FIRS-style docks

[PaulC]

New dock graphics, based on sprites by andythenorth for seamless integration with FIRS fishing harbours:

FIRS docks.png (6.54 KiB) Viewed 10454 times

Not sure how happy I am with them, hence the 0.1 release: I think they possibly need something else but I'm not sure what, so comments and crits are welcome. More than adequate for a first attempt though.

Screenie and download below...

[andythenorth]

they possibly need something else but I'm not sure what

You could give them any of: crates, barrels, a small building, a forklift or other vehicle. Most of those could be found in FIRS somewhere

[Nagyzee]

I'd rather opt for some small buildings than a crane. That would make them more multifunctional. (Because then they could look okay as passenger docks, too.)

[kamnet]

Augh! Beat me to it! I had good intentions of developing a more modern style dock to fit in with FIRS and IRS. This is a good start! And, yes, I agree, it would be nice to see it developed so that it looks good as a passenger dock, too. Great job!

[SamMacca]

Is there anyway to make docks more than 2x1 tiles?

If not you could move the crane to the side on the NW and SE docks like they are on the NE and SW ones. Then maybe add like a build up of materials (coal, iron ore etc). Then at the part of the dock which is on land, try adding a small building for PAX, maybe some benchs and stuff outside, and use a similar thing MB's NewStations and Canadian Stations where the more passengers, people start to appear.

That way, its a multifunctional dock

[supermop]

Can docks show waiting cargo like station platforms can? If so, you could have just a plain grey dock with perhaps a generic building, and then draw crates or passenger facilities if goods or people start waiting there in large numbers.

[Eddi]

Is there anyway to make docks more than 2x1 tiles?

Currently not, but it is in the list of possible features in the medium future. (basically an extension of NewGRF airports)

[kamnet]

Is there anyway to make docks more than 2x1 tiles?

Actually I was going to ask if you could make it into a 1x1 tile so that you can line them up on a shore line with cranes etc. and make more industrial0looking container harbours?

[andythenorth]

Actually I was going to ask if you could make it into a 1x1 tile

I would be very surprised if that couldn't already be faked by specifying the base set water graphic as the sprite for one of the tiles.

[PaulC]

Actually I was going to ask if you could make it into a 1x1 tile

I would be very surprised if that couldn't already be faked by specifying the base set water graphic as the sprite for one of the tiles.

1x1 docks are simple to do, but the trade-off is that your ships will appear to do their loading/unloading out in the sea:

1x1 dock.png (11.95 KiB) Viewed 10208 times

[kamnet]

That's what I was afraid of, I was hoping you could code a 1x1 tile so that the ship would be flush with the entire shore line instead of sticking out in the water.

[andythenorth]

Lighterage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightering

[SquireJames]

A little off-topic, but would it be possible to essentially code a dock as a buoy (or vice-versa) to enable "off-shore docks" like the ones Andy is refering to? That way you could have smaller ships waiting to load at a buoy, and a large tanker docking to offload it's cargo to the smaller vessels. Basically it would enable you to do purely with ships what can be done with Road Vehicles and Trains or small Trains and large Trains (smaller quarry workings dropping off ore at a larger, centralised loading stage for long main line ore trains to haul to it's final destination)

[PaulC]

A little off-topic, but would it be possible to essentially code a dock as a buoy (or vice-versa) to enable "off-shore docks" like the ones Andy is refering to? That way you could have smaller ships waiting to load at a buoy, and a large tanker docking to offload it's cargo to the smaller vessels. Basically it would enable you to do purely with ships what can be done with Road Vehicles and Trains or small Trains and large Trains (smaller quarry workings dropping off ore at a larger, centralised loading stage for long main line ore trains to haul to it's final destination)

You mean like enhanced buoys in TTDP? It would be nice to have those in OTTD...

[SquireJames]

Ah, well I've been a pure OTTD player since NewIndustries was implemented in it, so I wasn't aware of that development. But, by the sounds of it, yes, that! hehe

[PaulC]

Random update...

When I first did this there was no CC for dock graphics, but it's been in trunk for a while now so I thought I'd have another go. It had always been my intention to use the fishing harbour warehouse, so this version is much closer to my original idea. I've also switched the orientation of the cranes.

I'll let others decide whether or not this is an improvement over the original (which is basically what ended up in CHIPS)...

UPDATE: The latest version of this grf can be downloaded here.

[PaulC]

FIRS buoys? I've also got some new ideas for the dock...

[PaulC]

So, docks are made from two tiles, the bit that's attached to the coast and the bit that sits on the water. The idea is to have a separate parameter for each tile with a variety of different options so you can customise the docks any way you want. My current test version has four options coded for each tile which allows for 16 different combinations. Final version will have more variety but that's the basic concept.

Will probably change the name of the GRF as well, I'm thinking "CHIPS Custom Docks" at the moment.

[piratescooby]

Grinch Railways, 10th Jul 1972.png

(231.44 KiB) Not downloaded yet

Nice to see work being undertaken on the docks , would it be possible to have them match the style of Chips stations/ECS terminal and ISR Style Docks.GarryG of the Aus fame has some beautiful wooden Wharfs .Old buildings and wooden wharfs would make a nice combination for those starting a early game using ships .I don't know if it would be possible to choose the different styles as in Chips ,Dirt,Wooden,Concrete or a combination .
Look forward to seeing how this set progresses .

[PaulC]

Nice to see work being undertaken on the docks , would it be possible to have them match the style of Chips stations/ECS terminal and ISR Style Docks.GarryG of the Aus fame has some beautiful wooden Wharfs .Old buildings and wooden wharfs would make a nice combination for those starting a early game using ships .I don't know if it would be possible to choose the different styles as in Chips ,Dirt,Wooden,Concrete or a combination .
Look forward to seeing how this set progresses .

Different ground tiles would mean doubling the number of sprites (or x3, x4, etc. depending on how many variations you want), so it's doable but not on my current agenda. Going to stick with the current FIRS/CHIPS style for now. Something to think about though.