Some weeks ago we got what I believe is the first, and hopefully last, DLC-dedicated article without a release date for the Class 86/2. I have some questions that may not have a defenitive answer: Are we getting another 86 article? Or is the DLC just releasing without article? Or will the date be announced in the next Roadmap for the first time?
It’s the same on the tfw pacer just trains working on being nothing on that either since intial announcement nothing further on just trains website either
I feel like it’s been delayed and they just haven’t told us, an article with a price, but no stream and release date almost a month later. Hopefully they say something in the roadmap or on stream.
I really hope that the Class 86 isn't vapourware (to borrow anothers phrase) as I'm coming around on Shap. After not being able to play BPB for so long and seeing all this new JT content announced put a bad taste in my mouth and after upgrading consoles and being able to actually play the JT routes properly, I've been getting a little bit excited. Truth be told though, I'm less excited for the 86 now I'll have to choose between seeing IT or seeing KWAs
Probably over using the tinfoil hat but there’s something a bit odd about the whole situation. Normally the “release” article with price would be around 10 days before the DLC hits the stores with the stream sometime in between. If there was a last minute hitch then DTG and JT seem to be very tight lipped about the cause. If it doesn’t release in the next three to four weeks then it’s likely to be marching into and clashing with the TSW6 build up to release window. The other possibility is that JT are holding back to see any possible core performance improvements first. We know that WCMLoS is fairly tough on hardware and maybe adding another complex physics scripted loco to the mix has pushed things over a yellow or red line. I mean, I already didn’t relish having to endure the stutters and sound squelching similar to the 87 and if it’s doing that under testing on the beta side could be they pulled it for now. But the point is, communication required. You can’t announce something is releasing along with its price then just sit on it without giving the expectant buyers some information!
I'm still optimistic, and think that the class 86 was delayed because a release in the past few weeks would have clashed with the releases of Frankfurt S-Bahn, Cargo line V4 and Thomas 80th. If so, a release date should be announced this week (prediction: release on June 19 )
The roadmap should be tomorrow so hopefully we can get some more information tomorrow. I’m guessing they wouldn’t want to announce it a few days before the roadmap and would prefer to put it all out.
I'm convinced that they pulled it at the last minute due to that crappy blue kettle and his chums. I don't believe there has been an technical issue which has caused a delay as JT have always been very forthcoming with information like that, (like how they explained the 1-2 week delay to Shap last year). I am hoping that it might be they are going to surprise us with a little bonus or something to the DLC that they've decided to chuck in last minute (maybe after reading various comments) - perhaps a freight wagon, or other sub-class, maybe even relenting and putting the 86s on freight vice 87s as who really is going to spot the subclass being wrong at speed - or care for that matter). If however it was because of the blue kettle, we riot, just hope no Aussie journalists get shot in the leg whilst reporting on it...
I haven’t really followed the 86 too much, what is this blue kettle? Hopefully they are adding something extra, or have possibly found something game breaking and fixing it before release, unlike other dlcs.
Thomas, the Blue Kettle & His Friends (Kettle is a derogatory term for steam locomotive, boils water like a kettle - though I don't actually hate steam locos).
Ah okay, Thomas slipped my mind. Even though I knew kettles were a term for steam I didn’t consider it a possibility and just imagined an actual kettle delayed it!
It was either the blue kettle, or rather the green reskin cash grab, or they decided to give the CL4 pack priority. But as I said earlier, information is key and I for one think this Roadmap needs to be doing a deep dive on all the promised but not forthcoming content and fixes together with at least a hint of what September is going to bring.
I know Thomas tends to trigger people in the rail community for some reason, but I highly doubt he had anything to do with the Class 86. JT hasn’t given us a release date, so we don’t know when it’ll drop... Those are the facts presented. It could still be in testing, maybe they found a bug at the last moment? We don’t know. My guess is we’ll get the final article with a release date today, other articles dropped around roadmap day. The article from last month hinted it was close, plus we’ve had the patch that provides the substitution support for the 86 + Coaches. It’s not even close to being vapourware…
The Thomas dlc. I love the new reference & I shall be calling Thomas the ‘crappy blue kettle’ from now on….
If it was a technical issue or other bug I am certain that JT would have said something, like I mentioned upthread, when there was the issues with the Shap route that pushed release back by a week or so they were straight on it and open about there being a delay and an explanation as to why, this time it's radio silence and it doesn't make sense. Like I said, maybe they have decided to add a surprise or a few extra tweaks (like deciding to switch the 86 onto freight over the 87 having originally said they wouldn't) but even then they probably would have said something. It almost certainly has to be because DTG told them to hold off, especially since we effectively had the release docket just without the "now available" or "coming next week". As for the crappy blue kettle, I actually like Thomas - hell I've driven the real deal on a pres line but I along with a lot of others are still seething over the whole "Big Reveal" balls up at Christmas (as I said back then, not got an issue with it as DLC but they didn't read the room and hyped everyone up for that let down). There's also the issue that they completely half arsed the DLC but since I won't buy it, it isn't my problem.
Especially when the 86/2 and 86/4 were fundamentally identical to one another, just modified to that state from different original subclasses and at different times. The division that the /2 was used for passenger and /4 was mixed traffic was absolutely nothing to do with the subclasses themselves, and more to do with the jobs the older /0s and /3s had already been relegated to before they were modified because of their previously rougher build - that is it. So functionally there is nothing stopping a /2 from being used on freight, the only thing that would look out of place is that one of the numbers on the side of the engine is a 2 rather than a 4. Big bloody deal. Unless they plan to feature the 86/4 in a future release, maybe as an easy switch in order to fill out the roster on a future route...
