The Overwhelming Single Player

[Machete.Panda]

Its literally taking me a full week to play out a single day of operations. Its become very exhausting. I like to have a solution though.

I think the waypoints are the path. more sophisticated. Connect to this set of cars>detach this many>bring to here>detach two>bring to there>detach the rest>return to here.

The waypoints need a 'task list' that you can tell them what you need them to do. Even better would be if you could hitch them up to a series of cars and just say 'deliver these'. But I think that would likely take a lot more thought.

[DorniNerd]

We would like to see that happen, one day maybe!

[kildar501]

How much of the line is open? Which interchanges are you using? I have found that the "zipper" method of service works well for the single player. You only use one interchange and start and end the day at that end of the line. I find it easiest to run the coal mine cars as a separate train. Then another freight picks up all the inbound cars to deliver and switch into the industries as it goes from that interchange to the other end and then back. On the way back, it picks up all the outbound cars for delivery to the interchange. Usually I'll send off the passenger train after the coal train leaves and before the mixed freight leaves. That gives the coal train an unobstructed run to the mine and the passenger train can stay ahead of the local mixed freight doing the switching and such. Hope that helps!

[TheOofertaffy]

I think we just need to get AI to be able to understand the current switchlist (Or if the list needs to get overhauled on a "Per crew" basis) and be able to move cars, and sort through them somehow. It would also need to know how to not leave cars in the middle of the tracks by putting the ones it took out to get to one in the middle back into the main consist or something.

[x1Heavy]

Sawmill gets logs in the morning. No logs? Its late. Feed it first.

Pax train gets a kick in the ass and thrown down the track to make money. Make sure your entire railroad is ready for it by checking everything before it gets to the far end. (Slyva etc)

Inbounds get sorted by regions. Trains go to those regions. Little switchers IN those regions sort them later.

Contracts are carefully given out. Sawmill is at T4 but probably wont see t5. Although I could do it. But that depends on musical log car trains. Someone is going to be out.

Sawmill gets fed the cars to be loaded that day. These will go out that night to interchange.

Little Anklebiter contracts are not started so those little bitty industries are out. You hae enough on the table.

Start here work down the line B then C then D then E etc.

Pass the time until end of day. Collect money from logs and such. Collect money from passengers and such. Collect money when your outbounds are pickedup by interchange.

Do not spend money but carefully. Think about it ahead of time.

Steady one step in front of a another at a time. Forget the game clock for now. Just 1,2,3 and 4 and continue until everything is completed.

[JE55BUNN1]

Don't bite off more than you can chew. Now that you know the line, only do contracts that you want to do. You do not have to service every business. No shame in restarting.

[Beddhist]

I run the entire map with all industries at T5 (except for the 2 new ones at T4). There are mods for turning loops at the 3 terminus stations (but only because pushed AE trains used to crash into other trains), Passenger Helper keeps 2 trains running continuously forth and back, only waiting in the loops until they are full. One through-freight goes in the morning from Dills to Andrews, picking up interchange cars at the major stations. By the time it gets to Nantahala it has 50-65 cars, 3500-5000t. It gets split in half and four F7 haul it over the grade. By the time they have retrieved the other half the Andrews industries have been served and the return freight assembled. Diesels throughout, except E. Whittier.

Meanwhile, using the roster and enhanced map on the 2nd screen I run up to 4 shunters in various locations at the same time. The idea is to have the pickups assembled for when the return freight comes through.

It takes me about 19 to 24h of play time to get through a day. If I had only 2h of play time per day then it would take me a week, too. But I'm retired...

You need to work out for yourself how to play this game enjoyably. There are many options. You can decide not to run passengers. You can install mods to make life easier. A 2nd screen with Map Enhancer is a real game-changer. You see at a glance where there are cars that need to be moved and throw switches, even control trains without visiting the location. You can terminate small contracts in out-of-the-way locations. This could enable you to play more in first person mode, if that is your thing.

Whatever you choose, it should not be exhausting.

