The New Blocking System is Killing my Enjoyment of the Game: Can we get the old system back in some form?

[sawyer.regensberg]

Title says it all really. I understand the realism of why the change was made...however, it is becoming less and less fun, day by day, dealing with the new blocking system.

I mostly run by myself (I try to entice friends to help me out, but usually if I'm in multiplayer I'm helping with their railroads). I now basically have to spend one session just digging out and arranging cars I need, usually an hour real-time. And the absolutely tiny yard at Whittier doesn't help matters. I suspect I wouldn't be as frustrated if I at least had another track to work with (or even just moving the crossover back toward the yard ladder, so I can effectively use the main track as an extra siding as-needed).

For example: Currently, I have a total of about 30 cars in the Whittier interchange (including only four of the eighteen cars needed for the first phase of the Alarka branch...and there was room for the other 14 as near as I can tell). all 7 cars for Robinson Gap are split onto two tracks, with half of them leading the main cut of cars, and the other half in front of the four cars for the Alarka branch on a separate track. I have the Ela cars next, then the Whittier cars: with the sawmill boxcars and flats buried at the back of the Whittier cut. the Bryson cars are at the end, which would be correct if I didn't have sort literally every other cut to be correct. And essentially, I only have two and a half tracks to do it on.

I understand that there are those out there who enjoy switching...heck, most of the time, I'm one of them. However, when you only have an hour or two at a time to play most days, it gets incredibly frustrating having to spend that much time doing all this, essentially, extra work. What I would prefer to see, is an option that allows you to have the cars delivered in the old style: blocked by destination, in order. This would be handy for people like myself who are solo players, I'd imagine. Barring that, for the love of all that is holy, please let us expand the Whittier yard. I understand everything is based on the track layout of the historical Murphy Branch...but we're a fictional shortline taking over the back half of the Murphy from the Southern. We're allowed to make changes.

[Imperial Strikeforce]

I can understand your point. I see the situation both ways. I like having to sort the cars as would be the case in real life. I'm sure your frustration is the same as felt by actual railroad employees in real life. In that regard, I appreciate the realism. But I also understand if you're a person playing solo or don't have a lot of time to play, spending all your time sorting cars and not being able to deliver them can take the enjoyment out of playing.

With that said it would be nice to have the option in the Settings some place to choose how interchange deliveries are made depending on people want to play.

[bfcmik]

In your main company menu, on the settings page where the time settings are, if you look to the top left you will see 2 single player settings above a multiplayer setting. The lower of those 2 settings opens a page where you can decide how sorted your traffic is delivered. 4 options, from totally sorted by destination to downright nasty with stages in between.

[sawyer.regensberg]

Originally posted by bfcmik:

In your main company menu, on the settings page where the time settings are, if you look to the top left you will see 2 single player settings above a multiplayer setting. The lower of those 2 settings opens a page where you can decide how sorted your traffic is delivered. 4 options, from totally sorted by destination to downright nasty with stages in between.

The totally sorted option is the one I have selected: and it's still giving me the absolute mess every morning. Unless I'm missing something blatantly obvious.

[thebear05]

The games default setting is to deliver the freight cars to the interchange in destination order. First delivery at the front last delivery at the rear. Initially take your Whittier and Ela cars to a siding at Whittier. Then with another loco run the remaining cars for Bryson, Alarka and Robinson to Bryson. At Bryson take the Bryson cars off and take the Alarka and Robinson cars and deliver them. Deliver the Whittier and Ela cars while the consist is going to Bryson with the AI. After that deliver the Bryson cars to their destination. It is what the game is all about. Like any distribution business it just requires a bit of planning.

Edit: You haven’t by chance taken higher tier contracts. If this is the case your interchange cars will be delivered in two lots, if there is insufficient track space. Apparently the second delivery comes about an hour later.

[coenvijge]

Originally posted by sawyer.regensberg:

The totally sorted option is the one I have selected: and it's still giving me the absolute mess every morning. Unless I'm missing something blatantly obvious.

You are sure that this was the setting at the time of the last delivery to the interchange?

To have it set 'easy' you have it set to 'Blocked by Destination'. (It sounds that in your game the setting used is 'Hostile', the most 'difficult' one.) (Note that you find the setting in your game; not before loading a save).

(edit: added last part.)

[sawyer.regensberg]

Originally posted by coenvijge:

Originally posted by sawyer.regensberg:

The totally sorted option is the one I have selected: and it's still giving me the absolute mess every morning. Unless I'm missing something blatantly obvious.

You are sure that this was the setting at the time of the last delivery to the interchange?

To have it set 'easy' you have it set to 'Blocked by Destination'. (It sounds that in your game the setting used is 'Hostile', the most 'difficult' one.) (Note that you find the setting in your game; not before loading a save).

(edit: added last part.)

this is 100% the setting I have. I've double and triple-checked this. It's set on "Block by destination."

And as for the tier 5 contracts thing: Yes, I have most things on tier 5 now. that isn't the main issue. the issue is everything is blocked, but not in order, so I have need another hour/90 minutes to switch everything together. And like I said, when you only have an hour or two to play a night, that gets frustrating quickly.

[sawyer.regensberg]

Originally posted by sawyer.regensberg:

Originally posted by coenvijge:

You are sure that this was the setting at the time of the last delivery to the interchange?

To have it set 'easy' you have it set to 'Blocked by Destination'. (It sounds that in your game the setting used is 'Hostile', the most 'difficult' one.) (Note that you find the setting in your game; not before loading a save).

(edit: added last part.)

this is 100% the setting I have, and the setting that I have had active since it was implemented. I've double and triple-checked this. It's set on "Block by destination." And was set as such every time I've gotten cars, including the last time.

And as for the tier 5 contracts thing: Yes, I have most things on tier 5 now. that isn't the main issue. the issue is everything is blocked, but not in order, so I have need another hour/90 minutes to switch everything together. And like I said, when you only have an hour or two to play a night, that gets frustrating quickly.

[thebear05]

I would hazard a guess that your tier 5 contracts have overloaded the Whittier interchange tracks and this has caused your issue. One of the devs has stated that if there are too many freight cars for the available track space. The interchange delivery is made in two segments. This could be the reason that your contract cars are mixed up. I suggest that you move some over to Whittier station area and use the extra track there. This gives you 3 tracks at the interchange and another 3 tracks at Whittier.

[coenvijge]

If that's the case you could also decide to only sort out the cars for East Whittier at the interchange and move the rest over to Bryson in the order that you receive them. At Bryson you can use more tracks (in one yard ! ) and deliver 'Bryson local'. The remaining cars are starting the final part of their trip from Bryson. Maybe it seems more work and you make certainly more car-miles, but it could be much easier seen the capacity of the Bryson Yard.

[thebear05]

This is the reason why I only have a tier 3 contract with the sawmill at this time. I only got to Bryson today as I only play an hour every other day. As a single player I am very conscious of overloading the network.