OTTD-Based Expansion for UKRS

[SquireJames]

Hello everyone,
I've sort of been around for ages, but never said much, but I thought i'd go back and try and learn NFO coding for the third time in 5 years, and start a little OTTD based expansion project.

UKRS is awesome. Full Stop. However, for pre-1920s play, especially with the almost-as-awesome eGRVT Set, it obviously has precious little. I previously (for my own usage only) edited UKRS and the UKRS Addon pack to have the early period waggons start in something like 1890 and tweaked some of the loco dates depending on what I felt they were based on. However, since trying to fathom someone elses code is harder than starting your own, and to be honest theres no need for me to change much about the 1920-2000 part of UKRS, I am starting an OTTD only based set designed to complement UKRS.

Basically, the set starts in 1800. This gives plenty of years to enjoy those lovely horsedrawn vehicles in eGRVT and hey, when someone codes them maybe some schooners and such. Eventually, i'd change the stock industries so that electric power stations, oil wells and such didn't appear till 1880. The TTRS does most of the other work required, such as towns, roads etc so no need to reinvent the wheel.

1804 - Trevithick's Locomotive (Note, at this point, no passenger or post carriages exist, only industrial/goods waggons)
1812 - Salamanca
1815 - Steam Elephant
1825 - Locomotion No.1
1828 - Rocket
1830 - Planet
1833 - Patentee
1847 - GJR/LNWR Cornwall
1853 - LNWR Rebuilt Cornwall
1855 - LNWR Dx Class
1866 - MR 156 Class
1870 - GNR G Class (Stirling Single)
1875 - MR 2F Class 0-6-0
1877 - LNWR Precedent Class
1896 - MR 115 Class
1902 - 4-4-0 Express (Stock UKRS starts here)

From then on other than doctored dates for the 0-6-0T, 0-4-0T and 0-6-0 Tram (setting them back to atleast mid 1890s), pretty much as UKRS. The UKRS style rolling stock is introduced circa 1865.

1936 - 2-6-2 Mixed Freight (basically LNER V2)
1951 - 4-6-2 Britannia (BR Standard Class 7)
1968 - Class 50
1987 - Class 90

I would very much like to use sprites from other parts of Pikkas work (I believe it is) namely the NAR Set for the 1800s rolling stock. Everything else will be "kitbashes" of existing sprites or my own work.

I'm not wonderful at coding but I hope I can learn as I chug along. Starting with simple locomotives, eventually i'd like to try my hand at livery overides and so on, when I learn how. As I said, I once implemented a loco, so I can do it, just need to remember how. Any good tutorials for (treat me as) the absolute beginner would be very handy.

Thanks

Squire James

[Zephyris]

The place for a very basic tutorial is the TTDPatch wiki, and you may also like my code examples for examples of more complex features. Also (if you want) you can use my horse sprites from eGRVTS for horse-drawn trains...

[Purno]

For you the following things may be interesting:

- GRFMaker, which eases up GRF coding a lot
- The 2cc Set, which will include pre-1920 trains, but not just British (link in sig)

[SquireJames]

Thank you both. Naturally I won't release anything until I have consulted Pikka. Didn't know just how talented he was until I bought Trainz and, wow, he had his Class 37 put in a commercial game. Thats probably my holy grail as a modder (although, I did have a picture of mine put in a book )

Anyways, back on topic.

This will probably sound like a really ignorant question, but, has there been any sort of developments in terms of coding programs for NFO Code? A GUI frontend and some sort of editor (basically, TTDAlter) would be handy for a beginner. I heard of GRFWizard or something like that back in '04 but, not sure if anything has come of that avenue. You mention GRFMaker though, so, will check that out.

I did consider horse drawn trains, but, thats kind of more tramway territory. I may attempt to 'clone' and recode one of your horse carriages Zephyris to carry coal, iron ore and such, so that you can have a horse drawn tramway. I'd love some form of canal boats but, thats out of the scope of what i'm doing right now ( I know from experience that the best mods are those that don't get over ambitous)

Oh, another small coding question. Its farrrr beyond my ability right now, but is there any Action variable that can alter the appearance of a locomotive or carriage not based on when it was built but what the current date is? What I mean is, in the UKRS Addon, the Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 changes to the rebuilt form when a loco is built after 1950 something, however, what I would like is for ALL Merchant Navies to change to the rebuilt version based on date. So, even though the loco was built in 1942, in the mid 50s it changes appearance to the rebuilt version. Would be handy for other locos, like adding German-Style Smoke Deflectors to the A3 in the 50's, changing from BR Green to BR Blue markings for diesels in 1969 etc. I like what Pikka did with all that, but, it would have been better based purely on date rather than construction date IMHO.

[Purno]

This will probably sound like a really ignorant question, but, has there been any sort of developments in terms of coding programs for NFO Code? A GUI frontend and some sort of editor (basically, TTDAlter) would be handy for a beginner. I heard of GRFWizard or something like that back in '04 but, not sure if anything has come of that avenue. You mention GRFMaker though, so, will check that out.

