Crane loaders, log ponds & more! v5.26

Continuing with the theme of the log loaders added into the game, this update adds some more!

• A long pond unloader
  
• An alternative larger log loader
  
• A crane for both loading and unloading
  

And in addition to those, it also adds a bunch of new features:

• Shadow graphics improvements
  
• Ability to enable/disable shadows for individual props
  
• Physics based logs you can push around
  
• More graphics settings
  
• Levers to control whether loaders/unloaders are enabled or not
  
• Several more minor features and fixes!
  

[h2]Firstly, the new log pond unloader[/h2]



There is now a new animated unloader prop which dumps logs off freight cars!
When logs are brought into a lumber mill they are usually rolled off into a log pond, where they are stored and eventually pushed around and fed into the "green chain" up into the lumber mill saws.

This update also adds a physics-based log prop which you can literally click on to push it around!



[h2]Crane loader/unloader[/h2]

There is now a fully animated crane which can be used to load and unload freight. You can put any prop you like into this!



There are two versions, one at ground level and one elevated off the ground:



[h2]Alternative larger log loader [/h2]

There is also another alternative log loader prop which fits over two tracks and has both the log pile and donkey steam engine on the same side:



[h2]Leavers to enable/disable loaders[/h2]

You can now control whether a loader/unloader is enabled or not. If you click on this lever (which you can find on each loader prop) it will enable/disable the loader. While the loader is disabled, it won't automatically load freight wagons until you enable it again.

This is great for when you want to push a wagon in to place, then start loading it manually:



[h2]New shadow graphics changes [/h2]

Many people have pointed out that the shadows in Rolling Line behave in a rather unusual way, where shadows feel a bit "detached" from the object that is casting them.
This was originally a visual style choice, since it makes objects look softer and less hard-edged.
But the overall consensus is that the game seems to look better without this effect, and instead having the sharper shadows that you would expect from most games. So I've made the shadows look sharper by default now:

left = sharper shadows (new), right = softer shadows (old)





You can still change the shadows back to how it was before this update if you like, you can find this setting in the "Pause menu -> Graphics -> Lighting" menu, along with some more shadow settings:

• You can now extend/reduce the default shadow distance for both large and miniature independently
  
• You can change the intensity (darkness) of shadows
  

With this new shadow style a few other changes have been made to suit the new lighting:

• Flat objects like road markings & decals no longer cast shadows
  
• The "ground" terrain pieces (used for making pathways and such) also don't cast shadows by default
  

[h2]Painter to enable/disable shadows on any prop manually[/h2]

Along with the new shadow graphics settings, you can now use a new painter to manually control shadow casting on individual props. Just like other painters, you simply click on the prop you want to change with either the "shadows on" or "shadows off" painter.
You can find these new painters in the "Room -> Advanced" drawer:



[h2]More multipaint slots[/h2]

The maximum multipaint slots for props has been extended all the way from 4 to 12! This means prop mods can now use up to 12 paintable mesh slots:



[h2]Depth of field effect when using 2D menus[/h2]

This is just a simple visual effect, but it makes the 2D menus look so much nicer!



[h2]New drawers category for all loading/unloading props[/h2]

All of the loading/unloading props have been moved to a new drawer category (the one with the log stack for an icon):



Other minor features and fixes:

• There is now a setting in the freight load display menu on wagons to control whether loaded props play animations or not. This is useful for things like loading the steam donkey on to a flatcar, since you wouldn't want the animation to play.
  
• Fixed the gear rotation angles on the steam donkey animation.
  
• Fixed the switchboard spawn location on the Shay locomotive.
  
• Fixed glitch where wagons would "snap" their rotation when the player steps on to them sometimes.
  
• The "heavy rain" weather preset now includes a strong wind as well.
  
• Fixed bug where the shay would emit a bit of smoke when first spawned.
  

And that's everything!
Lots of stuff packed into this update, you can probably tell that I'm wrapping up all of the final features required for the big Sierra Logging map! The map isn't far away, and I'm hoping to release it within the next 2 months, and there will be more info coming as it gets closer to release.

But in the meantime, please enjoy all the new stuff!