AI Pathing

[nsl714]

I'm experimenting with scenario creation a bit, attempting to create a simple scenario with AI traffic. One of the AI trains refuses to take the path of least resistance. As seen below, the train should come from the west, and go down the west leg of the wye to the southbound main. Instead what it is wanting to do is go across the top of the wye, go through a crossover a few miles to the north, and then return south on the southbound main.



I've checked directionality, class setting, and electrification, and all appear well. I've also tried placing siding markers and destination markers as waypoints and stop points along the correct leg of the wye to try and persuade the train to go the right way. Each time though it throws an error, claiming that it must reverse (and cannot) in order to reach the next destination. The only thing I notice is that the "normal" way though the wye required it to navigate two automatic switches (in place on the east and south tips of the wye). It instead has opted to go through a quartet of manual switches instead. Are there special provisions for automatic switches? What must I do to make the train traverse the correct route?

Thanks,
Zach

[artimrj]

To control AI use the Waypoint flag to control where they go. A Stop at/Go to also work to control them.

[nsl714]

Does it matter whether the "destination" in the waypoint is a Destination, Siding, or Platform?

[artimrj]

No it doesn't. And you can also place your own marker in a scenario and call it what will help you remember what your doing with the path. Markers you place in the scenario are only in that scenario, not the route.

[nsl714]

That has not worked. I placed a Destination on the appropriate line, and the game throws this error at me:

[artimrj]

Did you try to save it and then exit TS and then try to run it? If you followed through my video tutorials you will see I mention there is this weird bug in TS that you get that error come up when you know everything is right. Save it, exit TS, start again and try the scenario. If it still errors then something is definitely wrong. From your screenshot I can not tell where you are trying to place the destination marker.

It would also be nice if you attached the screenshots here instead of photobucket or whatever it was that spammed me when I looked at your shot. It also keeps the screenshot here when photobucket disables it after time.

[nsl714]

Ok, I feel dumb. I went through a whole regiment of testing various facets of the junction in question. I checked electrification and directionality twice over. I placed a diesel locomotive outside the junction and got the same results as above. I've restarted the game in between each change. Still nothing. Then I realized I had made a timetabled scenario. I quickly set up a new Standard scenario, and the pathing worked exactly as expected. Attached is the result. Sorry for any confusion/headache I may have caused.

Zach

[artimrj]

It's a learning experience. Now you have another thing to check if something goes wrong later.

[OldProf]

Don't feel bad for a second . . . welcome to scenario writing. Those of us who are addicted to this particular form of self torture have all made foolish mistakes. Live, learn, write some more scenarios!