Trains seem useless right now.

[Zpike]

I made an effort to actually use trains in my last game and then bagged it as being too much work.

Maybe if they were available early before my infrastructure was already down and I didn't need to rebuild a route for them I would be more willing to put up with the tedious track laying UI.

For the most part, I find that by the time I have them researched I don't care if I get them and I don't think I would ever subject myself to laying track again unless the UI is improved.

[Pahbi]

I agree, I have 2 concerns with trains.

1. Map sizes are generally to small to make them worth while.
2. By the time you get trains, you have a well established infrastructure and dont' really need it.


We need trains that are practical, scaleable, and easier to use.

I would propose allowing existing roads to be upgraded to train tracks, and create an integrated storage facility/train station, a land version of the boat dock but with extended storage.

Through research, we will improve the quality of train tracks, and the quality and capacity of our trains and the storage capacity of the train station.

I'd also like to see a few train-centric maps in the campaign.

- P

[Zpike]

Interesting idea, upgradable roads. I was just thinking they could allow us to lay train track from the start, that would allow us to plan our infrastructure from the start with trains involved. The go with your idea of using research for upgrades to speed, capacity, and train station storage.

I like it. --- Lets do it. :P

Of course they still need to fix that god awfull track laying UI. :(

[Zpike]

More thoughts:

Their caught in the resource tree with iron being tier two research for the first train. How about they go with something like a mine cart for the first tier that allows the track to be upgraded from wood and stone to iron, just like roads are to stone and brick? That would allow a low speed, low storage start at tier one and still allow you to lay track and plan your infrastructure around track for late game.

[Pahbi]

With the ability to upgrade roads into tracks, laying track would be as easy as the existing road system.

A new building called the Track Layer, will upgrade the roads. You will indicate which road to upgrade by highlighting the road, similar to how you highlight an area to chop down trees.

If a highlighted road goes through an intersection, the Track Layer will take extra time and require
more materials to build a bridge over the road.

I think it would be fun if trains started out as some kind of primative wood/steam kind of thing rolling on wooden tracks.

Once you attain coal and iron, you can upgrade the Track Layer building, which will in turn upgrade the existing wood track to iron track. Further research will unlock the level 2 train stations, which feature a more advanced train that uses coal/steam and can travel faster.

In the final stage of the game, you upgrade the Track Layer building a third time. The level 3 Track Layer will upgrade train tracks to steel.

After more research the train stations can be upgraded to level 3, which will lay down steel track. Level 3 train stations will feature the final train which would be a fuel powered locomotive that runs on a potent fuel produced in a distillary.

That would be my vote. :)

- P

[Zpike]

I like that idea. :)

[General Chaos]

I dislike the train setup also. My idea would be to scrap the trains as is. From there make train tracks the third upgrade for Road Layer needing steel to build. With the third upgrade you get a dispatch station at the road layer, from the dispatch station a CartBot the CartBot would go to a Post which has track, pick up items at the post and deliver them straight to the items destination then return to the dispatch station (Road Layer) if enough track is not built to the destination then items are dropped at post and carried normally. After a CartBot has picked up items at a Post Dispatch sends another CartBot to replace it.

[kopiC]

1. Truck/Van station and Trucks/Vans.
- Each station has only one vehicle. No carpark type building in game for idling vehicles, you don't want players to build too many vehicles like boats. Idle boats can still stay on water and not be a nuisance.
- Vehicle use existing road.
- Additional AI checks for whether its faster by Truck's milkrun, or by existing road.

2. Elevated overhead railways (not in favour of this idea).
- Confusing layout. Is the tile occupied by road/building or rails?
- Background objects blocked by overhead railways, making them hard to select.