Raquette River Workshop Route

[Darpor]

If the creator pulls his route, scenario or whatever from the Workshop, my copy will get deleted when I next want to run that route or scenario?

Very good question.

The way it currently works is that the initial upload is effectively a 'beta' and needs 30 positive ratings before the creator then gets an option to make it 'final', this then allows scenarios to be added to the Workshop for the route. Once the route goes 'final', it cannot then be modified giving the advantage that all future scenarios will work because everyone is running an identical copy. For this reason, I presume that the route also cannot be pulled, it may even be mentioned in the T&C's, however, for free content, I rarely read them.

Apologies for hijacking your thread Vern.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Apologies for hijacking your thread Vern.

Big Vern can handle it, have you seen his avatar over on trainsim.com? He doesn't seem the kind of guy you want to mess around.

Both Vern's and Bob's routes are small and cozy, ideal for the Workshop.
It also shows what creative minds can achieve with the limited number of default assets. Both got the thumbs up from me.
It will take a while for larger routes like NERW-PA to appear, if at all.

I think the Workshop is here to stay. Who knows what it will bring?

[NorthernWarrior]

Workshop for routes is still in its infancy and there is a learning process for everyone involved, including RSC and Steam.

With regard to the tags, it does look a bit untidy but as pointed out this is what Steam auto-generates, not as written by the route author. However a learning point taken forward from that, is perhaps the author should write clearly in the descriptive text what assets the route references.

So far as removing a route is concerned, well thus far the onus has been on getting the routes ready for the "Go Live" with little or no thought given to that side of things. I would imagine it would be similar to what happens when DLC is withdrawn - those owned/subscribed will continue to be able to access it but newcomers won't.

I think it's also important to reiterate that Workshop doesn't replace the other methods of distributing a freeware route - i.e. the file libraries here, at TS and UKTS. Workshop is perfectly suited to certain types of route but maybe not to others - for example where the author needs to make extensive use of custom assets (and I have to admit it does look odd not being able to put station name signs etc. on platforms). The advantage for the author is that your published work is at the very heart of the programme and for the potential user, the knowledge that all the components to run the route are in the same place - no scavenger hunt around the Internet for assets.

[hertsbob]

Might as well jump in here too.

One aspect which I've found very good with the Workshop system is how straightforward it is to issue updates and fixes whilst the route is in its pre-finalised state. I've made two changes to mine so far (granted one of them didn't actually make any changes) and the changes seem to have flowed through to the end users without any intervention I'm aware of. It'll obviously cause a bit of additional download time, but at least everyone is almost guaranteed to have the same version of the route(s).

[artimrj]

It will get sorted over time. Hopefully before it is a complete mess.

If the creator pulls his route, scenario or whatever from the Workshop, my copy will get deleted when I next want to run that route or scenario?

Edwin, is there nothing positive at all? Just one little thing?

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

It will get sorted over time. Hopefully before it is a complete mess.

If the creator pulls his route, scenario or whatever from the Workshop, my copy will get deleted when I next want to run that route or scenario?

Edwin, is there nothing positive at all? Just one little thing?

Sorry Bob, I know you do think I worry too much.

There is a lot of good stuff on the Workshop. It just needs some organisation before the place is flooded and we will have a hard time finding the stuff we like.
It will get sorted over time no doubt. Don't know how other communities handle their Workshop. TS2014 is a more complex virtual world than most.
For the meantime, I have subscribed myself to what I think are good creators.

HertsBob and Vern are AFAIK the only two members of our community who have uploaded routes. Don't know if anybody from RWA has uploaded scenarios, as there is no way to tag your item with "RWA approved" or "Proud member of RWA" with a nice badge or our emblem.

Idea: can you upload your own pic for the Workshop catalog? Then stamp it with the RWA seal of approval.

Bob, your NERW route uses only default assets, right? That makes it a good Workshop candidate. You've already inquired into QD stuff and the like. Any plans to add it to the Workshop? Better not include the NERW rolling stock just yet I think.

[NorthernWarrior]

There are several other routes if not already on the Workshop but close to being ready.

In some respects it will be self policing as route building requires an element of grit, determination and sheer time that not everyone will commit to. The voting approval system should also discourage the type of uploading you see to the T....z DLS where kiddies put up a flat one baseboard "route" with a single track from a coal mine to a power station, or a crash my train rollercoaster style route.

Combined with the GE integration, for me it represents a new and exciting phase of involvement with the hobby.

[buzz456]

Very nice! This is a fun little route.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

What I don't like about the Workshop is the permanent online requirement. I have more than one computer, but only one can be under Steam at any given moment.

All the Workshop routes and scenarios are saved locally, as NameMyRoute shows, but the whole Workshop Subscriptions pane is greyed out when I run Steam offline.

It would have been nice if the routes and scenarios appear in the Drive screen choices.
Perhaps there is a new entry in the RouteProperties and ScenarioProperties blueprints that prevents them from being shown outside the Collection window?

[hertsbob]

Just guessing, but this might change once the routes are finalised. Possibly.

There's a chance that the route might be updated at any stage currently and I'd have thought it'd make sense for TS2014/Steam to try and ensure the updates are delivered at the earliest opportunity, hence the requirement to be online.

Nothing special has been done during the creation of the routes. It looks like whatever is happening at the minute is down to the way the integration is being handled.

Just guessing, as I said.

[GSkid]

What would be cool is if Steam could scan your system to tell you automatically what assets you have and don't have on a route's checklist when browsing on workshop. No need to remember what you own. Just tells you what you need if you don't have it.That would be awesome!

[artimrj]

What would be cool is if Steam could scan your system to tell you automatically what assets you have and don't have on a route's checklist when browsing on workshop. No need to remember what you own. Just tells you what you need if you don't have it.That would be awesome!

Dont it do that now? I have everything and when I run a work shop sceneraio there is nothing ever in the need to buy box. Or is something not right for me?

[GSkid]

What would be cool is if Steam could scan your system to tell you automatically what assets you have and don't have on a route's checklist when browsing on workshop. No need to remember what you own. Just tells you what you need if you don't have it.That would be awesome!

Dont it do that now? I have everything and when I run a work shop sceneraio there is nothing ever in the need to buy box. Or is something not right for me?

Well to be honest I've only browsed and never downloaded from workshop. I see what assets they used in the tags window, but no checklist. You must download FIRST and run it to find out what you need? I was talking about Steam telling me what I have and don't have while browsing a route in Steam BEFORE I download the route.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Both the Steam Workshop and the Workshop pane from the Collection window are a bit confusing.

I have subscribed to a lot of items by now, and the list is unsorted in the Collection window.

However, I did notice items appearing in the Standard selection window, with a download symbol indicating it is from the Workshop.
So I suppose it takes a while for the list to get populated, perhaps you have to download them all first or have clicked on the Next button for them to get ackowledged by your Railworks.

Now where is that new manual, in case of doubt: RTFM!

[BNSF650]

I cant seem to get this route to work in quick drive?