I also like to just walk around, explore the area, the train stations, interesting places and also do side tasks. So I really like exploring and discovering this world around the sim. But it's difficult... If you choose the option "on foot", this is a fixed starting point. From there you can only get to other places on foot or by train. This is as logical as it is real. But I find it also makes exploring the TSW world unnecessarily difficult, especially since the maps are still very rudimentary. Interesting spots are mostly found on dark spots on the map and there is no coordinate system. A quadrant pattern would be really helpful here. The stopping time alone is not enough to explore the train stations by train. The next one comes much later and it would be too far to walk. So you have to go all the way through the menu to choose another station. This also takes a lot of time (PS4). My suggestion is to add a spawn function here. Once "on foot" on the way, you could call up the menu to choose another place directly. Since you are already in the map and it is loaded, spawning should only take a few seconds. So "only" one intermediate call would have to be implemented. I can imagine that's no big deal? That would certainly save a lot of time and effort, which in turn can be used sensibly when exploring. Exploring menus and loading times isn't fun. Such a function would be a great prerequisite for making the "side quests" thing more challenging and interactive in the future. The time of hanging up posters should be over... What do you and DTG think about it?
I haven't done this much, but I hear your frustration. The few times I have spawned on foot to explore or take railfan shots it is a lot of walking and often impeded by invisible walls or unsurmountable fences or bushes. I get that they have to have a limit to the "world" but sometimes it would be nice to "take a shortcut" over a hill or around a building or whatever. Or, even get in a vehicle and drive along the line to save time. The walking is long and tedious when there isn;t the volume of activities to do on foot to make it worthwhile. I agree there should be some kind of spawned movements or activities map that allows you to pick and choose locations once spawned and 'teleports' you the next realistic location. I am not quite sure how this would be worked in but I like your thinking. And yes it would absolutely make side quests more appealing. On a similar note... There is a thread here about "speeders" aka: maintenance buggies that has merit for doing off train exploring. I don't recall what is titled but you may have a look for it. This idea based in reality would allow one to spawn on foot and then have the option to grab a speeder and go for a little rail tour or transit to another location.... but in the fashion of actual railway procedure (though old fashioned as now days we use HiRail trucks mainly). I actually like the idea of speeders being developed and used in the game as it would add a lot on the way of mobility for spawning on foot and could actually become a scenario, timetable, or route task option with the right ideas. Examples would be a scenario that you have to take a speeder down the line and do some minor track or equipment repairs then return to the yard. Another would be a route task to do a line inspection between stations of a certain section of track before trains can be released to use it. And for spawned on foot travel it would be perfect too! The best part of this idea is it has historical basis, realistic precedent, and would be a very cool addition to the game. There are a variety of speeders / hand cars that have existed that could be used as most railways used most of the types as there were relatively few builders.
