My suggestion for a better ATS

[Agima]

Here's some of my suggestions to improve the gameplay of an already fun game.

All my suggestions are OPTIONS. Options that could be toggled on and off, depending on the gamer's desired gameplay experience.

The reasonning behind most of my suggestions is simple: to break the monotonous driving experience. ATS, in it's current state, is too perfect: perfect roads, perfect conditions, perfect everything. Nice packaging, but not enough depth to my taste. Keep in mind that I DON'T want to make the game harder or more complicated for casual gamers that prefer a simplier, lighter gameplay. SCS can keep the default gameplay like the actual one, but having more "sim-like" options to fulfill the need of other people like me that would love to have more than what we have right now.

I know that many of my suggestions have probably been asked for many other before me. It's just that I had those on my mind for so long that I just need to get them out of my head and share them. Hopefully you'll like some of them!

3 differents gameplay mode

-Career (replacement for the actual beginner mode)
-Freelancer (already present)
-Owner/Operator (already present)

In career mode, you would start with no experience, no truck, no skills, no reputation, just like the beginning of the actual game. The difference would be that you wouldn't have a starting garage. Instead, you would need to choose one company where you want to work (all of them might not be choosable, from lack of XP and skill) to get your money, experience and skills. At the beginning, some of those companies would be specialized in giving you only local jobs, some other would give you short intercities travelling, other might give you more heavy but short distance cargoes while others could give you a random mix of all missions kind. They would give you at first weaker trucks, but sometimes, they would give the the opportunity to have a better truck for one mission, and/or a special mission that is normaly outside your skill level, to add variation to the progression, giving you extra xp, money and skill.

Career mode would take more to to gain XP. You could work for the same company for a long time, for exemple, one that is specialized in short inter-cities missions. With enough skill and XP gained, this could be a stepping stone to work for another company, where, for example, would required higher skill levels for longer distance mission.

Damaged road, closed/detour road (debris, holes, landslide, Flooded areas, etc)

In Scania Truck Simulator (at least this one that I know), there was time where you had to drive in flooded area, a damaged road, narrow road like a ravine, bridge, steep hills, etc. Randomly happening, you could get an in-game email warning you that the road ahead might be closed or difficult to drive. From there you could take another route, of you could try your way in. If successfull, you could get some extra XP from driving through hazardous condition safely. If you fail, you could stall, damage your truck/engine or get stuck, and have to call for help, leading to actually loosing XP and reputation.

Strong winds

User defined, optional on/off feature. While driving on open roads (interstate), you could get some random, occasional very strong winds, that, depending on the size/type of your cargo, could lead you to driver slower since trjactory could be harder to maintain, and in some case, the truck/trailer could tip over, damaging of course truck and cargo, leading to actually loosing XP and reputation.

Animal crossing

User defined, optional on/off feature. While we already have collision-less tumbleweeds, having some wildlife crossing the road during day or night, at a random occurance, would certainly keep (or wake up!) attention of the driver alert while getting in a forested area, a field, etc. I think I remember some deer crossing in Scania Driving Simulator, while in tutorial mode, to test the brakes. No need to have gore or a dead corpse after impact. It would simply be gone after truck have been stopped by the accident, damaging of course truck and cargo, leading to actually loosing XP and reputation.

Forest fires, heavy fog, hurricane, etc

User defined, optional on/off feature. Basically, anything that limits you view distance by a large margin. I know at least that there are on mod that is adding heavy fog/sand storms. This obviously would slow you down, risking a late delivery, but hey, it's part of the trucker's life isn't it?!

Flats and blowout

User defined, optional on/off feature. Happening rarely (at least when your tires conditions are excellent), having a sudden blowout would make you loose for a split second control of your truck. After this it would be very sluggish to steer, needing you to pull over, stop the truck and "repair" (with a game function like refueling) your tires. Higher wear on tires would likely increase the chance of flat and blowout. It would give a sense to the % of damage given in the game menu.

Basic parts failure

User defined, optional on/off feature. While not going overboard with this, engine failure, air/oil filters clogued, oil/fuel leak, headlights failure, etc could be implemented to the game. Different levels of repairs could be used Basic, Moderate and Extreme, the higher the more difficult to repair). You would need to pull over, stop the truck and "repair" (with a game function like refueling). It would give a sense to the % of damage given in the game menu.

