I've got this habit really bad one called TSWDLCitis where I just keep buying DLC's I cant help. 102 DLC's I've got now including the Original NEC route from 2020. Really need help.
Over what time period? Weeks, Months, Years? Something i noticed is i want to buy the new stuff too like 101 Expert as an example. The Key is to focus on the dlcs you have and try to have as much fun as you can have with those you already own. Maybe try to complete all scenarios first? or all tutorials? timetable services of your favourite train/trains? Strict measures would be something like deactivate the feature to pay via anything like Paypal, Visa, EC etc. as this could be an unlimited money source to your head even if its not. Then you get yourself like a 20 bucks giftcard for your Steam, Ps store etc. once a month. After that you have to handle the money you have on this account and maybe even wait before you can buy anything. If nothing works, think like that, there are way worse expensive things to be addicted too.
Maybe try a break? Different game? However, if you are able to comfortably support yourself financially while buying every DLC, is this such a bad thing?
I got good news for you. TSWDLCitis can be cured by buying everything. It's an expensive treatment but it works
Turn off the HUD, ignore the scoring system drive according to what you see out of the window and your route knowledge, master a route. Get immersed in that route. Doing this has made me very appreciative of the very few dlc I own, and very picky when it comes to what I'll buy in future.
I had the same situation the other way around. Bought everything until there was nothing left to buy . There were just not enogh locos and routes to buy lol. I enjoy digital content for train sims, so i guess everybody is responsible for him self to not into financial trouble. Hobbys can be expensive, thats a true fact. If you buy dlcs without enjoying them, then you have a real problem, where you should ask yourself about the current path.
No worse than going to the movies or eating nice dinners if it's just one route a week. Now if you overdose and buy em all at once, that's on you ;-)
But then that leads to DLC withdrawls. Getting the shakes waiting for the next one to release, then the sadness as people on the forums talk about sales but alas you already own everthing on sale. Then there is the anxitey from the anticipation for the next realease, anouncement and the cold sweats on if you can guess how long until it comes out. Then there is the sickness that you have this extra money to blow on DLC but you have nothing to spend it on. There is a beautiful island in the Caribbean we can open a rehab centre, away from the sights and sounds of a railway for these poor souls.
Yeah, I have the same collection virus thing going with TSC content and also with TSW to some degree. Often I end buying stuff just for layers and so on. But if I´m hurting no one and my financial situation allows it, why not? People always liked to collect things... before the internet people would collect stamps and the like. I guess it´s normal and nothing to worry about.
Yeah I am a bit of a completionist like you as well... I own almost all the DLC released for the game... once I start collecting routes and trains I want the fullest experience possible even if its not trains I really plan to drive but want to see on AI layers. For a while I held off on the German stuff and stuck with US and UK... but eventually decided to start playing through Germany and ended up buying every train and loco over a period of a few weeks. Then to make matters worse, a couple years ago I got an Xbox Series X (I was originally on Playstation)... I wasn't planning on playing any TSW on it, I bought it over other games, but then it was on Gamepass and seemed to run better/higher FPS and I actually bought a bunch of the DLC I already had on Playstation again for Xbox . But switched back to PS5 when the distant scenery issue on Series X showed itself and from now on am PS only. But long story short I've sunk a ton of money into this game. More than anything else. The one exception I've managed to avoid is the Swiss stuff... came close to buying it just for the Vorarlberg layers but held off so far.
For me the only 2 DLC I don't own yet is the Scotrail 158 and the expert 101. Scotrail I figured no point until the Leven branch comes out. And the 101 I'll just wait until there is a lull in DLC like Xmas break until Feb as usual. I alway get xbox gift cards from my kids for Xmas but nothing to buy.
