An Idea: PerryPlatypus Youtube Tutorials (Route Building, Activity Creation, etc.)

[PerryPlatypus]

Would like to get people's thoughts on this... I would never say I am "the best" in all topics of route building or activity creation... (but if you enjoy the routes and the vast majority of the activities from Mullan Pass and Shasta, those were made by me)

I've thought for a long time about making a Youtube series of tutorial videos on all sorts of topics for Open Rails content creation. In all honesty, would people really benefit from this? I don't want to waste hours of my life making something that isn't going to be all that valuable to people. So I'm looking for honest feedback. At this point we're a bit desperate for ways to inject new energy into the ORTS platform.

Topics I can think of for tutorials:
ROUTE BUILDING
Initial Route Setup (Easy Version - TSRE-generated terrain)
Initial Route Setup (Advanced Version - Demex-generated terrain)
Distant Mountain Terrtex Auto-Creation (using TSRE aerial image map overlays)
Basics of Track Laying - Tangents, curves, turnouts.
Advanced Track Laying - Using Track Charts, Compensated Grades, ScaleRail, Deep Tunnels, Spiral curve transitions, etc.
Basics of Terrtex Work - Using TSRE paths for painting terrain, etc.
Basics of Scenery Laying - REF files, using TSRE map overlays, etc.
Advanced Scenery Laying
Signaling and Grade Crossing Basics

ACTIVITY DESIGN
Basic path creation
Consist creation
Basic activity design - paths, services, traffic.
Advanced activity design - pop up messages, weather transitions, OR-specific features like triggered sounds.

If video tutorials already exist for these kind of things, I don't want to waste my time / step on anyone's toes. It's just an idea.

Any other suggestions on topics that people REALLY wish there were tutorials for? From the above list, which do you think would be the most helpful to focus on? (what are the areas that people struggle with the most?)

[SD40-2]

Sean,

I am very interested in activity design, as it's something I'd like to try, but there's so little on it, especially stuff that is Open Rails-centric.

[CBQSD24]

I've already said my piece on this to you before (This is femboy enthusiast from discord) but to repeat for the masses and maybe get some others on board, yes! I think this would be amazing. I can't find any real tutorials on this stuff out there, and I think getting this information from arguably one of the most skilled creators this community has to offer would be great. And hey, even if videos did/do exist, it's not like you can't improve upon them. Activity creation and Route building are two of the things that I personally really wanna try. I'm sure you can recall I've discussed with you before about the lack of Oregon-based routes in any train sim, and I personally have come to realize that if I want something like the Portland Subdivision, I'm gonna have to make it myself. I also just want to further my content creation for the community. Skins are fun and all, but I wanna do more. I have so many ideas for routes and activities that I can't leave my head because I have no knowledge on this stuff. So in short, I think this would be a wonderful idea and I feel it could really benefit the community.

[ossie]

Sean, learning to how to modify and eventually build routes has long been an item on my to-do list for ORTS. I've got Pete's guide but haven't got to it yet but I'd certainly be interested in any video based tutorials you were willing to create.

[yellowdog]

I would be interested in activity building. And since we already have routes available, with no activities, it seems maybe that would be a place to start?

[CBQSD24]

I must add that videos will go a long way. I myself am much more of a visual learner, and having videos over written guides helps me learn things quicker. I feel like I speak for a lot of people here.

[rfranzosa]

Great idea, both route building and activity creation are things I would like to learn.


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[qballbandit]

Absolutely! And, however far you progress with this, I'll give you a huge thank you ahead of time!

[CSRX]

Will be great to see this done, I tried a little with TSRE on the how to portion, but I think overall sticking to how to videos for the ORTS operations itself, will keep me occupied for the time being.

[jdonald1]

I am also very interested in Activity Design.

Don

[frliss]

I look forward to these videos. I enjoy enhancing and refining routes, though I’m not yet fully confident with many of TSRE’s features

Fred

[trainlover2923]

I'm game......I'd be very interested into activity building

[cfriedri]

Would love to see tutorials Sean! While everything would be valued, I would personally really love to see the basic and advanced tracklaying tutorials, and DEMEX / terrain editing if you get around to them!

[Darkhorse427]

I would defiantly be interested in (and in need of) any activity making tutorials. as well as ones covering DEMEX and distant mountains

[derekmorton]

Activity design is definately on my wish list.