Why I Create Scenarios

[pjt1974]

I received a comment on one of my scenarios on the Steam Workshop about how I should stop worrying about whether people like my scenario's or not and if I enjoy making them, that should be enough.

Firstly, I would like to thank Rich for the comment. I completely understand the sentiment. In many ways I agree and you are perfectly correct to point it out.

Secondly, I'd like to give an insight as to why I create scenario's and why I encourage comments or feedback, both positive and, more importantly, negative.

I've created a few scenario's recently rather than continue building my route to keep myself busy and take my mind off a few personal issues and matters. I found with route building, it can be rather laborious and gives time for the mind to wander whereas with scenarios, you can release one then your mind can be busy researching and planning the next. Much of the enjoyment and satisfaction I get from creating scenarios is trying to improve. By encouraging comment and feedback, I can find out if the instructions were easy to follow or too simplistic, if the scenario in the whole was too easy or too hard, if the scenario felt realistic, was it enjoyable throughout or was it found to be a bore after the first 20 mins? Only by hearing from people who download and run my scenarios do I know where I am doing things right and where I am going wrong.

The main reason I offer my scenario's up to Matt Peddlesden for his TrainsimLive stream is to see first hand how another person runs my scenarios. You can learn so much by taking a step back and watching how others react to your instructions. The problem when creating and testing your own scenario's is you know what is coming next, you know that signal is just about to change, you know to react accordingly before it happens and more often than not, this means you upset the whole apple cart of realism by changing the scenario to your own knowing experiences of driving it.

One prime example, which I still need to edit and re-upload, was the scenario I created 'Growl Wars 3 - The Decent into Darkness' on the Western Lines of Scotland route. I had tried to implement where you receive messages indicating a single line token system. Within 20 minutes of Matt running the scenario on the Stream, I knew it needed looking at again and by the time Matt had finished the 80 minute scenario, I had a fair idea of where I went wrong and made those changes to a cut down test scenario and found they worked 100% better.

Overall, I strive to make my scenario's as complex and as enjoyable as I can, not only for myself but for other people. I don't do it to gain personal praise, my satisfaction is in creation and providing for others to enjoy.

Regards

Phil

[sprulish]

Good for you Phil and keep up the great work. I'm not good at creating scenarios so really appreciate the hard work you and others do for the rest of us to enjoy. Hope you find the encouragment to finish your route too cos I really enjoy that one. Well done and thank you

David

[michaelhendle]

Hi
The same for with out people like you,my enjoyment of the sim wouldn't be so good.
I don't usually make comments of a activity,is because I don't find any thing wrong with them usualy
Mike