Is creating Sessions a waste of time ?

[Corporal_Major]

I have noticed this trend also. The route I uploaded Paddington to B'ham Snowhill2a has been downloaded 2963 times but the session only 1258 and without the session you cannot see where to place the buses or trams that accompany the route!!

I guess there must be a number of people unaware that there are bus, tube and tram routes attached to the main route!!

 

[ColPrice2002]

As a user (and meddler in sessions/scenarios ), I've found it really difficult to find out what is available for any given route.

I read the thread about Weddin - I still haven't reached the end of the Cowra session - but if I hadn't read the thread, I would never have found the session from the route.... (and an excellent set too!)

I was going (honest!) to post in the "Suggestions" section about some linkage of the two - remembering that it's possible for there to be different creators.
Maybe Lance could be persuaded to add some stickies in a section somehwere.

Cheers,

Colin

 

[GreatEastern]

I am one of the many guilty I fear. However, I rarely run routes. I can't remember ever really getting out of Surveyor in over 3 years! I like to download the content, get ideas and then fiddle with routes for my own pleasure. I'm currently expanding and relaying Harcourt's UK Pastures route, I dread setting up a session for this - any experts fancy a challenge?

Andy

 

[Partyman79]

As a user (and meddler in sessions/scenarios ), I've found it really difficult to find out what is available for any given route.

I read the thread about Weddin - I still haven't reached the end of the Cowra session - but if I hadn't read the thread, I would never have found the session from the route.... (and an excellent set too!)

I was going (honest!) to post in the "Suggestions" section about some linkage of the two - remembering that it's possible for there to be different creators.
Maybe Lance could be persuaded to add some stickies in a section somehwere.

Cheers,

Colin

Important posting.

In TRS06 it is not possible to "view dependant assets" (sessions for a route) if the sessions are still only on the DLS.

If this would be possible I could have a look if sessions for a locally installed route are available on the DLS.

 

[shoves]

No ardent, user of Trainz, or any one else for that matter, should ever operate a train over unfamiliar territory!
At least, an AI Driver, should be sent through the area, as a pilot driver.

This is a case of a third type of prototypical user, who sees Trainz neither as a game nor as a model railway but as a virtual reality tool.
There's nothing wrong with all three approaches, it's horses for courses.
We like the art side, others like the game side, still others go for the realism. Nice then, that in Trainz, you can have all three!

 

[ckthomson]

Can anyone out there who has downloaded any of the maps mentioned here, but not the sessions, offer an explanation? Please understand, no criticism of your approach is intended (we all come to Trainz with different interests and objectives), but I would like to know if there is something simple that can be done which would make the sessions more appealing/accessible.

Phil

I haven't downloaded much in the way of routes at all, but when I do it's usually by accident - I tend to just batch-leech the DLS, letting CMP deal with the bulk of dependencies and then tearing my hair out trying to find any missing stuff or fix errors. Thing is, I'm not always careful, and sometimes a route or two will slip in alonng with a batch of scenery and locos (esp. true if i'm not sorting by asset type).

Also, I saw it mentioned above that people sometimes download a route just to get the content it contains, which is understandable considering my CMP won't download anything that's in my DL cart.

Other times it might just be laziness, or people just wanting to drive without restrictions.

just my 2 cents.

Craig.

 

[LoudTrain]

Starting to Change My Mind

I must confess that I don't usually download sessions because I like the adventure of just putting a consist on the layout and running it to see what happens. However, the arguments posted by those who are in favor of downloading sessions are starting to convince me that I should, too. They have advantages that I didn't realize....

-- Russ

 

[goodell911]

I really appreciate a route that also has sessions available. It gives me an opportunity to see how it's author envisioned operations. Sessions are especially useful for regions I'm not familiar with... like the european stuff.

Besides... sometimes I just want to sit back and drive, you know?

BTW: I downloaded your sessions!

~Rick

 

[rockster]

this maybe one for the suggestions forum, cmp can look at the thumbnail, description and the licence, as the map kuid is in the session config im sure it wouldnt be too much to ask that cmp also shows what sessions and scenarios are available with it

cheers

Gav

 

[davidt]

I like the sessions. I like being given a set of instructions and trying to fulfill them as a real driver would.

What absolutely irritates me no end is that, for all appearances, restoring a saved session is broken in 2006. Oh sure, you reload where you were, at the same speed and all. But is your consist still full? Do the triggers still work when you get to them. Are your objectives still displayed in the window?

For me, it's a major disappointment that such a fundamental piece of functionality is broken in the game.

 

[nbrettoner]

Hi Phil,

Firstly, allow me to encourage you to continue providing sessions with your routes.

I'd like to offer a different suggestion as to why not many people download sessions:-

People don't always read 'the small-print'.
I think a clear way of denoting a particular session is for a particular route, is needed.
Please don't get me wrong. I have seen that in many cases the sessions
are associated with a route, by the wording of the session &/or it's description.

