The unsatisfying riding of trains
Posted on: November 22, 2006If there's something I abhor about rocky region crossings, it's that they prevent me from having a smooth, cross-grid train ride. The other day, I went to the classic Luna shopping mall. Waited for the equally-classic orange tram, and rode it… until it got north to Sistiana. Was promptly tossed off and made all skitterish, like the tram was dragging me along with an invisible hoop around my waist. This stopped after the tram made another turn, and I fell out onto the road. Thinking this may have just been bad timing, I lept aboard ol' tram again, and prepared for another maiden voyage.
Alas, same result. Something just ain't right there. Maybe it just wasn't my day.
I also headed up to Heterocera Atoll, the northern continent where a lot of new Reisdent-created train stations were recently put up. I waited at several stations for a train. None came. In my tiredness and sparse trickle of time, I moved onto other things, but that memory doesn't 'scape me.
I'd love to have a seamless journey, that makes me forget that squares on the grid should be crossed in the standard cardinal directions. I remember when things were much worse, and diagonally traversing four corners was like voyaging thru the Bermuda Triangle's bastard daughter — not pleasant, to say the least. Then, things got better. Region crossings remain contentious and an antagonist of all that is fluid movement.
Still, I wait for trains. And as they come…
I will ride them.
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November 22nd, 2006 at 6:42 PM PST
Train set and match spied under the blind
Shiny and contoured the railway winds
And I've heard the sound from my cousin's bed
The hiss of the train at the railway head
Always the summers are slipping away
A 60 ton angel falls to the earth
A pile of old metal, a radiant blur
Scars in the country, the summer and her
Always the summers are slipping away
Find me a way for making it stay
When I hear the engine pass
I'm kissing you wide
The hissing subsides
I'm in luck
When the evening reaches here
You're tying me up
I'm dying of love
It's OK
- Porcupine Tree, Trains
November 22nd, 2006 at 11:27 PM PST
I don't know what that means, nor would I want a 60-ton angel to fall on me, but it sounds pretty.
November 23rd, 2006 at 1:14 AM PST
I found the angels picture:-
http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/Leisure%20and%20Culture/Angel/Home.aspx
I'm not sure I want that landing on me either.
It reminded me a bit of Gigantor.
November 23rd, 2006 at 1:59 AM PST
HAHAH and do you know who Gigantor reminds me of?
GALACTUS EATER OF PLANETS.
November 23rd, 2006 at 8:43 AM PST
I've found the same to be true while sailing. You can very easily lose control of the boat, even fall off, when you hit a sim crossing. It is very annoying and makes sailboat racing a real crap-shoot.
November 23rd, 2006 at 9:04 AM PST
When crossing regions, you pretty much need to wait 3-5 seconds or bad things will happen. In the past, it would work well enough most of the time even if you didn't wait. If you're not careful, you can crash a sim simply by… well, you know.
If you're like me and enjoy flying over sims, is that you can't have a scripted object take you through a no-script zone anymore. It'll halt everything before you have a chance to move along. Argh!
November 23rd, 2006 at 12:12 PM PST
Re: Lyrics for Trains above… I am not sure of the meaning behind a lot of the lyrics either, and Steven Wilson is quite guarded when it comes to explaining them. I posted it because your blog entry reminded me of the song, which is easily the most beautiful Porcupine Tree song ever.
Some interpretations of the lyrics by fans are here.
November 23rd, 2006 at 12:14 PM PST
A sixty ton angel falls to the earth.
November 23rd, 2006 at 7:09 PM PST
Wow so the trains do exist? I have tried a few times now to catch one.. gave up after a while when nothing turned up. Maybe a big sign at each station with an estimate of "Next train arrives at…" or something would be a nice addition.
I will keep an eye out though.. the idea still appeals to me too!
Cheerio Torley
November 26th, 2006 at 1:13 PM PST
Yeah, sim crossings have ruined many a romantic liaison… like when you're on said sailboat, kissing each other, and then… *KA-CHUNKKKKK*. My feeling is it also must be really frustrating for those used to smooth, cross-world travel on other MMOs. At least it's a good thing we can really pack regions densely — not that we always should, because complex geometry makes computers the world over cryyyy.
Simone, yes, they do exist, historically anyway. I know for awhile, they were gone. I saw Michael Linden the other day reestablishing the trains along the "classic" line (e.g., Periwinkle). I haven't seen a train in the north in ages, but sure would like to… I'M SOOOO IN AGREEMENT WITH YOU ABOUT THE SIGNS! Scripts to detect incoming trains would make a lot of difference and cut down on frustration for those waiting for a ride.
After all, the trains gotta run on time. Cheerio!