[Vantskruv]

I think it should be carefully thought out how to not the destroy the gameplay by making it "too" automatic. I really like the "pull up the sleeves and work you way up" in the beginning.
Though, after I while you may want to automate it somehow. Maybe you can unlock some automation in the milestones, and preferably I think it is good unlock automation for every job or work you want to automatize, i.e. unlock automation for a worker who controls a locomotive maybe? Or pay a sum for every automation you want to record.
Also, t should be more expensive, so you have to work for it, otherwise it is too easy and makes it boring. :)

Also positive side is that you would be able to extend the world, or map, and the industries with jobs, and pull up your sleeves yet again, to expand your railway empire, as you have got enough resources to automate many jobs so you will not get overhelmed with the areas you unlock.

[zielscheibe]

I have also the full Map open und now also every Industrie on Tier 5, only the new ones on Tier 3. For one in Game Day i need between 12-16 houers. And i think, faster is for singelplayer not really possible. BUt with the Waypoints is a lot relaxter then befor

[rcarmod]

Tedious but not overwhelming if you use logic. For some reason i believe it possible to get tens of hours into this game without understanding shortcuts like hitting shft click to connect the glad hands and open or close the handles (dont use the c word you get edited) at the same time or opening and closing switches on the map instead of endlessly trying to click the switches in the world. I know there is an in game tutorial and some user guides but I think the developers might want to think about a more detailed yet simple manual for new players or a lot of them might just shrug and move along. But my mind set has as far as "game turn" has gone from counting days to counting deliveries along the line. I get more sleep that way.

[kildar501]

Originally posted by Vantskruv:

I think it should be carefully thought out how to not the destroy the gameplay by making it "too" automatic. I really like the "pull up the sleeves and work you way up" in the beginning.
Though, after I while you may want to automate it somehow. Maybe you can unlock some automation in the milestones, and preferably I think it is good unlock automation for every job or work you want to automatize, i.e. unlock automation for a worker who controls a locomotive maybe? Or pay a sum for every automation you want to record.
Also, t should be more expensive, so you have to work for it, otherwise it is too easy and makes it boring. :)

Also positive side is that you would be able to extend the world, or map, and the industries with jobs, and pull up your sleeves yet again, to expand your railway empire, as you have got enough resources to automate many jobs so you will not get overhelmed with the areas you unlock.

This is true about too much automation. IF you want to play like that, it would be better to do a multiplayer game and act as the dispatcher quite honestly.

[rampantfox]

Oh boy I feel this but I love it. I just opened up from Whittier all the way to Andrews and I am using both yards so I have to coordinate moving cars all across the map all while trying to not interfere with passenger traffic. All my Andrews businesses are still only at Tier 3 but I was able to sort and deliver all the cars in about 4 hours (6am delivery, last car delivered 10am). AE with waypoints is an absolute game changer and made it so much easier.

[Machete.Panda]

Originally posted by kildar501:

This is true about too much automation. IF you want to play like that, it would be better to do a multiplayer game and act as the dispatcher quite honestly.

Saying 'just use multiplayer' is an easy way to avoid the problem. But the problem remains... single player. So when they advance the automation, that is going to greatly expand this games audience. Cause then you can not only be a yard engineer, or delivery, or run the switches, but you can now also manage the railway. More options... more more audience adoption.

[DorniNerd]

As I said before, yes, we'd like to see more automation. But we won't make the game an idle simulator, so to speak. There will be a balance act involved.

Just as a point of note, nearly 65-70% of all players play SP only.

[Pikel_Egz]

Originally posted by DorniNerd:

As I said before, yes, we'd like to see more automation. But we won't make the game an idle simulator, so to speak. There will be a balance act involved.

Just as a point of note, nearly 65-70% of all players play SP only.

how hard is this game for a new player (me) to pick up, with limited knowledge on railroads and terminology but a love for trains? Is there a lot of references out there to help cause SP would be probably the only way i play.

Thanks

[DorniNerd]

Originally posted by Pikel_Egz:

Originally posted by DorniNerd:

As I said before, yes, we'd like to see more automation. But we won't make the game an idle simulator, so to speak. There will be a balance act involved.

Just as a point of note, nearly 65-70% of all players play SP only.

how hard is this game for a new player (me) to pick up, with limited knowledge on railroads and terminology but a love for trains? Is there a lot of references out there to help cause SP would be probably the only way i play.

Thanks

I'd say it is easyish! Just know your limits and use everything that the game has in it for you. There are some things you need to learn and understand, but I'd argue we have a great community that can help your progress in the game!