Rolling Line News

Progress on roads is coming along great, but it's taking longer than I hoped.
So I've decided to make BETA access available for all the road tools that are already ready to use!

This means that people can use the new roads in their maps, upload them to the workshop, and they will work fine for anyone downloading and playing them.
If you want to use roads yourself you'll need to enable access to the BETA.

[h2]How to access the roads BETA[/h2]

You can gain access to the new roads tools by adding a "launch tag" in Steam.
To do this, right-click on Rolling Line in your Steam library and choose "properties".
Then click on "General" and find "launch options".
In the text box type "-roadworks"
Just like this:



You can then quit out of the menu and run the game as normal.
If you have done this correctly, you will see a new "roads" category when searching the drawers:

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[h2]Road features[/h2]

More information about roads will be coming in the official release (the next update) but for now you can access a new "roads generator" which works just like the track generator but for lanes in roads:



You can use these individual lane pieces to create larger more complex road layouts, like intersections and multi-lane highways.



There are multiple drawers full of road styles and road markings you can use:



With the styles given, you can already make a range of different kinds of roads:



More info will be coming on how all the new road features work in the next update!

But firstly, here is a bunch of features this update adds which you can make use of right away:

[h2]Multi-track-generation[/h2]

You can now use the track generator to automatically create groups of multiple track!
This makes creating multi-track mainlines far easier, and skips the steps of needing to create your own groups. You can use the "separation" value to change the distance between tracks.





The track generator now also remembers the styles you have applied to all track in the group, so when you switch pages/change values the styles will be kept:



[h2]More advanced side-snapping[/h2]

The side-snapping feature has been improved to allow for much more options, like snapping to the sides of all kinds of turnouts!



[h2]Style painting swap[/h2]

There is now a feature where you can "invert" the style of a track/road by painting it again with the same painter. E.g. this will flip any left/right only styles to the other side:



You can also do this inside the track style edit UI using the new "flip left/right values" button:



Plus you can do this for an entire group using the new option on the edit tool to "invert style" which flips all of the styles & order:





[h2]Copy whole group style[/h2]

You can now copy the styles of a whole track/road group!
There is a new control binding for "clone whole group" (which is right-shift by default).
So if you hold right-shift + Return it will copy the style for the whole group, not just the single track piece. You can then use this "group style painter" to paint other groups in the same way:



Painting twice will invert the group, just like the left/right swapping mentioned above.

You can also use a group style with more/less lanes, it will just ignore any extra ones:



[h2]Flexytrack improvements[/h2]

Gap-fill track (flexytrack) now snaps to more available end points, and has had some minor improvements to make snapping better.
It will no longer snap to parallel track ends which are part of the same group.
There is also now a dedicated flexytrack just for roads:



[h2]Drawers in room are saved[/h2]

The two drawers by the menu now save their state in the save file.
And the default drawers for a new save have changed to the "tools" and "tables" drawers:



[h2]Switchboards layer[/h2]

Switchboards can now be set to only show "track" or "roads" layers (or both).
This means you can have dedicated switchboards for your road systems that dont overlap with track:



[h2]Roads layer for train modding and style modding[/h2]

Track style mods (and train mods!) can be set to use the roads layer instead of track. Basically meaning you can start making modded track styles for roads, and make train mods which will run on the new roads system.
Meaning you can use the train modding system to effectively create operational cars!



Please keep in mind that actual official cars will be coming in a future update, but they will work in exactly the same way as a modded train (a train running on "rails" which are actually just "roads").



[h2]Other minor features[/h2]

• The placeable drawers prop has been fixed in a few ways, like hiding the objects inside it when it is dropped, disabling the buttons when dropped, and fixed scaling issues.
  
• Fixed bug where props cloned out of custom drawers would not have the correct scale.
  
• Fixed bug where grouped track would not re-set its gradient when cloned or picked up, which would result in strange curves when cloning track already on a gradient.
  
• If you are using joypad controls the on-screen keyboard shows up (instead of requiring the actual keyboard) when editing text in-game.
  