Wouldn't it be great if there was some way of automatically 'tying' a session to a route,
& giving the down-loader the option of downloading just the route only.
ie by default they get the lot.

Previously I've noticed that sometimes it was a little confusing as to
which route was required for a particular session.
But I think currently
most people releasing routes & sessions provide excellent concise
explanation & instruction as to what-goes-with-what.
ie "route A has two sessions available....
session X....which does.....
session Y....which does.....

I just wish ALL the download items made available, had thumbnails & descriptions,
that clearly introduced what you get & how to set it up.
And that a complete list of all required non-DLS content be provided.
But that's a general gripe of mine, & doesn't apply here.

 

[paulzmay]

To my mind it's well worth providing sessions - it's a good introduction to a route, and it allows the user to dive right in, rather than set up AI trains for a route they are not familiar with. It's also a good starting point for your own sessions. Increasingly, scripted objects require session data to be stored, so in these cases it's a must. Also, if as a creator you don't create a session at least for yourself, how do you know the route will run smoothly? It always amazes me when someone uploads a route with disconnected trackwork or missing point levers. Actually running sessions on the route will eliminate most of these issues, and once it's created, why not upload it?

In the case of my routes, one of which contains quite a lot of session data, I've found that the session downloads are about 1/3 of the route downloads, despite repeated warnings in the route description and in the forums. When I queried this in the old forum, I was told that the download totals do not always add up correctly, so there might be a bit of this at work...

Paul

 

[Capt_Scarlet]

I don't use cmp to see what new on the dls as I prefer the web page as I find it easier. But if there is a new route I want and it has a session I always make sure to get it as its interesting to see how the designer meant it to be used or as a example of how to set up your own sessions so I always appreciate it when they are included.
Actually I find it a bit daunting when you download a big route that doesn't include them as its a lot harder to get it all going so to speak.

You can list me as one who downloaded all the sessions etc for WeddinNSW and I think you did a great job too.

John

 

[Swordfish]

dito

Regards

Swordfish

 

[jebartle]

yes to sessions

I'm new to Trainz. Dec 06. So I'm still learning what is what.

I at last got all of The ClearLake route and yes the session and
sencieros. Since i don't have my trainz computer internet connected,
I get all my stuff the hard way. So it takes some time and lots
of patience. I like sencieros and sessions because they give an
objective to go for.

I do hope that you realize just because the dl don't match it
doesn't mean no interest. You check out the layout for ideals
etc etc.

Well thats my 2 cents.
Keep'm coming.!!!

jeb

 

[Alan_Yeomans]

My 64 cents worth.

Personally I dont download sessions just layouts, but thats just me.

BUT, from my experience with helpdesk, a lot of people do want sessions, they just cannot find them or don't know how to find them.

I guess also that sessions are a lot more game version specific than layouts are.

In very very few instances is their anything put in the description in regards to sessions, and i think this would help up the ratio, which i do think is very low at 25%.

 

[paulzmay]

Has anyone tried making a session a dependency of a route (as well as vice versa)? Or does this just mess things up...

Paul

 

[leeferr]

Alan, I'm not sure that I'm reading your post correctly. Are you saying that the route shoud be in the session description or that applicable sessions should be in the route description. I would totally agree that the applicable route for the session should be in the description of the session (and maybe even in the session title), but I suspect that some routes are uploaded to the DLS and then sessions are subsequently developed making it impossible to include the session title in the route description.
Personally, as a relative newbie (just a little over a year), I'm just beginning to appreciate the value of developing sessions to test any route that I'm working on. I think it's a necessity, even if it's just for my own testing process. Some sessions that I've developed just don't work while others clearly show a problem with the route. A session that I was working on caused me to upload version 2 of my Ashland Central route.
It may be true that not many trainzers upload sessions, but I believe that there are those out there that really appreciate a well developed session. It can take a really long time to develop a well orchestrated session and I'm not sure that a lot of people have the patience to work through the many problems of session development. My hat is off to those out there willing to develop good sessions. Routes get a lot of attention, but a well made session deserves a few cudos also.

 

[Herb]

Stallion, I think there may be more "just drivers" on Trainz than most expect. I find I spend a lot more time now on razorbackrailway.com because of the reasons you covered, and others.

Herb

 

[slugsmasher]

Any route worth it's weight should have sessions or scenarios. I think this is the primary reason I was attracted to Trainz. I played many of the original TPR/RBR/Auran UTC scenarios over and over and then I started making my own stuff. Once the scenario capabilities were thrown out with 06, Trainz route building lost a lot of interest for me. I made a few included "sessions" for 06 Northbay County and they were considerably harder to manipulate without a lot of time and effort. Of course some will vouch now for how much better sessions are and how "easy" they are to make. I can only learn so much stuff in one lifetime so have fun.

I know from experience that it is difficult to make interesting and entertaining scenarios/sessions. Many route creators probably do not have the time or patience for this which renders a majority of routes just dead trackage. Kind of falls in the same category as making locos without custom interiors.