In replying to this thread, I will be blunt, but not disrespectful. These are just the facts about how I am approaching Yard Duty, and you may agree or disagree, but please don't complain.MAP SUBMISSION
1) There is no garauntee that a map will be posted in a 'timely' manner. I work on what I feel like and when I feel like it.
2) There is no garauntee that a maps will be posted in the order they were received. I have tended to do Alan's first because they are well chosen, the most complete and require the least amount of effort on my part.
3) There is no garauntee that any map will be posted, ever. So there, that is the end of that. If it scares people away fine. There are about 5 guys doing maps and I am already overloaded. Maybe I should have made it harder to make maps. lol.
4) It will be a matter of months or years to get the system in a perfected state, so be pacient and enjoy the game in whatever state it is in. It will only get better with time.
MAP CONNECTIONS AND PROTOTYPICALITY
1) As a starting point I always begin with doing the connections as suggested. Part of the problem has been that I do not know how much research a person has done when they draw a map or suggest connections UNLESS THEY TELL ME. I assume I know as much as you do!2) I do not 'battle' anyone when including maps. I want to be clear that I am posting maps in the best, most logical, and most prototypical manner, and that the connections makes sense to me. This requires clear comminication on the part of the submitter, and a willingness to educate me.3) Consider the fact that it took me 2 hours to get Avondale connected properly. I cannot and will not blindly connect maps as suggested. I study the suggested connections and do some research of my own. There are other considerations in addition to prototypicality that I must consider! For example, I don't like seeing Southbound tracks exit at the top of the map, especially when the connection is fictitious and likely to change as other maps are added. That's just plain confusing to someone trying to play the game, and extra work for me.4) I have to balance 'gameplay' with prototypicality. In case you haven't noticed, I am not a 'rivot counter'. I want the game to be fun. If someone is truly 'upset' or 'annoyed' at an improper connection, I would rather they take a hike and leave me alone. 5) When double or triple track mainlines enter a map, I would like to connect only one track to other maps, assuming this does not affect the ability to operate in the map. This helps to keep the connections manageable for me. In fact, it is acceptable to add fictitious crossovers to make this possible. I hate having to choose which track to use when entering a map, because at this time you cannot see the map. This is an example of gameplay being more important than prototypicality. 99% of the people will not know or care that the crossovers are fictitious.6) I believe in quality over quantity. In order to submit good maps, one should be familiar with how the game works. Maybe I should require people to play the game a few months before attempting a map. For example, someone submitted a map that immediately connected to the bottom of the Horseshoe curve map. I mean, it was literally adjacent to the previous map. Apparently this person thought we were mapping every square inch of railroad North America! Thanks,
JimPS: Yes I have a real life outside of Yard Duty, as well as some very stressful things going on in my life right now.
Yard Duty, The National Freight Yard Simulation - http://groups.msn.com/YardDuty
Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top