Will this game allow custom trains without dlc?

[Back2TheFuture]

It would be nice if we could make our own train with 3d modeling software like blender. Will this be possible or do we have to buy DLC to get new trains?. It would be awesome if community content could be combinated with DLC like ARMA 3 where they sell high quality expansion as DLC but the community can still create their own content without any limitations.

Steam workshop would be a great addition to this game.

[pavig]

The engine is Unreal engine based, and there is an editor in development which will provide dev tools for creating expansions... but we're still waiting for the dev kit. In the mean time learning the unreal dev IDE might help prepare you for when the TSW dev kit is released. Some players have found ways of using 3d software to reskin existing locos without the full editor, but not much else has happened yet.

The Dovetail forums are the best place if you want to talk about developing for TSW.

Check out Train Simulator 2020 (their previous title) if you want an idea of what can be done with community content. TS was never designed to be as extensible as TSW but there is a huge amount of workshop content and third party sites and developers still producing new routes and locos for the sim. A lot of the DLC for that sim started life with modders who turned their hobby into a cottage industry and started releasing stuff commercially.

TSW is a much better foundation for third party development, but we're still waiting on the tools to produce content. The dev kit is having the tires kicked by some third party devs in closed beta, but no word on when we'll get a public release yet.

[Back2TheFuture]

That would be great if we could have our own models since afaik Train Simulator 2020 did only allow you to build your own routes with content you purchased while there was no way to get a new train into the game without buying the expensive expansions, correct me if I am wrong.

I understand that the developers hard work must be rewarded and I have nothing against DLC's it's just the price tag which is too high imo.

[LeadCatcher]

Third parties have developed locomotives for the old Train Simulator —- some individuals as well and they can be found on such sites as UKtrainsim.com or RailworksAmerica.com. However the skills involved are quite high which is why most are willing to buy the DLC vice develop their own.

[Back2TheFuture]

I missed that, thanks for mentioning it, I was thinking about getting TS some time ago but the expensive DLC's made me wonder how much replay value you get with the vanilla game.

[LeadCatcher]

Plenty of replay value — no other DLC is needed if the routes bundled with the core engine meet your fancy. Think of it as a model railroad — you only have to buy the routes and DLC you are interested in. TS comes with a route editor, a scenario editor with which you can create your own routes (not easy) or develop scenarios for the routes and DLC you do own (not too terrible hard).

Not only is there paid DLC, there are plenty of sites that provide free, player made routes, rolling stock locomotives and scenarios. Of course some these free routes might require assets from paid DLC but there is a whole world of options for one starting out.

[cActUsjUiCe]

You'll be able to create your own locos and rolling stock from scratch with the editor once it's released. No DLC will be required to do this, unless you wish to re-use existing models or sounds for your project.

[MugHug]

Originally posted by cActUsjUiCe:

You'll be able to create your own locos and rolling stock from scratch with the editor once it's released. No DLC will be required to do this, unless you wish to re-use existing models or sounds for your project.

When?

TSW released on Steam for over a year and countless DLCs up for sale but no Editor yet.

Just imagine with all that DLC created and pumped out, the editor should be finished by now.

[Back2TheFuture]

Are we talking about an official SDK toolkit or some 3rd party?

[MugHug]

Originally posted by LΞGΞNDΛRY_LΞGΞND:

Are we talking about an official SDK toolkit or some 3rd party?

Official.

[Back2TheFuture]

Interesting

[MugHug]

Originally posted by LΞGΞNDΛRY_LΞGΞND:

Interesting

It was first mentions a long time ago but there is still no ETA on it. Suspect we will not see it this year.

[Back2TheFuture]

I have been playing Rolling Line for some time I might pick up TSW on sale one day

[MugHug]

Originally posted by LΞGΞNDΛRY_LΞGΞND:

I have been playing Rolling Line for some time I might pick up TSW on sale one day

I feel it is like Train Simulator v1.5 more then a totally new product. It looks pretty but most of the routes are void of life and limited to about 40 miles in distance.

If you are looking for a more realistic train sim then the more indie Run8 may be something to consider. The graphics are not as nice and it is just america routes. But it does provide a number of simulated feature that TSW lacks. One nice feature is that the DLC route can connect together to give you vast routes compared to TSW.

[pavig]

There are a few options if you are interested in making your own tracks etc.

Train Sim World and wait for the editor. It will be a proper developer IDE. (You can see an alpha of the editor in action here: https://youtu.be/NNWAV9II2sc ) Driving focused, though you can get up and walk around in first person, or ride trains too.

Train simulator (2020): Built in track editor which can reuse assets from DLC and base game, and includes steam workshop etc. Biggest community. Dev tools are clunky but many third party dev sites exist. Driving focused.

Trainz series: started out as more of a model railroad simulator so mostly feels less realistic, but has great track editing tools and workshop. Full railroad simulation focused (dispatch etc), less about driving, multiplayer. Probably the closest to Rolling Line. Community is relatively small.

Run8: hardcore simulation with a small community of developers producing third party content. Full railroad simulation focus (dispatch etc), currently the most detailed driving sim, multiplayer.

Of the existing simulations I think TSW currently has the most pleasant driving experience, though it suffers from being still early in its lifecycle and lack of community content. Once the editor is out this should change significantly.

Derail Valley seems particularly loved by VR enthusiasts, and evidently is a lovely simulation, but no user content on the road map unfortunately.

All the simulations have pros and cons. If you want a train driving sim I can recommend TSW, but if you are more of a model rail enthusiast Trainz might be your style. Train Simulator and Run8 are great but pretty imposing to get into.

[cActUsjUiCe]

Originally posted by pavig:

Train Sim World and wait for the editor. It will be a proper developer IDE. (You can see an alpha of the editor in action here: https://youtu.be/NNWAV9II2sc ) Driving focused, though you can get up and walk around in first person, or ride trains too.

That's not an Alpha build of the public editor we will be receiving. That's the actual editor that they use in the Dovetail Games studio. We won't be getting that version since it uses source assets that only Dovetail Games has access to. We will be getting a modified version of that editor that uses the cooked files we receive from Steam. The two editors are identical though in terms of features.