DISPATCHER

[Top_Cat]

Have Dispatcher; Route Map and Remote.
When using remote on route map you hear a click but nothing happens.
The Dispatcher appears to be useless. How do you tell which way the switches are?
The old mod from NEXUS was much better, at least you could plan the whole route and see it.

[TheFrommie86]

It was intended to be diffucult/challenging, that you simply don't know so you allocate brain capacity to your actions.

Although the White line is always a good Indicator on how the swich now stands

[arthorfonzarelli]

You're not supposed to use the remote on the route map. you just point your crosshair (the dot in the center of your screen) or mouse cursor at the red circles that represent the switches. When you do, the switch flag will appear and show which direction the switch is pointing, and clicking the red circle will cause the switch to change.

[Talkingpeanut]

OP is very likely playing VR, given they can hold both items at the same time. Make sure you're at the right switch, the remote screen shows an icon for which direction the switch is set and clicking should swap that symbol (as well as the switch itself). You could try leaning the map against something and just wielding the remote so you can focus on the one thing at a time

As an aside, I see the goal the devs had of making it not quite simple. Having the map being ink on paper that can't magically change, only the interaction itself being "unrealistic", is a neat choice and I don't mind it in pancake mode. But it's definitely not easy to interact with in VR, hopefully that's something that can improve

[BigVern]

Have yet to unlock the DS licence but from what I've observed while it's better than the Trainz style setting the route as you go which we had before, no substitute for a Run 8 or SimRail style signal panel. Am I also right in thinking that the screens for the yard etc. locations don't show track occupancy, so you have no idea if you're routing into an occupied section until you get line of sight.

[BigVern]

Couple of supplementary queries?
1. I presume there is no way of holding the DS chart and changing the switches, it has to be placed on a surface.

2. Where is the interactive map to set up your route in Yards and Stations?

[TheFrommie86]

Originally posted by BigVern:

Couple of supplementary queries?
1. I presume there is no way of holding the DS chart and changing the switches, it has to be placed on a surface.

2. Where is the interactive map to set up your route in Yards and Stations?

2. You should get the Route Map when you Begin a new Game, if you play an older Save before the B99 Update you should be able to get it via the Buttons in the Tool Shed however yyou can't use them without the Dispatchers Licence

[BigVern]

Thanks for that. Also figured out the switches in the terminals are interactive within the original station handbook. What seems to be missing from the latter though is some sort of directional orientation. I found myself heading north out of the Steel Mill instead of south towards the Harbour, so ended up having to "wye" my train at the first suitable location. Though of course that could happen without using DS mode!

[maxine]

Originally posted by BigVern:

Am I also right in thinking that the screens for the yard etc. locations don't show track occupancy, so you have no idea if you're routing into an occupied section until you get line of sight.

Every yard has at least one un-labeled track which will always be empty, unless you've put something there (that didn't despawn). When leaving a station, all cars that are not part of a currently active job will despawn. Only the work trains never despawn, so don't park them there if you plan on using that track when coming through in the future.

Originally posted by BigVern:

Couple of supplementary queries?
1. I presume there is no way of holding the DS chart and changing the switches, it has to be placed on a surface.

In non-VR you can use mouse mode to change the switches while holding the Route Map.

Originally posted by BigVern:

What seems to be missing from the latter though is some sort of directional orientation. I found myself heading north out of the Steel Mill instead of south towards the Harbour, so ended up having to "wye" my train at the first suitable location. Though of course that could happen without using DS mode!

The schematic station maps have a compass in the top left corner, with the red arrow pointing approximately north.

[ReverendTed]

Just to be clear, in case it hadn't been made apparent, in VR you point at the Route Map (or Station Map) with the Comms Radio set to Switch, same as you would operate switches in the world. (That took me a while to realize, I thought Dispatcher was useless in VR for a few minutes.) The Radio's display will show which direction the switch is currently set to.
It is possible to be holding both the Radio and Route Map at the same time.

I have not purchased or used the Remote Switch Setter. It doesn't seem particularly useful, considering the Comms Radio function.

[Knsgf]

Originally posted by ReverendTed:

I have not purchased or used the Remote Switch Setter. It doesn't seem particularly useful, considering the Comms Radio function.

Switch setter doesn't require aiming and allows to throw switches obscured by scenery from a respectable distance. Very useful at speed.

[maxine]

Originally posted by Knsgf:

Originally posted by ReverendTed:

I have not purchased or used the Remote Switch Setter. It doesn't seem particularly useful, considering the Comms Radio function.

Switch setter doesn't require aiming and allows to throw switches obscured by scenery from a respectable distance. Very useful at speed.

Not just throwing switches, it also allows you to see the position of the next switch, before you can even see the switch (and then allows you to correct it, if it's in the wrong position).

[Kimo]

Originally posted by Knsgf:

Originally posted by ReverendTed:

I have not purchased or used the Remote Switch Setter. It doesn't seem particularly useful, considering the Comms Radio function.

Switch setter doesn't require aiming and allows to throw switches obscured by scenery from a respectable distance. Very useful at speed.

This. And I very like the sound it makes when a sig comes into reach: You can deal with speed and brake while waiting vor the beep to check the switch.

It started to feel stressful to me, approaching at higher speeds, to look out for the sig while everything happens at the same time.

I felt like "who need's this" too. Not anymore, kinda QoL. :)

[GenXGamer]

Originally posted by TheFrommie86:

It was intended to be diffucult/challenging,

yet it always ends up convoluted instead.

UI elements in this sim has always been less than adequate. goofy, odd, not standard.

I recommend the author take a class in industrial psychology to learn how to make proper controls.

it is nice having the switches on those maps but they are odd in implementation. I like railroader's implementation. simple and easy to use.

[ling.speed]

Originally posted by GenXGamer:

UI elements in this sim has always been less than adequate. goofy, odd, not standard.

They are made to be interacted with in a fun rather than efficient way. DV was a VR only game not so long ago.

While it would be best to have both proper controls and fun controls, im happy we got the fun ones. I mean, game name is litteraly "place where you fail". It would be weird if the UI (thats part of gameplay due to VR) was made in a way to minimize failure in a game about failure.

[whisper]

Yeah the spinning plates aspect of the game is a core part of the appeal, to me.