Railworks America

I've yet to see any comments about the 2D map, so I'll jump in. I've run a couple of switching-based activities and find this map very difficult to read and manipulate. In place of the simple, single lines that depict trackage in TS, TSW's 2D depiction presents 2 lines per track and whereas the TS 2D map is strictly B&W (that's black and white, not a railway company), TSW's is multi-colored and I really cannot make any sense out of those colors. Manipulating the map is quite easy, especially since directions appear along the bottom of it. However, I've yet to glimpse a track label. When the task at hand involves coupling to a consist, an icon appears next to the target and, sometimes, its designation. Of course, it's up to the driver to set switches to reach that target, and that's where I find this map frustratingly confusing. The arrowheads that represent switches are absolutely minuscule at any magnification and the resulting path does not take on a unified color that would indicate that one has set all switches correctly.

Well, at least it isn't necessary to exit the cab and walk the length of one's train to set each switch!

As this simulator develops, I'd like to be able to take on various characters. For example, it would be nice to be able to take on another personality (conductor, brakeman, etc.), who would handle coupling and switches while an AI driver controlled the engine. I've found that it's possible to climb the ladders of freight cars, for example, so one of these personalities could ride the trailing car, hopping off to handle coupling or throw a switch -- or would that be against safety rules?

P.S.: the only serious complaint I have about TSW so far is that it is much too addictive.

OldProf wrote:For example, it would be nice to be able to take on another personality (conductor, brakeman, etc.), who would handle coupling and switches while an AI driver controlled the engine.

What a great idea! Taking on the role of a brakeman as an option in a scenario would add an interesting layer not yet seen in train simulators.

I believe that will come in multi player.

It would be fun to be able to switch at will from experiencing the train world from the perpective of the engineer or brakeman or whatever, within a given scenario, similar in concept to instantly switching cabs in TS2017. Switch bodies. But simultaneously be able to carry out the functions of those other remote bodies through keyboard/controller commands. In short, if I'm acting directly as brakeman, I don't want the AI to be the driver. I want to still control the reverser and throttle through keyboard commands.

Concerning the 2d map, I just wish there were some labels like in TS2017. Out on the mainline even, at least town names.

gwgardner wrote:Concerning the 2d map, I just wish there were some labels like in TS2017. Out on the mainline even, at least town names.

I suspect DTG ran out of time to fix that before release. FWIW I've raised a ticket on the subject however the more tickets raised on that issue will help push it towards the top of the pile for action.

artimrj wrote:I believe that will come in multi player.

Possibly, but I'm not really interested in multiplayer -- unless you mean that a single player could take on more than one role by becoming a one-person multiplayer. Can that be done in multiplayer games & sims?

You mean you wouldn't play with me?

OldProf wrote:

artimrj wrote:I believe that will come in multi player.

Possibly, but I'm not really interested in multiplayer -- unless you mean that a single player could take on more than one role by becoming a one-person multiplayer. Can that be done in multiplayer games & sims?

You probably would have to swap seats with the conductor or perhaps even with the brakeman many times, and walk around even more.

Multi person crews are standard in the more prototypical sessions of Run8, where the workload has to be spread when doing local deliveries for instance.

I don't see that happening with the current implementation of TSW. Multi player probably means more drivers/engineers in some sort of timetabled "Services" mode, with AI drivers taking over the unoccupied trains.
We'll have to wait and see, the feature will probably not come before the XBox launch and full rollout of DTG Live, unless DTG wants PC players to be the guinea pigs?

Bob's response also holds true, pleasant and rewarding multiplayer gaming depends entirely on the cooperation of its members. One troll can ruin it for everybody. I certainly don't look forward to an influx of impatient Konsole Kiddies who are out to create a ruckus.

The 2D map should show the name and possibly custom avatar of all the players connected to the session. Hopefully, when multi player comes around, we will get something more sophisticated than the present 2D view, which I find very hard to make sense of at times. More room for suggestions to improve this part also.

OldProf wrote: TSW's is multi-colored and I really cannot make any sense out of those colors. The arrowheads that represent switches are absolutely minuscule at any magnification and the resulting path does not take on a unified color that would indicate that one has set all switches correctly.

I agree it's very difficult Tom, especially, us oldies with diminishing eyesight, however, if you look closely, the colour of the track you are on is brown, and when you flick the switch on the map the brown line moves onto the line you want to travel on, it's there, just not obvious without looking closely, I'll pop these screeenies up and you can see for yourself.

Cheerz. Steve.

I think that the 2D map could of had a bigger colour difference to show when you change a switch/point like say a bright blue instead of a slightly different shade of colour to the ones that are there now.

How to access the 2D map?

trev123 wrote:I think that the 2D map could of had a bigger colour difference to show when you change a switch/point like say a bright blue instead of a slightly different shade of colour to the ones that are there now.

Exactly, the purple path of the player train in TS17 was easier to follow.

We will have to wait and see how the "9" display evolves over subsequent releases, I'd rather have a Run8 style external dispatching program with all the CTC controlled switches, key manual switches and the rest in unmapped, 'dark' territory.
Perhaps if the whole of switching/signaling/dispatching logic is made available through some scripting interface this will be possible. So far it seems the old Kuju code has been ported over.

When the "9" map is up one cannot control the train, so studying a complex yard is difficult while the train trundles along.
I haven't found a setting to make the map move with the train.

Nor do the G and shift-G keys to throw switches in front and rear of the train. I took a liking to the handheld remote control used in the VR game Derail Valley: you pick it up and point it at the switch, press a button and the switch is thrown. G key will substitute until we get a VR implementation of TSW.

ex-railwayman wrote:

OldProf wrote: TSW's is multi-colored and I really cannot make any sense out of those colors. The arrowheads that represent switches are absolutely minuscule at any magnification and the resulting path does not take on a unified color that would indicate that one has set all switches correctly.

I agree it's very difficult Tom, especially, us oldies with diminishing eyesight, however, if you look closely, the colour of the track you are on is brown, and when you flick the switch on the map the brown line moves onto the line you want to travel on, it's there, just not obvious without looking closely, I'll pop these screeenies up and you can see for yourself.

Cheerz. Steve.

Thanks! That does help.

Does the middle mouse button bring you to the player train?

Not in my game, perhaps that middle mouse button is broken, the wheel itself works, but pressing it not?