Am i the only one getting bored with the new TSW announcements? WCML cut up into pieces and in different time Era's? Why dont make the whole WCML in modern time era? Or make a new Dutch route network? Or a TGV network? ICE network? It is all shredded pieced of railways in TSW. From modern to yesterdays.. Done once and left behind. Uninteresting german routes from D to W.. To be forgotten about and maybe bought in a Sale. There is no focus. Please one today and please the other tommorrow. Its a big mess of nothingness.
Well the WCML sections are from two different third parties, not DTG. So they get to make what they want to make. They aren't coordinated.
There is a german Steam Engine announced, that's something new and truly exciting, atleast for me. And the WCML, wouldn't it be more boring, if it were all in the same time period? Who drives the whole length in one go anyway? It's not just a train travel, it's a time travel! Exciting!
I understand the limitations. And 3th parthies choices .But you get my point, i hope. Its a Railroad mess of pieces. Its not Sustainable.
Well, I think we can agree in one point: Network Style Routes tend to be the better routes, just A to B can get boring quite fast. Maybe someone should do the whole WCML in different time periods, always London - Glasgow but different times, that would be interesting, of course with enough branches and sidings to keep everyone entertained. The problem is just, who could that in a reasonable time? I always love to see how railway lines change over time.
I respect the preference but i stick to the one time period. Otherwise its a mess. Start in london in a steam loco and end in Glasgow in an EMU would be silly in IMHO.
One period at a time, so the whole Route like 5 times or so. 1930, 1960, 1980, 2000, 2020, something like that. I would really love to drive from London to Glasgow in one go with the Coronation Scot and LMS Coronation Class, I totally get your point, I just have different preferences for time periods.
Thats ok. I understand and respect the time preference. I like modern and you like older. No problem. I just wanted the creators to make up the minds. Create something of the same in TSW. Not old not new not once and forgotten. I think we are on the same page here.
It would be nice to have the whole route set in 5 different years as above, but then it takes 2 years per section to do and each route is basically five in one, so approx £150 per DLC in dev time. The route from the 1930s steam period would be significantly different to 2000, so can't really expect to just change rolling stock, buildings and other items. I recon what we have now across the multiple DLC sections, in 5 different periods would be nearly £1k...silly business model, wouldn't work. If every section was set in 2025, It'd be off my list, just find modern locos like modern cars, a bit bland. So think what they have now is the best option as it caters for the majority of the player base.
I know it is not necessarily easy, but I do think the opportunity to take existing WCML routes and switch the eras hasn't got much attention yet. I like the idea of running a class 86 from MK to Euston and a Pendolino from Preston to Carlisle in a matching era, not just free roam or creating my own scenarios. Think this would refresh these routes too. I like how JT include branchlines too. I know it's not network like, but it adds to an A to B route.
That is exactly the point, you loose variety and any reason if you would do this. That's why I think, the way we have it now is not the worst after all. The Devs could really concentrate on one period and area for a bit longer, a route that never gets any rollingstock to layer on feels just sad and empty but only WCML, only modern as the only content for probably years? Not really exciting at all.
Just like only old. Not really exciting at all. Empty and sad. No variety. BUT if they dont concentrate on a certain time period. It will get old and sad and empty. Doesnt matter if its old or modern.. You get my point? There is no focus. But it is all about keeping everybody happy. I rest my case.
Keeping everybody happy is impossible, it's all about compromises. No one is totally happy but no one is totally unhappy either basically. Yes, I still totally get your point, there is just no solution to this problem. Like I said, the Devs could try to focus a bit more, so that you have variety without having totally isolated routes either but it still would be just a compromise.
One thing I’ll add my 2 cents in on, it would be absolutely amazing if the WCML in the future was able to be standardised for one era
Has anyone played the Halo TMCC? If you have, you know the option where you can switch between classic and remaster. Wouldn’t be good if it had an option where you change from one era to another. Only the scenery would change, TT’s and locos would remain the same.
I know DTGs system for many years now. A solid smooth route hop experience would be technically possible in the way op is immagine. But here to say when DTG is creating a route, they basicly never think about possible future content on a route section, and neither care about already released lines. Every dlc is kind of a self contained thing for its own, with its own bugs. I kind of get they cant stretch the scope to 5-6 already released dlcs and think about 3-4 potential future routes while they struggle with the very one dlc which is in production. TSW has to evolve in a parallel way. And here im honest, its way better now than back in 2021, where timetable had huge gaps. Now the uk and german modern stock allow for a very good experience because the variety of the available rolling stock. So devs can focus on realistic timetables, and also make timetable dlcs. But this was not always the case years ago. Im sure if there are all legs of wcml in the more or less same time period, devs come with a suitable solution for players who like the long run.
2026 is shaping up to be a very good year for TSW. Several great UK routes in the pipeline. A cracking German one with a return to steam traction and at least the possibility we might see Tadami. Yes there are flies in the ointment with regard to the core and we know DTG have become fixated on Metro Rivals. But we live in hope things might happen there. And as regards TSW itself being boring, last night I interrupted a Class 86 run on WCML Shap to do a Winter Wonderland run in ETS2. I actually found myself rushing the truck job so I could get back on TSW and push a bit further with the 86!