Lots of stuff to unpack in this update!
Roads have ended up being a much larger and complex job than I planned, so lots of other features have needed to be made in the process.

Features like multi-track-generation and the group style painting options work for both track and roads, so it's good to release them now rather than waiting for roads to be 100% done to release it all in one go.

Plus giving people access to the roads BETA early is fun!
I hope you enjoy the new features and tools, and keep an eye out for the full roads update which is not far off!

Rolling Line is one large step closer to the glorious roads update!

"Roads" in Rolling Line are literally "tracks" just with a different model, which means that they share a lot of the same features.
Larger roads (like highways) are effectively groups of tracks, where each "lane" of the road is a piece of track, lined up next to each other to form a road.



This means that making the new road system required full support for grouping tracks together, which ended up being a painfully complicated process.
So instead of keeping this new feature restricted to roads, why not let everyone use it right away to create their own track groups!

Roads are still fully a work-in-progress, but the track grouping feature is ready to use right now!

You can now find a new drawer called "groups" in the track category, which contains a bunch of pre-made examples (double-slips!!) as well as the new group tool:



This update also adds a new amazing "side-snapping" feature which will be explained in detail further on in this post!



[h2]The group tool[/h2]

With the new group tool you can easily select a bunch of track pieces and then combine them into a group.
Simply highlight the "select items" option on the tool (with the scroll wheel) and then click on track to select it. You can also click on track again to deselect it.





Once you have your whole group selected, change the highlighted option to "apply group" and then click.
This will combine all of the selected tracks together into a group.
Once they are a group, you can pick them up as one single object, and place them down as well.
You can even save them in custom drawers as groups!

You can also use the "break group" option on the group tool to split apart a group into individual tracks:



[h2]Symmetrical groups[/h2]

You can create groups out of any track you like, but if you make a group that contains a bunch of track curves all lined up (with no extra track) then it gets some special features!
If you make a symmetrical group like this, then it will behave just like a normal curved piece of track, which means you can use it to create smooth gradients, and can even toggle the direction of it using Q and E while placing.



This feature makes creating multi-track main lines way easier!
For example, say you want a double-track main line to climb a slope:
- create a group out of the two curved pieces of track next to each other.
- duplicate that group multiple times to create the main line.



If your track group contains any track types other than curves (e.g. turnouts or flexytrack) then it will not support the "Symmetrical group" features mentioned above.
The track must all be separated too, meaning you cannot have multiple segments of track connected together:



[h2]Non-symmetrical groups[/h2]

If your group features different kinds of track types (e.g. turnouts and flexytrack) then it will be treated as a "non-symmetrical group". This kind of group does not support the gradient and direction switching features that the "symmetrical group" mentioned above does.

Instead of toggling the direction, pressing Q and E will instead cycle between each available dead-end point in the group for snapping:



[h2]Double-slips[/h2]

A perfect example of something you can make with track groups is an operational double-slip!
This update includes a few pre-set track groups which you can find in the new "track -> groups" drawer:
(Special thank-you to Ze Trackmeister for his track designs used in this update!)



The upper-left group is a "single slip"
The upper-right is a "3-way turnout"
And the two double slips below are sized to fit two different widths of track.
These are for separation 0.7, and 1.0
(separation will be explained in the next section)



[h2]Separation values [/h2]

The "separation" value for a piece of track shows how far apart multiple tracks should be distanced in parallel. You can set it inside the track generator:



It's a little hard to explain, but basically the "separation" value is the difference you would need to increase/decrease the "radius" to get the next parallel track in a curve.
Here is a visual example:



You can use any separation value you like, but all the official track (in the drawers) is either 1.0 or 0.7



[h2]Track side-snapping[/h2]

Side-snapping is an optional feature which you can switch on in the "pause menu -> custom track -> snapping -> track snap to sides".
You can also toggle it by pressing F7.

When side-snapping is on, track will automatically snap parallel to other track!
It will also bend to copy the curve angle.
The distance at which it snaps to is set by the "separation" value mentioned above.



