Train Theory Revisited

[sirrliv]

Just wondering if anyone's given any has given any further thought on the train theory in light of v9.

I've had an idea or two of my own. I ask that anyone with experience in coding take a look and consider their plausability.

1. Track would be its own special type of brick based on the LEGO 9-volt/RC track. Switches and such could be controlled either directly by clicking on it, or remotely by wrench event.

2. Trains themselves would probably be built around their own special brick types (wheels, power bogies, big "driving" wheels, and so on). Might have to have some subscript to cover swivelling bogies (The things Americans call "trucks") and their connection to the rest of the car. Motion would probably originate from a motor/power bogie, as in real LEGO trains. This would again be controlled by wrench events.

3. Couplings would again be their own special part, used to attach one car to another. This connection is established as soon as one car with a coupling impacts another. Cars without couplings would simply be pushed along. Uncoupling would once again be controlled either directly by clicking or indirectly by WE.

These are just a few speculative ideas I've had. And, having no coding or modelling experience, I don't know how viable they are. All I know is that they make sense to me, and I hope to others as well. So here's hopeing that these ideas stick somewhere...

[Ad Bot]

[Space Guy]

1. would be possible, probably with an automatic "switchTrainCoupling" event of some sort like how the Doors mod sets up a basic click door for you when you place it.

2. and 3. aren't really possible because of how the brick grid works - bricks can only exist on the 1 studx1 studx1 plate grid and can't be rotated from there (e.g. turning corners) or exist inbetween for movement.

[sirrliv]

Thanks for the info Space Guy. I wasn't sure if it would work like that, just speculating.

I was also posting to try and reinvigorate interest in the idea, the original Train Theory thread having died long ago.

[zoneark]

well what if you do what trader has done you model the tracks/train and script it so it run's off on the tracks?

[Reactor Worker]

I think you should be practical about the idea. Sure there are a few different ways that would potentially work, but most would be rather "hacky", could cause lag and error, and probably wouldn't operate as smoothly as we would like.

Even if it could be pulled off convincingly, what purpose would it serve? We have jetboots and plenty of other vehicles for transportation.

[CopBlock]

I think you should be practical about the idea. Sure there are a few different ways that would potentially work, but most would be rather "hacky", could cause lag and error, and probably wouldn't operate as smoothly as we would like.

Even if it could be pulled off convincingly, what purpose would it serve? We have jetboots and plenty of other vehicles for transportation.

A city build

[Marcem]

For a city build, just event one up.

[Reactor Worker]

A city bluid

There are many ways for people to get around a BL city. Few cities are large enough to require a dedicated transport system but for those that do...

1.Teleporters
2.Impulse elevators and travelators

[Randomguy]

There are many ways for people to get around a BL city. Few cities are large enough to require a dedicated transport system but for those that do...

1.Teleporters
2.Impulse elevators and travelators

A train's purpose would be for detail. I remember Trader saying somewhere that doors were for a similar effect. You can make doors with events, right? That doesn't mean they're not necessary. I actually think it would be interesting to see a train-like vehicle be made.

[Monty]

I'd sure like to see a "train" that shuttles between two points, quite like the "Func_train" entity that Half Life utilised for nearly everything that moved.

[Harm94]

Vehicles are bots right? just set waypoints for it and there you go.... but i nothing about coding or scripting so i could be talking nonsense

[Jervan]

2. and 3. aren't really possible because of how the brick grid works - bricks can only exist on the 1 studx1 studx1 plate grid and can't be rotated from there (e.g. turning corners) or exist inbetween for movement.

What about custom bricks (Straight track piece, 90o corner piece)? If that works, just animate 90o turns on the train..?

[Monty]

Vehicles are bots right? just set waypoints for it and there you go.... but i nothing about coding or scripting so i could be talking nonsense

Giving a bot some AI waypoints is an entirely valid method, it's just the accuracy issues and making train vehicles and such.

[Space Guy]

What about custom bricks (Straight track piece, 90o corner piece)? If that works, just animate 90o turns on the train..?

sirrliv was suggesting a sort of buildable train, which wouldn't be possible to animate or move between the studs on the brick grid. Having custom bricks for the track itself is fine, though.

[dark ninja]

or you could have and event were a cart moves along a track you click some were then you click again for a straight line that the cart moves on  then you keep clicking and clicking an it creates a straight line from last click till you right click and it auto goes to the end of track also for something like this not to lag there has to be a min track length