contained in TS DLC or Workshop packs would be a good option.

Thanks for the correction.