Track can only side-snap on to curved and straight pieces of track, so it can't snap on to flexytrack or turnouts.
It also does not work with gradients, but if you want to make a multi-track main-line with gradients then please use the track grouping method talked about at the start of this update post.



[h2]Other features[/h2]

Overall this update has been digging deep into the core structure of how track is handled by the game, so lots of background code has changed.
But there are a couple of other minor features which this update includes:

• The "Rusty DSJ shunter" easter egg unlock is now available by default in the "misc -> unlocks" drawer without needing to unlock anything.
  
• The "AI lock enabled" message now only shows up when you manually change the value for a piece of track, previously it would also show up when loading a save which contained AI-locked track. this has been fixed.
  

This update ended up being WAY more difficult than I had planned, but now that this is done the rest of the roads system is smooth sailing from here!

So keep an eye out for future news, because the roads update is on its way!

Lots of new track styles coming in this update!
After the Trackwork comp, the winners all got to choose a track style to be added into the game officially.

These track styles include:
- wooden trestle bridge
- stone arch bridge
- rubbish-covered track
- two new turnout lever types

[h2]Wooden trestle bridge[/h2]

The wooden trestles are split into a few different sections:
- base (the main supports)
- top (the section under the rails)
- leg extensions (optional extra for longer supports)
- railings





You can access all of these with the track style menu (press Q when hovering over a piece of track) or simply use the style painters in the "track tools" drawers!



[h2]Stone arch bridge[/h2]

The stone arch bridge also has a few different styles:
- wide arches
- narrow arches
- detailed arches with bricks
- "solid" ends, with no arch



These bridges can be found in the "track tools" drawers too:



[h2]Rubbish rails[/h2]

A rather unique track style!
This one is based on rubbish-strewn tracks, specifically this famous scene from Los Angeles:



The cardboard boxes used in this track style can also be placed as a prop, which you can find in the "Scenery -> Plants" drawer:



[h2]New turnout levers[/h2]

Lastly, this update adds two new kinds of turnout levers!



These new turnout levers can be found in the "track tools" drawers next to all the others:



[h2]Track segment length in modding[/h2]

This update also adds a very useful feature for track modding.
You can now set the "Segment length" of your track style, which basically means that you can make longer meshes that cover multiple segments.
So instead of being limited to 0.1 units (1 segment) you can now make something like 0.5 units long (5 segments). This is useful for making larger models like bridges that don't fit inside just one segment.



This update also includes:

• Fixed snapping for the small tables and backdrops
  
• Fixed broken track gradient when a piece of track is picked up and re-placed
  
• There is now a "refresh mods" button in the mods drawer, which will update the mod list to include any new downloads
  
• If a modding manager is opened, it will automatically close any other open ones, to stop conflicts caused by having multiple open
  
• Fixed unusual bug where it was possible to lose the track/wagon in your hand while clone-placing if you do it very quickly at low frame-rates
  
• Fixed end-cap track pieces for modded track styles
  
• Track style painters (like bridges) now auto-remove the ballast layer when used
  

And that's all for now!
Huge congratulations to all the winners of the Trackwork Comp, I'm sure everyone is going to love these new track styles you've chosen!

You can find more info about the Trackwork Comp here:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/754150/view/3355761233473138410

I'm still working on roads and making progress, though it is certainly proving to be a complex and large update, so it's going to take a bit longer. But it will be well worth it!

Congratulations to everyone who took part in the Trackwork Comp!
There were so many amazing maps it took me days just to go through them all and rank them!
So much amazing use of modding, and beautiful maps and ideas.

Events like these are such a great opportunity to try out some creative ideas and make a map alongside others in the community, and they are always so much fun to take part in (and to play through everyone else's maps!).

[h2]Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to make an entry! [/h2]
As with every competition, I personally played through every single entry, and choosing the winners was incredibly difficult! I absolutely loved seeing them all, so without further ado, let's get started with the winners!

