In the user manual I just read: 2.2 Scenario Types Career: These are objective based scenarios that monitor and rate performance. Experience Points and achievements are accumulated and ranked against other players who have also run these scenarios. Career Scenarios cannot be operated while in the Simple Control mode setting. Standard: These are the same as Career scenarios, but do not feature performance monitoring and scoring. Complete objectives at your own pace without any pressure of competition. I play with this settings box unticked . . . Career Scoring: Toggles performance monitoring and scoring of Career Scenarios. So is there in this case any difference between Career scenarios and Standard scenarios ?
Yes. A Standard scenario will fail if you arrive more than a minute late at any stop. Career scenarios won't, as they will only deduct score for being late, which you can disable.
Thanks. Probably never noticed that difference because I think passengers are a PITA , and look terrible in TS, and therefore I almost exclusively do freight.
ONLY if that stopping instruction is set to be a "Timed" one; with no such setting applied you will not fail the scenario if you're late.
Another fun note regarding Career scenarios. You can extract the scenario from the AP file into the Scenarios folder and edit the ScenarioProperties.bin file. This can remove speeding and wheelslip penalties, illegal consist penalties, and provide for more points at each stop. The Class 455 scenarios on South London Network are a good example; add just 1 to the value for each stop in the third scenario and your 996 maximum score becomes a possible 1,000. Or add 100 to the value and have all of your points by the time you stop at Straetham. Whatever works for you. It's how to make any scenario not properly scored still come out as a top score.
I always change timetable and career scenarios to standard using TS Tools. No interest at all in scoring, getting points or winning a goldfish.
That's not needed, as there's a setting to disable the Career scoring, with the advantage of being allowed to be late (Standard fails the scenario if late >60 seconds at at timetabled stop). So converting to Standard won't cure the timing issues, but Career w/o Scoring does. I never understood why people convert scenarios and blow up their scenario database if there's an easier way that just needs unticking a box.
That's not the point. I was just trying to understand why you would clone a scenario to change its type when there is a switch for that, that's all. This was not about changing stock.
I'm not sure about the switch? Normally I cannot alter a Career scenario as it might affect the timings
You don't have to anything other than untick this to get a "Standard +" gameplay. Better than Standard, as you can be late and still get your checkmark. No reason to convert scenarios for that. It also makes the "deviating ETA clock bug" irrelevant which can lead to Standard scenarios failing even when being on time.
I have that unticked as well Spikee, my boy LOL. Sorry this forum won't let me use the emoji function. I get a java console error, as i do with other functions. On the whole net, it's only on this forum. So make of that what you will, but i know it's down to the DTG NKVD.
I did not know that just unticking the box would let me change some of the scenario parameters - Thanks Splike
I give up. This is about Career vs Standard bevaviour, not editing stuff like swapping locos. I only wanted to know why you would want to convert a Career scenario to Standard, given the fact that you can switch the game mode per menu, making a Career scenario independent from the timings anyway, whereas you would still need to edit the scenario if Standard. Nobody could give an answer. Fair enough, Pleter. Complete misunderstanding I'm not on a mission - I just wanted to know. Let me also be pedantic - where can I be if not on a train sim forum? My point was you don't need to change timings in the editor generally (and risk breaking a scenario that relies on timed stops for overtakings) if flipping that switch gives you the most relaxed gameplay anyway.
Hahahahahahaha, who are you talking to now young man. Yourself by the sound of it Wow emoji's worked, a red letter day for dtg's forum.
I am fairly certain that even without that ticked there are still differences between Career and Standard scenarios - like not being able to see signal aspects on the map, and failing the game if a red signal is passed regardless of the setting in the options.
They are all fun. Career scenarios tend to be focused more towards those who wish to complete things. Most 3rd party offerings are Standard. I have recently been really enjoying both the AP bought scenarios and the ATS Timetable scenarios. Both types of product seem well made. Only constraint being having a boat load of AP products. I understand there may be some animosity against ATS, however, I personally like their products. Respectfully
Correct. Seeing signal states on the map was probably considered as "cheating" by DTG, and SPAD will end the scenario immediately.
I don't recall seeing signals on the map for quite a while, even in Standard. More importantly, free camera with pause is an easy solution. Quite frankly the whole thing is only an issue with the silly timetables and penalties. When you know that you have to blast through the signal at 100kph just one second after it turns, thus slowing in advance and making a calculated acceleration. I have this image of two designers coming up with scoring, one thinking that nobody ever shall score perfect, having leaderboards and stuff like precise stopping at a location (on Horseshoe Curve), ultimately representing experience, while the other was adamant that it's like a school grade, good enough is perfect. You can even tell which achievement was designed (and sabotaged) by which guy. (Obviously the second guy was correct, players will min-max and play unsafe, so every scenario should be leisurely attainable while teaching appropriate driving habits. Including tripping the loco for manhandling the F4 HUD.)
What you see on the map also depends on the used map.bin. For example, JT use different icons for trains and very large signal symbols on the 2D map. It's freely configurable.
The main issue with career scenarios is that most of the time the compilers never bothered (or maybe didn't know they could) change the default parameters which are extremely harsh, Such as losing 3000 points for arriving 4 minutes late, a little bit of wheelslip or 2 MPH over the speed limit.
Agree (though I can't be bothered as that's where I turn off the silly scores) - but it's not a fault of Career mode per se. The editor gives the scenario designer all parameters to make a fair scenario, achievable for those who want a reward for playing. For example I've made the Career fix packs for NSCoal and DonnerPass not for myself, rather for other players who would like to have their gold stars. For me, turning the scoring off and getting a green checkmark to remind me I've been there is enough.
Just had to do that with one of the Class 40 scenarios on S&C. Instead of using a standard WCML consist, the formation you needed to pick up had three vehicles not part of the DLC, resulting in it not appearing at all when I eventually got the Whistler moving and went to back on the stock. Ten minutes in TS Tools and, voila! all was good.