Toolkits

You could get an option, as accessory, to buy one toolkits to equip your truck with. Kits could be offered in 3 levels. Basic, Moderate and Extreme repairs. You could repair nearly everything with the expert toolkit, but not much with the basic.

Tow your own truck

User defined, optional on/off feature. While not obligatory (automatic services could still be available just like in the present game), when you have your own garages, it might be fun to also buy tow trucks. So when you are out of gas, or having an engine failure that even an Extreme level toolkit couldn't repair, it could be an option to actually take control of your closest tow truck and come over to your rescue. Either to make bigger repairs that a solo truck drivers couldn't do himself, to bring gas or to simply tow you truck back to the garage. It could be set as a lower cost option (money wise, lower XP loss, lower reputation loss) instead of calling the automatic services.

Having the need to eat

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User defined, optional on/off feature. While I wouldn't usee this function myself, just like having to stop to refuel, stop to make repairs, stop to sleep, etc, I can understand that some players would like to have this option. It would add immersion, needing you to plan you route and find a place to grab something to eat and quickly get back to driving.

Special missions

Using the email system, you could get from time to time special missions, with truly unique cargos, based on your XP level, reputation, etc. Would be coming from companies that are present on the map (with assets) but never gave you the option of taking mission by presenting yourself at the gate. Missions like this could be from the Military, logging compagnies (would require some special road in the forest), etc. High pay, high risk missions. Timing, damage, etc.

Physical, visual damage

It's not happening, I know, but I sure would like it! ;)

Used trucks and parts

This also is a long asked feature. With a right global economic gameplay rebalance, buying new trucks/engine could be too much at beginning, forcing your to get the cheaper used version first. Those used version could be in a such way that they couldn't be ever fully repaired. So torque, handling, max speed, etc would be sub par compared to the brand new trucks/parts. I don't think it will be ever implemented, but then again, double trailers was something asked for a very, very long time and it happenned, so finger crossed!


Well, that's all!

Note: sorry for all the possible typos, it's long writing, and english is not my first language! ;)

[Ornery]

Many of these ideas sound great. Will we ever see them? Dunno, but as long as creative minds can mod, great things can happen.

[Avery]

I love what you just wrote, I agree with all of it 100%

[Reese]

I only disagree with the first bit. The career is already implemented. Treat the starting garage as a company you work for and your "upgrade" to it is you buying your own.

Dislike the ideas of a toolkit and the need to eat. They have absolutely no relation to operating a truck.

[Agima]

Originally posted by Sych:

I only disappear with the first bit. The career is already implemented. Treat the starting garage as a company you work for and your "upgrade" to it is you buying your own.

Dislike the ideas of a toolkit and the need to eat. They have absolutely no relation to operating a truck.

Actually, the actual game "career" mode is more the "freelancer" mode I was refering.

Career mode: you own nothing, you work for ONE company of your choice at beginning, until you reach/have enough XP, skills and reputation to work for another company of your choice (that is employing better, more skilled drivers). In this mode you could make well enough money. You could even buy your truck and use it while still on contract with the company.

Freelance mode would be like the beginning of the actual ATS game: no truck, buy working for the compagny of your choice, choosing your cargos at will.

Owner/operator mode is like what's its like in the actual game.

How come having the right tools to be able to repair your truck (at a certain extent) is not in relation with operating a truck?

As for the need for food, I don't like the idea much myself, but I've seen this asked a couple of time, and if this would be implemented as an option (on/off), I don't see how it would hurst gameplay for people who wouldn't want this in the game.

They key for nearly all my suggestions is : having the possibility to enable/disable them at will.

[Lagarto]

The thing is most of those ideas can't even be modded in the game as of today.
I would -LOVE- more depth to the career system and the suggestion you gave is awesome.
So are most of the other ideas for parts failures, tyres blow out and more difficult terrain (which can be modded)

Some I don't agree as it becomes too much. (Need for food, etc) but ETS2 and ATS really needed more depth. Or better modding tools so fans could create it the way they want to.

[Klaas]

In my opinion, the first job should be replaced with a driving school test, that will test your skills. (Obviously easy to pass :)), and to avoid problems with old profiles it could be optional and you can repeat it later if you want.

