Atomic Systems

Hi folks. A very elementary question about scenarios, if I may.........

Would somebody mind briefly outlining the difference (pros/cons if you like) between QD scenarios, free roam scenarios, and standard ones please??

I'm actually quite looking forward to trying my hand at scenario creation, but I'm at a total loss where to start/which road to go down

Thanks all.

A Quick Drive run isn't really a scenario. They are a device to allow you to run a loco or train on any suitable route but there usually isn't any other traffic so it's simply a way to try out something without the effort of creating a scenario for yourself. Free Roams can be regarded as a scenario because have to be set up by a creator, there can be more than one train and you can have moving traffic. In these you can jump from cab to cab pretty much at will, taking over the driving of the new one from the AI. Standard/Timetabled/Career scenarios are variations on a theme. Now you have control of one train and the creator will have set up a route for your journey, with as much or as little AI traffic as is desired. Standard and Timetabled variants have no penalties or rewards attached to your performance while Career scenarios do but they are essentially identical otherwise.

Keith

Thank you Keith.

Regarding quick drives. I've shortlisted a video to watch by Matt Peddleston about QD scenario templates - I've still to watch it but that title suggests it's a type of scenario rather than just a quick drive like you mention.

Am I just misunderstanding that? When I seen it I thought 'goodness, another type of scenario to complicate matters.'

I'm probably creating anxiety for myself and should just get stuck into trying to create a Standard one

QD probably comes under the generic title of scenario but doesn't fulfill my criteria for naming it as such, as I wrote before. I have never tried to create one but, then again, I rarely make use of the option because I find them unsatisfying. I rarely use Free Roams for similar reasons. Yes, QD can be used to test something out without much effort but I find it more useful to knock up a basic "ordinary" scenario. They must be popular with the masses or DTG wouldn't have made the option available but it isn't for me. Each to his or her own, I guess.

Keith

OK Keith, I understand, thank you.

Yes, Standard scenarios seem more interesting and that was my initial impression. I was just wondering if there was anything to gain by checking out free roams and QDs.

Thanks, mate.

Hi,
I wouldn't dismiss QD and Free roam scenarios entirely. They add some interest to the game.
QD are good when you only have limited time ( say 15 min). When it works correctly, QD generates plenty of random traffic.
Free roam are the easiest scenarios for a beginner to build. You may read that there is generally no AI traffic in free roam scenarios but in fact AI trains do work . In free roam you can swap between driving different AI trains and you have complete control of all the points ( switches) so you can explore anywhere on the route.
Using RWTools you can convert scenario types e.g. from standard to free roam but not the reverse.
Have fun!

skiddaw wrote:When it works correctly, QD generates plenty of random traffic.

Do you ever get adverse signals in QD? I've only tried it twice to get a run out in a 52 I have no scenarios for (hence why I want to try making some on 50's Riviera) and the AI traffic was quite nice, but no yellows or reds made it a bit boring.

Using RWTools you can convert scenario types e.g. from standard to free roam but not the reverse.

Thanks for the heads-up, I didn't know that.

tractor2015 wrote:Do you ever get adverse signals in QD?

I have seen adverse signals in QD. IIRC, it was on the Bedford - St Pancras route.