Network: Disallow wait-for-loading for stops on public roads

[Isaac Eiland-Hall]

I've discovered a gameplay issue: In a network game, players can make a bus wait for loading at a bus stop. This is normally a player's decision - but it can cause traffic jams and completely disrupt other players' networks.

I think the best solution would be to give the game creator the option of disallowing waits for loading for stops on public roads. A possible other solution would be to give the game creator the option of disallowing building public private stops on public roads, but I don't like this nearly as well - it makes building in towns much harder, for one... public service would surely have to build all town bus stops in such a case...

Are there any ideas on how to better prevent this sort of problem? Or is it just me that sees it as a problem? But if so, expect many players to "grief" other players if this seems acceptable...

[jonasbb]

of disallowing building public stops on public roads

That makes no sence. The traffic jam was more at private stop than on public stops.
Or do you mean private stops on public road?.

I don't know if it is a good idea to disable the wait-for-load feature, because good transports would then drive allways. Also if there is nothing to transport.
And industrie is often a bit outside of the towns, so they do not block so often roads.

Another way would be a minimum max. time to wait.
So that all vehicles have a max. waittime of 1/4 month or 1/8 month.

[Isaac Eiland-Hall]

Meant to say disallow building private stops on public roads, sorry.

Of course, players could still cause traffic jams by building a bus terminal and having multiple buses queue...

It seems that this may well be an difficult issue to solve, gameplaywise...

EDIT: The more I think of it, the more I like the max-wait idea.

[Dwachs]

EDIT: The more I think of it, the more I like the max-wait idea.

This sounds reasonable as a server-setting that is communicated to clients.

But keep in mind that this would apply to all road vehicles.

And there would be still means to block other players: build trains such that some level crossings are always closed. Etc.

I think here it is important to give the server / public player / admin the rights to delete blocking stuff and even to kick out clients that do not behave...

[prissi]

Public player can change to everybody, and thus delete everything ...

[arnoud]

good idea.

I mean that the best option is: only a maximum wait time.
Because if there come a other vehicle to unload a second later ...
Then you do not earn profit. and it is more difficult to prevent stop/station overcroding.

[Lawyer]

I think that stations that can handle with more than one vehicle at the same time could be a partial solution to this problem, although I doubt it's possible.

[prissi]

Also with a limited loading options, Oil Riggs and other public stops will make it very difficult to earn money. Same for joined stations, but seperate tracks. Or public airports.

[sdog]

perhaps restrict wait for load only for passengers and mail?

possible extension: let players build their own stand on airports, private stop but connected to public airport? (could be a bit difficult to actually implement)

[benjad]

[Resurecting dead thread].

Was playing today, and this crossed my mind.   Road Cargo Bays and Bus Terminals.  Now, they allow a vehicle to enter and exit from one direction... and that's all they do.   Possible ways to address the issues above.

1. Limit 'wait for %% load' to cargo bays and terminals.  Wait for load would be ignored in drive through road stations on public roads.  (When a city 'takes' a player road, does it become public, or does it remain players?)

2. Possibly give these terminals added capacity (2 vehicles can wait inside, vice 1.).

Because right now, what do the road terminals really offer benefit-wise?

[jamespetts]

Benjad's suggestion is actually rather sensible (although the road terminals may offer other benefits, such as greater capacity, although that depends on the pakset authors), and the first should be fairly easy to program.

Another thought is this: why should vehicles not be able to overtake vehicles waiting in a 'bus stop or loading bay? If moving vehicles can be overtaken, why not stationary ones?

Edit: As a further refinement, one could disable wait for load on through stops on public roads only.

[prissi]

A through stop is nearly impossible to define. Imagine a bus stop and a cargo bay with a choose sign. Suddenly also truck could wait at the bus stop ...

Or a cargo bay extended by a second through cargo bay before for road trains. Is it now through or end station? Moreover, put three trucks on an end bay line, and you can still block all traffic. (The only option I see is a mandantory maximum wait time of one month ...)

[benjad]

A few possibilites to consider...

= Could a flag be added to the stop definition  .. something like AllowWaitForLoad   (or possibly DisallowWaitForLoad)... so that this could be designable by pack designers   (default = wait allowed)...     [Maybe just allowWait .. to include load and timing]

= Possibly a new flag on stops to make a vehicle 'disappear' from the road.. to simulate a convoy pulling over out of the way of traffic.  Maybe set a max # of convoy that could stop and not block traffic... this could also be used to allow more than one convoy to wait in a terminal station. 

Don't know if any is fesable programmatically.