Exclusive driver for mass transit

[wichita]

I was trying to dig up the old thread I was thinking of, but wasn't having much luck. Basically, we were discussing how to set up the bus so that there could be a driver that would be the only one to control the vehicle, but "passengers" could still board the vehicle without threat of running away with it unhindered. I know this has come up within the train discussions before as well.

The need for this has been raised recently and has been in the minds of RD for quite a while. As the game world expands and characters are spread over a larger number of locations, the need for communication is ever increasing. I think this is evidenced by the decline in relative activity in the game, an opinion voiced by other players. As the older locations are developing more and more, and more vehicles are beginning to pop up and see use, I believe that vehicles will provide an effective strategy for uniting more areas together (removing the "distance limitation").


I think the easiest way to handle this would be to add an inventory check to search for the key upon initiating travel. Anyone holding a copy of the key should be authorized to control the vehicle. Anyone else is just along for the ride.

The only negative consequence of this is that the crew is stranded when the captain falls asleep at the wheel, but I suppose that could be considered an in game problem.

[Pie]

Pffft.

Just have it be like a cabin. the back of the buss i mean.

[Mykey]

It is remarkable, the helpful information

[Phalynx]

(I miss solfius too... I take he didn't make a dramatic goodbye?)

Presumably any crew should have copies of the key. I have to say I envisage a train as a series of cabins accesible directly outside, eg locked one for goods, a locked one for VIPs and an unlocked one for 2nd class...
One of the serious disadvantageous of being a passenger on anything at the moment is the inability to get off until the aged captain/driver deems to wake up.

[Nalaris]

Or you kill him, take the key, and commandeer the vehicle.

[Phalynx]

Or you kill him, take the key, and commandeer the vehicle.

Sure, fine but that doesn't really aid a stable system and good communication does it?

[T-shirt]

Good idea. It is somewhat similar to what I have posted some time ago: http://www.cantr.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7354

[SekoETC]

Have the vehicle name, then... no, that wouldn't work. (I was thinking of having cars linked like pages on a forum, [1][2][3], but since we have the point option, that wouldn't work.) But how about having the locomotive/cockpit/whatever aligned with normal one-spaced vehicles, then having the sub rooms/cars/passenger space indented, so that it stands out from the list. Still having the same buttons for entering/pointing at, but when you go inside, the roads would all be gray.

[Phalynx]

Looking at T-shirts proposal perhaps the driving project is a good idea... perhaps you would need a key to operate the stering wheel and start the project?

That said that doesn't solve the problem of trapped passengers.

This is significant if trains actually ever happen, which I want, a lot, and I think it will improve communication greatly - imagine being able to travel the length of an island in a day or two - at a price....

[T-shirt]

Trapped passengers is an ingame problem. Trapped factory workers too. Leave the door unlocked. Or keep it locked to prevent theft and assign a doorkeeper. Or whatever.

It's not a problem that should be considered when arguing about this suggestion.

[wichita]

One other complication with the keycheck that I thought of today is that it makes it much more difficult (alright, impossible) to run off with an unlocked bike. I assume that this is the nerf Mykey was referring to. )

It would probably be easiest if RD could have a flag that kwould define which vehicles have key-operated "ignitions" and then leave the bikes alone. A vehicle should still be "hotwired" by popping the lock, I would think.

The mayhem potential only takes a minimal hit now.


Entering the back of the bus rather than the driver's seat should be easy, I would think. Just add a secondary door button to the page that enters the passenger area. If the society appoints the vehicle for mass transit, it can be left unlocked for passenger boarding/unboarding.

[Phalynx]

Entering the back of the bus rather than the driver's seat should be easy, I would think. Just add a secondary door button to the page that enters the passenger area. If the society appoints the vehicle for mass transit, it can be left unlocked for passenger boarding/unboarding.

I prefer wichita's thinking... I don't see it as an in-game problem I see it as mechanics of the game failing to provide for the possibility of public transport..

[Rusalka]

Entering the back of the bus rather than the driver's seat should be easy, I would think. Just add a secondary door button to the page that enters the passenger area. If the society appoints the vehicle for mass transit, it can be left unlocked for passenger boarding/unboarding.

I think is the best option we can have. It is a bit step forward for the public transport in Cantr.

[formerly known as hf]

There's an easier way to address the problem of large distances, and aiding communication...

Increase the travelling speed of all things, including by foot, by a factor of 1.5, maybe even 2...

I like the idea of key-operated vehicles though...

[Phalynx]

Increase the travelling speed of all things, including by foot, by a factor of 1.5, maybe even 2...

That would help some locations that are very close to each other but not adress the real massive distances involved in some areas... Imagine a railroad over the Pok mountains!