[Zero [是鷺]]

Originally posted by Klaas:

In my opinion, the first job should be replaced with a driving school test, that will test your skills. (Obviously easy to pass :)), and to avoid problems with old profiles it could be optional and you can repeat it later if you want.

Ah reminds me of Rebel Trucker a bit with the tutorial mission. Wayyyyyy older game but was around the of SCS trucking games

[baddog993]

These are all cool ideas. However they are taking a long time with just another map added to the game. So I doubt we see any of these ideas in the future. I just hope we get a new map and double trailors in this game.

[joe_bob22]

I think your home garage should be like your home.
Every week or two you need to get back home or
BOOM divorce, half your money and half the value of your garages and trucks get taken by the lawyers.

Seriously though, I do think that even though it is more than easy to make loads of money, the heavy haul jobs should pay more than regular jobs since it requires special equipment and experience. Perhaps another column like there are for fragile, expensive ect.

[CaptainNebulous]

All I want is a far more complete map - without it taking a year between each state and without paying for every 2 or 3. I was so excited for this game but releasing it without at least 1/3rd of the country in the game was a joke. Can't seem to convince myself to play this over ETS2 in its current state. I feel that ETS2 had more places to go after just its first expansion.

That being said I am an enthuseist of this series and as soon as there is at least 5 or 6 more states to explore I'm sure I'll be more inclined to play it. i bought a lot of the DLC in preparation for that day.... but damn if the next 9 or 10 states don't simply get added for free it's going to look like a huge rip off in my eyes.... considering I've already spent as much money for like 3 times as much content in ETS2.

[Reese]

Originally posted by Agima:

How come having the right tools to be able to repair your truck (at a certain extent) is not in relation with operating a truck?

What I mean is, most trucks these days can't be fixed roadside. It's just not possible with tools that you'd be able to carry on your truck. Too many electronics that require specialized tools. Sure, depending on the problem, you could fix it roadside. Anyway, as you said, options.

[Klaas]

Originally posted by CaptainNebulous:

All I want is a far more complete map - without it taking a year between each state and without paying for every 2 or 3. I was so excited for this game but releasing it without at least 1/3rd of the country in the game was a joke. Can't seem to convince myself to play this over ETS2 in its current state. I feel that ETS2 had more places to go after just its first expansion.

That being said I am an enthuseist of this series and as soon as there is at least 5 or 6 more states to explore I'm sure I'll be more inclined to play it. i bought a lot of the DLC in preparation for that day.... but damn if the next 9 or 10 states don't simply get added for free it's going to look like a huge rip off in my eyes.... considering I've already spent as much money for like 3 times as much content in ETS2.

SCS said from the beginning that most map expansion will be paid. If they will make free the next 9/10 states that will mean that they will have to make half of US for free. And that's a lot of work for nothing, since SCS will not get a penny for this. I agree with you, a bigger map would be nice, but they have to earn some money too. Paying about 15-20$ once a few months is ok for me.

[Saltheart Foamfollower]

As the States are created the resources for that State dont just dissappear into an abyss. SCS should have a pretty decent collection of resources that they can easily and quickly plop down on ANY map. This idea that creating more maps is "hard work and takes a long time" is not the full truth.

SCS like most Euros work about 20 hours a week. 10 hours complaining about the previous 20 hours work last week then a week off. Socialism only seems like a good system to the lazy and the incompetent.

[Ornery]

Originally posted by Saltheart Foamfollower:

As the States are created the resources for that State dont just dissappear into an abyss. SCS should have a pretty decent collection of resources that they can easily and quickly plop down on ANY map. This idea that creating more maps is "hard work and takes a long time" is not the full truth.

SCS like most Euros work about 20 hours a week. 10 hours complaining about the previous 20 hours work last week then a week off. Socialism only seems like a good system to the lazy and the incompetent.

They have also stated they have made several brand new prefabs... Arizona brought new interchanges. There are also unique features with each addon. Why so harsh? I'll never understand the mentality of biting the hand that feeds. If you like the game, show some respect when talking of who made it. If you don't like the game, you've no business posting in this forum.

[Daughertyr45]

I like your suggestions and ideas hope scs will use some of them i think scs need to put in where you can buy your own trailers !! and put them in where you like them to be !! and and real truck stops in the game or male them look real and where you do and see your log books like in 18 wheeles of steel