As I grew tired of the old region, well, tired isn't the correct label - more like confused as I had made soo many changes as far as the rail network concerned that in the end I more or less lost track of everything. So, when returning to the game I simply decided to start fresh with a new region for my own game-play as well as getting a new testbase for new graphics. That's what this diary is all about.
I will post regular updates whenever I have the time, and anyone is welcome to comment - both positive and negative - as long as it's genuine and honest. While most of you probably don't give a s***, there are others who might find a TT-diary interesting to follow!
Anyone interested in an old thread about my previous scenario, LinXEuropa, can click HERE! It pretty much shows the previous scenario without most of the changes added later on.
The birth of a new region! - Oct 05
I have a rule of thumb when creating new regions; not cluttered with towns everywhere! This is because TT doesn't offer map sizes that can be compared with the ones available in OTT, and I also like to have some distance between towns, making it possible to add a bit of landscape and plan for industrial areas - among other things. This new map isn't an exception. While I always start out by making the layout for the main city, the capitol and the "wheel" of the region, I've made it a bit different this time as I decided to place the main city in the middle of the region. There are reasons behind this. The previous region had a highway system shaped as a big circle connecting most towns. While I'm adding a similar highway system also in this new one, I have decided to shape it like an "8".
Apart from the main city, located in the "8-crossing", the other two large cities will be placed in each end of that "8". This will add some extra distance between all three cities, making up for some extra realism, I believe
Minor towns won't always be located next to an highway, but will obviously have exits nearby. Another reason is that I don't want to have all four edges looking approximately the same, with an highway running basically in the same manor. By making the highway "8"-shaped it'll also be running inland, and by doing so I'm planning to reduce the number of connecting roads between larger cities and minor towns - for the benefit of an increasing number of vehicles using the highway! Still, I know me and I have yet to begin play a custom map without making 100's of changes... Anyway, the first step towards a new region is done - more or less. Again, it's the main city, the capitol, in this case named Vasa;
Even though I plan my regions very much using the editor before I start playing them , I'm doing it even more this time. As can tell, roads, bridges, stations, tracks - well, just about everything is layed out where I want to have them. When moving forward to the actual game-play, I will know exactly where to place certain railroads and whatever is needed to make them work as intended.
In this close-up of Wasa it's more apparent how the design is done by the "stones" placed on ground. They all represent railroads, either tracks or stations - unless "stones" are placed for the purpose of decoration only, as I tend to do with my highway system;
The big "stone plaza" is what's to become the main station, the Vasa Central, basically for passenger traffic, and if having a look to the right on the "hill" there's yet another "stone plaza" - although smaller. That's the position of the Metro-station, the local trains that will connect the larger cities with their suburbs. The town has also been prepared for a canal "walking" uphills, and there are bridges placed that not necessarily reflects a road network. For designing purposes I use road bridges to reflect also railroads, as I need to have them placed when making the town layout.
In the next picture the northern part of Vasa is shown, the place where the highway system meets, the so called "8"-crossing. I have yet to build up the meeting point as they're placed on different levels. Other problems are the main railroad running alongside the "lower" highway which decreases the amount of available tiles for a meeting point. And I don't want it to be too spread out!
As can tell from the images, this region like the previous one, is mountanious. I like it that way as it offers a great improvement as challenges regards - something which is always nice!
As for the cities themselves, as can tell by the images no industries are placed until the very end - except the bank! That's because the way I build up my industrial areas requires more cities to be placed! Those who saw the images from my previous region will know why!Next update to come! Feel free to comment!
So no, there has never been any hard feelings - on my part anyway!
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