GRFMaker seems to be what you want

Oh, another small coding question. Its farrrr beyond my ability right now, but is there any Action variable that can alter the appearance of a locomotive or carriage not based on when it was built but what the current date is? What I mean is, in the UKRS Addon, the Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 changes to the rebuilt form when a loco is built after 1950 something, however, what I would like is for ALL Merchant Navies to change to the rebuilt version based on date. So, even though the loco was built in 1942, in the mid 50s it changes appearance to the rebuilt version. Would be handy for other locos, like adding German-Style Smoke Deflectors to the A3 in the 50's, changing from BR Green to BR Blue markings for diesels in 1969 etc. I like what Pikka did with all that, but, it would have been better based purely on date rather than construction date IMHO.

Yep, year dependant livery is possible via a variational graphic block in GRFMaker. I can get an example for you if you want, but can't promise when, since I got loads to do in my short spare time.

[SM9T8]

I was just thinking of this today, although no where near so ambitious. I was thinking of concentrating on increasing the variety by adding a couple of new wagons, coaches and one or two locomotives. I wish you luck.

[SquireJames]

Well its slow going, especially with work as it is, but I have almost coded my Midland Spinner. I may reduce the time period from 1804 to 1835, so that you atleast start with something a little less primitive than a 4mph colliery engine. I did consider replacing Maglev with Broad Gauge, but we will see how that goes.

[richk67]

Also bear in mind that many very early engines were not created for a transport service, but created as just a tool at a different business. So they werent intended to make money, but to reduce the labour involved in moving the materials around. Within OTTD, these early vehicles would inevitably be impossibly unprofitable.

[SquireJames]

Well, as I said, this is why I may move to the mid 1830s, when railways became a transport system for the masses rather than a method of moving coal from one part of the colliery to another.

[DaleStan]

This will probably sound like a really ignorant question, but, has there been any sort of developments in terms of coding programs for NFO Code? A GUI frontend and some sort of editor (basically, TTDAlter) would be handy for a beginner. I heard of GRFWizard or something like that back in '04 but, not sure if anything has come of that avenue. You mention GRFMaker though, so, will check that out.

GRFMaker seems to be what you want

Assuming it supports the long intro date properties, among other things.
And GRFMaker is generally agreed to be a substitute for typing NFO, not a substitute for knowing NFO.

[Purno]

Aye, it's possible GRFMaker doesn't support intro dates before 1921 (yet).

[ostlandr]

That would require balancing with the horse-drawn vehicles in eGRVTS. Horses are not cheap, and have to be maintained whether they work or not. Like a vehicle, they have a limited useful economic life, after which their reliability curve drops and they need to be retired.
Over a short distance, a horse and waggon should be cheaper than a locomotive and waggons. Long distance, the speed and capacity advantage of the railroad should be enough to make it more profitable than many teams of horses.
BTW, the railway is older than the steam locomotive. A horse can haul more cargo faster on steel rails than on a dirt road.

Also bear in mind that many very early engines were not created for a transport service, but created as just a tool at a different business. So they werent intended to make money, but to reduce the labour involved in moving the materials around. Within OTTD, these early vehicles would inevitably be impossibly unprofitable.

[bartpp7]

I like that idea, how far into the future is it going to go and will it go through technology trens such as steam tech and hover tech ect

[SquireJames]

Well, i've been doing some work for the BR Set of late (that and real life...) but I am slowly chipping away at the mountain before me.

I've scaled down my idea a little, because as mentioned railways were not seen as transportation systems till atleast 1830, and to be honest, playing from 1885 was hard enough for me in my latest game. With proper period engines, it could be fun from maybe 1860 onwards (still gives us a nice chunk for possibly adding broad gauge too)

So, go down that list I drew up and remove everything prior to the Dx Goods

I've discovered the stock UKRS "Covered Carriage Truck" works wonderfully as a victorian comparmented single axle coach, so no new stock needed really, just engines.

The whole "tender articulation" thing is currently fowling up adding my Midland Spinner, but I'll struggle through

[davidpk212]

I've discovered the stock UKRS "Covered Carriage Truck" works wonderfully as a victorian comparmented single axle coach, so no new stock needed really, just engines.

Single axle? That must have been difficult to balance... all the fat passengers in the middle...

Perhaps you meant four-wheeled?

[chrisbryant99]

I've discovered the stock UKRS "Covered Carriage Truck" works wonderfully as a victorian comparmented single axle coach, so no new stock needed really, just engines.

Single axle? That must have been difficult to balance... all the fat passengers in the middle...

Perhaps you meant four-wheeled?

I think he meant as opposed to bogie-mounted undercarriage

[SquireJames]

Correct, they are refered to as single axled to seperate them from bogie carriages.

As mentioned, work is progressing slowly. A house move is complicating matters.