West Anglia V1.5

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Just wondering but with regards to what the user can do with the level crossings now in West Anglia, is this just going to be for this sim or is it possible for other sims on the loader to do this as well?

Not sure if it's sim dependable or loader dependable?

Any chance we could have a 13:00 start time on the West Anglia map? I am debating whether to buy it but I am unsure if I can handle the whole area on my own. I don't want to buy it if I can't play it all but the 4am start is far too early for me to even see if I can make it work as there are only a few trains.

Many thanks,
Mark

markymark2000 in post 115924 said:

Any chance we could have a 13:00 start time on the West Anglia map? I am debating whether to buy it but I am unsure if I can handle the whole area on my own. I don't want to buy it if I can't play it all but the 4am start is far too early for me to even see if I can make it work as there are only a few trains.

Many thanks,
Mark

Can't answer the timetable question, however bear in mind that ARS is provided on West Anglia. If you turn level crossings off, this can run 95% of the simulation for you- you just need to keep an eye on it, and set any manual routes required (usually related to sidings and joining moves). You can then turn off one or more sub-areas until you've got a workload you're comfortable with.

Any chance we could have a 13:00 start time on the West Anglia map? I am debating whether to buy it but I am unsure if I can handle the whole area on my own. I don't want to buy it if I can't play it all but the 4am start is far too early for me to even see if I can make it work as there are only a few trains.

Many thanks,
Mark

Steamer in post 115925 said:

markymark2000 in post 115924 said:

Any chance we could have a 13:00 start time on the West Anglia map? I am debating whether to buy it but I am unsure if I can handle the whole area on my own. I don't want to buy it if I can't play it all but the 4am start is far too early for me to even see if I can make it work as there are only a few trains.

Many thanks,
Mark

Can't answer the timetable question, however bear in mind that ARS is provided on West Anglia. If you turn level crossings off, this can run 95% of the simulation for you- you just need to keep an eye on it, and set any manual routes required (usually related to sidings and joining moves). You can then turn off one or more sub-areas until you've got a workload you're comfortable with.

I like to make the most of the sims though where possible and use as little auto as possible (blue dot auto signals are ok but the pink overall auto I don't like as much). I can manage Birmingham New Street and LTS reasonably well. How do they compare to West Anglia with the number of trains and difficulty?

I agree with you in many ways and, hey, it's your money and your leisure time, but ...

Well surely not buying a sim at all because you're not sure you can handle the whole area on your own is the very definition of not making the most of it?

I mean, presumably if a sim like West Anglia were to be divided into two (in the way Rugby SCC is divided into three), you would happily buy and play both of them, because both of them would be manageable. So why not just use the ARS to effectively divide the sim into two for you, or to take the place of a slightly inept friend who occasionally needs a bit of help? What I tend to do with ARS sims is put an entire workstation into manual and play one workstation at a time. In ARS world workstations are usually a little too large to be run on manual by one person, at least in the peaks, they're designed to be used with ARS, so it's usually a fairly satisfying challenge. But you can take as much into manual as you like, and just leave ARS to handle either one particularly busy area and just pretend it's on a different sim, or to handle a couple of trivial locations you don't care about. You know, you can keep switching ARS sub areas off until you have the right amount to make the most out of the sim. You can probably switch more and more off outside the peaks and as you get more competent.

I know it's not perfect and I personally feel like a lot of sims (ARS and non-ARS (I'm looking at you Manchester Piccadilly!)) could be improved by being split, like Rugby SCC has been, but looked at in the right way, ARS is a really good way to make the most out of sims that would otherwise be borderline unplayable (or at least unenjoyable) for a lot of people.

Quote:

I agree with you in many ways and, hey, it's your money and your leisure time, but ...

Well surely not buying a sim at all because you're not sure you can handle the whole area on your own is the very definition of not making the most of it?

I mean, presumably if a sim like West Anglia were to be divided into two (in the way Rugby SCC is divided into three), you would happily buy and play both of them, because both of them would be manageable. So why not just use the ARS to effectively divide the sim into two for you, or to take the place of a slightly inept friend who occasionally needs a bit of help? What I tend to do with ARS sims is put an entire workstation into manual and play one workstation at a time. In ARS world workstations are usually a little too large to be run on manual by one person, at least in the peaks, they're designed to be used with ARS, so it's usually a fairly satisfying challenge. But you can take as much into manual as you like, and just leave ARS to handle either one particularly busy area and just pretend it's on a different sim, or to handle a couple of trivial locations you don't care about. You know, you can keep switching ARS sub areas off until you have the right amount to make the most out of the sim. You can probably switch more and more off outside the peaks and as you get more competent.

I know it's not perfect and I personally feel like a lot of sims (ARS and non-ARS (I'm looking at you Manchester Piccadilly!)) could be improved by being split, like Rugby SCC has been, but looked at in the right way, ARS is a really good way to make the most out of sims that would otherwise be borderline unplayable (or at least unenjoyable) for a lot of people.

I suppose it's all down to how we as individuals play the game. I find ARS a good back up but where possibly, I prefer to signal myself. I will test it out when the 14:00 timetable comes out and see how much is playable and go from there. There is no point in buying a sim if you need 50% of it to be ARS. We all have different ways we like to play SimSig.