Dirt Roads/Paved Roads

[Ramm]

I have two questions that I ask in idle curiosity.

Are dirt roads in the game really unpaved? Or are they just paved secondary routes?

Are single hex paved roads only two lanes? Or can they mean more than two lane?

The reason I ask is because when I was playing just now the map I was using had a single "dirt road" that went straight through a LA style city grid! It was incongruous to see a single "dirt road" cut through a urban area composed modern city blocks, all of which were paved.

I realize that the road type is just eye candy but "knowing" will make me enjoy the game more.

[Mobhack]

Originally Posted by Ramm

I have two questions that I ask in idle curiosity.

Are dirt roads in the game really unpaved? Or are they just paved secondary routes?

Are single hex paved roads only two lanes? Or can they mean more than two lane?

The reason I ask is because when I was playing just now the map I was using had a single "dirt road" that went straight through a LA style city grid! It was incongruous to see a single "dirt road" cut through a urban area composed modern city blocks, all of which were paved.

I realize that the road type is just eye candy but "knowing" will make me enjoy the game more.

If you actually hovered the mouse over one you would see it reported as a "Secondary Road". Not Earth , gravel, Land Rover track etc.

Roads all have infinite number of lanes in the SP universe, subject only to stacking costs. That is why there is no reportage of the number of lanes, and no mention of the subject anywhere at all.



Andy

[Ramm]

Originally Posted by Mobhack

If you actually hovered the mouse over one you would see it reported as a "Secondary Road". Not Earth , gravel, Land Rover track etc.

Roads all have infinite number of lanes in the SP universe, subject only to stacking costs. That is why there is no reportage of the number of lanes, and no mention of the subject anywhere at all.



Andy

I know they are termed "Secondary Roads", trust me I own a mouse. I was simply asking if inside the SP universe they are considered hard surfaced. If they are hard surfaced why is the graphic "dirt".

[Mobhack]

Who knows what surface - it is entirely irrelevant to the game.

Andy

[Ramm]

Originally Posted by Mobhack

Who knows what surface - it is entirely irrelevant to the game.

Andy

OK, thank-you.

The graphics tells use the road is made from dirt, but the mouse tells us it is "secondary". Secondary doesn't necessarily mean unpaved, but the graphic belies this.

Tactical transportation is relevant to the game. For example, paved roads are better for transportation than unpaved roads (faster speed). This fact may not effect things ingame currently but perhaps it should.

[narwan]

A dirt road is basically nothing more than fairly flat clear terrain with almost no vegetation. The way to mimic that in the game is to create a trail of earth hexes through other terrain (clear, grass, woods, etc). But that's mostly for maps you generate yourself.
Dirt roads in reality fall between the secondary roads and the clear/earth terrain in the game. For 'high quality' dirt roads the secondary road will do fine while for 'low quality' dirt roads (after rain perhaps or a trail type of dirt road through harder terrain) the earth type will be the better choice.

Narwan

[Ramm]

Originally Posted by narwan

A dirt road is basically nothing more than fairly flat clear terrain with almost no vegetation. The way to mimic that in the game is to create a trail of earth hexes through other terrain (clear, grass, woods, etc). But that's mostly for maps you generate yourself.
Dirt roads in reality fall between the secondary roads and the clear/earth terrain in the game. For 'high quality' dirt roads the secondary road will do fine while for 'low quality' dirt roads (after rain perhaps or a trail type of dirt road through harder terrain) the earth type will be the better choice.

Narwan

Thanks for your thought provoking answer. The road system used in SP now makes sense to me when I think about it in the paradigm you provided

Sincerely,
Andrew Nault

[DRG]

"Secondary Road" = any road NOT paved and therefore could be dirt or gravel or anything in between

Don

[PanzerBob]

Another way to imagine it is think roads in the 30's and 40's. Highways as we know them were just in their infancy.
Cities and towns most certainly had "dirt" roads although not likely downtown but in the outer areas for sure. Many 3rd World (although I dislike the term) Cities still have similar roads even today. I've been down "paved highways" that could be never called as such here. So I guess it is relative.

Perhaps if there were no lines on the paved roads??!!

Ostfront roads in the wet seasons could be better represented by strings of mud hexes to be sure. AND it is possible with patience and the map editor to make earth paths etc.

Just random thoughts.

Bob out

[chuckfourth]

Hi
One of the things Ive noticed about the game roads is that they are usually straight. Most Roads However started out as some sort of track and for this and other reasons roads usually follow contours, similar to how rivers run. This is important in game as often a road goes right up to and over several hills. This makes it easier to get your boys up there than it should be as the roads usually go around the hills. Or if there is something on the hill the road often goes up to the hill and stops. So Contour following roads, dead end roads, might also be an interesting addition.
Also
The roads in Netherlands are often on dykee (These dykes can generate odd LOS results) on these maps the rail tracks probably should be on dykes also. All the games Ive played in Netherlands have the rail on the flat.

There is one really good cutom map that shows a really realistic topography showcasig a contour following road sytem with dead ends into forests/hamlets etc, but I couldnt find it. It might also be a good idea that when you choose a map in the "view map" screen, dont like it, and click on the "load a custom map" button again instead of returning you to the first map screen it returns you to the screen you picked the current map from?
Best Regards Chuck.