Factorio Forums

TL;DR

Highlight (or show in different color) the last train car ghost when placing signals or train stops.

What ?

Right now, all of the carriage ghosts are the same white outline. It would be nice to see the last one (based on the length chosen in the settings menu) to be shown in a different color. This would assist quickly placing signals by not having to count the cars but see that the whole train will fit.

Why ?

I believe this helps alleviate a potentially monotonous part of the player experience when placing large networks. Blueprints do help alleviate this, somewhat, but this would be really helpful when working on those bits in between blueprints and ensuring that the system is set up right.

This is my first suggestion, so please feel free to ask for more information.

Thanks.

TL;DR

Use a different color or sprite for the last train ghost so we don't need to count when building tight intersections

What ?

My trains are six cars long. Without counting, is this space big enough? If we highlight the last train car then you can tell at a glance that there's enough space.

Why ?

It's annoying to guess and check to place signals in congested intersections. Highlighting the last car makes it much easier.

Hmm, looks like you more so want the 6th car highlighted, not the last (otherwise in that last image on the track where the 5th car is the last, that should be highlighted).

Strictly speaking, highlighting the “last” car is useless and doesn’t help any, whereas highlighting the 6th car only helps those that build 6 car trains. Anyone who builds trains longer get no benefit, and any that build shorter still have to count in some manor or another.

If the devs want to do it, I’m not opposed, but I would not support advocating them to put their time towards it.

FuryoftheStars wrote: Tue May 03, 2022 11:57 am Strictly speaking, highlighting the “last” car is useless and doesn’t help any, whereas highlighting the 6th car only helps those that build 6 car trains. Anyone who builds trains longer get no benefit, and any that build shorter still have to count in some manor or another.

The number of cars shown is a setting; I think by "last" the OP meant whatever that is set to. But numbering the outlines seems a more obvious solution to me, as it also caters for mixed train lengths.

SoShootMe wrote: Tue May 03, 2022 12:18 pm

FuryoftheStars wrote: Tue May 03, 2022 11:57 am Strictly speaking, highlighting the “last” car is useless and doesn’t help any, whereas highlighting the 6th car only helps those that build 6 car trains. Anyone who builds trains longer get no benefit, and any that build shorter still have to count in some manor or another.

The number of cars shown is a setting; I think by "last" the OP meant whatever that is set to. But numbering the outlines seems a more obvious solution to me, as it also caters for mixed train lengths.

Ah, so it is (and it defaults to 5).

But yes, I agree with the numbering of the spaces instead. I rarely only build 1 size train.

+1 For numbers and colors..... to be honest as age sets into the eyes white is too close in color to the rails.... color them all something like that bright pink

FuryoftheStars wrote: Tue May 03, 2022 11:57 am Hmm, looks like you more so want the 6th car highlighted, not the last (otherwise in that last image on the track where the 5th car is the last, that should be highlighted).

Strictly speaking, highlighting the “last” car is useless and doesn’t help any, whereas highlighting the 6th car only helps those that build 6 car trains. Anyone who builds trains longer get no benefit, and any that build shorter still have to count in some manor or another.

If the devs want to do it, I’m not opposed, but I would not support advocating them to put their time towards it.

I didn't get it either at first. The idea is that by setting the number of cars, he's saying "I want to build trains that are X cars long." Highlighting the last car then becomes a quick visual shorthand indicating "Your whole train will fit in this space."

Kyralessa wrote: Tue May 03, 2022 7:14 pm

FuryoftheStars wrote: Tue May 03, 2022 11:57 am Hmm, looks like you more so want the 6th car highlighted, not the last (otherwise in that last image on the track where the 5th car is the last, that should be highlighted).

Strictly speaking, highlighting the “last” car is useless and doesn’t help any, whereas highlighting the 6th car only helps those that build 6 car trains. Anyone who builds trains longer get no benefit, and any that build shorter still have to count in some manor or another.

If the devs want to do it, I’m not opposed, but I would not support advocating them to put their time towards it.

I didn't get it either at first. The idea is that by setting the number of cars, he's saying "I want to build trains that are X cars long." Highlighting the last car then becomes a quick visual shorthand indicating "Your whole train will fit in this space."

Yeah, though even knowing now about the setting, I still feel like this is a specific use case. That case being someone who builds trains of X length 80-90%+ of the time for the life of their game/play and knows about this setting (either you have to dig in the config file for it, or maybe it's available under "the rest" settings, but both of these methods I suspect are not typical for most people).

FuryoftheStars wrote: Tue May 03, 2022 8:17 pm Yeah, though even knowing now about the setting, I still feel like this is a specific use case. That case being someone who builds trains of X length 80-90%+ of the time for the life of their game/play and knows about this setting (either you have to dig in the config file for it, or maybe it's available under "the rest" settings, but both of these methods I suspect are not typical for most people).

It's in interface settings along with shortcut and quickbar sizes, this isn't anything you need to use the config file for (unless you want more than the allowed 12).

Numbering the train cars is a good idea. It might be hard to see at large zoom levels. How about making the whole ghost green if it fits?

Making the whole ghost train change colors when it has enough room would also help new players understand train signal mechanics. It would be more clear that spamming train signals might be a bad idea.

So revised idea, make the train ghost yellow if it doesn't fit, white if it does.

Found older topic and merged

I still think also adding numbers are very useful.

See also

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=70112 Rail signal placement should show also ghosts in front of the train signal

Silari wrote: Wed May 04, 2022 12:14 am

FuryoftheStars wrote: Tue May 03, 2022 8:17 pm Yeah, though even knowing now about the setting, I still feel like this is a specific use case. That case being someone who builds trains of X length 80-90%+ of the time for the life of their game/play and knows about this setting (either you have to dig in the config file for it, or maybe it's available under "the rest" settings, but both of these methods I suspect are not typical for most people).

It's in interface settings along with shortcut and quickbar sizes, this isn't anything you need to use the config file for (unless you want more than the allowed 12).

Oh ffs, you're right. Must've missed it or forgot about it. :/ Thanks.