Hey Guys! So I've been playing TSW2 for around a year now and I must say it's the perfect game for train-nerds like me Although it is a great game I always thought that something is missing in my gameplay experience. That something is a little bit more freedom. Of course, you have the scenario planner, where you can make your own decisions in regards to where you drive what you drive, and when you do it. But this still feels very linear and restricted. So I'm proposing a Sandbox Mode A Mode where you can have as much freedom as possible. -spawn in the location you want -fast travel to each location -drive every train you want -let us take full control of all the switches and of the signals if possible -don't give us restricted train sets, let us put together our own sets. - want to drive a DB class 155 freight loco with 20+ IC-Cars? sure why not! -want to haul german double-stack cars with an American gp40 through the middle of great Britain? why the hell not? Sure it won't be very realistic, but it sure as hell will be a lot of fun You could also put together scenarios that are not currently possible and that I really want to experience. For example, rescuing a broken-down ICE with a diesel locomotive. I hope it's not inappropriate to compare TSW2 to other simulators but I also have been playing TrainZ, and there you have full control of all the switches and signals and you can basically put together any trainset you like.
I still miss Train Simulator's good old Quick Drive mode. Although timetable mode sure has its benefits, it simply doesn't offer the flexibility that Quick Drive mode did.
Yes I totally agree with you! I totally like the Time Tables and the campaign/missions but once in a while I'd like to goof around a bit or create my own scenarios in my mind using a sandbox mode. Sadly though I never played the original Train Simulator but I imagine it is similar to the quick drive in TrainZ
Problems with this: 1) taking control of signals and switches would require a massive overhaul on the way the game handles signalling. 2) you can spawn anywhere you want, and take control of trains
I've played a bit of Trainz but am not too familiar with its Quick Drive mode. I think there are some differences with Train Simulator Quick Drive mode. In Train Simulator Quick Drive; - You pick a loco and consist you want to drive (you can create your own consists) - You pick a route you want to drive - You select your desired start point and desired end point on the route You then click the start button and the game will - Set a path for you (you cannot diverge from this path) - Spawn some AI traffic in the opposite direction The session will end when you've reached the end point you selected Sure it has its limitations, but it's very quick to set up a session and offers some flexibility (mainly with custom consists and drive any train on any route). Timetable mode doesn't have that flexibility, and scenario creator isn't quick enough (especially if you want some AI traffic).
Now I think about it, I guess the feature you're suggesting is more like Train Simulator's Free Roam mode. In Free Roam you can control anything, there's no set goals, but I also think there's no AI traffic. While setting up a Free Roam you can spawn any locomotive, wagon and coach anywhere on the route. While playing you can take control of any locomotives and any switches. It offers a lot of flexibility, but I don't think it offers any AI traffic. You should be able to buy a copy of Train Simulator relatively cheap if you go google around a bit.
The AI traffic is probably the biggest hurdle if you also want to take control of all the signals and switches. Without a far more intelligent dispatcher, you'd probably get one or the other. Either way, I honestly can't imagine I'd ever use a mode like this over the regular service mode. Sure, there may be some initial novelty of mixing up random trains and locations, but I'd rather have a busy timetable and work within that.
Ideally they'd combine the best of both. Being able to substitute ANY train with ANY other train in timetable mode would go a long way. Kinda like an "Off The Rails" mode, but then for Timetable mode.
And in TS Quick Drive you can have an endless variation of AI traffic, even have it randomly appear. And you can use invisible trains to generate random occupied signalblocks in the path of the player train. It’s like an everchanging scenario. For me to invest in TSW i would want a “random red signal” thingy implemented in service mode. Otherwise i’d only run the route once or twice.
Amen to that. I would love the Sandbox mode. Trainz is a fantastic game series, too. The route builder is far superior to any other train simulator I've played.
Maybe I am missing something here but what would the point of the “random red signal” be in service mode? In TSW on timetable the other AI trains running up and down the track cause actual red signals (depending on timing, priority, and how busy the particular route you are on is). Or are you talking about custom scenarios?
The point is that just like in real life, sometimes a train ahead of you might be delayed etc…So variation. Look to the ZUSI simulator (which btw is the one that is used for real life teaining of train drivers in Germany). It has a “chaos value”. That is fantastic because unexpected things happen. It makes driving hundred times more fun. And realistic too. On a schedule you’ve driven before, you might be directed to another track because of a repair, or a service ahead you may be delayed etc…. And you never know when/if you encounter this. Which is like real railways work. Implement a chaos value. If you don’t like set it to zero. And people (like me) who like it can set where they want. Nobody lost anything, but something will be gained. And who knows, you might like services not being exactly the same everytime you drive.
