Possible idea to rework the signal boxes requirement?

[RealMiko]

 

In general, my thought would be that the first dispatchers need to do a tutorial for the particular interlocking system in a single player game. When the mechanical interlockings come, many players need a tutorial from that point on. Maybe you can even integrate it with the current leveling system? 
The current minimum requirements for the respective signal boxes I currently find rather insufficient.

Maybe it is possible:

If a dispatcher navigates a train correctly, he gets points for it as an example +50 points for the correct forwarding and thru the signalbox and can be provided with min level and min hours. Of course both have to be fulfilled.

Feel free to write your opinion here, maybe I missed something. 🙂

 

Edited January 22, 2023 by RealMiko

[Van Webby LP]

 

its possible to integrate a Lvl System for dispatcher ? and maybee Server DE5 for Beginners? It's annoying when beginners on DE1 occupy all the interlockings and don't know their way around. They only slow down the players and change everything.

It would be really great if you first learned signal boxes at DE5 and then only from Dispatch Lvl 5, e.g. at DE1

I mean that you first have to earn a few dispatch levels on DE5 so that you can then join as a dispatcher on DE1

 

Edited February 11, 2023 by Van Webby LP
spelling mistakes corrected

[freakcom]

A point-system for dispatcher is a good idea and with this one, maybe a rework for the dispatcher tutorial and a singleplayer tutorial/scenary, that we can learn this feature in a better way as on the multiplayer.

[Locomotiveman 1994]

I agree. Maybe even a feature that you can play one box in co-op? Have an experienced player show a rookie how to operate the box, just like irl. 
But what I think is more important, is a tutorial on communication protocol. As a professional railwayman, I know how to correctly communicate on radio and telephone, but many that don't have such a background do not, some even downright failing to communicate at all.  It makes dispatching in a useful manner hard to downright impossible.

[JKol]

It will be great to implement limits for dispatchers based on their level. Great will be if XP and dispatcher’s level will be based on time required for train to get through their area of responsibility with respect to timetable and train’s priority (like if train entered with 5 minutes delay and departed with 2 minutes delay dispatcher will get more XP than if train entered with 5 minutes delay and departed with 10 minutes delay because dispatcher held the train for train with higher priority but 5 minutes ahead of his schedule)).

This will also apply for passenger trains only as who cares about freight trains' timetables :D

[MalzbierMan]

vor 23 Stunden schrieb Locomotiveman 1994:

I agree. Maybe even a feature that you can play one box in co-op? Have an experienced player show a rookie how to operate the box, just like irl. 
But what I think is more important, is a tutorial on communication protocol. As a professional railwayman, I know how to correctly communicate on radio and telephone, but many that don't have such a background do not, some even downright failing to communicate at all.  It makes dispatching in a useful manner hard to downright impossible.

Both are brilliant ideas.
Co-op on signal boxes also makes larger boxes significantly easier but it will require a system where one player is "the boss" and decides who else can join them.

[Locomotiveman 1994]

20 hours ago, MalzbierMan said:

[...] will require a system where one player is "the boss" and decides who else can join them.

I could imagine a system where you can tick boxes like "alone", "only Steam friends" and "anyone" to denote who can join an already occupied box, with the person that initially started playing it having some sort of admin privileges like kicking the other player(s).

[Goozinger]

On 2/11/2023 at 5:54 PM, Locomotiveman 1994 said:

I agree. Maybe even a feature that you can play one box in co-op? Have an experienced player show a rookie how to operate the box, just like irl. 
But what I think is more important, is a tutorial on communication protocol. As a professional railwayman, I know how to correctly communicate on radio and telephone, but many that don't have such a background do not, some even downright failing to communicate at all.  It makes dispatching in a useful manner hard to downright impossible.

This could also be done combined with a suggestions Van Webby made earlier:

DE1 - Driver: High-Level / Dispatcher: High-Level

DE2 - Driver: Mid-Level / Dispatcher: Low-Level

DE3 - Driver: Low-Level / Dispatcher: Mid-Level

DE4+: Any

Assuming that the first 3 Servers are available 24h while rest gets shut down during night.

 

Also Skill-Levels for boxes should be adjusted as different skills are required in all boxes.

A skill order could be

Lvl1 - Timetable, usage of EDR and basic functions only, first steps with no special kills needed (DG)

Lvl2 - Train Priorities & Bypassing (Gora Wlodowksa)

LVl3 - Blocks And Changing directions

Lvl4 ... another basic skill

--- All Baisc lvls mastered, u should also spend time in boxes with all skill levels, not just in anyone to reach Lvl X1

X1 - combining multiple of the skills

X2 - anything before + system generated errors (track closings, etc.), maybe add custom trains and/or edit timetables

 

If we had servers for different skills you could also adjust the possible boxes for each server. So if u were X2 on DE2 and DE3 u could still be X1 on DE1.

In addition that would probably help split players on all available servers and stop having EN1, DE1 and PL1 being always full while all other servers are almost empty.

[DazT]

When a new box comes online I usually go and hide on EN9 out of the way so I'm not messing up people's enjoyment on EN1! I love the ranking system though, learn the quieter boxes first etc.