Route Planning Logic?

[Frosty]

So having finished the game and currently am just exploring for fun and to collect recordings and such, I'm a little annoyed with the route planning logic.

Yes, the game's made it clear that we can't revisit junctions we just went through and we can't hit up dead ends. But the game never really explicitly mentions (at least that I remember) that we can't move laterally a bunch and/or explore "unscanned" routes. Yet, the game seems to force you to choose unscanned routes in "higher level" (quite literally higher on the map) junctions that may not be scanned; rather than allow you to "zig zag" laterally up the map with scanned routes. This seems deeply flawed and annoying for those of us that would simply like to make a long drive and explore, rather than ridiculously short trips.

Am I missing something here?

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3199639175

What's the game's logic for preventing me from going to D2? It only allows you to go further into the zone?

[ShockedHearts]

you can choose multiple locations and open the entire map for your route.

you just cant spin in a circle, you have to maintain a general direction.

the junctions you cant choose simply dont have randomly generated stable exits available. the ones you can do have stable exits.

mystery junctions (aka ones you have not done yet) will always have stable exits because it would be unfair and annoying to the player otherwise.

once the junction is unlocked fully it then gets put into a rng state of exit or no exit?

highways (marked with a different symbol and LONG routes on the map) can be taken to each other.

you can circle the entire map with them and skip every junction on the map by choosing the last highway junction on the map when deciding where to go next. and will just have long highway maps for your drive.

[Frosty]

Originally posted by ShockedHearts:

you can choose multiple locations and open the entire map for your route.

you just cant spin in a circle, you have to maintain a general direction.

the junctions you cant choose simply dont have randomly generated stable exits available. the ones you can do have stable exits.

mystery junctions (aka ones you have not done yet) will always have stable exits because it would be unfair and annoying to the player otherwise.

once the junction is unlocked fully it then gets put into a rng state of exit or no exit?

highways (marked with a different symbol and LONG routes on the map) can be taken to each other.

you can circle the entire map with them and skip every junction on the map by choosing the last highway junction on the map when deciding where to go next. and will just have long highway maps for your drive.

Wait... But D2 in the screenshot I posted HAS a 3 LIM stable exit, D3 is a Dead End, A4 & A7 (Explored prior, but Unscanned this trip) have no Stable Exits, and A8 is also a Stable Exit but is "scanned" by being near D1 I'm sitting at the end of a highway (D1) and by your statements I should be fine to take D2, unless the "general direction" must ALWAYS be UP?

Or am I misunderstanding something?

[Aluvard]

I think, that it's mostly influenced by which point you chose to scan during planning. You always need to somewhat follow pre-planned path.

F.e. You've planned your trip to R3 on garage map. Your options are:

• G1, D1, A8, R3
  
• G1, G4, D3, R3
  
• G8, G7, G6, G4, D2, D1, A8, R3

Or any variation of junctions between starting point and final goal.
You can't go past R3 as you didn't plan for that scenario but you can leave your run in any junction with stable gateways.

[Frosty]

Originally posted by Aluvard:

I think, that it's mostly influenced by which point you chose to scan during planning. You always need to somewhat follow pre-planned path.

F.e. You've planned your trip to R3 on garage map. Your options are:

• G1, D1, A8, R3
  
• G1, G4, D3, R3
  
• G8, G7, G6, G4, D2, D1, A8, R3

Or any variation of junctions between starting point and final goal.
You can't go past R3 as you didn't plan for that scenario but you can leave your run in any junction with stable gateways.

That's sorta odd.. I hadn't selected R3, I did select G1, D1, and F2 (circles around junctions are "selected" IIRC?)

It would be nice to have a more clear explanation in the log book or a Dev post, seems to come up every now and then with no clear answer?

[ShockedHearts]

Originally posted by Frosty:

Originally posted by Aluvard:

I think, that it's mostly influenced by which point you chose to scan during planning. You always need to somewhat follow pre-planned path.

F.e. You've planned your trip to R3 on garage map. Your options are:

• G1, D1, A8, R3
  
• G1, G4, D3, R3
  
• G8, G7, G6, G4, D2, D1, A8, R3

Or any variation of junctions between starting point and final goal.
You can't go past R3 as you didn't plan for that scenario but you can leave your run in any junction with stable gateways.

That's sorta odd.. I hadn't selected R3, I did select G1, D1, and F2 (circles around junctions are "selected" IIRC?)

It would be nice to have a more clear explanation in the log book or a Dev post, seems to come up every now and then with no clear answer?

i think its pretty simple.

select location from map in garage.

once you drive out you can only take routes leading to that location.

you can only SELECT locations as your destination if they have a stable exit, BUT that doesnt stop you from choosing to take dead ends or going off path.

alteratively if you want the entire map open, you can take 2-3 locations across the entire map as your "destinations" and have the entire map open to explore for your drive.

at the end of it all you HAVE to eventually reach a destination and warp back which is why your locations are only stable exits. and the paths to them are only the ones that lead there, there is a junction limit and the game doesnt want you making 20 trips per drive.

about 7 is the top you should ever get.

[Aluvard]

I know you didn't - I gave it as example how mechanics work.

In your settings you've blocked yourself to middle zone, due to choosing D1 as one of scanned points.
In your case best route for D1 (most exploration, scenic etc.) would be: G8, G7, G3, G2, D2, D1.

If you want to explore, scan available junction in Inner Zone. When you leave garage, every junction need to be one step closer to your goal but with such setting you will get longest trip that is possible.

[Frosty]

Originally posted by Aluvard:

I know you didn't - I gave it as example how mechanics work.

In your settings you've blocked yourself to middle zone, due to choosing D1 as one of scanned points.
In your case best route for D1 (most exploration, scenic etc.) would be: G8, G7, G3, G2, D2, D1.

If you want to explore, scan available junction in Inner Zone. When you leave garage, every junction need to be one step closer to your goal but with such setting you will get longest trip that is possible.

Ah, okay, I'll give that a shot; see if it changes the "forward momentum" push the game seems to foist.