[0.13] Ideas to Improve the Rail-Planner (Bring back the Curved Rail)

[mattj256]

I don't have a problem using the new rail planner to put down curved rail.

It takes two clicks instead of one, which isn't ideal. It's infinitely better than the way it was in 0.12.

[ssilk]

I don't move this to "Won't implement", cause there are obviously some problems with the new rail-planer, which are expressed in this thread.


I would like to have more specific suggestions around this subject: What can be done to improve the current rail-planer?

[siggboy]

I would like to have more specific suggestions around this subject: What can be done to improve the current rail-planer?

From what has been mentioned so far:

• Make it easier to start with a curved rail. Right now you have to place a single rail segment in order to even begin placing longer rails, including curved ones (this implies that you cannot place a single curved rail, you at least have to remove the starting straight rail afterwards; I don't know if that is actually a problem).
• Make it easier to being rail planning. It's not possible to use the rail planner at all unless you have a rail segment on the ground already. It should be possible to directly go into the rail planner when you have a rail on the cursor, with no existing rails to click on. Related to the point above. (I.e. add a modifier/shortcut that will effectively place the starting rail and directly put you into the rail planner, as if you had clicked on the placed rail a second time; should also work with "shift" to directly go into the ghost-rail planner.)
• Improve the visuals for diagonal single rails and rail end points. Right now it looks like a graphical glitch (it's cut off very awkwardly at the end).

(Personally I don't think any of this is really high priority; it does not take long to get used to the rail planner, and then it becomes really easy to use, also to build complicated structures like t-junctions; it's certainly easier than the 0.12 way of placing rails, including sections with a lot of curves.)

[ssilk]

nice.

I fixed the title of this thread.

[Aatch]

I think a good addition however, that keeps with the spirit of the original suggestion is to allow you to scroll through available track pieces before placing any. I suggest using Shift-Mouse Scroll by default, as that matches how you select between blueprints in the blueprint book. So you'd start with the straight piece as normal, then scroll through any other pieces available.

Also, ssilk there's a typo in your title change, it's "planner", not "planer".

[bobingabout]

I mean, I personally have nothing against the new rail laying system, but it's still fiddly, and would be nice to still be able to place the curved rails for when you're working on junctions, and you want the rail in a very specific location.