The first award of complexity (and overall most impressive layout!) goes to:

[h2]P&LCE: Oro to Sur - by KingNathantheIII![/h2]
This layout is amazing, and absolutely beautiful. The natural scenery is spot on, and riding the little ride-on miniature railway in VR was a magical experience. Well deserving of the top spot!!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2830304540&searchtext=


The second award, for modding, goes to:

[h2]Roller Coaster Park - by Tricarbonyl![/h2]
With fully functional rollercoaster track, ride-on carts and even a maglev system, this map made full use the modding tools and looks awesome!
It was really hard choosing a modding winner, since so many maps made crazy good use of mods!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2825558476&searchtext=


And thirdly, the creativity award goes to:

[h2]Aquarium - by Globin347![/h2]
This map just made me so happy, the animated fish, the little underwater train emitting bubbles, the big eels swimming around, everything about it is just adorable and really blows my mind of what can be made inside Rolling Line these days!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2829918544&searchtext=


I'll be getting into contact with all these winners to talk to them about their prizes!

But that's not all, here's a whole bunch of my other top favourites.
Choosing winners was incredibly difficult, so consider these other maps on-par with the main winners. I highly recommend going and having a look at them yourself!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2827890906&searchtext=


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2830145821&searchtext=


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2829879014&searchtext=


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2829843529&searchtext=


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2830249227&searchtext=


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2830198825&searchtext=


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2829718295&searchtext=


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2829442738&searchtext=


And lastly, here is a big list of honourable mentions!



Huge congratulations to everyone who took part!
There were even MORE maps i wanted to mention in this post, but best not to go too overboard.

I highly recommend having a play through some of the maps mentioned above, and I hope you all had fun during this event!

Hey it's been a while since the last layout building event, and the track system just got a lot more interesting after the last couple of updates, so what better time to put some focus towards...
TRACKWORK!

This competition will be running from June 22nd until July 4th.

The goal is simple: make any map you like, with a focus on track design.
You could try using track in a creative way, or have a go at making something really ambitious and complex. Or maybe have a go at modding in your own track style!
These events are a great way to get inspiration for a new layout idea, so give it a try and see what you can build, and simply upload it to the Steam Workshop to take part.

When uploading a layout/mod to the Steam Workshop make sure to check the "Trackwork Comp 2022 Entry" option so it gets included!



You can also view entires by clicking on the "Competitions" tags on the Workshop page:



There aren't really any rules, you can make a layout with whatever theme you like!
But the focus should be on track in some way, like creative use of track or interesting and complex track design.

You can make as many submissions as you like, and don't worry about trying to make something perfect, just have fun with it!

Here's some inspiration:













And who says it needs to be a real-world railway?





Or even a conventional railway? ːsteamhappyː





You can make anything you like!
The more creative the better. In fact one of the categories is entirely based around creativity!

I've split the winning criteria into three categories so there will be more to consider than just making the most advanced and impressive map.
I'm especially hoping that some people (who are confident with modding) make use of the new modding tools to create some really unique track styles and designs.

A ton of new track customization has been added into the game after the last two updates, so I'm excited to see people make the most of it!

This is also the first layout event in a while that actually has prizes.
For each of the 3 categories there will be one winner who gets to choose a new "track style" painter to be added into the game officially.
This could be a kind of bridge, tunnel, overhead wire, extra-rail, side-of-track detail (like a platform), etc.
That means there are 3 winners total, one for "most complex layout", one for "best use of modding" and one for "most creative".

But remember, the goal is just to have fun and take the opportunity of making layouts alongside other people in the community all at once. It's a great time to get inspired and give some new ideas a go.

But in other news...

[h2]Progress on roads[/h2]

Part of the reason I'm hosting this competition now is because I'm busy working on roads in the background! This is going to be a HUGE update so it's also going to take a lot of time.
But progress is going great!





And yes, you will be able to drive cars on your roads, just like trains on tracks! ːsteamhappyː



Roads are going to be amazing!
So you've certainly got something special to look forward to in the near(-ish) future.

But in the meantime, I hope everyone has some fun with the layout competition, I can't wait to see all the ideas that everyone comes up with!

As with every layout competition in the past, i will of course be playing EVERY SINGLE ENTRY at the end and going through and choosing my favourites.

Have fun!