1. GRIT
  2. News
  3. GRIT Dev Blog #5 - Riding the Train

GRIT Dev Blog #5 - Riding the Train

Howdy, partner!

We’ve been getting a lot of great feedback from our playtesters, and have just announced our next scheduled test.

Want to join the fight? “Request Access” on our Steam Store page for a chance to become a pre-Early-Access playtester!

And if you’re looking for a place to meet up with your gang, or maybe just hang out and shoot the breeze, check out our digital ranch on Discord: https://discord.gg/fightwithgrit



Last time, we talked about horses, and the joy of riding across the open range. But experienced travelers of Sunrise County seek another beast of burden, with a soul forged in iron and a fiery heart. Yep, I reckon it’s time you learn how to catch a train.

The Sunrise County Rail System

When you open your map (default: M), you will see train tracks that snake through the mountains and towns, as well as icons that represent the trains themselves:



Knowing their location is one thing, but how does one board the train? Well, you could wait at the station in town for it to show up. But for a more dramatic approach, ride your horse up alongside or behind the train. This will give your horse a massive speed boost, allowing you to keep pace until the next scheduled stop.

No matter how you reach the train, you’ll be boarding by pressing the interact button (default: F) near one of the train cars.

Rumor has it some wild daredevils tried jumping right from their horses onto a moving train. We went looking for 'em, but all we found were their hats. So when you hear the whistle blow, watch your step near the tracks, and don't say we didn't warn you.

Passengers and Conductors

Once you’ve boarded, you can move freely between the cars by heading to the next car in line, then pressing the interact key to hop across the coupler.

If you head to the back of the train, you will reach the caboose, which offers excellent protection from enemy fire. Head to the front, however, and you will reach the engine cab. From here, you can blow the train whistle, which will temporarily push the train to even faster speeds!

Riding Through the Storm

But wait, what if the train is heading into the Calamity? Fear not, for the train and the area around it are immune to the Calamity for the majority of the match!

When the safe zone becomes very small, this special aura can no longer protect you. So keep an eye on the map, and plan your route to the final showdown.

The Switch Track

Speaking of planning routes, you might notice signs like these sitting along the train tracks:



When you shoot at these signs, they will spin, and the track up ahead will change position, sending the train on a different route to head on over to different areas of the map.

Do you have enough skill to shoot that sign from a moving train, and switch to a new track before it’s too late? It ain’t easy…

All Aboard the Sunrise Express

Have an urge to get out of town fast? Ignore the Calamity in luxurious comfort? Run a science experiment involving switch tracks and dangerously high speeds?

Then it’s high time to hop a train, and travel across Sunrise County in style!